TERM IN REVIEW
As we come to the end of 2024 and our first term in office, I want to thank our amazing D5 community for your support and trust. When joining the Pima County Board of Supervisors in January 2021, alongside a coalition representing education, labor, environmental, non-profit and others, our office began to create and implement the Somos D5 Strategic Plan, which has guided our work. It has been incredibly rewarding to recognize the impact of our plan, in collaboration with our community, my colleagues on the board, and Pima County staff​ who are all committed to protecting and enhancing our beautiful environment and unique cultural heritage while finding innovative ways to support our community and its needs.
We have preserved and protected our Sonoran Desert and its valuable riparian habitat, developed other protections and strategies for clean air and clean water, and promoted measures to slow and mitigate the negative forces of climate change. We have elevated and amplified Indigenous voices and partnerships, developed affordable housing, and created and funded quality early childhood education. We championed protections and policies that provide our community with programs to improve mental health, broaden access to healthcare, and expand critical public services. Our past four years demonstrate that government can do great work through collaboration, perseverance, and ganas. We look forward to our continued partnership in the years to come.
Mil gracias,
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Adelita Grijalva is the first Latina elected to the Pima County Board of Supervisors and served in leadership roles for all four years of her first term (Vice Chair in 2021-2022 and Chair 2023-2024). Chair Grijalva has been a strong advocate for the needs of Pima County and has championed working with coalitions to address the major issue areas facing our community, including housing people can afford, public education, environmental quality and climate resiliency, and healthy and safe communities.
Under her leadership, some of Pima County’s most significant accomplishments include:
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Prioritizing health, safety, access to resources and community engagement for all Pima County residents through policy, including prioritizing affordable housing through the establishment of dedicated funding, the expenditure of millions of dollars in federal recovery funds, expanding broadband network access, establishment of tenant assistance and eviction prevention legal services programs, removing barriers to voting through creation of vote centers, and pursuing resolutions and ordinances on firearms regulations and on limiting tobacco use and vaping.
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Strengthening Pima County’s stance on climate change and associated environmental concerns, recognizing the need to preserve and enhance our community through the development of water conservation, wildlife and riparian protections, policy changes to accommodate sustainable practices and the acquisition for protection of sensitive lands and important open space. Recognizing the reality of extreme weather conditions and droughts and continuing to oppose further destruction or damage to our natural environment by harmful practices like mining, destructive development, and pollutants-emitting industry.
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Partnerships have allowed for opportunities through shared funding with community and government organizations. Improving and expanding the collaboration with the City of Tucson, and other municipalities, gave Pima County the ability to address regional issues and resolve and manage extreme challenges, including the fentanyl and opioid crisis, an unprecedented number of asylum seekers, the rise of region-wide homelessness and the Covid-19 pandemic and recovery.
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Promoting Pima County as the employer of choice by improved benefits and compensation, enhancing and strengthening Pima County policies and practices, employee health and safety protections and regular public recognition of employee contributions and highlighting exemplary employees in Pima County.