Karin's Note: January 6, 2012

 

-Playscape Beautification Project

-Help Create Water Harvesting Basins

-16th Annual Treecycle Event

-Ward 3 Neighbors’ Alliance Meeting

-"Beyond Tucson:  Commemorate, Celebrate, Commit" Community Events

-Did you know...

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Dear Tucsonans,

Happy New Year. I look forward to seeing many of you at some of the events planned this weekend to promote unity and healing on the anniversary of the January 8, 2011 tragedy. . "BEYOND: Commemorate * Celebrate * Commit" has been organized by the family of Gabe Zimmerman and nearly 100 participating organizations, to bring the community together to be outdoors, be with each other, and enjoy our beautiful surroundings. My thoughts are with the friends and family of the people we lost that day, and with the survivors who continue to suffer and recover. I am proud of how Tucson has responded with compassion and courage as a community together; that spirit will surely shine this weekend.

In particular, I want to highlight a very special event happening right here in Ward 3, "Stories to Remember, and Beyond," taking place tomorrow from 2:00pm to 7:00pm at Valley of the Moon, a true Tucson treasure.

Families are invited to stop by any time and stay for as long as you like. 2544 E. Allen Road. (see more details below). It promises to be a wonderful, heartwarming event, and a fitting way to commemorate the day.  To register online for this event, or any other BEYOND events happening from sun up to sun down tomorrow, January 7th, visit:  www.beyond-tucson.org. All events are free, and all are encouraged to take part.

At our Mayor and Council meeting this week we discussed strengthening the Red Tag Ordinance which serves as a tool for maintaining appropriate peace and quiet across the City. Within 30 days we will be deliberating on a specific proposal that may: 1) increase the fine for initial violations 2) extend the tracking period for repeat violations from 180 days to a full year (fines increase steeply for second, third and fourth violations) and 3) include a mechanism for holding both tenants and landlords accountable. I will share those details with you in advance so you can weigh in before we vote.

We also discussed the proposed downtown hotel renovation (Hotel Arizona) and the broader concept of creating a specific Central Business District wherein certain incentives would be available on a competitive basis for targeted infill and economic development projects. Councilmember Cunningham and I voted no and, because the discussion was held in Executive Session, we are limited in sharing many details associated with that position. Suffice it to say that, as I have stated many times, I will continue to fight hard for fair and openly competitive processes as well as strategies that uplift the City as a whole. Elements of the Central Business District concept (which is clearly defined in Arizona State Statutes) do interest me and hold some promise for Tucson if correctly shaped and administered. And clearly the success of downtown and the Convention Center area matters to economics of the entire region. I look forward to continued discussion and work over the coming months to advance job creation in every way that makes sense.

Below are more details on events coming up. Thanks as always for participating in our beautiful community!

Karin

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Ward 3  Events:

-Playscape Beautification Project -Saturday, January 7 from noon to 3:00 p.m. Working on the “Glenn Playscape” at Glenn Verde Apartments, 3436 E. Glenn. Help prepare a natural play area and spread wood chips. More info: Judith Anderson at 795-1512 or janderhat@cox.net.

-Create Water Harvesting Basins - Sunday, January 8 from noon to 4:00 p.m. help create harvesting basins along the Flower Street Bicycle Boulevard. Flower at Country Club. More info: Judith Anderson at 795-1512 or janderhat@cox.net.

 -16th Annual Treecycle Event - runs through Sunday, January 8.  Residents can recycle their Christmas trees at 9 convenient locations throughout the City. The site in Ward 3 is at Rillito Race Track, 4502 N. 1st Avenue in the east parking lot. For more info and sites: 791-5000 or www.tucsonaz.gov/esd.

-Ward 3 Neighbors’ Alliance - Wednesday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m.  Woods Memorial Library, 3455 N. First Avenue. Topic: Graffiti Prevention and Abatement.

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City Wide Events:

-"Beyond:  Commenorate, Celebrate, Commit" Community Events - Starts on Friday, January 6 with an Open House at the Gabrielle Giffords Family Assistance Center (Community Food Bank) at 3003 S. Country Club Road from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.  On Saturday, January 7, the Beyond Tucson Main event at Reid Park, South Country Club Road and East 22nd Street, starts at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 2:00 p.m. Many other Beyond events are scheduled over the weekend, culminating with a candlelight vigil on the University of Arizona Mall at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 8. More Info: www.beyond-tucson.org.

-Beyond Event in Ward 3 -Saturday, January 7th from 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.  Valley of the Moon fantasy park invites you to come celebrate the  BEYOND Tucson Story Telling under the Faerie Lights. 2455 E. Allen Road. Admission is Free. Bring the whole family to hear favorite childhood tales of Gabe Zimmerman and Christina Taylor-Green, told in the historic fairyland oasis.   Take a stroll through the enchanted gardens, magical statues and stone fairy houses built in the 1920′s and dedicated to Kindness to All.  Tours of this inspiring national historic district will also be given.

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Did You Know…

Tucson Clean and Beautiful invites you to help make our community cleaner and more beautiful by removing invasive plants such as buffelgrass! The next buffelgrass workshop is being held at the Clements Center, 8155 E. Poinciana Dr. on Monday, January 9, 2012 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The United State Postal Service is accepting comments regarding the proposed closure of the Processing Facility in Tucson. More than 500 Tucsonans showed up for the meeting on December 28, voicing their displeasure at the effect this would have on local jobs and mail delivery. Written comments may be sent to: Management, Consumer and Industry Contact, Arizona District, P.O. Box 21628, Phoenix, AZ  85036-1628. Must be postmarked by January 12, 2012.