A newsletter from the Office of Council Member Lane Santa Cruz

Know Tucson Episode 3 Podcast

On April 12, Mayor Regina Romero wrote an Op-Ed announcing the We Are One/Somos Uno Resiliency Fund in the Arizona Daily Star to help cover some of the gaps that the federal CARES Act was not addressing.

Listen to a discussion between Lane, Liz and Flor about the Resiliency Fund, as well as some local places to eat, and a poem from Flor.

Mayor and Council Meeting
April 14, 2020

On Tuesday, April 14, Tucson Mayor and Council held a study session and a regular meeting with primary focus on small business economic redevelopment strategies and city budget discussions, especially in regard to impacts of COVID-19 and the CARES Act. A brief recap of the meeting is included down below: 

• A motion to allocate an additional $500,000 into the Resiliency Fund for workers and families, nonprofits, and small businesses passed with unanimous consent. 

• A motion passed unanimously to move forward with providing hotel accommodations for homeless populations, and City of Tucson employees who may be required to self-isolate due to exposure to COVID-19.

• Discussion around the FY 2020/2021 Budget. The city is anticipating a significant drop in revenues due to COVID-19. The CARES Act provides reimbursement for some city expenses but not for loss of revenue. The exact amount of the reimbursement for Tucson is not yet clear. That figure will play an important role in upcoming budget discussions. 

• Due to the economic effects of COVID-19, the Mayor and Council postponed discussion on impact fees and a decision on the Speed Hump Pilot Program.

• At this time, the City of Tucson is not supporting the layoff of city employees. Fortunately, over recent years leadership has built up reserves that afford us cushion at this time.

See below for agendas for the upcoming Mayor and Council Meeting on Tuesday, April 21.

South 12th Avenue Improvement Project

The South 12th Avenue Improvement Project from Irvington Road to Drexel Road is scheduled to move forward and the expected timeline and scope of work to remain the same despite the effects of COVID-19.

The Department of Transportation and Mobility, along with Ward 1 and Ward 5 will host a virtual town hall meeting on Tuesday, April 28, at 3 p.m. For more information on this improvement visit https://12thavetucson.com/

Support Local

Shop Local

Shoppers can check out Open for Business, a growing list of local restaurants open for takeout and delivery. The Arizona Daily Star launched this initiative specifically to support local restaurants.

The community can also support local businesses and entrepreneurs by purchasing a gift card(s) through the Tucson Shops Tucson platform.

Add Your Business to the Shop Local Movement

Other options are available for providing customers more detailed information. Visit  www.tucson.com/openforbusiness to enter your information.

Join the Arizona Daily Star’s Buy Local gift card directory so customers can support your Southern Arizona business.

Current Small Business Administration News

On Friday, March 27, 2020, the president signed into law the CARES Act, which contains $376 billion in relief for American workers and small businesses.

However, small businesses are facing unprecedented economic challenges and the Small Business Administration (SBA) is out of funding.

For updates from the Small Business Administration, and to learn more about the relief options available click here.

Local Instagrammer

Thank you to Becky Harvey for sharing these photos from her Instagram page becky_cornbread! Becky is a resident of Menlo Park and captured some images of the spring here in the Westside.

Ward 1 Staff Moment of JOY

Part of our weekly staff check-in included writing poetry using lines from poems we shared with each other. This is a “talk back” style poem using Sandra Cisnero’s “A House Of My Own” written by Flor and inspired by the suffocation and want for personal space while she works/social distance’s/quarantine’s at home with her daughter and partner.

Quiero Llegar A Casa

Not a mans house. 

Not my best friends apartment, even though I’m probly lying.

Not a daddy’s. 

Not my moms cuz she needs someone to go half on the rent with.

A house all my own.  

Quiero algo que sea MIO

With my porch and my pillow, my pretty purple petunias.

Con una maca with a breeze and an ashtray with roaches

My books and my stories

Mi bacanora y mis canciones

 My two shoes waiting beside the bed

My other 30 pairs in the guest room closet, cuz I got it like that.

 Nobody to shake a stick at. 

Nadie que me diga que hay que hacer

Nobody’s garbage to pick up after.

Not a lovers, not a sibling, not a single person to clean up after. 

Only a house quiet as snow.

Except on Musical Mondays, Tuesday karaoke, Bachata Wednesdays, Cumbia Thursday, Reggaeton Fridays, and East Coast Saturdays. Los Domingo’s limpiamos con la Jenni. 

I’ve never liked a quiet house.

a space for myself to go 

A place for myself and Ari to grow.

Clean as paper before the poem

Makes you feel eager to feel it, live it, breathe it.

Ya quiero llegar a casa.