Garden District
Neighborhood Association
Grant to Speedway,
Swan to Alvernon
|
|
|
|
 |
NON - EMERGENCY POLICE
520-791-4444 NOT for crimes in progress.
FRONT DESK AT HARDESTY POLICE STATION 791-4253 8 to 5 pm M - Th Mask required.
LEAD POLICE OFFICERS:
Ofc. Scott Wakefield
520-589-8822
Ofc. Cory Atkinson
520-306-6430
TPD CSO Renet Martin Neighborhood Watch, share video/photos of criminals, report suspicious activity or on-going crime concerns
HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM 520.837.7425
tpdhot@tucsonaz.gov
For Services for the Homeless: 520-791-2540
RTA CONSTRUCTION ON GRANT Bob Roggenthen 520-349-3963 Bob.Roggenthen@tucsonaz.gov
|
|
|
|
CONTACT GARDEN DISTRICT NA
REPORT CODE VIOLATIONS, ROAD HAZARDS, GRAFFITI, ETC. 792-CITY (2489)
IF THE WRIGHT SCHOOL PARK IS LOCKED, CALL TUSD SECURITY 520-584-7676
AND PARKS & REC 520-791-4144
|
RECYCLING THIS WEEK
NO PLASTIC BAGS OR STYROFOAM IN RECYCLING
|
|
|
|
TRAFFIC COPS COMING TO A CORNER NEAR YOU SOON |
|
SPEEDING - You may have heard that Chief Kasmar has decided to deploy more officers to traffic enforcement. There are 15 motorcycle officers for the entire City of Tucson. In doing an analysis of traffic data, the Grant and Alvernon intersection is the #1 spot in the city for collisions. No surprise to us!
At our AGI meeting, Lt. Archibald warned that we definitely WILL see motorcycle cops at that intersection. He said the old saying goes, "A traffic cop will give a speeding ticket to his own mother." So, Lt. Archibald said he himself was going to be extra careful because if a traffic cop will give his mother a ticket, they will certainly give their lieutenant one.
UNSAFE DRIVING - The photo above is from the accident at Catalina and Lee last week when a man failed to yield at the Yield sign at the intersection. Amazingly, since the car's roll over action was stopped by the telephone pole, no one was injured seriously, though the couple who were trapped in the car say the mental/emotional scars will never fade.
Multiple residents and the couple involved in the accident did contact the Ward VI office and the Department of Transportation and Mobility about this intersection that has been shown time and again to be unsafe. The Ward office wrote back within a couple days saying that a work order had been initiated and that the Yield sign should be replaced by a Stop sign. Thank you to our Councilmember Steve Kozachik, our Ward VI aide, Dora, and the residents who took action and contacted Steve K. and the City. Their active engagement has made a difference for all in the safety of our neighborhood.
|
|
BE YOUR OWN BEST ADVOCATE AND
CONTACT THE CITY
WHEN THERE ARE PROBLEMS.
BE THE SQUEAKY WHEEL!
Contact Steve Kozachik and copy our Ward VI aide, Dora Maldonado to express your concerns and ask for help in resolving problems. Think a stop sign is necessary at an intersection? Or that a Yield sign needs to be changed to a Stop sign, report it to the Ward Office. Think speeding, red light running, ignoring traffic laws is an issue on our streets, let the Ward office know.
Speed Humps and traffic circles: Especially with all the cut through traffic from construction lately, a number of residents have inquired about installing traffic calming infrastructure on some of our streets. The city says residents can request a speed hump, but the residents have to pay for it at the price of $4,500-$5,000 per speed hump and $5,000-$5,800 per speed table. Traffic Circles are in the $10,000 range. That's a lot of money to expect citizens to raise to protect life, home, and property.
Once a year, each Ward is allowed to offer five - only 5 - speed humps for $500 each to neighborhoods. With 40 registered neighborhood associations in Ward VI alone, you can imagine, those 5 humps are quickly applied for and awarded, plus the Ward office has to ensure the speed humps are spread out equitably throughout all of Ward VI.
Contact Steve Kozachik at Ward VI expressing the urgent needs in our neighborhoods for more traffic calming devices and an affordable avenue for receiving them. FIVE speed humps spread out over such a huge area and over 40 neighborhoods is not anywhere near adequate for servicing the needs of the citizens of Tucson.
|
|
WHAT TO DO ABOUT A WATER LEAK |
|
The infrastructure under many of our streets is old, in some cases 70 years old. Recently, some dog walkers noticed large puddles on two residential streets - on Justin along the curb and on Isabel in the middle of the street. They kept an eye on the puddles and when the water did not dry up over a period of a few days, they looked more closely and discovered small bubbles from water seeping up from underground.
Call the Tucson Water Emergency line at 520-791-4133
In the past, leaks were fixed and cleaned up quickly by Tucson Water, but, as is the case in so many businesses since the pandemic, the Water Department is short staffed and it is taking them longer to fix than in the past. The sooner we call a leak in, though, the sooner it gets fixed and the less water wasted.
The crew that fixed the leaking pipes on Justin said that in the early 90's a contractor used polybutylene pipes to connect the water main to home meters. Polybutylene was very popular at the time, but it was later discovered that it becomes very brittle and only holds up about 15 years before leaking. In fact, Polybutylene is no longer used or even legal in building codes.
The Tucson Water contractor replacing the leaking polybutylene pipes on Justin said he thought his crew would be back soon because he was willing to bet that there was polybutylene all the way down Justin from Village to Alvernon and probably elsewhere in the neighborhood. Please call in water leaks when you see them!
|
|
VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR MAY ELECTION IS TOMORROW |
|
The deadline to register to vote in next month's City of Tucson Special Election is Monday, April 18, at 11:59 p.m.
You can register online and check your registration information at the links below. The City of Tucson is asking voters on May 17 to extend the existing temporary half-cent sales tax that was approved by voters in 2017 and expires this year. All pertinent information about the election is available online in "The Choice is Yours" publicity pamphlet linked below. The publication will also be mailed this week to registered voters. If passed, the funds generated would be invested to improve every local neighborhood street in Tucson over the next 10 years. It would also fund street safety projects that benefit all users and modes, such as bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements, sidewalks, lighting, traffic signal technology, and traffic-calming infrastructure.
|
|
PROPOSITION 411 INFO PAMPHLET FOR MAY ELECTION NOW ONLINE |
|
Prop 411 is not a tax increase. It is a continuation of an existing half-cent sales tax. For more info about Prop 411, click the links below.
'THE CHOICE IS YOURS' PROPOSITION 411 PUBLICITY PAMPHLET IS NOW ONLINE - The City of Tucson is asking voters on May 17 to extend the existing temporary half-cent sales tax that was approved by voters in 2017 and expires this year. The ballot language and all other pertinent information about the election is available online in "The Choice is Yours" publicity pamphlet (link below), which will also be mailed this week to registered voters. If passed, the funds generated would be invested to improve every local neighborhood street in Tucson over the next 10 years. It would also fund street safety projects that benefit all users and modes, such as bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements, sidewalks, lighting, traffic signal technology, and traffic-calming infrastructure.
|
|
TAKE A SURVEY ABOUT HUMAN AND URBAN WILDLIFE INTERACTIONS |
|
"Are you a resident of Tucson, Arizona? Do you want to contribute to research that will help urbanites safely minimize urban wildlife conflict? Take this 5–20-minute survey to help a local wildlife student collect data about human-wildlife interactions here in Tucson. The survey is anonymous and no personal information is needed.
An Institutional Review Board responsible for human subjects research at The University of Arizona reviewed this research project and found it to be acceptable, according to applicable state and federal regulations and University policies designed to protect the rights and welfare of participants in research.”
Once you start the survey, you do need o complete it or you cannot return.
|
|
'TUCSON MEANS BUSINESS' FORUM AND OFFICE HOURS AT COUNCIL WARDS |
|
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC INITIATIVES TO HOLD 'TUCSON MEANS BUSINESS' FORUM AND OFFICE HOURS AT COUNCIL WARDS - Business owners, and those interested in starting a business, are invited to a "Tucson Means Business" forum on May 12, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at City Hall, 255 W. Alameda St. The free event will offer the opportunity to meet with department directors and staff to learn best practices for operating a business in the City of Tucson. Starting with a welcome from Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, the forum will cover how to do business in, and with, the City of Tucson and how to access business capital and resources. Topics include: business licenses, building permits, inspections, certificates of occupancy, vendor registration, business safety, and more. Participants will hear presentations and will be able to network with forum speakers. Starting today, April 11, business owners can meet directly with a business navigator to ask questions and receive guidance on topics such as licenses, permits, funding, and more. The first hours will be today from 1-4 p.m., at the Ward 1 office, 940 W. Alameda St.
|
|
CITY OF TUCSON & PIMA COUNTY JOB FAIR |
|
CITY OF TUCSON AND PIMA COUNTY HOST JOB FAIR - Are you motivated by serving your community and interested in working for local government? Don't miss the collaborative City of Tucson/Pima County job fair
WHEN: Tuesday, April 19
TIME: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
WHERE: Kino Event Center, 2500 E. Ajo Way.
Both jurisdictions are hiring for multiple positions across multiple departments. The City of Tucson offers competitive wages, paid holidays, a generous health insurance plan, and a stable pension. You can apply for any of our jobs online by following the link below.
|
|
NEW NUMBER FOR SERVICES AND HELP FOR THE HOMELESS |
|
INFO FROM COUNCILMEMBER KOZACHIK'S 4/11/22 NEWSLETTER:
If you see someone who appears to be unhoused and may be in need of services, please keep this number handy. Unfortunately, it’s not quite yet up and running – May 1st is the ‘go live’ date – and even then, it’ll only be useful from 8am until 5pm, Monday through Friday.
NOTE: That number is NOT for people to call asking to have an encampment moved. That number remains the same: TPD Homeless Outreach Team 520.837.7425
The below number is for offering housing, medical, food, mental health services, etc. assistance to people you see on the street.
|
|
PACC URGES RABBITS BE VACCINATED AGAINST DEADLY DISEASE |
|
PET CONNECTION: VACCINATE YOUR RABBIT - Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) is making an urgent plea to rabbit owners to get their pets vaccinated. In the video linked below, PACC's Nikki Reck says the fatal virus, known as RHDV2, has been seen in the community and can cause a swift death in domestic and wild rabbits.
|
|
PARKS AND REC CENTERS GOING BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC HOURS |
|
Beginning Monday, May 2, Tucson Parks and Recreation will resume pre-pandemic center hours and programing. All lobbies, game rooms, locker rooms, and showers will be open, and there will not be restrictions on group size, except for maximum capacities.
In addition, the on-site Senior Meal Program, a partnership with Pima Council on Aging (PCOA) and Catholic Social Services, will return to normal operating hours and locations. Senior transportation will resume for specific sites. Senior and youth programs will once again offer field trips and luncheon events.
Masks are no longer required at City facilities but are still recommended where physical distancing is not possible. A facility membership or a daily fee will be required for recreation center access. For more information, call the recreation center near you.
Visit the Tucson Parks and Recreation website at Tucsonaz.gov/parks for more information on locations, amenities, memberships, and hours of operation.
|
|
GET UP TO $400 IN VOUCHERS WHEN YOU TURN IN WORKING GAS POWERED EQUIPMENT |
|
Residents:
Resident (Homeowner or tenant) using equipment to maintain their own personal property may turn in one gas powered lawn mower and up to five different gas powered hand held devices, such as one leaf blower, one chainsaw, one string trimmer, one edger, one hedge trimmer, one tiller, etc.
One Gas mower = $150 voucher
Gas hand held devices = $50 each, up to 5 devices
Commercial:
Professional landscapers or owners of businesses, apartment complexes, community gardens, etc. who maintain their business properties are eligible to turn in an unlimited amount of gas powered lawn mowers and hand held devices such as leaf blowers, chainsaws, string trimmers, edgers, hedge trimmers, tillers, etc.
Gas mower = $200 voucher each, unlimited
Gas hand held devices = $50 voucher each, unlimited
Turn in GASOLINE POWERED:
- Lawn mower
- Chain saw
- Leaf blower/vacuum
- Hedge trimmer
- String trimmer
- Tiller
- Edger
What lawn & garden equipment may I purchase with a voucher?
$150 resident or $200 commercial voucher:
Electric or battery powered lawn mower.
$50 voucher:
Electric, battery or manual lawn and garden devices and tools including:
- Broom
- Chain saw
- Edger
- Grass or hedge shears
- Hedge trimmer
- Hula-ho weeder
- Leaf blower/vacuum
- Leaf shredder/mulcher
- Machete
- Pole saw
- Pruner/lopper
- Rake
- Saws: extendable pole saw, fixed blade saw, bow saw, folding saw
- String trimmer
- Tiller
- Weed cutter
|
|
Since the start of the Spring Cleanup, the combined volunteer and staff effort has included 441 volunteers from City of Tucson and Tucson Clean & Beautiful events, 240 bags of litter collected, and 502.43 tons of debris collected by the City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility Streets staff.
TAKE PART IN A SPRING CLEANUP EVENT - Celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day by joining Mayor Regina Romero’s Earth Day Cleanup at Arcadia Wash, Vice Mayor Lane Santa Cruz for the South 12th Avenue Street Painting, and Council Member Nikki Lee for an Arbor Day Tree Planting at Purple Heart Park. Limited shirts and stickers are available at every event. Find all dates and details by following the link below.
|
|
EARTH DAY FESTIVAL - FREE ADMISSION CHILDREN'S MUSEUM |
|
Free Admission All Day!
Where: Children's Museum Tucson
When: April 23, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
|
|
FAIR HOUSING TOWN HALL NEXT WEEK |
|
FAIR HOUSING TOWN HALL NEXT WEEK - Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and Housing and Community Development Director Liz Morales will participate in a virtual town hall on, Friday, April 22, at noon, to discuss fair housing. This event is in celebration of Fair Housing Month in Tucson and throughout the country. Also joining the webinar panel will be Jay Young, executive director of the Southwest Fair Housing Council and a member of the Commission on Equitable Housing and Development. The panel will talk about the successes and challenges in achieving fair housing in Tucson. On April 11, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the landmark Civil Rights Act, which included Title VIII, known as the Fair Housing Act, that “prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, (and as amended) handicap, and family status.”
|
|
EL RIO AT GRANT AND DODGE NOW OPEN |
|
JOIN THE WYLAND NATIONAL MAYORS' CHALLENGE FOR WATER CONSERVATION |
|
JOIN THE WYLAND NATIONAL MAYORS' CHALLENGE FOR WATER CONSERVATION - "My Water Pledge" is a friendly competition between cities across the United States to see who can be the most “water-wise.” Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and mayors nationwide are challenging their residents to conserve water, energy, and other natural resources through a series of informative, easy-to-use pledges online. Tucson has won the pledge four times in its population category (300,000-599,999). Last year, the challenge awarded more than $50,000 in prizes to nearly 300 residents in U.S. cities. You can make your conservation pledge at the link below. The contest ends April 30.
|
|
APRIL IS WATER AWARENESS MONTH |
|
APRIL IS WATER AWARENESS MONTH - "Water Awareness Month: Now, More Than Ever" is underway. The special month, organized by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, is an annual outreach campaign to spread the word about the value of conserving water in the Southwest, the region's most precious natural resource. Details about all of the April events are available on the Water Awareness Month website linked below.
|
|
EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC APRIL 30 |
|
Looking forward to:
Beginning of May
Grand Opening of a new
Little Free Library
on Bell next to
the Community Garden
Installation of Neighborhood
Identification Signs
Porch Fest 2022 and Plant Swap/Give Away in the Fall
Brush and Bulky Curbside pick up - Aug. 8, 2022
|
|
WARD VI NEWSLETTER FROM STEVE KOZACHIK |
|
Read the Ward VI newsletter by clicking here:
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/AZTUCSON/bulletins/312ec0b
Date: 04/11/2022
Topics in This Issue:
- Humanizing the Homeless
- City Homeless Response
- Refugees
- Urban Forestry and Native Plant Preservation Ordinance (NPPO)
- Earth Day at Watershed Management Group
- COVID Vaccines
- Sustainable Tucson
- COVID Update
|
|
Council Member Steve Kozachik
3202 E 1st Street
Tucson, AZ 85716
Ph: 520.791.4601
|
|
FREE WATER HARVESTING CLASSES AND REBATE INFORMATION |
|
Click here for information on $2.000 rebate from Tucson Water for active and passive rainwater harvesting. Also, click here for more info from Pima County.
|
|
SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED GARDEN DISTRICT
BE SURE TO LET THE BUSINESS KNOW YOU ARE FROM GARDEN DISTRICT AND
WHERE YOU READ ABOUT THEM!
|
|
Thank you to the following Garden District businesses for donating to our neighborhood identification signs. We appreciate their partnership and support of our neighborhood. When you visit these businesses, please be sure to tell them you are a Garden District resident and you read about them in our email newsletter.
|
|
|
Tellurian Eco Design: Stephen Monroe
(520) 342 9761
Designing With Nature: Rainwater, Greywater, and Stormwater Harvesting, Passive Solar Landscape Integration, Design+Build, Consultations
Qualify for up to $2000 with City Rebates
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Garden District Dairy Queen coming summer, 2022 at Alvernon and Lee.
|
|
|
1725 N. Swan every day 10-5
letsplay@mildredanddildred.com
Free local delivery our neighborhood: orders $30 or more!
Voted "Best Toy Store" in Tucson Weekly 2021
|
|
|
|
520.326.9363
3719 E Speedway
|
|
|
|
Arizona's got the sun.
We've got the skill.
You get the power.
520-207-4053
|
|
|
|
|
|
2130 N Alvernon Way
(520) 303-3945
A Journey into the Spirit of Japan
|
|
3959 E. Mabel St.
520.477.9324
|
|
|
|
1225 N. Catalina Ave.
520-299-1582 TTY 711
Charming, quiet, garden-style "all studio" apartment community with pool
|
|
|
|
Servicing vehicles of all makes.
4373 E Speedway Blvd
(520)477-0582
|
|
|
|
|
Opening of new facility at 4585 E Speedway
expected Spring, 2022
Call Us: (520) 327-4505
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SIGN A NEIGHBOR UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER |
|
Please forward and share this e-newsletter with neighbors. Communication and making connections with each other -- that is what will turn us from a collection of houses and apartments into a neighborhood, from strangers into neighbors. We only have a small portion of the neighborhood on this email list.
To sign up, you can either reply to a newsletter or sign up on our neighborhood website. thegardendistrict.org
YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTACT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY HITTING REPLY TO A NEWSLETTER OR GOING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WEBSITE thegardendistrict.org Complete the Online Form.
|
|
GARDEN DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
DEPENDS ON YOUR GENEROSITY TO FUND NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS
|
|
Garden District Neighborhood Association does not charge dues and has no means other than fundraisers or your generous donations for raising funds for GDNA's many different projects in the neighborhood. We are a registered 501(C)3 for your tax deductible donations.
Make checks payable to "Garden District" and mail to.
GDNA
c/o Lois Pawlak
P.O. Box 32384
Tucson, AZ 85751
When you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon donates 0.5% of your eligible purchases - at no cost to you.Designate “Garden District” in Tucson as your charity and support your favorite neighborhood!
Garden District Location: Tucson, AZ
|
|
Garden District Neighborhood
Association Information
|
|
AGI (Alvernon/Grant Initiative) Crime Meeting with Tucson Police and
Neighborhoods and Businesses surrounding Grant and Alvernon
2nd Tuesday of EVERY month, 6:00PM
Location and whether in person or Zoom will be announced in this newsletter.
Garden District Neighborhood Association Quarterly Meetings - Time and date will be announced in this newsletter.
|
|
QUADRANT LEADERS:
NW (PIma to Grant, Alvernon to Columbus) - Lois Pawlak 325-7611
SW (Pima to Speedway, Alvernon to Columbus) - Kris Yarter 370-7679 Phyllis Montgomery 248-9915
YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTACT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY HITTING REPLY TO A NEWSLETTER OR GOING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WEBSITE thegardendistrict.org AND COMPLETING THE ONLINE FORM.
|
|
"TAKE A BOOK. LEAVE A BOOK"
GARDEN DISTRICT'S LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES
|
Little Free Library NW 1 - Justin and Lester
Little Free Library NW 2 - North St. between Isabel and Marion
Little Free Library SW 1 - Bryant and Fairmount
Little Free Library SW 2 - 4044 E. Pima
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
