Dear fellow Public Servant,

These past few months’ headlines have been very stressful for those of us who have chosen to work in public service. And these past few years have taken a negative economic toll - affecting our service to Tucson residents but also our pocket books. Like public employees across the country, we have seen furloughs, increases in healthcare costs, reductions in employees and ultimately, more work with less pay.

I am writing today to say thank you to all of our hard-working City of Tucson employees!  I hope you will agree that like me, you are here because you love Tucson and want to improve services for Tucson residents – to make our City the best it can be. Please keep your spirits up – you are appreciated! I wish I could buy you lunch or take you out for a happy hour - but I can’t – I only make $24,000 a year! I’m joking when I say that. I truly love my job and hope you do, too. We are all part of the Tucson family.

Now for the good news! I talked to my friends at the Tucson Museum of Art, and they also appreciate city employees. For the rest of 2012, they have offered to provide FREE admission to the world-class Tucson Museum of Art for all City employees! Located across from City Hall, at 140 N. Main, the museum is convenient for City employees working downtown to visit an exhibit or walk the beautiful grounds at lunch, and convenient for all employees on Thursday evenings, when the museum and delicious restaurant, Café ala Carte, are open late for happy hours and dinner. All you do is present your City of Tucson employee badge for FREE admission to the museum.

On view now – until September 23 - is the Spirit of the West Exhibit, featuring paintings and photography. Your admission is free for every show in 2012. Again, please know that hard work is always appreciated. Thank you again and I hope to see you at the Museum!

In Community,

Regina Romero

Tucson City Council, Ward 1