Vice Mayor Paul Cunningham
Paul's Note - July 19th, 2019
Posted July 19, 2019
Growing up, I knew Todd Harris as a standout athlete for Sahuaro High School. He was a big guy, but he had a teddy bear charisma. He was probably the friendliest guy you will ever meet. I got to cross paths with him because of our mutual involvement in youth sports, particularly football and soccer.
Like me, he joined the Army after High School, but unlike me, he became career Army. He was a part of the storied 10th Mountain Division. His service brought him to Afghanistan. On November 3rd, 2010, he was killed in an insurgent attack on his unit.
Paul's Note - July 12, 2019
Posted July 12, 2019
Two TV stations ran a story about a crosswalk on our side of town. I got some calls about it because it affected many of my constituents. There had been a marked crosswalk at Stella and Wilmot.
Paul's Note - July 3, 2019
Posted July 3, 2019
It’s not the Mississippi, or even the Colorado, but it’s been amazing to see water flowing in the Santa Cruz again. This is especially true if you are a native Tucsonan like me that grew up hearing stories about when our river flowed.
Houghton Road Update
Posted July 1, 2019
Valencia Road to Mary Ann Cleveland Way: Utility relocation work is being conducted along South Houghton Road between Valencia Road and Mary Ann Cleveland Way in advance of the City of Tucson roadway improvement project in that segment. Crews for both Century Link and Southwest Gas have been relocating or replacing underground lines since early June. The telecommunications work is scheduled for completion inearly September, while the gas line replacement is expected to continue into winter of 2019.
Paul's Note - June 28, 2019
Posted June 28, 2019
Many of you know about our household hazardous waste drop off we have at the east side complex on the first Saturday. That normally means we’d be due for one next Saturday (July 6th). Unfortunately, because of the July 4th holiday, the Environmental Services Department was not able to get the volunteers that normally staff the drop off.
Paul's Note - July 21, 2019
Posted June 21, 2019
The first public item in our council agenda on Tuesday was trees.
Well, it was called “Presentation on the Environmental, Economic and Health Benefits from a Healthy Urban Tree Canopy System,” but that was really a long way of saying that we talked about trees.
Councilmember Kozachik and I requested that we have a presentation on the subject of what Dr. Tanya Quist, the University of Arizona professor who spoke to us, calls urban forestry.
El Día de San Juan Fiesta
Posted June 20, 2019
Tucson Water invites you to the official Santa Cruz River Heritage Project Release Party, to be held in conjunction with the 22nd Annual El Día de San Juan Fiesta. Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, Council Member Regina Romero, and Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías will speak at the event. Join us on Monday, June 24 at 4:30 p.m. to celebrate!
Location: 1580 S Santa Cruz Lane
Paul's Note - June 14, 2019
Posted June 14, 2019
Bypasses are devices that allow some people to dash from point A to point B very fast while other people dash from point B to point A very fast.
People living at point C, being a point directly in between, are often given to wonder what's so great about point A that so many people from point B are so keen to get there, and what's so great about point B that so many people from point A are so keen to get there. They often wish that people would just once and for all work out where the hell they wanted to be. – Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Paul's Note - June 7, 2019
Posted June 7, 2019
In last week’s newsletter, I had a short blurb about the tariffs that the President threatened against Mexico. In a Tweet, the President promised a 5% tariff on goods from Mexico starting next week. These tariffs could rise as high to 25% by September according to the schedule in the President’s plan.
We all need to understand what the economic impact would be to raise prices on goods from Arizona’s biggest trading partner.
Half Staff Notification: Virginia Beach
Posted June 3, 2019
In coordination with the Presidential proclamation, Governor Ducey has ordered flags at all state buildings be lowered to half-staff immediately until sunset on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 in honor of the victims of the Virginia Beach shooting.
Paul's Note - May 31, 2019
Posted May 31, 2019
I’d like to start with a reminder that we will be hosting a Ward 2 town hall on June 5 at 6 pm here at the Ward 2 office (doors open at 5:30).
Speakers will include Diana Alarcon who directs the Transportation Department and Brent Dennis from Parks and Recreation. Diana is still relatively new on the job and this will be her first Ward 2 town hall. Brent came out to the office when we had a community meeting on Ft. Lowell Park two weeks ago.
Free Swim and Recreation this Summer
Posted May 28, 2019
The City of Tucson invites kids ages 17 and under to beat the heat at City pools and recreation centers for free this summer. Throughout June and July, youth will pay no admission fee at 13 City of Tucson Parks and Recreation centers during open recreation hours
Due to other center programming, ages 12-17 are permitted after 2 p.m. and ages 7 and up are permitted after 6 p.m. A list of participating recreation centers can be found at www.tucsonaz.gov/parks
Weekly Update - May 24, 2019
Posted May 24, 2019
In last week’s update, I mentioned that the Palo Verde Park Neighborhood Association is working with the Pima Animal Care Center to put on a free microchip event for dogs. This will be at Arizona Beer House (150 S Kolb Road, near Broadway) on June 1st from 8 – 10 am.
The American Kennel Club states that every year, one third of dogs will become lost. Microchipping them goes a long way to help ensure that your dog will get back to you safely.
Paul's Note - May 17, 2019
Posted May 17, 2019
I attended a ceremony to honor Jeffrey Ross, a Tucson Police officer who was gunned down in 1982. We unveiled a plaque in his honor on Thursday. Here is a bit from the plaque:
Jeffrey H. Ross was a beloved friend, son, brother and husband who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting his community.
Paul's Note - May 10, 2019
Posted May 10, 2019
We had a number of items that we discussed at Tuesday’s council meeting. One of the less controversial, but important ones, was our age-friendly city action plan.