Kevin's Ward 3 News and Updates

Friday, May 6, 2022

News and Updates
Ward 3 Neighborhood Association/Coalition Meetings
Ward 3 Events
City Wide Events
Did You Know?

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The first week of May…

On Sunday, May 1st, I joined the multi-union rally at Amazon’s Distribution Center on Silverlake just off the freeway. By the number of honks, thumbs up, and waves, it looks like many Amazon delivery drivers like the idea of Union representation.

On Wednesday, May 4th, the Mayor and I were pleased to help with the opening of a new El Rio Health Center on Grant Rd and Dodge, in a former Wells Fargo Bank Building. This part of the Ward needs more providers and easier access to health care services – adult and child care, dental, and behavioral health services will be provided at the Center.

Council Member Kevin Dahl with Council Member Nikki Lee at the May 3rd council meeting

Bookended by these two events, the Mayor and Council meeting was on May 3rd - in person at Council Chambers inside Tucson City Hall with the public present. This was the first time Mayor and Council have met together in the same room in more than two years – and the first time since I have taken office.

It was wonderful to have a real meeting!

There is something important about face-to-face human interaction. It is easier to communicate, to have a conversation. It is easier to be friendly, to disagree politely and maybe achieve a comfortable resolution. A smile has more meaning and impact in three-dimensions. It is so much better than seeing one (usually poorly) on a two-dimensional screen.

And there were lots of smiles. It felt like a reunion. Or a family gathering.

At the meetings (study session in the afternoon and regular session at 5:30) we tackled some important issues. We reviewed for the first time the City Manager’s proposed budget, selected a new City Magistrate (judge), approved a re-zoning and liquor license requests (in one case sending a controversial liquor license request forward to the state Liquor License Board with no opinion). We named two features at the Tucson Community Center after influential women important in Tucson’s recent history: the Alva B. Torres Plaza and the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall. And we approved the Fiscal Year 2023 Action Plan so we can continue to receive funding for our housing programs from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.

You can continue to view Mayor and Council meetings, conveniently, over the internet, with videos available for later review  here or attend the meeting in person to speak on any “public hearing” agenda item. There is also the “call to the audience” on every regular session meeting.

For me, it felt good **** the public’s business in public.

-Kevin

Mike Edmonds by Katie Bolger

Mike Edmonds recently joined the Ward 3 team serving in the role as constituent advocate and liaison to the residents in Tucson House.

Mike “Slick” Edmonds

Mike was born, raised and mugged (as he likes to tell it) in Washington D.C.

In the late 1970s Mike and his family were living in Germany. As a student he was involved in all the arts. In high school he played in the band, was involved in Drama club and wrote for his High School newspaper. He interviewed one of the DJs at the nearby Army Base on the American Forces Network (AFN) and from there realized he wanted to be on the radio.

He came to Tucson the first time with his now ex-wife. He left and came back a few more times before he landed some gigs as a local radio personality. He worked at a handful of Tucson radio stations - his on air name was “Slick” and he was at stations such as KIKX, KIIM, KCUB (one of my old classic country favorites) and KRQ, from the 1980s up until the 2000s.

In 2007 he was let go from KRQ and he found himself seeking help with financial assistance and shelter. He wound up couch surfing and staying with friends over the next decade. In 2019 his section 8 application was accepted and he moved into the Tucson House.

The Tucson House is the City’s largest public housing unit. The building is old and in need of a lot of upgrades. It has it’s challenges. Mike quickly got involved with the residents council and is a liaison to many residents who sometimes are not able to advocate for their needs. When asked what the best thing about the Tucson House is, Mike responds that the  benefits to living there are the services that are provided; from medical and social to help with clothing and furniture.

We are happy to have Mike on board at the Ward office. His perspective and life experiences are an asset to the team and to those we serve.

Mountain First Neighborhood by CJ Boyd

Mountain First is a residential neighborhood developed mostly in the 1950s, defined as Mountain Avenue to First Avenue, Glenn Street to Grant Road. There are only two streets that cut through the neighborhood: Park Avenue running North/South and Cooper Street running East/West. All other neighborhood streets bend or dead end, creating a quiet neighborhood where traffic has no means to cut through. According to 45-year neighborhood resident Jeff Storm, a citrus grove was located in the area east of Park Avenue before houses were built.

The neighborhood sign at Mountain and Glenn

At the center of the neighborhood is Mitchell Park, a diamond shaped park with jungle gym, swings, benches, and lots of shade from the mature mesquite trees.This park truly is the heart of the neighborhood; it is where the neighborhood association meets every other month and where they’ll be having their spring potluck / barbecue at the end of the month. Residents have worked hard to make improvements, keeping it an ideal place for neighbors to congregate and recreate. “Mitchell park is a really well used and loved community gathering place!” according to neighborhood president and 21-year resident, Sarah Studd.

A house at Fremont and Silver, with its piles of stacked rocks

Paul Stein, who has lived in his home on East Mitchell street for 49 years, loves the park and said he appreciates how friendly and quiet the neighborhood is. Paul says when he moved into the neighborhood in 1973, most of the residents were the original owners of the houses in the neighborhood. He said most of the houses were built throughout the 1950s, with his built in 1956.

Mitchell Park, located along Mitchell Street between Mountain and Park Ave

Asked what she loves about living there, Sarah Studd said, “I love walking the neighborhood and enjoy seeing how many homes have beautiful native plants and water harvesting. I also love having walking access to Mitchell Park.”

While there is one church – Coronado Baptist – and one pre-school located in the neighborhood boundaries, Mountain First residents have a great selection of locally owned restaurants in walking distance. On North First Avenue, Tucson eateries include Buendia Cafe, BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs, Fatman Kitchen, Smokey Mo BBQ, and Presta Coffee Roasters. Along the Southern border of Grant some of the neighborhood favorite restaurants include Sher-e-Punjab Indian Restaurant and Yamato Japanese Restaurant, both located in the Grant Park shopping center next to CVS.

Tucson C.A.R.E.S. at Tucson House by Marlene Avelino

Located in Ward 3, the Tucson House is the city’s largest public housing unit with over 400 apartments. Inside is the Lizard Lounge- a community room for the residents and where we met last week for a tour of the twice a week program -Tucson C.A.R.ES. - (Community Access, Referral, and Education Services for Health). Tucson C.A.R.E.S. is a pilot program initiated by ASU’s Office of Community Health, Engagement, and Resiliency, launched in October of 2021. Its mission is to improve residents' physical, mental, and emotional health, to increase health literacy, reduce isolation and non-emergency calls to 911, and to empower individuals to take charge of their own health and well-being.

In collaboration with the University of Arizona Department of Family and Community Medicine, interdisciplinary teams conduct health and wellness assessments to identify physical and mental health needs. They set up their table inside the Lizard Lounge and provide a drop-in services desk to meet residents where they are. The team then uses those assessments to link residents with existing community resources and services, and medical and behavioral health care where they can find providers and receive continuity of care.  

Alicia Dinsmore - Mobile Health Coordinator U of A Department of Family and Community Medicine, Marlene Avelino - Ward 3 Council Aide, Viridiana Johnson - Program Coordinator U of A Department of Family and Community Medicine, Nnamdi Anyaeji - ASU OCHER, CM Kevin Dahl, Zoe Somerville - ASU OCHER, Lupita Durazo - ASU OCHER, Bob Purvis - Tucson CARES Program Coordinator/ ASU OCHER.

Bob Purvis, an AmeriCorps Public Ally who leads the program, said, “beyond providing linkages to residents we also work to advocate on their behalf and collaborate with other community partners to fill gaps in services residents have identified.” Bob and the team recently connected with Tucson Food Share (profiled in a previous newsletter) to help residents facing food insecurity.

In addition to connecting residents to services, this program also provides opportunities for residents to engage socially and develop relationships with staff and each other.

While there, we were able to meet with several residents and hear first hand some successes of the program and some concerns regarding Tucson House. We appreciate the opportunity to speak directly with residents and recognize all the efforts that go into fostering a space where people are empowered to speak up and self advocate.

Tucson C.A.R.E.S. has a $120K budget, funded by the city’s People, Communities, and Homes Investment Plan (P-CHIP), created by Mayor and Council in January of 2021 to create a framework for investing in Tucson's most vulnerable populations.

First Friday Ward 3 Business Spotlight - Tamayo’s by Kristin Woodall

Marilyn Valenzuela is a proud Ward 3 business owner. Located at 131 W Grant Rd, Tamayo’s Appliances offers a large selection of new and used appliances at affordable prices. Recently, the Ward 3 office refrigerator went caput, luckily we immediately knew where to go to get a replacement. Marilyn has a large selection of washers, dryers, refrigerators and other appliances to choose from.

Kristin "chilling" next to the new Ward 3 fridge.

Marilyn moved to Tucson 20 years ago from Nogales and when she started a family she decided to start her own business. She says that it gives her and her husband the freedom to make their own schedule and be there for her children. The flexibility lets her attend school and other family events. It's not always easy and she puts a lot of time in after hours but she says it's worth it.

Tamayo's opened up at the Grant Road location one year ago this month. Prior to that Marilyn had businesses in other areas of Ward 3 since 2014. Our office first met Marilyn when she reached out to Ward 3 due to repeated vandalism to her storefront. Our office along with TPD were able to assist in ending the vandalism while giving her the tools needed to mitigate some of the issues in the future.  

Recently, Marilyn branched out and began selling tools, clothes, workout equipment, furniture and more. Stock changes daily so you never know what kind of deal you are going to find. She said that her business model of selling new and gently used at reduced prices is a benefit to the community in a time where people’s resources can be tight. She has a bilingual staff who provides customer service to a wide variety of customers. 

Tamayo’s is located at 131 w Grant Rd

If you are looking for a locally owned business when you need a new appliance (or more!) check out Tamayo’s and tell Marilyn that the Ward 3 office sent you! You can visit the Tamayo’s Facebook page here