ALL SOULS PROCESSION THIS WEEKEND - One of Tucson's signature events happens Sunday, as the 25th annual All Souls Procession makes its way through Downtown Tucson. Thousands of people are expected in costumes and skeleton face paint to honor the dead. The procession will follow a two-mile route from Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue to the finale at Mercado San Agustin. Even though the big event starts at approximately 6:30 p.m. Sunday (gathering begins at 4 p.m.), activities begin Saturday with the Procession of Little Angels, 3 p.m. - dusk, at Armory Park, 221 S. 6th Ave. Organized by Many Mouths One Stomach, a nonprofit arts collective, the free event draws participants from across the country and the world. Parking is available at four garages downtown, or you can take the Sun Link Tucson Streetcar to the downtown area from the University of Arizona, 4th Avenue, or Mercado San Agustin, just west of downtown. For this Sunday only, the streetcar will run until 11 p.m. Read more from the Arizona Daily Star, and note traffic restrictions.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL REVISE GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT POLICY - The Mayor and Tucson City Council yesterday voted to raise the self-imposed limit on General Obligation Bonds the City can issue. Current policy limits the combined primary and secondary property tax rate to a maximum of $1.50 per $100 of assessed value. The Council voted to increase the limit to the $1.75 per $100 maximum listed in the City Charter. The $1.75 figure is still well below the State of Arizona's imposed limit. While this change gives the City the capacity to issue approximately $70 million in additional bonds, those bonds cannot be issued without first being approved by voters. Read the Mayor and Council agenda materials.
AED CHALLENGE WINNER ANNOUNCED - University EMS received $5,000 yesterday for winning the HeartMap Challenge AED Scavenger Hunt. The team found the highest number of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in Pima County. The goal of the AED scavenger hunt, which ran Sept. 3- 30, was to raise awareness about AEDs and to build a comprehensive database of the devices’ locations. More than 1,300 AEDs were found in the Pima County by 170 participants. AEDs are electronic, briefcase size devices designed to allow bystanders to help someone who has collapsed during a cardiac arrest prior to the arrival of emergency medical services. Read the news release, and see photos of check presentation on TFD Facebook page.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (HHW) COLLECTION SATURDAY - The City of Tucson is holding a Household Hazardous Waste collection Saturday at the El Rio Neighborhood Center, 1390 W. Speedway Blvd., from 8 a.m. until noon. Accepted materials include chemicals, oils, pesticides, automotive fluids and batteries, rechargeable batteries, toxic cleaning products, fluorescent lamps, paints, solvents, lawn and garden products, and computer equipment ($2 for monitors without computer). Drop off at HHW is free for City of Tucson residents.
Download the 'My-Waste'™ app
Watch archived video about HHW, produced by Tucson 12
PARKS AND RECREATION OFFERS DISCOUNTS TO LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS - City of Tucson Parks and Recreation offers discounts that allow low-income residents to pay a 50 percent discounted fee for KIDCO, Jr. Leadership, In-Betweener's, Learn-to-Swim, and therapeutic programs. There also is a 25 percent discount for annual/quarterly passes at recreation centers and for a Senior Activity Card. To qualify for the discounts, you must be a City of Tucson resident, provide ID and address verification, and be able to prove your income falls within the discount guidelines. You can apply at any Parks and Recreation office. For more details on the requirements for the discounts, call Registration Services at (520) 791-4877.
