Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Roadwork Update

Due to changing weather conditions, the City of Tucson Department of Transportation will temporarily suspend its in-house chip and fog sealing programs. The residential street paving program began in early October 2011 and consisted of crack sealing, pothole filling, chip sealing and fog sealing five different neighborhoods.

Chip sealing is greatly affected by the weather and can only be performed during certain temperatures. Chip sealing should be applied when the pavement temperature is at least 70 degrees and the air temperature is 50 degrees and rising. Transportation Director Jim Glock stated that the residential street paving program will commence next spring when weather conditions are optimal.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Tucson Troop Support Update

Flyer for Registration for Holiday Party Dec 11th 2011

Strengthening Border Ties

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Ward 5 Hosting Business Forum - Nov. 30

Tucson Means Business Ward 5

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Vote By Mail Increased Turnout

For the general election, 85,340 people cast ballots. In 2009, 74,168 people voted; in 2003, 77,857 people voted; and in 1999, 86,180 people voted.  In the 1999 election, in addition to the four political contests, Tucson voters considered an initiative dealing with CAP water.


VOTE BY MAIL – WARD BREAKDOWN

2009 – Hybrid (Polling and PEVL)
2011 – Vote by mail

Ballots Cast 2009 2011 Increased %

Ward 1 9272 11667 2495        26.9%

Ward 2 20211 22025 1814 8.9%

Ward 3 8908 10448 1540 17.2%

Ward 4 15546 18039 2493 16.0%

Ward 5 5853 7884 2031 34.7%

Ward 6 14378 15294 916 6.4%

Tucson Means Business Forum - Nov. 30

Tucson Means Business Ward 5

Mayor Walkup

Yesterday was Bob Walkup's last formal meeting as Tucson's Mayor. For these past two years, I have had the opportunity to work with Bob on many projects as the Ward 5 Councilmember for my Ward and for our City. His door to his office had always been open and I appreciated his advice, his thoughts and his friendship.

Now, Bob and Beth will be hitting the road in that VW Van he has purchased andwill travel the country when he leaves office Dec. 5. I will miss him as our Mayor, as well as Beth.

He may being leaving office but he won't be leaving Tucson. I look forward to working with him on other projects involving the Tucson-Mexico Task Force, as well as the Global Economic Development District, just to name two.

As was sung last night, "Happy Trails to You" Bob and Beth.

Furlough Day - Friday

CITY SERVICES INFORMATION:
HOLIDAY / FURLOUGH DAY CLOSURES -
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY AND FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25

With the exception of Tucson City Golf courses, City Hall and City business offices, including all Council offices will be closed on Thursday, November 24, 2011 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Friday, November 18, 2011

22nd St. Construction Update

Two weeks ago Sundt Construction poured concrete at our jobsite at 3434 E.
22nd early in the morning.  This generated complaints from two neighbors
about the unwelcome noise in the early morning hours.  Following that
instance, we directed Sundt to pass out fliers at the co-op housing units
directly behind the county property before any future early morning work
that would be temporarily disruptive.  You will see below that another
early morning concrete pour is planned for tomorrow morning and on Monday
morning.  Sundt made notifications to the neighbors as we had agreed.  I’m
sending this notice to your offices in case you receive complaints.

Sun Tran Thanksgiving Schedule

SUN TRAN BUSES FOLLOW A SUNDAY SCHEDULE ON THANKSGIVING

No Sun Shuttle Service on Thanksgiving

TUCSON, Ariz. - Sun Tran buses will operate on a Sunday schedule and Sun Shuttle routes will not be in operation on Thursday, November 24, in observance of Thanksgiving Day.

 

Thursday, November 24, 2011

·         Sun Tran Express Routes will not be in operation.

·         On Thanksgiving, the Customer Service Center will be open 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. to assist passengers with trip planning needs. 

  • Sun Tran’s Administrative Offices and Lost and Found, located at 4220 S. Park Avenue, will be closed on Thursday, November 24.

Friday, November 25, 2011

·         Sun Tran, Sun Express and Sun Shuttle resume regular schedules.

·         The Customer Service Center will return to regular weekday hours of 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

  • The Administrative Offices will re-open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., while Lost and Found will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Passengers are advised to consult Sun Tran’s Ride Guide, visit www.suntran.com, or call Sun Tran’s Customer Service Center at (520) 792-9222 (for persons with hearing and speech impairments, call TDD: 520-628-1565) for specific route times and bus information.   

THANKSGIVING DAY HOLIDAY TRASH & RECYCLING COLLECTION SERVICE CHANGES

The Thanksgiving Day holiday will be observed on Thursday, November 24, 2011.  Residential and commercial trash and recycling will not be collected on Thursday. All City of Tucson residential customers with regular Thursday or Friday service will have their trash and recycling service collection delayed by one day. Holiday collection schedules are available online at www.tucsonaz.gov/esd

The Los Reales Landfill and the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility will be closed.

City offices will be closed on Thursday, November 24, 2011, however, customers may leave a message for Environmental Services Customer Service at 791-3171 or submit a service request at www.tucsonaz.gov/esd and they will be contacted no later than the next business day. Customer Service will be available on Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. of the holiday week.

Blood Drive Announced

The American Red Cross Blood Drive is scheduled for Thursday, December 8, 2011 from 8:30 am - 1:30 pm at City Hall.  The bus will be located on the south side of City Hall with registration in the Retirement office located on the first floor.

The Red Cross has seen declining numbers in donors and many no-shows for blood donations from the City.  I would like to remind everyone that donating blood is necessary for our community.  Our hospitals need over 300 pints of blood per day to meet the need of their patients.  As a reminder, the City has an A.D. regarding allowing time off for blood donations.  http://intranet/docs/ad/2-01-7i.pdf

To schedule your appointment today please call 520-230-7295.  If you are not able to keep your appointment please call to cancel your appointment so someone else can fill that time slot.

What would your school do with a $15,000 award from Bookmans Challenge?

Tell Bookmans About the Great Things at Your School!
Bookmans School Challenge 2011
What makes your school unique?
How would $15,000 benefit your school?
Grand Prize: $15,000 to one school
Two Additional Prizes: $3,000 each
Deadline: November 30, 2011

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Eva Carrillo Dong Honored

Congratulations to Eva Dong, besides being a Governing Board member for Sunnyside School District, she also provides oversight for the Juvenile CAPE Program at the Juvenile Courts Center and the Sheriff’s Dept. Corrections Bureau’s Juvenile unit.

BRIDGE MAINTENANCE WORK ON INTERSTATE 19 SOUTH OF SAHUARITA ROAD BEGINS

Crews continue to work on improvements as part of a maintenance project to extend the longevity of three bridges and drainage along Interstate 19. The Arizona Department of Transportation is scheduling the following work :

BRIDGE MAINTENANCE WORK ON INTERSTATE 19 SOUTH OF SAHUARITA ROAD BEGINS

Crews continue to work on improvements as part of a maintenance project to extend the longevity of three bridges and drainage along Interstate 19. The Arizona Department of Transportation is scheduling the following work beginning tomorrow:
 
 
 
Wednesday (Nov. 16)
 
From 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., the right lane of northbound I-19 south of Exit 75 -Helmet Peak Sahuarita Road (at Milepost 45 - Quartz Wash Bridge) will be closed.
 
 
Thursday (Nov.17)
 
From 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., the right lane of southbound I-19 south of Exit 75 -Helmet Peak Sahuarita Road (Milepost 45 - Quartz Wash Bridge) will be closed.
From approximately 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the right lane of northbound I-19 south of Exit 75 -Helmet Peak Sahuarita Road (at Milepost 45 - Quartz Wash Bridge) will be closed. 
 
 
The speed limit will be reduced to 45 miles per hour in the construction zone and drivers can anticipate delays of up to ten minutes during peak hours.
 
 
 
The $596,000 improvement project will reinforce the three bridges by pouring concrete beneath the structures. Work will occur on two bridges located near Arivaca Road: Old Junction Wash Bridge at milepost 30.7 and Tinaja Bridge at milepost 31, plus Quartz Wash Bridge near El Toro Road at milepost 45.1.  Additionally a new outlet will be added to a drainage pipe on northbound I-19 near Rock Corral Road at milepost 19.3 to assist with drainage. The project is expected to be completed by December 2011. 
 
 
 
The construction schedule is subject to change due to a variety of reasons, including weather, material availability and mechanical difficulties. ADOT advises drivers to proceed through or near work zones with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Most Votes Cast In Tucson Election Since 1999; Vote By Mail “A Good Start”


TUCSON - The recently held City of Tucson elections for Mayor and the City Council seats for Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 4, showed an increased turnout in the number of Tucson voters.

These elections were the first to use an all-mail ballot system, a proposal brought forward by Ward 5 Councilmember Richard Fimbres.

“When the Mayor and Council were discussing a proposal to change the hybrid system (voting by mail and polling place) of casting ballots in a city election to an all-mail ballot process, one of the points my office brought up was to have more people participate in the process by casting their votes,” Councilmember Richard Fimbres said. 

“In addition, the potential question of reducing costs, through less poll workers, renting of voting equipment and locations, were other factors on why this proposal was brought forward,” Fimbres added.

The primary election, held August 31, showed that 44,507 ballots were cast for candidates listed on the ballot for Mayor and for the Council seats for Wards 1, 2 and 4 respectively.  This was the most votes cast in a primary election since 1999, when 39,365 ballots were cast with contested primary races for both major political parties.

For the general election, 85,340 people cast ballots. In 2009, 74,168 people voted; in 2003, 77,857 people voted; and in 1999, 86,180 people voted.  In the 1999 election, in addition to the four political contests, Tucson voters considered an initiative dealing with CAP water.

"This election showed that an all vote-by-mail process is a good start to get more people active, involved and casting their votes for City of Tucson elections," Councilmember Richard Fimbres said.  "The increase in the numbers of ballots cast speak for this system to continue to be used for future City elections."

Tucson Means Business Forum - Nov. 30

 The Tucson Means Business Forum, will take place Wednesday, November 30, 6 to 8 pm, at the Fred G. Acosta Job Corp Center, 901 S. Campbell.  This event is sponsored by the City of Tucson, Ward 5 Council Office and Councilmember Richard Fimbres.

This is free to all current and aspiring business owners who want to do business with the City of Tucson or in the City of Tucson.  In addition, access to business capital and employer services will be a forum topic, with information from the Small Business Administration, Microbusiness Advancement Center, Business Development Finance Corporation and Pima County One Stop.

For more information and to RSVP, call the Ward 5 Council Office, 791-4231 or Email to Ward5@tucsonaz.gov.

Monday, November 14, 2011

I-19 Update

Ramp maintenance work on Interstate 19 in southern Arizona next week

The Arizona Department of Transportation will be working to seal cracks in the pavement of the ramps along Interstate 19 .

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

November 11 - Veterans Day

Dear Friends:

This is a very special week for us because we are celebrating Veteran's Day this Friday, and I am proud to say I am a 28 year veteran of the active Army, Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves.

We celebrate Veterans Day so we can never forget the price that has been paid by our Women and Men in the Military for the Freedom we have today.

For more than two hundred years, men and women of faith and courage have laid down their lives to secure freedom for this country.  Blood was shed-- and continues to be shed-- so that Americans no matter what color they are can enjoy liberty, democracy, and freedom without fear of reprisal. "Remember Freedom isn't Free, You have to Pay a Price and Sacrifice for our Liberty."

To our Women and Men serving in our Armed Forces lets us say a prayer for their safety:

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands, Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. We ask this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Amen"

Thank You and please let a Veteran or a Active Duty Military person know that you appreciate the sacrifices they have made for us so we can enjoy our freedom.

God Bless.

Richard Fimbres
U.S. Army Vietnam Era Veteran

American Adds An Addition LAX Flight

American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, plans to add a fourth daily roundtrip flight between Tucson International Airport (TUS) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on February 9, 2012 . The airline is now taking reservations for the additional service.



Veteran's Day Parade

Starts at 10 AM - More information here.

Election Day is Today

Today is Election Day. If you have not already done so, go VOTE!
Please remember to sign and date the affidavit portion of your ballot envelope.
Political-CampaignAll vote-by-mail ballots must be in the possession of the City Clerk by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order for your ballot to be counted.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Rothschild for Mayor, Romero, Cunningham and Scott for Tucson City Council, Daniel Hernandez for SUSD, Yes for SUSD Bonds

Dear Friends:

I just wanted to drop you a note on why I am voting for Jonathan Rothschild for Mayor, Regina Romero, Paul Cunningham and Shirley Scott for the Tucson City Council.  I am also writing to you to express my support for Daniel Hernandez for the Sunnyside School District Board and for the bond proposals on Sunnyside’s ballot too.

White House Latino Update

¡Buenas Tardes!

The President’s efforts to help put Americans back to work and strengthen the economy took him to Colorado and Nevada this past week where he delivered a strong message, that “we can’t wait” for Congress to act as Republicans continue to stand in the way of the American Jobs Act. The President highlighted executive actions his Administration is taking without help from Republicans in Congress, making it clear that our problems are too serious, the stakes are too high, and that the issues facing Americans require serious bipartisan solutions.