22ndstreet.info launched for widening project

TUCSON -- New website for RTA controversial 22nd St. widening project.

Recent crime stats for neighborhood and city

TUCSON -- Crime report from NSN and TPD for Barrio Santa Rita Park.

Click here for city-wide listings.

Stats at these links are continuously updated.

22nd St. widening committee meets Th. Nov 13

TUCSON -- The newly formed citizens oversight committee will hold its first meeting Thurs. Nov 13, 6pm at the Santa Rosa Center, 1080 S. 10th Av.

22nd St. project info and committee meeting notes should be here.

Everyone concerned or affected by the 22nd St. widening proposal should participate to help protect and improve our quality of life.

Skatepark under construction; 22nd St.; 4th Av.

UPDATE, 8:20p: The city has responded on skatepark design, and the topic will be discussed at the Nov 5 SRPNA meeting, see Oct 8 post below for time and place.

TUCSON -- The skatepark is finally under construction just east of 3rd Av. and 21st St. Some neighbors are concerned because earlier promises from City Manager Mike Hein's office to involve neighbors in project design have not yet been honored, including possibly naming the facility in honor of Albert Gallego. Recently, Peg Weber of Tucson Parks and Rec. assured us the project manager would be in touch to discuss, but he has not been.

Jim Glock with Tucson Dept. of Transportation and RTA has hand-picked people to serve on the 22nd St. widening proposal's Citizens' Oversight Committee. Although many applied to serve, at this time, it appears only one of our neighbors has been chosen. It seems she has good intentions, but she has not been involved in detail for many years with the proposal, unlike others who also applied.

An improvement project along S. 4th Av. has been delayed by the city. It was supposed to start by the end of this year, but now city officials are saying maybe in the spring. The city wants money from ADoT, but has yet to even ask for it. It could be very hard to get any funding from ADoT now due to the state's very bad budget situation. SRPNA Historic Preservation Chair Demion Clinco is looking in to this.

At this time, it is unclear how new SRPNA President Angie Quiroz, a city employee, will handle existing agreements on the park, 22nd St. widening proposal and other already approved projects. At this time, she has my support, and I've reminded her that the President cannot change any existing agreements without clear support of a majority of neighborhood association members as voted on in an advertised public meeting.

Vote Nov 4; Changes at SRPNA, next mtg. Nov 5

TUCSON -- Vote & unite for ongoing progress in your Santa Rita Park neighborhood. Next SRPNA meeting: Wed. Nov 5, 5:30-6:45pm, Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Ave.

Friends & Neighbors – After years of rewarding neighborhood service and progress, I am voluntarily stepping down so new SRPNA President Angie Quiroz can take over all responsibilities. I wish Angie and SRPNA the best, and I hope to stay involved to help quality of life and get ‘in progress’ projects done. Thank you! Daniel Patterson, former SRPNA President.

VOTE Tues. Nov 4, 6a-7p, Santa Rosa Library, 1075 S. 10th Ave (Bring ID), or return your vote-by-mail ballot if you haven’t already. Request your vote-by-mail ballot by Oct 24. Visit recorder.pima.gov or call 740.4330 for all info and help. Voting is a powerful right, so please do it.

Oct 1 officers election meeting. Vote Oct 2 -- Nov 4

TUCSON -- Next Santa Rita Park Neighborhood Association meeting: Wed. Oct 1, 5:30-6:45pm, Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Av.

Friends & Neighbors – Please join us to help improve neighborhood quality of life.

Agenda, main item: Annual election of SRPNA officers.
Short briefings: Healthy Housing project with Drachman Institute; Report and Q&A with TPD; Status of park & neighborhood improvement plans.

VOTE Oct 2 – Nov 4 in the important election. Register to vote (deadline Oct 6) and request your vote-by-mail ballot (deadline Oct 24). Visit recorder.pima.gov or call 740.4330 for all info and help. Voting is a powerful right, so please do it. Your vote is your voice, and it must be heard.

Thank you,
Daniel Patterson
President

Update from Sept meeting; next meeting Oct 1

TUCSON -- At our meeting Sept 3, we approved the widely supported neighborhood tree planting proposal, and will be seeking funding. Demion Clinco is lead on this project for SRPNA.

We also continued to coordinate crime reduction efforts with TPD, and agreed to ask Tucson Parks & Recreation to name the planned skate park after Albert Gallego.

SRPNA welcomes and thanks our new Secretary, Charlotte Speers, for her service.

Our next meeting will be Wed. Oct 1, 5:30-6:45pm at Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Av.

Be sure to register to vote, get on the permanent early voter list and VOTE Oct 2 -- Nov 4. For help or more info, call 740.4330

Thank you,
Daniel Patterson, President
Santa Rita Park Neighborhood Association

Agenda for Aug 6 Santa Rita Park NA meeting

TUCSON -- Agenda for Aug 6 meeting, 5:30-6:45pm at Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Av. Oscar Rendon, SRPNA VP, will likely chair this meeting.

-- Moment of silence for Albert Gallego
-- TPD update
-- 22nd St. widening plan update, process and Q&A, with City, RTA and project consultants. (main item).
-- Neighborhood improvement plan update (Demion C. is lead)

Be sure to vote in the primary election Sept 2, or now if you have your early vote by mail ballot.

Albert Gallego dies, long time SRPNA leader

TUCSON -- Longtime Santa Rita Park Neighborhood resident and activist Albert Gallego died last night. He had long been ill.

Albert was a solid leader for our neighborhood for many years, and he'll be missed. I learned a lot from Albert, and we'll keep his family in our prayers.

SRPNA is sending our condolences and a card to his wife. We may also take up a collection for Albert's family at our upcoming monthly meeting, Aug 6, 5:30-6:45pm at the Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Av.

One of our upcoming park and our neighborhood/improvement projects, or perhaps the baseball field near 20th St., should be named after Albert.

Read Albert's obituary.

RTA vote was rigged, says former county staffer

TUCSON -- Reports are coming out claiming the RTA vote may have been rigged by corrupt Pima County elections officials.

The RTA vote is what officials are pointing to for authorization of the very controversial plan to widen 22nd St. through our neighborhood.

There must be an immediate recount of the RTA ballots.

Info for July 2 SRPNA meeting; Vote July 31-Sept 2

Unite to help your Santa Rita Park neighborhood

Next meeting: Wed. July 2, 5:30-6:45pm, Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Ave.

Friends & Neighbors – Your neighborhood needs you. Please get involved to help improve quality of life.

Planned agenda for July 2 meeting: Update on park and neighborhood improvement plans; TPD; your questions, ideas and concerns.

VOTE: 2008 is a critical election year. Please register to vote, request your early vote-by-mail ballot, and vote. It’s easy, call 740.4330 or 740.4350. Important primary elections start July 31. Voting is a powerful right, so do it.

Questions? Contact Daniel Patterson, President, SRPNA at 906.2159 or roundriver(at)gmail(dot)com. Thank you.

Next SRPNA meeting July 2; Got (rain) water?

Water Harvesting for YOU

Water bills are going up. Would you like to catch some of the rain that will run off your roof next month and use it later?

Would you like to have a water harvesting system on your house?

If you qualify, you could have a 500 gallon water harvesting system built by the Teaching & Helping program for only the cost of materials by NEXT WEEK. (You must own your own home, have limited income, and be able to pay for the materials in two payments. Cost is about $400 - $600, including some rain gutters.)

The Teaching & Helping program trains teens and community volunteers to repair and upgrade existing houses. We organize small teams made of an experienced mentor and several volunteers who do important projects on the homes of limited-income families. The homeowner pays for the materials and the labor is free.

Next week, teams from the Volunteer Center's summer youth program will be installing a wheelchair ramp, a water harvesting sytem, installing ceiling fans, repairing electrical and plumbing problems, etc. Your home could get the water harvesting system.

If you are interested and feel you might qualify, contact Tres English, 795-3413 or tres1(at)mindspring(dot)com

Yard sale canceled, sorry; plan to reset for fall

I just got a call from yard sale leader Kathryn. Due to a personal responsibility that just came up for her all weekend, she's decided to cancel the June 7-8 yard sale.

The plan is to reschedule it for later this summer or fall. Please check back here later for details.

SRPNA apologizes for any inconveniences.

Agenda for June 4 meeting; yard sale June 7-8

Unite to help your Santa Rita Park neighborhood

Next meeting: Wed. June 4, 5:30-6:45pm, Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Ave.

Agenda for June 4 meeting: Yard sale; update on neighborhood improvement plans; need Secretary – an executive committee role. Other agenda items proposed at start of meeting may be considered at the discretion of the President.

Neighborhood yard sale: Want to help your neighborhood? Got stuff you want to sell? June 7-8, 121 E. 23rd St., 7a-3p both days. Contact Kathryn, 780.0916

VOTE: 2008 is an important election year. Please register to vote, return or request your early vote-by-mail card, and vote. It’s easy, call 740.4330 or 740.4350

Contact: Daniel Patterson, President, 906.2159, roundriver(at)gmail(dot)com

Next SRPNA meeting June 4; Secretary; you write?

We'll meet same time and place as always (see below). Check back later for more info.

We still need a Secretary, so please consider joining the executive board and serving in this important position. Thank you.

Also, there is room for more contributors on this blog, so please let us know if you want to write here on neighborhood issues.

Contact President Daniel Patterson with any questions or requests at roundriver(at)gmail(dot)com or 906.2159

May 7 SRPNA meeting; get ready to vote!

Unite to help your Santa Rita Park neighborhood

Next meeting: Wed. May 7, 5:30-6:45pm, Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Ave.

Santa Rita Park neighbors – Please participate in our next neighborhood meeting.

Planned agenda: Yard sale/spring clean up; Update on neighborhood improvement plans; SRPNA needs a new Secretary, please consider helping.

VOTE: 2008 is an important election year. Please register to vote, return or request your early vote-by-mail card, and vote. It’s easy, call 740.4330 or 740.4350

Apr 2 SRPNA meeting info

Unite for your Santa Rita Park neighborhood

Next meeting: Wed. April 2, 5:30-6:45pm, Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Ave.

Santa Rita Park neighbors – Our next meeting is coming up. Please participate.

Planned main agenda items: 5 Points project, update and consideration of funding request (canceled by city); Final presentation on Healthy Neighborhoods plan.

SRPNA needs a new Secretary, please consider helping in this officer position.

March 5 is next meeting, 5:30pm Sam Lena library

S. TUCSON -- Please attend the next regular monthly meeting of SRPNA, March 5, 1607 S. 4th Ave., 5:30-6:45pm

Agenda (updated 3/4):

introductions, 5:30pm
selection of new Secretary
TPD briefing (invited)
Ward 5 update
5 points project update
Healthy Neighborhoods planning update
Treasurer update
bylaws review subcommittee
Back to Basics subcommittee
call to audience; adjourn, 6:45pm

Planned for April meeting: UA Drachman Inst. neighborhood planning final presentation; Officer elections for 08.

Agenda for Feb 6 meeting

Sam Lena library, 5:30-6:45pm, 1607 S 6th Av.

1. introductions, 5:30pm
2. TPD briefing
3. Healthy Neighborhoods planning update*
4. Treasurer update
5. bylaws review subcommittee
6. Back to Basics subcommittee
7. call to audience; adjourn, 6:45pm

*Coming up: Meeting # 2. Presentation of Preliminary Design Ideas: Wednesday Feb 27, 5.30 - 7pm @ Sam Lena Library.

SRP skate park issue covered in local media

TUCSON -- AZ Daily Star skate park article. Also recently covered in the Tucson Weekly.

Next SRPNA meeting is Wed. Feb 6

SOUTH DOWNTOWN TUCSON -- We had a good meeting last night, and our next regular monthly meeting will be Feb 6, 5:30-6:45pm at Sam Lena Library.

Please be sure to participate in the Jan 30 Healthy Neighborhoods event, see below.

Planned agenda for Jan 9 meeting

1. introductions, 5:30pm
2. call for new Secretary, pay dues for 08
3. TPD briefing
4. Main meeting topic: 22nd St. widening and related planning
5. quick update on upcoming healthy neighborhoods workshops
6. bylaws review subcommittee
7. Back to Basics subcommittee
8. call to audience; adjourn, 6:45pm