Posted December 7, 2021
Here are the Ward 5 Summary of Current Events Council Member Richard Fimbres read at the 12/7 Mayor and Council Regular Meeting:
TODAY, Tuesday, December 7TH, marks an important day in this nation’s history.
On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked U.S. forces at Pearl Harbor and other locations in Hawaii, taking the lives of 2,403 service members and civilians and leading President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the United States, to declare its entrance into World War II.
More than half those who died were on the USS Arizona.
It was a day that still lives in infamy 80 years later.
On this day, we give thanks to the Greatest Generation, who guided our Nation through some of our darkest moments and laid the foundations of an international system that has transformed former adversaries into allies.
I also want to thank everyone serving or who has served our nation in the military, dealing with conflicts from WWII to today.
ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL CONDUCTED THEIR INAUGURATION FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR WARD’S 3, 5 AND 6.
I WANT TO THANK THE VOTERS OF WARD 5 AND TUCSON WHO VOTED FOR ME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE THE WORK AS YOUR WARD 5 COUNCIL MEMBER.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE WARD 6 COUNCIL MEMBER STEVE KOZACHIK ON HIS ELECTION AND SWEARING IN AS WELL AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM TO WORK FOR OUR CITY.
I WANT TO WELCOME THE NEWEST COUNCIL MEMBER, KEVIN DAHL TO THE TABLE. I WANT TO WISH KEVIN THE BEST OF LUCK AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIS PARTICIPATION, IDEAS AND DIALOGUE ON THE ISSUES THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL WILL FACE.
On Wednesday, November 24th I and my office staff and the Tucson Business Owners were able to distribute 160 food boxes to families in need in Ward 5. I want to thank the school staff at Utterback, St John’s, Apollo and Santa Cruz schools for their work to help those families with these food boxes for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
I want to thank Mayor Romero and the Million Trees Initiative with their latest project in Ward 5 in the Barrio Centro Neighborhood. On Saturday, December 4th, the Initiative planted trees in this neighborhood, helping to beautify Barrio Centro and to help with the Heat Island issue.
Congratulations to our Mayor for securing additional funding from Swire Coca Cola to plant more trees, which has totalled 39,000 in Tucson since Mayor Romero began this effort.
On Saturday, December 4th, the 520 Boyz held their annual Stuff the Fire Truck effort at the Office Depot, collecting toys for underprivileged children. Congratulations to the 520 Boyz on a successful effort and a big thank you to TPD Sergeant Will Corrales, who let the 520 Boyz use his fire truck for the effort.
Monday, December 6th, marked the fifth anniversary of the Tucson Homeless Work Program.
The Tucson Homeless Work Program began on December 6, 2016. The idea for this pilot locally came out of a work group my office has been convening on homelessness that started meeting in October 2015 The purpose of the Tucson Homeless Work Program is to give people a pathway out of homelessness through work, community collaboration and navigation of existing services. Participants will complete a health screening for job readiness, work a 5 hour day, cleaning roadways, will be fed, at the end of the workday will have access to a shower, clothes and hygiene items and offered shelter for the night.
The Tucson Homeless Work Program has been recognized by the Metropolitan Pima Alliance, the Arizona Chapter of NAHRO and the National NAHRO organization,
More than 950 people have used the Tucson Homeless Work Program, cleaning more than 200 sites, more than 300 miles of roadway cleaned and 300,000 pounds of garbage cleared.
ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9TH, THE LAS ARTES YOUTH PROGRAM ARE HOLDING THEIR GRADUATION FOR THE FALL SEMESTER.
LAS ARTES OFFERS A UNIQUE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH AGES 17-22, COMBINING A STRUCTURED CLASSROOM STUDY COMBINED WITH COMMUNITY ART PROJECTS THAT ALLOW STUDENTS TO PREPARE FOR GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT TEST AND LEARN VALUABLE JOB-READINESS SKILLS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STUDENTS. EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS.
On Saturday, December 18, Arizona Firefighter Athletics and BuenaVida are holding a toy drive for Miracle En El Barrio called “Toys for Tacos.” On December 18, from noon to 6 p.m., people coming to Buena Vida at 919 North Stone #1104, who donate a toy will get two free tacos. In addition, there will be local vendors, an art show and a book signing by David Membrila.
LASTLY, THE U.S. SENATE TONIGHT VOTED TO APPROVE CHRIS MAGNUS AS THE NEW COMMISSIONER FOR THE U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION. THE VOTE WAS 52-47.
CONGRATULATIONS TO CHRIS MAGNUS, WHO LEAVES US NOW FOR WASHINGTON D.C. THANK YOU CHIEF FOR YOUR WORK AS TUCSON’S POLICE CHIEF AND WE HOPE YOUR SUCCESS IN YOUR NEW POSITION, FOR WHICH TUCSON LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON.
CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO DEPUTY CHIEF CHAD KASMAR, WHO WILL BECOME THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF AND I AND MY OFFICE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN YOUR NEW ROLE.