Livable wages are not just a policy for me; they are the very foundation of my advocacy. I understand firsthand how crucial they are to fulfilling the daily needs of many community members.
When Major League Baseball left Tucson, it dealt a significant blow to our tourism and local economy. Nevertheless, our advocacy and collective efforts to revive it have led to its return and opened a world of new possibilities. We've seen the potential to restore the Hollywood film industry in Southern Arizona, enhance workforce development for these new job opportunities, and stimulate tourism and economic growth in Southern Arizona's urban and rural areas.
The Southern Arizona Sports, Film, and Tourism Authority (https://sastfa.com/), established in 2022 through bipartisan legislation, has made these revivals possible. Furthermore, I am honored to serve as chair and am grateful for our many achievements in a short time.
These revivals are examples of my unwavering commitment to creating an environment that fosters personal and professional growth, enabling everyone to thrive and lead healthier and more vibrant lives.
With over 30 years of experience as an educator, I bring a wealth of practical knowledge about education needs from pre-K to college.
We all know the critical importance of a good education. Every child deserves to attend a high-quality Pre-K, an intellectually demanding and supportive K-12, and have access to the higher education of their choice.
Education in Arizona continues to suffer from severe underfunding and constant attacks. Pre-K is unfunded, K-12 schools are overburdened and underfunded, and college tuition makes high education costs prohibitive.
It's time to rally behind our educators and students. We need to break down the barriers that hinder success and invest in every child and individual who calls Pima County home.
We need to get serious about working together to find solutions. Our children deserve nothing less.
Every day, thousands of people struggle for survival on our streets. We drive past them, see their tent cities and makeshift communities, and often feel conflicted emotions: compassion, sadness, maybe fear or frustration, and helplessness. After all, the homeless crisis is so complex; what can we do? I have a few answers. Here are two.
Engels Polanco (pictured above) is one of my former players and dearest friends. He has started Underground United, a non-profit organization for which I sit on the board. The goal is to find real solutions by bringing together leaders from people experiencing homelessness, businesses, law enforcement, and local communities with elected officials and policymakers.
It is important to note that Engels is one of those people we have seen on the street struggling with mental illnesses (since childhood), addiction, and struggling to stay alive. Over the years, I have spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours helping Engels with healthcare, case managers, rehabilitation facilities, county services, housing, you name it. Getting help is so complicated and challenging that I can understand why people give up.
The above paragraphs hit upon two of my ideas. The first is to establish a structure within the Pima County government that solely focuses on addressing the core issues of homelessness, including, but not limited to, mental health and addiction issues. The second is that as we create this structure, we need people like Engels at the table to facilitate and lead the creation of an accessible and fluid structure that is responsive, transformative, and sustains our humanity.
The cost of living is out of control. Everything, from rent to gas to butter, continues to rise. Many families in Pima County struggle to afford groceries and gas after paying for housing and utilities. The cost and availability of housing throughout Pima County continue to be a significant issue, from the urban center to the suburbs and our most rural communities.
At all levels of government, we must strive to find ways to help our citizens prosper. Families need to be financially stable. Pima County can help by reducing unnecessary expenses, minimizing taxes, and acquiring resources from various sources, such as state, federal, and private entities. These measures will help our families receive the necessary support to improve their standard of living.
Pima County must act. We are not the first to tackle these problems; some things can be done. We must listen first, learn from others, and work together, but solutions exist.
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