DISTRICT 5 DIGEST: JULY 2021
Welcome to District 5 Digest! Our mission of this newsletter is to demystify the role of local government in our community and keep you up to date with County politics. As a life long resident of District 5 and now as Pima County Supervisor, it has always been vital to our shared community to know what's going on in our community and how everyone can get involved. Please share widely with your community and as always, please reach out to our team at district5@pima.gov with any questions or concerns. This newsletter will highlight District 5's activities for July 2021.
Stay safe,
Photos & Media
The People of District 5
Youth Spotlight: 2021 TABY Youth Artists
Click on the arrow to the right for more photos!
On July 30th, the participants of the 2021 TABY Youth Art Project (Transportation Art By Youth) gathered at BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs 12th Ave. with members of the community (including Council Member Lane Santa Cruz, Mayor Regina Romero, and Supervisor Adelita S. Grijalva) to unveil the project they had been working on all summer. The youth artists painted acrylic murals celebrating Tucson's unique culture on concrete planters that will decorate La Doce - South 12th Avenue. The project was a collaboration between City of Tucson Ward 1, Department of Transportation and Mobility, Pima Association of Governments, and Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona. Pictured here is the teaching artist Tony Plak along with the youth artists (in alphabetical order) Angelita Carlos, Andrew Lomme, Charlie Valenzuela, Ellie Dorland, Emiliano Reyes, Maria Cazzato, Maya Castle, Neveah McKale, and Taranm Akbary. Congrats!
If you know a young person in our community who you think should be highlighted, please visit www.adelitasgrijalva.com/youth-spotlight and nominate a youth!
Business Spotlight: Kukai
Kukai is a family-owned business located in the MSA Annex, 267 S. Avenida del Convento #11. They describe themselves as a "Japanese Kitchen."
Both the Arizona Daily Star and This is Tucson have written glowing reviews. According to Sally Kane for the Star: "Kukai is a term for a revered Buddhist monk, poet, engineer or scholar. It’s a word for sky and sea. Kukai is also the answer for my weekly Japanese food fix, especially in these times."
*Photo courtesy of USA Restaurants https://usarestaurants.info/explore/united-states/arizona/pima-county/tucson/kukai-520-367-5982.htm
COVID-19 Updates
There are various ways to receive your COVID vaccine. For the most up to date information on how to get your free COVID-19 vaccine, please visit pima.gov/covid19vaccine.
The good news...
As of July 6th, 70% of Pima Residents 18 and older had gotten at least their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The other news...
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The CDC has moved Pima County's classification from moderate to substantial transmission.
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COVID-19 hospitalizations are up, and capacity is decreasing.
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Studies indicate that people who are fully vaccinated can still get infected with and transmit COVID-19. According to an August 5th memo from the County Administrator's office, we are in our fourth surge of the virus and breakthrough cases have doubled from June to July. It is strongly recommended that all Pima County residents wear masks while indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
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COVID-19 cases are rising in our K-12 age group. Between July 20th and July 30th there were 89 cases and 12 outbreaks in schools. There was only one unified school district open.
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Hospitals and pediatric units are reporting a greater number of children who have more severe COVID-19-like symptoms.
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On August 4th, the TUSD Governing Board voted unanimously for mask requirements in district schools.
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Please get your vaccine! It is approved for everyone 12 and older. Please protect those in our community who cannot yet get the vaccine.
Getting interviewed at the TCC pop-up vaccination site on July 31st
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For the most up to date information on COVID 19, vaccinations, and testing, please visit the Pima County Health Department's website.
Policy Updates
COVID-19 Emergency Resolution Repealed
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Many mandates, such as wearing a mask indoors even if vaccinated, had been repealed already.
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Supervisor Grijalva voted against repealing the resolution, but the motion passed 3-2.
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This sends the message that the pandemic is over when cases have been rising and we have had fully vaccinated people diagnosed with the virus.
Drowning Impact Awareness Month Proclamation
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Three water-related incidents occurred over the Fourth of July weekend, with one fatality.
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When school begins, there is usually a spike in drowning numbers, so please stay safe!
Knott Development Proposal at Kino Sports Complex
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This proposal was accepted. It includes the construction of a stadium, a gymnasium for indoor sports, and an Iceplex.
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Supervisor Grijalva did ask for slides to be provided with visuals so that the community can see what the proposed development looks like.
Return to In-Person Board of Supervisors Meeting
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The Board of Supervisors will potentially resume in-person meetings beginning August 16th.
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This item passed 3-2, with Supervisor Grijalva voting against it.
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There will be a separate area, the Administration Building Lobby for those who are unvaccinated, but people will not be asked for verification of their vaccination status.
Extra Board of Supervisor Meeting in August
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This item passed 3-2.
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The Board of Supervisors met only once in July. Supervisor Grijalva believes that the Board of Supervisors should have 2 meetings per month at the minimum.
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The meeting will be on August 10th.
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Women's Spotlight: Margo Cowan
A section to celebrate important women in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona State, United States.
Margo Cowan has served as a public defender since 1993 and specializes in criminal defense and immigration law. She was mentored by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta as a young organizer with the farmworker union. Margo co-founded No More Deaths, a community-based campaign of volunteers organized to help ensure migrants had necessary supplies. Since 2012 she has coordinated Keep Tucson Together, a project of
No More Deaths, which is a legal pro-bono organization to stop deportations and assist Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. She has also managed the Justice for All Campaign in Pima County since 2017, to collect 70,000 signatures from Pima County registered voters to put on the November 2022 ballot the proposal to institutionalize the right to publicly-funded defense counsel for all indigent residents and persons detained in Pima County in removal proceedings.
Ms. Cowan has devoted her life to helping others, and as she herself wrote, “All of my adult life has been devoted to giving voice to issues of human rights centered in the borderlands and its peoples. It is a great honor to serve.”
Thank you for your service, dedication and corazón Margo!
