Ward 5 Update
By Councilmember Richard Fimbres
It has been an honor and privilege serving as your Councilmember for Tucson’s Ward 5.
During my time on the Council a lot has happened and we have faced challenges but as I have said, “when times are tough, Tucsonans roll up their sleeves and come together to solve the challenge.”
It has been a pleasure working with my colleagues on the Council as well as with the constituents, neighborhoods and businesses in Ward 5, the City of Tucson, Pima County, the State of Arizona and our national elected officials.
Our work continues to bring Tucson through the dark economic tunnel that we’ve been in since the Great Recession and now with the COVID-19 health pandemic and economic fallout.
My work is not done and we must continue the work to get Ward 5 and Tucson through the COVID-19 health pandemic and economic fallout and continue the Renaissance of Ward 5 and the Southside.
When I was sworn into office, I heard the message voters sent in terms of what was needed: reforming city government, economic development and creating jobs.
New businesses to Ward 5
During my time on the Council, we have accomplished much of this, drawing new businesses to Ward 5, helping other businesses expand their operations, annexing property and fighting to ensure that barriers to economic development are addressed, and that doors for new businesses are open.
What we have done, thanks to these efforts, has created much needed economic development and has led to the Renaissance of Ward 5, the South Side and the whole City. Through the great working relationships with Ward 5 Neighborhood Associations, we have achieved a lot for Ward 5. I thank them for working with me on the many projects that have occurred in the Ward.
I have held meetings, Business and Community Forums, and have updated constituents on issues of concern as well as through Email, Facebook and our newsletter. I have worked hard to try to keep you informed of what is going on and to make Ward 5 a better place.
My efforts also included how the City of Tucson government works and to improve how your taxpayer dollars are spent?
Certificate of Occupancy Process and the Land Use Code
While on the Council, I have brought changes to the Certificate of Occupancy Process and the Land Use Code which has resulted in hundreds of new businesses opening their doors, employing many Tucsonans and generating hundreds of millions in revenue.
For Tucson to succeed, the City government must spend its limited dollars wisely, and with that, I brought forward changes to how the City spends its money for goods and services.
For example, I have led the effort to change how the City purchases materials by utilizing the P-Card, instead of writing checks, ensuring accountability and saving the City millions and now getting a rebate check of over $1.0 million dollars, thanks to using the P-Card.
Bring Back the Splash
Working with the private sector, I formed the campaign to “Bring Back the Splash,” which raised $100,000 in sponsorships and opened eight city swimming pools that were to be closed due to budget cuts.
I brought forward a proposal to end the restrictions on advertising on Sun Tran buses. My proposal generated more than $800,000 in advertising revenue for Sun Tran and more than $200,000 for Sun Link.
I brought forward the proposal to have the City of Tucson to go with all-vote-by-mail elections, which has increased voter turnout, ended voter intimidation and saved the City $600,000 to $1,000,000 each City election cycle.
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I worked to finish the World War II Memorial that is in Armory Park, an 8 ½ year project that honored those 400 Tucsonans, from the Greatest Generation, who paid the ultimate sacrifice and didn’t come back.
I brought forward the proposal to change the City of Tucson’s impoundment vehicle process that brought in millions for the City for cost recovery. Prior to this proposal, the City was getting nothing in return for the impounded vehicles that had been abandoned by their owners.
New ideas, new approach, proven results.
I have led the fight to keep the Cherrybell Post Office and Processing Center open and my efforts have taken Cherrybell from being closed in 2011 to still operating ten years later. Cherrybell serves 1.5 million people in Southern Arizona and 26,000 businesses. Seniors get their pension checks in the mail and Veterans, Seniors and others get their prescriptions through the mail from Cherrybell. It is important that Tucson and Southern Arizona’s post office and processing center remains open. It is important for further growth in Southern Arizona.
I helped to secure funding for the annual Tucson Veterans Day Parade. Every Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day, I take thank you cards and letters, made by school children from Ward 5, to the Southern Arizona V.A. Hospital to present to Veterans at the Hospital to thank them for their service.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day March
I helped to secure funding for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March that has been held on the holiday honoring the work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I am working with city staff and developers to build more affordable housing, including the Rio Viejo, Rio Mercado, affordable senior and veteran housing at Allen Hall and a project at Drexel and Country Club, naming three of several in Ward 5.
I created the Tucson Homeless Work Program (HWP), an effort that helps to clean roadways, streets, traffic circles, alleys, and parcels while getting the homeless who are doing this work into services and housing. This is not a government program, but a partnership between the private sector, service providers and city and county government which has shown results.
Tucson Homeless Coalition
I created the Tucson Homeless Coalition, like I did for the Pima County Reentry Coalition, and helped solve the issues dealing with blankets, shelters and other issues at hand.
First with the opening of many new businesses at the Bridges and across Ward 5, this has resulted in the creation of more than 13,000 new jobs in Ward 5. Then, Thanks to my work with the neighborhood associations, Ward 5 has opportunities for jobs, business development and to work and raise a family, something these neighborhoods had long advocated for.
New businesses, new jobs, new opportunities for our community and our future.
During my time on the Council, a lot has been accomplished to get Tucson back on its feet, but there is work still to be done and is something I look forward to continue doing.
