Additional barrio contact Vanessa Gallego, 520.245.2841

TUCSON -- Neighbors continue to organize and work for quality of life in the area of south downtown, Santa Rita Park and Ochoa.

Taxpayer concerns regarding unwise widening of 22nd St remain active.

Brian Flagg is reportedly new SRPNA President

Contact Brian Flagg at 624.0312. Additional SRPNA contact is Angie Quiroz at 882.8775 or angieq(at)cox(dot)net

SRPNA meets 1st Wed. each month 6pm at Sam Lena Library in South Tucson.

Info on Tucson Neighborhood Associations

Join our email list for periodic news

Join: Tucson Santa Rita Park Yahoo Group

Proposed widening of 22nd St. continues to be a concern for quality of life in south downtown.

Vote Oct 7-Nov 2; 2010 contacts for SRPNA

TUCSON -- Be sure to VOTE in the important Arizona elections Oct 7-Nov 2.

The skatepark was named for Albert M. Gallego, former SRPNA President.

Keep an eye on proposed 22nd St. widening and 22ndstreet.info

For current info, contact current SRPNA President Angie Quiroz, angiemq(at)cox.net

You may also email State Rep. Daniel Patterson, roundriver(at)gmail.com or follow him on twitter @RepPatterson

Thank you.

New Tucson crime stats released

TUCSON -- New crime stats for last 45 days just posted. Quik Mart at S 4th Av. & E 22nd St. is #3 site in city.

Park updates, 22nd St. process, trash, lights, etc.

TUCSON -- The 22nd St. widening issue remains hot. Two designs I saw in August had problems that would harm the neighborhood and park. 22nd Street should keep the current alignment and the 6 lane design as narrow and nice as possible. I am watching this as State Rep. for the area and neighborhood/park resident/family man who cares. Go to the meetings and get involved, keep an eye on 22ndstreet.info for official information.

The skatepark seems busy most of the time. Trash remains an issue in the park, especially related to skatepark, feedings and sometimes sports events.

Ball field lights seem often on late and sometimes when no one is playing, wasting money and energy and wrecking the night sky. Tucson Parks & Rec should deal with this and other park issues better.

BMXers take over skatepark; 22nd St. mtg. July 9

TUCSON -- Today at noon a large group of BMX bike riders took over the Santa Rita Park skatepark. I went over there and it seemed peaceful, so I left. They were riding and doing tricks in the bowls, etc.

I don't know all the details here, but it seems they have been asking for some bike time at the new facility and the city has been saying no. It would be nice for Tucson Parks & Recreation to try to work this out so BMXers can have some fair time.

In other news, the 22nd St. widening CoC/RTA will next meet on July 9, with a specific agenda item on Santa Rita Park Neighborhood plan. Follow RTA-run 22ndstreet.info for more info.

Watch 22ndstreet.info; skatepark open and busy

TUCSON -- Keep an eye on 22ndstreet.info for updates on the City/RTA proposal to widen 22nd St. through south downtown.

The skatepark is done, good size and getting a lot of use. Some minor problems with graffiti and trash some days. Could be a positive long-term for the park, but not sure on wisdom of plans to extend it to east. That spot could be a good one for a nice zocalo for neighbors to gather.

Bertha Gallego has been circulating the petition to name the skatepark after her late husband Albert, who was a long-time neighborhood leader. We all signed.

22nd St. widening and properties meeting Apr 16

TUCSON -- The upcoming COC meeting will be on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at 6:00 p.m., at the Santa Rosa Recreation Center.

This meeting's agenda is available at 22ndstreet.info.

This meeting will mostly address the City of Tucson's Real Estate Procedures as they pertain to acquisition and relocation during projects such as this. Please invite your neighbors who you feel would benefit from the real estate information project managers will present.

from Priscilla Fernandez
community outreach for project consultants
priscilla(at)kaneenpr.com
885.9009

Tucson south downtown skate park progressing

TUCSON -- The Santa Rita Park skate park is under construction and seems to be nearing completion.

I hope this project succeeds, and other good plans for the park move forward.

I've been told the skate park will be named after the late Albert Gallego, as we requested.

Rep. Patterson at Jan 7 SRPNA mtg.

SOUTH TUCSON -- I plan to stop by the neighborhood association meeting Wed. to touch base and provide a quick view of the upcoming legislative session at the State Capitol, and what it may mean for neighborhoods.

Contact me at my legislative offices: 398.6000 Tucson, 602.926.5342 Capitol

State Representative Daniel Patterson
Santa Rita Park neighbor, and former president

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.