City Of Tucson Kevin's Ward 3 News and Updates: December 16, 2022

Keeping Alleys Clear is Safety Issue
Earlier this month my wife and I received a letter from Environmental Services about keeping our half of our alley clear of overgrowth and other obstacles. We checked and discovered that one of our fast-growing mesquite trees had low branches dipping over the alley that were probably troublesome to large trash trucks. It was quick work to resolve because my wife has taken a course at the Tucson Botanical Gardens to become a master pruner… and I am an okay helper.

The letter, as it turns out, was not specifically directed at our property as we first thought. It was sent to every resident who has alley trash-pick up service in Tucson. To clarify, it had a disclaimer we had missed: “If your alley is clear, please disregard this notice.”

Asking residents to clean up problem areas was a response to complaints from trash truck operators and other utilities (gas, electric, and water) that must access alleys for maintenance and repair.

Why was the letter sent to everyone rather than just to residents with problem alleyways? Because developing a list of just problem spots would be a time-consuming task. A blanket mailing was the quickest way to reach every potential problem.

If you are interested in more information about residential trash collection, such as when your next bulk and brushy pick up will be or how to report and get a replacement for a damaged bin, go to tucsonaz.gov/es/residential-trash.

- Kevin

Winterhaven Festival of Lights by CJ Boyd 

The 73rd annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights is underway, highlighting one of Tucson’s most unique neighborhoods and their exceptional gift to Tucson families every holiday season.

This year’s Festival began on Saturday, December 10th and will go through Monday, December 26th. You can see the spectacle from 6 - 10 p.m., and be sure to bring nonperishable food items to donate to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. According to Winterhaven HOA president Mike Morales, the Festival planning committee estimates that over 100,000 people will visit the Festival this year, coming from all over Tucson and far beyond. "More importantly, we have contributed to the work of the Community Food Bank over the years. Last year we contributed 57,612 pounds of food and $39,437 dollars in cash."

I asked a few other Winterhaven neighbors who help plan the Festival what they love most about the event. Jennifer Pershing, who is Secretary for the Winterhaven HOA, said, “My favorite thing about the Festival is that the neighborhood comes alive with creativity and friendship while neighbors laugh with neighbors about their ideas and then help them get their displays ready. Whether creating a colony of penguins, an oversized dreidel, borrowing a staple gun, or just encouraging feedback from the street, there is plenty of community spirit and love to go around.”

30 year Winterhaven resident Karen Clifton said that many of her favorite aspects of the Festival are indicative of what she loves about the neighborhood year-round. “Neighbors know each other, everyone is out walking, biking, and enjoying talking with each other. We have old-fashioned block parties... Neighbors are friends and help each other out. This is reflected in our community events, and especially, in our annual Festival of Lights where we get to offer a holiday gift to all of Tucson and (with the help of our visitors) a very substantial cash/food donation to the Community Food Bank.”

The committee that oversees the planning of the Festival adjusts its vision to the needs of the community each year, and there are a few things that are new and noteworthy this year. For instance, the Festival committee decided to discontinue "drive nights" - designated nights when folks can drive through Winterhaven to see the lights - due to the massive traffic issues this invariably causes. After canceling the Festival in 2020 due to COVID, the 2021 turnout was larger than ever, and the larger crowd brought new complications. So this year, the Winterhaven planning committee teamed up with the Ward 3 office and other City departments to address growing concerns around safety and convenience both in Winterhaven and in the surrounding neighborhoods. 

Two big issues at the Festival in 2021 were people parking improperly and littering. A nationwide trend in 2021 was that when people came out of quarantine, they seemed to have lost their ability to act civilly in a group - there was an increase in assaults and fights on airplanes, on buses, in parks, and at concerts. At the Festival of Lights, this heightened rudeness mostly manifested in people parking in front of someone’s driveway or throwing their food wrappers on someone’s lawn.

Both the Festival Planning Committee and the City of Tucson are making sure to keep that behavior in check this year by providing more trash cans and more parking enforcement, as well as additional signs and lighting. The City of Tucson also put together a guide to enjoying the festival in a neighborly spirit here: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/home/announcement/73rd-annual-winterhaven-festival-lights-community-guidance

So when you make your way to Winterhaven this year, please be sure to act neighborly. Throw your trash in a trash can, and be sure to park in a way that’s mindful of surrounding neighbors. Better yet, avoid the traffic entirely by taking public transit. Bus route 17 makes stops along Prince and Country Club, while bus route 34 makes stops along Fort Lowell between Country Club and Tucson Blvd. However you get there, be sure to be courteous and respectful of other Festival-goers and neighbors.

If you are unable to bring food for the Community Food Bank, or if you would prefer to donate outside of the festival, you can always donate online here: https://www.communityfoodbank.org/

Los Compas - Mexican Street Food by Marlene Avelino

While traveling along Fort Lowell, you may have noticed a pink food truck on the north side of the road just west of Mountain Avenue, in front of the old Greek Church. The food truck is named Los Compas - a Spanish term for trusted friends - and is owned and operated by Karina Salinas. Plenty of seating is available under a shade structure, and there's a little hand washing station next to the truck.

I have been stopping by for lunch at least once a week for about a year now, but Karina has been operating Los Compas for about 3 years. I wish I'd known about her earlier! Burritos, tacos, tortas, quesadillas, and caramelos are on the standard menu with different protein options - including my personal favorite: cabeza, which is cow brains! Weekend specials include birria and menudo, which are only offered on Saturdays and Sundays. Los Compas is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Karina is originally from Michoacán, Mexico and has been in Tucson since 2014. She has primarily worked in restaurants and tells me she is well known at La Encantada since she worked in almost every kitchen up there, usually working in 2 or 3 kitchens at a time. Karina is a single mother, so working multiple jobs was necessary to make ends meet - at least, it was until she opened up Los Compas. 

In early 2020, Karina was working at a restaurant that had recently made the transition from a food truck to a brick and mortar establishment. Pretty soon after the pandemic hit, the owner let Karina know that he would be closing the restaurant and offered her the opportunity to purchase the food truck. They had known each other a long time and were able to work out a deal that benefited both of them - including a payment plan without interest. Karina is a hard worker and very independent. She is proud of her food stand and all she has been able to accomplish.

Stop by and say hello to Karina Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 am - 6 pm and Sundays from 10 am - 5 pm. Let her know that Marlene sent you, and try the cabeza tacos!

Next Mayor and Council Meeting 

The next Mayor and Council Meeting is on Tuesday, December 20th.
The agenda is available here: Mayor and Council Meeting Agendas

Ward 3 Neighborhood Association and Coalition Meetings

Samos Neighborhood Association
Tuesday, December 20th, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
on Zoom 

The Ward 3 office is open. Staff will answer phone messages, emails and requests for meetings by the next business day. Leave your message at 520-791-4711 or email [email protected].

Ward 3 Events
Food4Life at New Life Community Church of the Nazarene on December 17th

Food distribution is Saturday, December 17th, at New Life Community Church of the Nazarene (3367 N. Geronimo). Sign-up begins at 8 a.m. and continues as long as they have food. Food is usually distributed beginning around 10 a.m., and they finish by 11 or 11:30 a.m. There will be vegetables, fruit, packaged food, desserts, dairy, and some meat. You get to select your own food, and there are no income, residency, or other requirements. 

Samos Neighborhood Brunch Potluck this Saturday, December 17th 

The Parade of Lights & Festival is Downtown Tucson's premier holiday event that brings together the entirety of the local community from all walks of life to celebrate not just the spirit of the winter season, but also the unique culture of the Tucson community. In a grand scale procession throughout an illuminated and decorated downtown, attendees can expect to see a cavalcade of colorful floats, baile folklorico dancers adorned with brilliant lights, marching mariachis, and even parading pups! Come see City Council Members and staffers (including Council Member Dahl and members of his team) at the Downtown Parade of Lights this Saturday!

Grocery Sharing at Tucson Food Share - 2500 N. Stone Ave.

Mondays and Thursdays 6pm-8pm
Saturdays 8am-10am

Winterhaven Festival of Lights! December 10th through 26th

The 73rd Annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights opened Saturday, Dec. 10, and continues through Monday, Dec. 26, from 6-10 p.m. nightly. This holiday celebration is also a major fundraiser for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. This year, the City of Tucson and the Winterhaven neighborhood are asking our community to think about how to make this event better for all of us, including not speeding near the event area, paying close attention to signage and traffic signals, parking at only approved areas, carpooling or using public transit, and properly disposing of garbage. For the full list of community guidance,click here

Queen Astara's Fairy Lights at Valley of the Moon on December 16th and 17th

Yule Moon Market at Valley of the Moon on Sunday, December 18th

Accepting Applications for Housing Programs including Section 8!

The pre-application period for families and individuals seeking to be placed on a waitlist for public housing, and Section 8 vouchers for the City of Tucson and Pima County will be open from Tuesday, Jan. 3, through Tuesday, Jan. 24. All applications received in this three-week window will be placed in a lottery. Applicants in the lottery will be selected randomly by computer to be placed on the waitlist in the order they were selected. Applications will be available in English, Arabic, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Swahili, and Vietnamese. In addition, assistance will be provided in alternative formats. Public sites with computers will be open during the application period. A list of those sites, the online application, and more information are available here

Se Acceptan Solicitudes para los Programas de Vivienda Incluyendo Sección 8

Tucson CSHW Winter Sock Drive now through January 30th

As part of the Homeless Protocol initiative, the Community Safety, Health and Wellness program has recently increased outreach to our unsheltered neighbors. The weather is only going to get colder, and the number one request from the campers is socks! The CSHW program is reaching out to the community for donations of unused socks in all sizes now through the end of January. Donations can be dropped in the collection box at the Ward 3 office.  

Ready, Set, REC! in Ward 3 this Month

Join Your Local Community Garden!
Plots are available at locations across town through the Community Gardens of Tucson. You can rent a 3 ft X 20 ft garden plot with automatic drip irrigation to grow your own food! Garden tools and supplies are provided on-site. Contact [email protected] or call 520-795-8823 for more information.

These Ward 3 gardens currently have available plots:
- Mansfield Garden - 2000 N. 4th Ave.
- Blue Moon Garden - 1510 N. Oracle Rd
- Keeling Garden - 2919 N. Los Altos
- Homer Davis Garden - 4250 N. Romero Rd.
- Presidio Garden - Near Fort Lowell and Country Club

City Wide Events
Read Tucson Water's Guide to Responsible Desert Dwelling

Tucson Water packaged its top water-saving tips and resources into a user-friendly online guide that also shares some of the regions unique water history and culture. The Guide to Responsible Desert Dwelling is part of a new public information campaign called "Tucson Water Runs Deep," which celebrates Tucsonans' shared heritage of wise water stewardship and seeks to educate residents on what it means to be a responsible desert dweller. View the online guide here or pick up a paper copy at the Ward 3 office.

Which Water Management Strategies are Most Important to You?

The One Water 2100 master planning process, through public feedback, identified water supply and conservation as the top two areas of concern. Now, Tucson Water needs your help to guide long-range decisions about Tucson's water management practices and its Capital Improvement Program. Follow the One Water 2100 website link below and take the water management strategy survey. Share the survey with friends, family, and neighbors because community input is important to our water future. You can take a quick look at the Our Water Story before taking the survey. This interactive tool provides an overview of what the One Water approach is, information about Tucson’s water resources, and highlights some of the conservation program achievements. The survey will be online through January 31st. Take it and learn more here

Sign Up for Tucson's Climate Action Report!   
2022 Climate Action Measurements from the December 16th Climate Action Report

You can use this link to subscribe to the Climate Action Report through the City Manager's Office:https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/AZTUCSON/subscriber/new

Home Heating Tips from the Tucson Fire Department 

With cold temperatures upon us, Tucson Fire Department (TFD) Deputy Chief Barrett Baker has some tips on keeping you warm and safe during our cooler months. Watch the video here for safety tips, such as keeping potentially flammable objects at least 3 feet away from a space heater and turning it off when you leave the room or go to sleep, keeping your furnace room clear of anything flammable and having it inspected at least once a year, and making sure the flue is open when using your fireplace and not using too much wood.

Tucson Water Discounts
Call 520-791-5443 to make an appointment or visit this site for more information: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/water/low-income-assistance-program

COVID-19 Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance

Funding requests for unpaid rent and utilities are available for up to 12 months in arrears and three months in advance. Those without internet access can call (520) 447-4423 to apply, and bilingual case managers are available. Go to this site for more information.