National Press release from Wyland Foundation below. They say on their website that “Together we pledged to save 742,175,738 gallons of water this year”. See information about Tucson specifically below the press release.

TORRANCE, Calif., May 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Five U.S. cities were honored today for residents’ commitment to water-saving choices as part of the second annual National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Separated into five population categories, the winning cities are Denver; Tucson, Ariz.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Bremerton, Wash. and Laguna Beach, Calif. Residents in all 50 states made more than 44,000 online pledges to save water, use less energy and reduce pollution in four categories – home, yard, community and life – with potential cost savings of more than $30.6 million.

Presented nationally by Wyland Foundation and Toyota, the National Mayor’s Challenge had participation from 70 mayors across the U.S., including Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock; D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray; Columbus, Ohio Mayor Michael B. Coleman; Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn; Tucson, Ariz. Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and Santa Fe, N.M. Mayor David Coss. City leaders encouraged their residents to participate in the online challenge, which also provided access to regional water and energy resources along with cost-saving tips.

“This year’s challenge gathered the support of an impressive list of cities, mayors, corporations and nonprofits, all of whom shared our enthusiasm for working toward a more sustainable future,” said environmental artist Wyland, founder of the Wyland Foundation. “Congratulations to the winning cities. The environmental education and pledges will have an impact in bringing the conversation about conserving resources closer to home.”

At a May 10 event in Denver, Hancock will draw the grand prize winner of a new Prius c from the pool of winning cities’ participants, who are also eligible to win hundreds of water-saving fixtures and gift certificates to Lowe’s stores. A $1,000 Lowe’s Shopping Spree will also be chosen from among the entire pool of U.S. participants. The National League of Cities, CH2M Hill WaterMatch, Rain Bird Corporation, Lowe’s home improvement stores, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSense, and the U.S. Forest Service supported the challenge too. The additional support from well-known comedians through Comics for Conservation, a series of public service announcements, expanded this year’s environmental message. Pete Dominick, longtime SiriusXM host, stand-up comic and CNN contributor, was the official spokesperson.

Toyota’s partnership with the Wyland Foundation and the Mayor’s Challenge included a new element this year – an eight-state U.S. environmental educational tour to schools and communities, reaching 4,000 students. The mobile, 1,000-square foot Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Experience featured interactive exhibits to demonstrate the relationships between humans and water.

“Toyota has a deep commitment to environmental sustainability across our operations, making our work with the Wyland Foundation a natural and rewarding fit,” said Michael Rouse, vice president of diversity, philanthropy, and community affairs for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “By helping expand the reach of the National Mayor’s Challenge this year, we hoped to encourage more people to learn and participate in conserving natural resources.”

In addition to making water-saving pledges, challenge participants pledged to reduce their use of single-use plastic water bottles by more than 5.4 million bottles and eliminate 69.9 million pounds of hazardous waste from entering watersheds. By altering daily lifestyle choices, pledges also resulted in potentially 18.3 million fewer pounds in landfills and 2.2 million fewer pounds of fertilizer in the waste stream. Potential savings of 67.8 million gallons of oil and 2.7 billion pounds of carbon dioxide rounded out the final pledge results.

To learn more about the National Mayor’s Challenge, visit www.mywaterpledge.com. For tips on how to save water every day and to learn about water-efficient products for the home, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

About the Wyland Foundation
Founded in 1993 by environmental artist Wyland (best known for his series of 100 monumental marine life murals), the Wyland Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, is actively engaged in teaching millions of students around the county about our ocean, rivers, lakes streams, and wetlands. The foundation’s latest project, FOCUS (Forests, Oceans, Climate – and us) brings together the U.S. Forest Service, NOAA, and numerous non-profits to teach young people about the future of our water supplies, climate, and global health. www.wylandfoundation.org.

Additional news re: City of Tucson from Wyland Foundation media contact Steve Creech, steve.creech@wylandfoundation.org:

Water Saved
38,829,430 gals

Dollars Saved
$1,620,719.71

Less In Landfill
959,198 lbs

Fertilizer Not in Waste Stream
112,110 lbs

Water Bottles Saved
275,230

Hazardous Waste Avoided
3,550,640 lbs

Oil Saved
3,444,114 gals

CO2 Emissions Reduced
139518770 lbs

“It was clear that Tucson was motivated to win. Even during our visits to the community with our clean water mobile learning center, we noticed the people in Tucson – right down to the kids – seemed generally well informed about the importance of water to the future of the city. The effort of Tucson to become sustainable is a powerful model for the rest of the country. While people enjoy the competition and the prizes, the challenge is really aimed at broadening the dialogue about conservation. Tucson got people talking. And we find —that when conservation becomes top of mind, people start making changes. And that’s what this is all about.”
—Wyland, environmental artist and founder of the Wyland Foundation

Tucson Currently Ranked #1 in 2013 National Mayor’s Challenge
for Water Conservation

With less than two weeks remaining, residents of Tucson have kept the city in the top ten ranking in the 2013 National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Tucson was ranked #1 among cities with a population between 300,000 – 600,000 as of Friday, April 19.

The challenge, April 1-30, is a friendly non-profit competition that challenges U.S. city leaders to see who can best inspire their residents to reduce water and energy usage through a series of informative, online pledges at
www.mywaterpledge.com.

City standings are listed in real time throughout the month. A participating mayor is not a requisite to win the challenge.

Residents from cities with the highest percentage of participants in their population category (5,000-30,000, 30,000-100,000, 100,000-300,000, and 600,000+) are entered in drawings for $50,000 in environmentally-friendly prizes, including a Toyota Prius c, water-saving fixtures, and shopping sprees at Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores.

The challenge is presented nationally by Wyland Foundation and Toyota, with support from National League of Cities, CH2M Hill WaterMatch, Rain Bird Corporation, Lowe’s Home Improvement stores, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Last year, residents from 1,000 cities in all 50 states pledged to save over a billion gallons of water, reduce their use of single use plastic water bottles, and eliminate 60,000 pounds of hazardous waste from entering watersheds.

To see city standings in real time, visit mywaterpledge.com and scroll to “City
Rankings” at the bottom of the home page.

About the Wyland Foundation
Founded in 1993, the Wyland Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, is actively engaged in teaching millions of students around the county about our ocean, rivers, lakes streams, and wetlands. The foundation’s latest project, FOCUS (Forests,
Oceans, Climate – and us) brings together the U.S. Forest Service, NOAA, and numerous non-profits to teach young people about the future of our water supplies, climate, and global health.

www.wylandfoundation.org
Media Contact:
Steve Creech
(949) 436-2489
steve.creech@wylandfoundation.org

I heard about this water pledge at the 2013 Water Festival at Reid Park, and now that Tucson is currently in first place, it’s time to urge our readers to take the online pledge to keep Tucson in first place & become the winner for 2013. Tucson placed #6 in 2012. You can also pledge via Tucson city website: www.tucsonaz.gov/water/take-the-pledge, which I just did. It’s free and simple to do.

Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild is participating in this challenge, and is asking for your pledge. He spoke yesterday at the 2013 Earth Day/Water Festival at Reid Park.

Take the pledge, to help conserve water.

On Wednesday, March 20th, Ward 6 Council Member Steve Kozachik will be joined by the City of Tucson’s four most recent mayors for a campaign kickoff event. Former mayors George Miller, Tom Volgy and Bob Walkup will join current Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild at Borderlands Brewery in downtown Tucson for the event.

Steve Kozachik Campaign Kickoff
Wednesday, March 20, 5:30 – 7:00 P.M.
Borderlands Brewing Company
119 E. Toole Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701

“Borderlands is the perfect venue for this kick-off,” said Kozachik. “It’s the poster child of a successful private sector venture that has quickly grown into a successful downtown business. It is emblematic of the successes we’re seeing in the downtown core, a success story that I’m proud to have been a part of and one that I am excited to continue to support.”

Former Council Member and honorary campaign co-chair Carol West will also be in attendance. Kozachik announced previously that West, Walkup and former United States Surgeon General Richard Carmona will be co-chairing his campaign.

The event marks the first time in recent memory that four mayors, representing two parties have come together in support of a city council candidate. Each mayor offered their own insights into what makes Kozachik an effective leader, deserving of their endorsement.

The current Mayor Jonathan Rothschild (elected 2011) is a Democrat, along with former Mayors Tom Volgy (1987 to 1991) and George Miller (1991 to 1999). Former Mayor Robert Walkup (1999 to 2011) is a Republican.

Councilman Steve Kozachik (aka “Steve K” or “Koz”) is running unopposed for the Ward 6 Council office so far. He was elected to this seat as a Republican and just changed to a Democrat on January 14, 2013.

Two term Ward 3 Councilmember Democrat Karin Uhlich is facing Republican challenger Ben Buehler-Garcia, who ran against her before in 2009. He lost by 175 votes in a three-way race with Councilmember Uhlich and Green candidate Mary DeCamp.

One term Ward 5 Councilmember Democrat Richard Fimbres is facing a Republican challenger as well, political newcomer Mike Polak II, a self employed businessman. Stay tuned for a future post about Polak’s candidacy. He just filed his Statement of Organization on March 6 with the Tucson City Clerk.

“We Do More Together Than Alone” February 19, 2013

State of the City Address

Introduction
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2013 State of the City Address. Thank you for coming. I’d like to thank the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the Marriott Starr Pass for hosting this year’s event. I’d especially like to thank the Chamber for giving part of today’s proceeds to three outstanding nonprofits: Habitat for Humanity, Literacy Connects and La Frontera.

Last year, at my first State of the City, I spoke about making Tucson work—putting people to work, making city government work. Working together, we are making that happen. In the fall of 2011, when I was elected, Tucson’s unemployment rate was 8.1%. Today, it is 6.9%. Retail sales tax revenues are up 7.6% from where they were a year ago. We’re making good progress. The challenges ahead, however, are daunting. The cost of providing quality public services is rising, and too many Tucsonans are still struggling. To meet the challenges facing our community, we must work together as a community. If I have learned one thing in 14 months as mayor, it is this: we do more together than alone. Setting goals helps. I had a plan for my first 180 days in office. I followed that with a plan for my next 360 days. I’d like to highlight some of what we’ve accomplished by working together–public, private and nonprofit sectors, as well as across departments and between organizations. In other words, what we’ve done as a community.

Our Economy
A big part of the mayor’s job is to work on attracting and retaining businesses in our community. Tucson needs a strong private sector in order to thrive and improve our quality of life. Last year, we welcomed a number of new businesses to our community: Acceler8, Aris Integration, Curacao, Involta, Living Social, Optum RX, ReCommunity, Smashburger, and TAP Royal, to name a few. Others, we congratulated on their expansion. Businesses like Graybar, which opened a new, 55,000 square foot facility built to LEED “green” building standards. And businesses like Quik Trip, which opened its 100th Arizona store on Alvernon near 22nd. With all their experience doing business in Arizona, what did Quik Trip’s Director of Real Estate tell me about working with the city? That we’re–and I’m quoting–“easy to deal with,” and, “I can’t thank your people enough for helping to expedite the process.”

Process Improvements
That’s no accident. Working together with the business community, the city’s Planning and Development Services Department changed how it operated, cutting permitting time in half by reviewing site and improvement plans at the same time. And that’s not all. Today, the city cross-trains inspectors, allows approved design professionals to self-certify certain projects, and, in many cases, allows new businesses to use existing certificates of occupancy without having to apply for new ones. We continue to make process improvements, not just in Planning and Development Services, but also in Finance and IT. All three departments, plus the city’s economic development team, are working together to redesign the city’s business web portal, to deliver more and better services to our constituents. Instead of waiting in line, you’ll be able to get what you need from the city online. We’ve made it easier for local businesses to compete for city contracts. Working together with our Procurement Department, the City Council passed a local purchase ordinance, giving local businesses more opportunity to win city contracts. The City of Tucson wants to buy local.

Business Incentives
We’ve made it easy to find the 21 business incentives the city offers. The brochures at your tables outline these programs. We want your business in the city. This past year, two companies, American Tire Distributors and B/E Aerospace, used one of these programs, the city’s Primary Jobs Incentive, to expand. And we’re not stopping there. Our economic development team is looking for more ways to spur investment and create jobs here in Tucson. One of the 21 incentives, the GPLET, was adopted last spring. By fall, the first development to use this program broke ground. One East Broadway, a 17.9 million dollar mixed-use high-rise, is being built by local contractor Caylor Construction. The beauty of the GPLET is that it offers a guaranteed return to taxpayers, who must benefit more than the developer from the temporary tax abatement and have that verified by an independent third party. When I discovered that other Arizona cities had successfully used GPLETs to build their downtowns, I asked our City Council to offer this incentive and they acted immediately. Already, these programs are attracting private investment. 3 And while we’re on the subject of downtown development, I want to acknowledge that, earlier this month, we settled all disputes between the Rio Nuevo District and the City of Tucson. The settlement creates a platform for moving forward. The Rio Nuevo Board and the City Council agree, we can do more together than alone. Process improvements and incentives are part of the picture. Another part is going out and meeting with the business community, to keep the businesses we have and to bring new businesses to Tucson. My business advocate, our economic development team, and I meet personally with CEOs whenever possible. Of course, I also meet with representatives of major employers who are already here– particularly those in our Southern Economic Corridor, such as Raytheon and Davis-Monthan. Aerospace and defense are important economic drivers in our region. The success of Tucson International Airport and its neighbors, Raytheon, Bombardier, the ANG, and others, is vital to our continued economic growth.

International Trade
I’ve also worked to increase international trade, tourism, and investment in Tucson. With the support of our City Council, I’ve made several trips to Mexico, meeting with business, industry, and government leaders. I’ve toured manufacturing sites in Guaymas and Empalme, where more than 30 multi-national corporations have operations. Our city has led in regional diplomacy, changing the conversation in this state about Mexico, and that has been a good thing. My goal in all this is to bring regional headquarters and logistics operations to Tucson. Our location gives Tucson an advantage as a hub for international trade between the United States and Mexico and, via the deep-water port in Guaymas, between the United States and Asia. Location is an advantage, but it is not a guarantee. For Tucson to be a hub for international trade, we need the right infrastructure at the border, for security and speed. Other states have already discovered that trade with Mexico means prosperity for their region. We are in competition for that trade, and the stakes are high. We cannot afford a bottleneck at the border where the expanded Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales connects with I-19. Expansion means more trade, and I’ve been making the case to the Department of Homeland Security, the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administrator for increased investment in technology, personnel, and highway infrastructure at the border. I’m asking our regional partners, PAG, MAG and CAAG–the Pima, Maricopa and Central Arizona Associations of Governments–to work together on this. We need to develop a plan that gives us the infrastructure to be competitive as an international trade route, by interstate and rail, including the rail yard near Red Rock. This is some of what we’re working on, together, to help our economy. Next, city services.

Our City Services
When I took office, many city departments were without directors. The city’s Department of Transportation and the Tucson Convention Center each had serious administrative problems. In 14 months, the city has hired a Human Resources Director, an Economic Development Director, an Environmental Services Director, an IT Director, a Risk Manager, a Transportation Director, and a Water Director. A number of temporary appointments have also been made, with interim directors in Housing and Community Development, Procurement, and at the TCC. And, of course, directing city administration in his quiet, firm and experienced way, City Manager Richard Miranda. The city is rebuilding its economic development team, and has recently hired an International Trade Specialist. This is as it should be. We continue to work with our regional partners, but businesses coming to Tucson need points of contact in the city–to troubleshoot, if necessary– and the city needs its own people to make the case for locating inside city limits.

Rebuilding Trust
Financial and operational controls have been put in place at Parkwise, Transportation, and the TCC. We have a new City Manager and a new Mayor. I hope it is clear to everyone that we expect excellence in all our endeavors. We know we’re in a period of rebuilding trust in city government. We owe that to the people of Tucson and we owe it to the overwhelming majority of city employees who work hard every day and do good work. I start every day by responding to citizens’ questions and requests. By constantly communicating, we will continue to build trust. In last year’s State of the City, I said that improving the condition of city streets was a top priority. Systematically, we cleaned up our medians. Then, we asked voters to approve Prop. 409 to fix our streets. Yes, the vote was close, but it passed–a good sign that we are rebuilding trust. We’ve told Tucsonans what roads we’re going to fix and when, and that an independent citizens’ committee will provide oversight. This is the way bonds should be administered, and we are committed to keeping our promises to the people of Tucson. Along with streets, we’ve worked to secure funding for bike paths and pedestrian walkways inside city limits–over 4.5 million dollars–from the RTA.

Partnerships
We’ve done much internally, but because we do more together than alone, the city has reached out to others to improve our services. We’re partnering with the University of Arizona on several initiatives. We’re working with the College of Architecture to rebuild the city’s Planning Department. If we are to move beyond strip-mall development and sprawl, to transit-oriented development and infill, we need development, land use, and planning expertise. We’re working with the University’s Office of Technology Transfer and Tech Launch Arizona to help turn breakthrough discoveries into breakout companies that create jobs here in Tucson. We’re working with IBM, which awarded Tucson a Smarter Cities Challenge grant to help Tucson Water better use the massive amount of data it receives every day. The grant has two goals: to help consumers spot problems before they get billed for them and to help Tucson Water save on energy costs of pumping water, which are substantial. We’re working with the business community, through associations like the Metro Chamber. You see one result of that on your tables today, our Joint Business Objectives. The city is committed to ensuring excellent services for all our constituencies, and the business community is no exception.

Transit
We continue to work with our regional transit and transportation partners: Sun Tran, the RTA, and PAG. The city was fortunate to hire the RTA’s Director of Transit Services, Carlos de Leon, as our Deputy Director of Transportation. Carlos will work on creating a path to sustainability for our city’s transit system, increasing revenues and reducing expenses. All of us–TDOT, Sun Tran and our City Council–will need to think in new and creative ways when it comes to transit services. No city makes money off its transit system. But walking away from providing public transportation is not an option. There are too many benefits transit provides: better air quality, less traffic congestion, and mobility for those who don’t drive or have a car. We‘re meeting with representatives of the University of Arizona and Pima Community College to see how we can offer Sun Tran and Sun Link services to our student population. We need to increase ridership among people who choose transit, not because they have to, but because they want to. The streetcar, Sun Link, can help us meet this goal. That’s in addition to the private investment generated along its route and the tens of millions of federal dollars brought to our city’s construction industry, just when we needed it most.

School Resource Officers
While a city the size of Tucson must provide transit, our number one obligation remains public safety. There too, we face challenges. We must rethink how best to deliver services. But one goal is within reach. When I ran for office, one of the programs I campaigned on was bringing School Resource Officers back to Tucson schools. This was well before the horror at Newtown. SROs serve a number of functions. Unlike armed guards or school personnel, SROs are sworn police officers who have extensive, ongoing training in firearms and tactical operations. But my goal for the program was simpler. SROs are a form of community policing. The officer is a role model for students—someone to reach out to with problems at school, or at home, and prevent those problems from escalating into violence. I am pleased that President Obama and Governor Brewer agree, and have committed to provide funding for SROs. I look forward to having SROs back in some Tucson schools.

Public/Private Partnerships
There was a time when cities had more resources, and funded more programs, than today. While we continue to rebuild our economy, we realize we won’t see a return of that former largesse. Municipalities, across the country, are finding that their financial situation limits them to funding core services. Cities are responding by becoming more creative and collaborative. Tucson is no exception. Last year, Tucson’s Parks and Recreation Department opened a number of pools it had been forced to close. Since public safety is job one for city government, our parks department had absorbed more than its share of cuts. City pools were reopened using a public-private partnership called Bring Back the Splash. Again, I’d like to thank our community partners who made this possible. We’ve continued the program this year and hope to open the same pools again, plus one more, this summer.

Our Community
While municipalities no longer have the discretionary funds they used to, they still play an important role in building community. A mayor is in a unique position to mobilize people and resources. And, if we’re to be successful as a community, it’s more important than ever that the mayor bring people and groups to work together. I’ve formed Advisory Task Forces on Education, Health and Wellness, Poverty, Seniors and Youth. We also have Working Groups; one on refugees, started by Bishop Kicanas; one on our re-entry population, with Council Member Richard Fimbres; and one on STEM education. These ad hoc groups give people and organizations a way to work together on some of our most challenging issues. I want to thank everyone who participates. All are volunteers giving their time.

Education
Today, I would like to focus on three of the Task Forces: Education, Health and Wellness and Poverty. Without an educated workforce, we can’t attract the businesses we want. We can’t retain the businesses we have. Education is a business issue. Our Education Task Force is working with programs that help our young children become capable readers and that help our young adults stay in school, or go back and get their diplomas. Dropping out of high school often means dropping into poverty, a problem for the community as well as the dropout. Working together with the Sunnyside School District, my office recently announced the launch of GradLink, a flexible, online learning program to help recent dropouts go back and get their diplomas. As we work through this pilot project, I hope to see this, or similar programs, become available to more students and more school districts. 3rd grade is when students go from learning to read to reading to learn. Students who don’t reach this milestone are likely to remain poor readers, and much more likely to drop out. Next fall, a new state law takes effect, requiring 3rd graders who don’t pass the reading portion of the AIMS test to repeat 3rd grade. According to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress, 42% of Arizona 4th graders read at a level below basic. Just 26% are proficient readers. We have work to do, as a community, to turn this around–and turn it around we must. As our United Way focuses on funding local literacy programs, our Education Task Force is focused on recruiting volunteer tutors for those programs. Our goal: to add several hundred tutors this year. Today, I ask each of you, your companies, your community and faith organizations, to join in this effort. A literate, educated community is our path to prosperity. Personally, I’m visiting classrooms and reading to children on a regular basis. Tucson’s Poet Laureate, Rebecca Seiferle, is doing the same, using poetry to get kids excited about reading and writing. We’ll be making PSAs in English and Spanish, and using robo-calls to reach out to 8 parents to let them know what reading resources are available. Working together with the Pima County Public Library, we’re launching the Mayor’s Reading Challenge–another way we’re promoting reading.

Health and Wellness
Just as education has economic implications for a community, so does health and wellness. Healthy lifestyles reduce medical costs for individuals, employers, and communities. And we know they improve our quality of life. Our Health and Wellness Task Force is working on increasing access to healthy foods and safe places to exercise. We’ve launched Walk 100 Miles with the Mayor. To fight childhood obesity, children under 18 who walk or run 100 miles before June 1st will receive an award at the TMC Meet Me Downtown 5k. Anyone can participate. Already, Tucsonans have logged over 10,000 miles since the program was launched six weeks ago. Mental health is as important as physical health, but getting access to care can be much more difficult. Today, I’m announcing the formation of a Mental Health Working Group, chaired by Dan Ranieri and Clarke Romans, to look at how best to address the needs of this population. Cities often deal with those who have fallen through the social safety net. We do so with our paramedics and police, through our courts, and with our parks and housing departments. We are not alone in this task. Counties have responsibility for workforce development, health care, and jails. Nonprofits, too, provide many services. So do neighbors, helping neighbors. Good Neighbor Ventures is one group that’s bringing neighbors and local businesses together to help meet community needs–reading with youth, bringing the elderly out of isolation. Neighbors supporting local businesses, and local businesses supporting their neighborhoods–this is how we become a more connected community.

Poverty
A year ago, at this luncheon, I announced the formation of my first Task Force, on Poverty. Their first order of business was to help create a coordinated entry system for the homeless to access social services, a HUD requirement making it easier to track and deliver services, as well as to reduce the time spent homeless. The goal is to return folks to permanent housing within 30 days. Because Tucsonans have already been working together on this–the Veteran’s Administration, the City’s Department of Housing and Community Development, Primavera, Our Family Services, Habitat for Humanity, and many others–the Obama Administration has selected Tucson as one of 25 priority communities to end veteran’s homelessness by 2015 and to end child and family homelessness by 2020. It’s a tall order, but we welcome this challenge from Washington to be a national leader in eliminating homelessness.

Annexation and Incorporation
This past year, we received the unwelcome news that Tucson is the 6th poorest metropolitan area in the nation. There are a lot of Tucsonans who cannot afford the basics. To me, this means that government cannot afford to do things that don’t make sense. If we are to transform our community, we must be relentless in refusing to accept the status quo where that no longer makes sense. This problem of poverty in Tucson didn’t happen overnight. Solutions won’t either. Choices made decades ago, including choices not to pursue, or to resist, annexation, have helped bring us to where we are at today. I spoke of this last year, and since then the city has completed a handful of annexations, with more on the way. The City Council has committed additional resources to fund these efforts. To recapture the $70 million or more we lose in state-shared revenue every year, we must become an incorporated valley. Those dollars are our roads. Those dollars are our parks. Those dollars are our police and fire departments. I like our friends in Maricopa County as well as the next guy, but it is time we stopped building their roads, their parks, and their police and fire departments with our tax dollars. This problem of the state sharing revenue based on population living in incorporated areas is not just Tucson’s problem. It’s a regional problem. That’s why I’m pleased to announce that the mayors of the four cities in our region who can do annexations–Oro Valley, Sahuarita, Marana, and Tucson–have committed to meet regularly, along with our managers, to cooperate in this effort. And we encourage our friends in Vail in their efforts to incorporate. Finally, we invite Pima County to join us in actively encouraging annexation and incorporation. The role of counties, as set forth in state statute, does not change with annexation. With an incorporated valley, all governments in the region get back more of their tax dollars. We could have more services, and lower property taxes, paid for with our own state-shared revenue. We can no longer afford to do things that don’t make sense. Having urban and suburban areas that aren’t incorporated, giving $70 million back to the state every year, going without needed services, and making local businesses carry a higher property tax burden than businesses in other parts of the state–these things don’t make sense. Fortunately, the status quo does not have to be our destiny.

Conclusion
I’ve said we do more together than alone. Let me give you one last example of what I mean. Today, we have a better way to do CPR, thanks to collaboration between the University of Arizona’s Sarver Heart Center and the Tucson Fire Department. The survival rate for traditional CPR is low. Firefighters asked researchers, “Help us do better.” And they did. The new, Continuous-Chest-Compression CPR is far more effective than traditional CPR for sudden cardiac arrest. Collaboration made this possible. Firefighters needed researchers to develop the technique; researchers needed firefighters to test it in the field. We do more together than alone. It didn’t end there. Once the results were in, those involved reached out–to fire departments, hospitals, medical schools and other organizations. Including the Girl Scouts, who have a camp–Camp Fury–that teaches 4th and 5th graders about firefighting. Northwest and Tucson Fire Departments help out, teaching first aid and the new Continuous-Chest-Compression CPR. One of those Girl Scouts remembered the technique, years later, in high school, and used it to save her friend’s life when he collapsed after band practice in sudden cardiac arrest. Because these people, these groups, worked together–because they sought, found and shared best practices with each other–Erika Yee was able to save Chris Miller’s life. Erika, Chris, please stand and be recognized. We are so glad to have you both here with us. Tucson is a community where people care for one another. It is a great strength of our city. It is a strength we must draw upon in deciding what services we want, how best to deliver them, and how to pay for them, while meeting our existing obligations. Cities across the country, particularly older cities, like Tucson, face structural challenges in the years ahead. To meet these challenges, we must grow our economy and deliver services in new, creative and collaborative ways. Tucsonans show our common bond in how we help one another–and also in how we come together to create our future. Tucson’s future, our shared destiny, is our common bond. We must build that future by working together. Thank you for your time today. Thank you for your efforts on behalf of Tucson every day. Thank you for allowing me the great privilege of serving as your mayor. Thank you.

February 18: Steve Kozachik, Councilmember, Ward 6 – Tucson City Council -Tucson’s newest Democratic Councilmember will discuss, “Tucson’s Gun Buy-Back — The Plan, The Event, What’s Next?”

February 25: Richard Fimbres, Councilmember, Ward 5 – Tucson City Council – “Oh the Changes I’ve Seen In the Tucson City Council”

March 25: Karin Uhlich, Councilmember, Ward 3 – Tucson City Council – “Tucson’s Future”

Democrats of Greater Tucson hosts weekly speakers at their Monday luncheon meetings at Dragon’s View restaurant, 400 N. Bonita Avenue, west of I-10, south of St. Mary’s Road, at high noon. Website: http://tucsondemocrats.org/

Both Kozachik and Fimbres were elected in 2009, winning over their challengers. Then-Republican Kozachik defeated Democratic incumbent Ward 6 Councilmember Nina Trasoff, who had served one term. Democrat Fimbres faced off with Republican political newcomer Shaun McClusky, who later tried to run for Mayor of Tucson in 2011. Fimbres’ wife Mary is a Council aide for Ward 2 Councilmember Paul Cunningham and she also worked for former five term Ward 5 Councilmember Steve Leal, who retired in 2009.

Kozachik changed his registration to a Democrat on January 14, 2013, and prior to that was the sole Republican on the Tucson City Council. This is his first appearance at DGT. I reported the breaking news when he announced his change in political parties (click here).

Uhlich is a two term Councilmember, as she first defeated Republican incumbent Ward 3 Councilmember Kathleen Dunbar for that seat in 2005, then in 2009 defeated two political newcomer challengers Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia, and Green Mary DeCamp. (DeCamp ran for Mayor two years later and defeated fellow Green activist Dave Croteau in their Mayoral primary, but lost in the General to Democrat Jonathan Rothschild.)

I heard on the John C. Scott radio talk show that Buehler-Garcia may be considering a rematch with Uhlich. No other contenders have been mentioned to date, but stay tuned.

2/25/13 UPDATES: Republican Ben Buehler-Garcia has filed papers to run in the Ward 3 Council race. Click here for post about Buehler-Garcia’s candidacy.

Councilman Fimbres’ campaign kick off is on March 9, 11 a.m. at El Pueblo Senior Center, 101 W. Irvington Rd.

Ward 3 Councilmember Karin Uhlich

Ward 5 Councilmember Richard Fimbres

Ward 6 Councilmember Steve Kozachik

On February 16, 2013 downtown Tucson will be the place to be for the 2nd Annual Tucson Science In The City festival, a Signature event of the statewide Arizona SCITECH festival.

Experience Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) events and activities for everyone.

10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Get engaged in the Science In The City Family SCIFest with hands-on activities for children of all ages.

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Checkout the Tech in Tucson Showcase and and the Technology and Innovation Forum for adults, high school, and college students. You will learn about Tucson’s technology industries and their contribution to the Tucson economy, technology development at the University of Arizona, STEM careers and education opportunities, and lots more.

Mark your calendar today. You won’t want to miss these engaging and educational events!

The 2nd Annual
Science In The City Family SCIFest

10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Children’s Museum Tucson in downtownTucson (200 S. 6th Ave.)
Free Admission

Pre-K12 children will see fascinating demonstrations and experience exciting hands-on STEM activities that will stimulate interest in science and math. Families will discover some of Tucson’s many innovative K-12 STEM student projects and school and community programs. The Pima County Joint Technical Education District and many Tucson Schools will be there along with the University of Arizona, the Children’s Museum Tucson, the Mathematics Road Show, the Southern Arizona Rocketry Association, and many more.

Arizona Technology Council
Tech In Tucson
Showcase and Innovation Forum

Tucson scientists and innovators in industry and the University Of Arizona are at the cutting edge of global Science and Technology. They are growing the Tucson economy and creating exciting and high paying jobs.

These amazing industry professionals, engineers, educators, scientists, and even college students are engaged in the development of some of the greatest advancements in science and technology such as new space exploration missions; creating new energy sources; developing new food supplies to feed the hungry; inventing new fuel efficient cars; engineering tiny nano technologies used in electronics, medical devices, and even stain resistant clothing; designing video games or the next generation Internet; developing new technologies to protect the environment; working to prevent and treat disease and more.

Careers in these industries require significant skills in math and science. Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) education provides students with critical thinking and problem-solving skills to prepare them for science and technology careers.

Tech in Tucson Showcase

1:00 – 4:00 pm
Tucson Electric Power Headquarters in downtown Tucson (88 E. Broadway)

The Showcase will feature exhibitors representing industry, education and community organizations. They will showcase their research, technology innovations, or education programs and resources. Adults, high school and college students will meet amazing Tucson scientists, educators, engineers, and other professionals from industry and the University of Arizona working at the at the cutting edge of science, technology and industry. You will see some of the latest and greatest innovations in Optics, Information Technology, Biosciences, Aerospace and Defense, Electronics and Semiconductors, Environmental Technology/Alternative Energy, and more being developed in Tucson.

You will also learn about science and technology careers and meet representatives from education and community organizations showcasing STEM education programs and resources and talking with you about what STEM education is and why it is important for our children and the Tucson economy.

As they say on TV, wait, there is more. You will also get connected to technology industry organizations such as the Arizona Optics Industry Association, the Arizona Technology Council, the Bio Industry Organization of Southern Arizona, the Arizona Nanotechnology Cluster, and the Arizona SCITECH Festival.

Forum – Technology Innovation and
Economic Development In Southern Arizona

2:00 – 3:00 pm
At the Tech in Tucson Showcase

Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and Congressman Ron Barber will headline this Forum on technology innovation and economic development in Southern Arizona. They will be joined by CEO’s from innovative Tucson companies and a representative from the University of Arizona to share with you how science, technology and innovation creates high paying jobs and drives economic development in southern Arizona.

More Info: http://azscitechfest.org/events/tucson-science-city. My previous post announcing this state-wide SCITECH festival and events in Pima County through March 16 at various locations, click here.

There has been an excellent response to the January 7th event – please continue to rsvp us @ 791.4601 or 795.0844. Also, if there are particular areas of interest you’d like to hear addressed (Federal, State, County, or local) send us an email @ ward6@tucsonaz.gov / something such as “what will you do to address the following…?”

The event is scheduled for 7pm – 9pm / 3233 E. Speedway / Loft Cinema.

Lisa Horner from Access Tucson has offered to tape the event to be re-run after the fact in order for those who can’t make it to give it a look. It’ll air on Saturdays at 11am and Sundays at 7pm starting Jan. 13th. Cox Channel 20/Comcast 74. There are technical reasons why they can’t air it live, but let’s hope this is the start of some community conversations that, through cooperation between all of our media partners we can book follow up meetings and get these things out over the air in real time in the days ahead.

Here’s the unofficial list of politicians who will be attending or sending a representative (if they don’t dare show up to be “roasted”):

Congressman Raul Grijalva (CD 3)
Congressman Ron Barber (CD 2)
State Senator Olivia Cajero Bedford (LD 3)
State Senator David Bradley (LD 10)
State Senator Steve Farley (LD 9)
State Representative Sally Ann Gonzales (LD 3)
State Representative Macario Saldate (LD 3)
State Representative Stefanie Mach (LD 10)
State Representative Bruce Wheeler (LD 10)
State Representative Ethan Orr (LD 9)
State Representative Victoria Steele (LD 9)
County Supervisor Richard Elias (D 5)
County Supervisor Sharon Bronson (D 3)
City – Mayor Jonathan Rothschild

My previous blog post announcing this event, with updates (click here). The list of politicians was created as those who have an impact on the issues of Ward 6 in the City of Tucson.

Due to threats of disruption about this event the Az Daily Star has reported (click here) that there will be no live microphone, no guns allowed, and bags will be checked. Doors open at 6 p.m. Questions can be submitted in writing at the community town hall.

From Downtown Tucson’s website: http://www.downtowntucson.org/

Event:
18th Annual Downtown Parade of Lights
Start:
December 15, 2012 6:30 pm
End:
December 15, 2012 8:00 pm
Where:
Parade starts at Franklin St. (south of E. 6th Street) and proceeds south on Granada (click here for map route), east on Alameda, north on Stone Ave.

The Downtown Tucson Partnership invites you to participate in the 18th Annual Downtown Parade of Lights. Floats, live music and brightly decorated vehicles will fill Downtown Tucson with holiday cheer. Thousands will once again pack the streets to watch the Parade make its way through the vibrant streets of Downtown Tucson.

You can find more information at http://www.downtowntucson.org/visit/parade-of-lights/ including the entry form, staging information, day-of entertainment, parade route and the best place to watch the parade.

The parade route has changed its location from Armory Park to the El Presidio neighborhood. Please download the new route and enjoy all the businesses along the route that evening.

The Tucson Museum of Art and Lohse Family YMCA will be providing pre-parade entertainment that evening. Visit El Charro Cafe and Old Town Artisans before the parade and end the evening with dancing at La Cocina.

Staging will take place along the north and south side of Franklin Street, the east and west side of Meyer Avenue, 9th Avenue and the Franklin Lot. Staging begins at 4:30pm.

Mayor Jonathan Rothschild will light the tree in front of the Joel Valdez Main Library at 5:45 p.m.

Enjoy this 18th year of the Parade of Lights in downtown.

Ward 6 Councilman Steve Kozachik

On January 8th, 2011, our community was forever changed.
With the tragic shootings, we came together and for a time embraced the phrase “Together We Thrive”. The emphasis was on
the word “together”.

Since that time, we have gone through three elections in which we elected people at the Federal, State, County and City levels. And it is my sense that the combined effect of politics, outside/big money and the passage of time is that we’re drifting back to the polarized bickering that prevents us from solving some of our fundamental community issues.

So, on January 7th, 2013, we’re going to reset the needle.
What I have done is to reserve The Loft Theater from 7pm until 9pm on that Monday evening. In addition, I have asked Dave Fitzsimmons to emcee/facilitate a Town Hall/Roast meeting. A huge thanks to both Peg Johnson for allowing me to use her facility, and to Fitz for agreeing to an evening in which up to 15 “politicians” will be seated near to him, potentially placing his sanity at risk.

Finally, I have made a personal call to invite every elected official who has anything to do with Ward 6 to come and take part in the event. Everybody has said that if their schedules permit, they’ll be there.
The invitees are our Federal, State, County and City representatives. They’re Democrats and Republicans. And every one of them is coming with the intent of showing that there really are some of us who want to work together for the greater good.

The format will evolve a bit between now and January 7th, but generally it will be a combination of some light sautéing of the elected officials by Fitz, and Q&A from the audience. This is our addressing issues that are meaningful to you in a serious manner, and doing so in an environment in which we won’t be allowed to take ourselves too seriously.
And I’m making sure that the event will be free to the public.

What I need from you is an RSVP so between me and Peg Johnson we can decide on which of her 3 theaters we’ll be using. They vary in seating capacity, but we’ll of course want to know that well in advance so she can use the remaining two for
movies. Please call The Loft at 795.0844, Ward 6 office at 791.4601, or email back to us so we can begin to do a head-count.

I’ll of course be giving some updates on the event between now and the 7th, but The Loft folks could use some time to do the advance planning – if you think you’ll be coming, let me know as soon as you feel you can commit.
I’m thankful to each of the elected men and women who have indicated an interest in participating
in the event. More on this in the weeks ahead.

The Loft Cinema is at 3233 E. Speedway, near the Ward 6 Council office, which is at 3202 E. 1st St.

The Ward 6 email is ward6@tucsonaz.gov, so please RSVP if you can make it on January 7, 2013. My husband and I have already done so, and we hope to see you Ward 6 residents, friends, etc. there for this “roast”. This will be a good event by “Koz” and “Fitz” to bring the Tucson community together again almost 2 years since the Tucson Tragedy shooting.

Republican Ward 6 Councilman Steve Kozachik was elected in Nov. 2009 defeating incumbent Democrat Nina Trasoff. He is up for re-election next year. He currently serves as Vice Mayor and his website is: http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/wardsix.

12/12/12 UPDATE: From Steve K as which politicians are coming or sending a rep:

Congressman Raul Grijalva (CD 3)
Congressman Ron Barber (CD 2)
State Senator Olivia Cajero Bedford (LD 3)
State Senator David Bradley (LD 10)
State Senator Steve Farley (LD 9)
State Representative Sally Ann Gonzales (LD 3)
State Representative Macario Saldate (LD 3)
State Representative Stephanie (should be Stefanie) Mach (LD 10)
State Representative Bruce Wheeler (LD 10)
State Representative Ethan Orr (LD 9)
State Representative Victoria Steele (LD 9)
County Supervisor Richard Elias (D 5)
County Supervisor Sharon Bronson (D 3)
City – Mayor Jonathan Rothschild

That’s a lot of politicians in one room of the Loft Theater.

Yes 72,483, 50.33%
No 71,530, 49.67%

Mayor Jonathan Rothschild will be pleased with this result as he held a press conference today at City Hall with City Manager Richard Miranda. This is what 409 is supposed to do:

The City of Tucson is asking voters to consider a $100 million General Obligation Bond program to improve the condition of City streets. Bond funds will be used to restore, repair, and resurface streets inside Tucson City limits. No change can be made to this purpose for the bond funds without going back to voters for approval.

(More info: http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/street-bonds).

Let’s hope the City’s streets can be paved properly as there are numerous complaints about the potholes and quality of the streets in the City of Tucson. It took me weeks of calling City Street Maintenance (791-3154) to get a pothole fixed on one of the arterial streets this Fall, but it was finally done with the assistance of Ward 6 Councilman Steve Kozachik’s assistance.

As for the other statewide propositions, here’s the latest updates as to which ones are passing (but Maricopa County is still counting about 85,000 ballots). Prop. 118 is the only one that was close (and was losing on Election Night and is now winning) so stay tuned for that one.

Prop. 114 Crime Victims Protection Act YES
Prop. 115 Judicial Selection NO
Prop. 116 Small Business Job Creation Act NO
Prop. 117 Property Tax Assessed Valuation YES
Prop. 118 Permanent State Land Fund
YES 946,568
NO 926,414
Prop. 119 State Trust Lands YES
Prop. 120 State Sovereignty NO
Prop. 121 Open Elections/Open Government NO
Prop. 204 Quality Education & Jobs Act NO