City News

NewsNet 06-17-14

Posted June 17, 2014

ONLINE NEWS SITE: TUCSON ONE OF '10 BEST CITIES IN THE U.S. FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO RIDE' - Tucson regularly earns national and international recognition for being a bike-friendly community. The latest shout-out is from Bustle, an online news site "for and by women who are moving forward as fast as you are." It has included Tucson as one of the "10 Best Cities in the U.S. for People Who Love to Ride" bicycles and gives Tucson a number seven ranking. It mentions Tucson’s year-round warm weather and 700 miles of designated bike paths, making it an "ideal cycling city for diehards and dalliers alike." Read more at Bustle.com.

EFFORT TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN ARIZONA WILL NOT APPEAR ON NOVEMBER BALLOT - Safer Arizona, a cannabis-reform political-action committee, says it has stopped collecting signatures for its 2014 ballot initiative to legalize marijuana. The volunteer-driven initiative fell well below the 250,000 signatures necessary to get on the ballot, said Mikel Weisser, executive director for Safer Arizona. The organization lacked the funding and the manpower to collect all the required signatures, he said. Read more at from azcentral.com.

HUMANE SOCIETY STOPS ACCEPTING DOGS FOR ONE WEEK - The Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA) has stopped accepting dogs because of an increase in the number of cases of fatal distemper being discovered. HSSA says it needs a week to clean and sanitize the shelter. Officials say the shelter will begin accepting dogs again on June 23. In the meantime, they ask people to drop off canines at the Pima Animal Care Center. HSSA says there is no medication for the highly-contagious distemper virus that affects eye membranes and respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. Dogs brought in with the virus have been euthanized. Distemper can be prevented with a vaccine. Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.

ADOT LAUNCHES NEW DRIVER LICENSE, NEW APPLICATION PROCESS - As of yesterday, drivers applying for a new driver's license or identification card will use an updated process and receive a newly-designed license. Drivers visiting a Motor Vehicle Division office to get a new driver license now will leave with a temporary credential. The permanent license will be mailed to the customer within 15 days. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has launched an innovative, high-security credential format. Arizona is following a change occurring across the nation by many states with the production of a driver license with a background that contains numerous security features. Older driver's licenses or ID cards remain valid until their expiration dates - or at least until the 12-year mark when the photo needs to be updated.

CITY OF TUCSON REMOVING ABANDONED SHOPPING CARTS - If you see a shopping cart off store property, abandoned along the street, or sitting in a wash, please call the City of Tucson's Environmental Services (ES) department to have it removed. You can call Customer Service at (520) 791-3171 or use the 'My-Waste'™ app and choose the Report a Problem option. Watch a PSA about how the program works.

NewsNet 06-16-14

Posted June 16, 2014

CHINESE COMPANY TO BUY RECYCLED PRODUCTS FROM TUCSON - A Chinese company has entered into an agreement to buy the junk mail, cardboard boxes and newspapers that get thrown into the City's blue recycling bins. America Chung Nam Inc., or ACNI, will buy up to 100 ocean containers filled with recyclable paper each week. The goods will move from the Port of Tucson to China, where they will be turned into new paper. “This is a big economic development tool for our region,” said Stefan Baumann, director of business development for the Port of Tucson. He said some companies relocated to California to be close to the coast and keep transportation costs low. “Now we are like the Los Angeles port, but dry.” The Port of Tucson is an inland port that can service ocean freight. Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.

SILVERBELL ROAD IMPROVEMENTS OPEN HOUSE TONIGHT - The Tucson Department of Transportation and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) will host an open house tonight to discuss the landscape design and public art for the Silverbell Road improvements. The meeting runs from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the El Rio Neighborhood Center, 1390 W. Speedway. The project, which is part of the voter-approved RTA plan, will widen the stretch of North Silverbell between West Grant and West Goret roads to four lanes while adding pedestrian facilities, bicycle lanes, drainage improvements and native landscaping. Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.

CITY OF TUCSON AND UA TO COLLECT FOOD SCRAPS -  The City of Tucson and the University of Arizona will begin a pilot program June 30 that will collect food scraps from local restaurants and grocery stores to be used for compost. The scraps will be delivered to a compost facility operated by the UA Compost Cats on Tohono O'Odham Nation land. The City recently entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement with Compost Cats to divert food scraps and green waste. The compost is sold at Farmers' Markets and is used by the Tohono O’Odham Nation and the City’s Parks and Recreation Department. Food scraps represent a significant portion of the City's organic waste generation. Tucson's Environmental Services department will evaluate whether commercial businesses, such as grocery stores and restaurants, generate enough food scraps to develop a cost effective collection program. Read the news release.

TUCSON SOCCER ACADEMY COMPETING IN REGIONALS IN NEW MEXICO - The Tucson Soccer Academy's 98 Boys Red team is playing in this week's Region IV Championships in Albuquerque, following a second consecutive title win against powerhouse programs in Arizona. "The biggest thing they have going for them is chemistry," said Head Coach Jeff Rogers. "They all get along, they're good friends on and off the field, and the dynamics of the players have all come together and they mesh together in a really special way." The championships are expected to draw more than 4,500 players and an estimated 15,000 spectators. The U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Championships consist of championship teams from 14 state associations.

Sixth Avenue Underpass Closure

Posted June 16, 2014

Crews from the Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT) Streets and Traffic Maintenance Division will be performing maintenance work on the Sixth Avenue Underpass downtown to prepare the underpass for repainting. 

Because of this work, beginning Monday, June 16, 2014 through Friday, June 20, 2014 Sixth Avenue at the underpass will be closed daily from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians will be prohibited from using the underpass during the work hours.

Karin's Note: Friday, June 13, 2014

Posted June 13, 2014

Karin's Note: Friday, June 13, 2014
 
-Ward 3 Events
-Upcoming Area Neighborhood and Coalition Meeting(s)
-Citywide Events
-Did You Know?
 
**********************************************
Dear Tucsonans,
 
Here are a few updates. Our next Mayor and Council meeting will be held June 17th.
 
Shelter for Immigrant Youth
 

Street Bonds Road Recovery : Sealcoating Program

Posted June 10, 2014

Southern Arizona Paving and Construction Co, under contract with the City of Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT), will be sealcoating several Tucson roadways over the next two months as part of the voter-approved $100 million, five-year street bond program - Road Recovery.

The dates, work hours and locations for the next set of roadway improvements are listed below. The schedule is subject to change due to inclement weather.   

Dry Conditions Trigger Increased Fire Restrictions in Southeastern Arizona

Posted June 4, 2014

Effective Thursday, June 5, the Bureau of Land Management Gila District, all districts of the Coronado National Forest, Saguaro National Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Coronado National Memorial, Chiricahua National Monument, Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Tumacácori National Historical Park, and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument will increase campfire and smoking restrictions in southeastern Arizona, consistent with Arizona State Forestry Division fire restrictions already in place statewide.

 

Street Bonds Road Recovery : Sealcoating Program

Posted May 27, 2014

Southern Arizona Paving and Construction Co, under contract with the City of Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT), will be sealcoating several Tucson roadways over the next two months as part of the voter-approved $100 million, five-year street bond program - Road Recovery.

The dates, work hours and locations for the next set of roadway improvements are listed below. The schedule is subject to change due to inclement weather. Please note that the work will take place during the day.  

Street Bonds Recovery Sealcoating Program

Posted May 21, 2014

Southern Arizona Paving and Construction Co, under contract with the City of Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT), will be sealcoating several Tucson roadways over the next two months as part of the voter-approved $100 million, five-year street bond program - Road Recovery.

The dates, work hours and locations for the next set of roadway improvements are listed below. The schedule is subject to change due to inclement weather. Please note that the work will take place during the day.  

BASIS Buffel Bandits

Posted May 20, 2014

Today, Alamo Wash Park was "adopted" by the BASIS Buffel Bandits. Students from BASIS have been cleaning up Alamo Wash and other locations around town of both trash and invasive buffel grass. I was proud to see the kids congratulated for helping our community.

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