Neighborhood News – Page 2 – Armory Park Neighborhood Association

Take an Armory Park Survey!

A message from the Ward 6 office:

Hello Armory Park Neighbors,

In partnership with Tucson Police Department, we are conducting a Park Survey so that we can measure how addressing current concerns effect the area as a whole. Signs with the information will be place around the park and in the neighborhood this week. We are asking that you please share this survey on the neighborhood email group.

The more feedback we can capture the better. We are interested in hearing from neighbors and businesses about Armory Park over the last month. The survey should take no more than 5 minutes. Please answer honestly. Results will be used to better target resources to improve the neighborhood parks.

The survey can be taken using the QR code on the actual signs or on the attached PFD. You can also use this link: https://arcg.is/1meq840

Thank you, SteveK & Diana

Ward 6 Staff of Council Member Steve Kozachik

3202 E 1st StreetTucson, AZ 85716

Ph: 520.791.4601

A Message about the Listserv

A message from the APNA President about the Armory Park neighborhood listserv:

Dear Armory Parkers,

At the APNA board meeting Tuesday night we discussed the listserv’s administration and the problem that arose with one listserv member being sanctioned for political posting while others were not. The following motion was made and approved with six votes in favor and one abstention.

To 1) expand the size of the oversight committee from two members to at least three people; 2) have the oversight committee clarify the guidelines for posting comments with attention paid to inviting multiple perspectives (i.e., do not limit free speech but strive for comity and civility; 3) delineate the duties of moderators and protocols to be followed and 4) that future suspensions, if they occur, will be handled privately and not announced publicly.

We accepted one new volunteer to work with the existing two listserv moderators. The committee was charged with revising the guidelines so that we do not have fairness issues again.

One last task remained, to send an apology to Amanda Maass. Over the last two days the board voted 5 in favor, with one abstention and one no vote to send the following apology. The apology is at the end of this message.

Your Armory Park Board’s hope and goal is to be as fair and open as possible with the governance of the listserv and all our other actions. Regrettably there are hurt feelings. We hope to now move on.

Sincerely,

David Bachman-Williams
APNA President

(Letter)
August 14, 2021

Dear Amanda,

We, the Directors of the Armory Park Neighborhood Association, wish to apologize to you. In retrospect it is clear that the warning and suspension of Amanda was arbitrary and selective enforcement of the ban on political posting. In addition, we regret the public announcement of the suspension.

Sincerely,

David Bachman-Williams
APNA Board President

APNA, APHZAB Challenge Children’s Museum Fence

7/8/21 UPDATE: Good news! At Wednesday’s meeting, the Mayor and Council upheld the Armory Park Historic Zone Advisory Board’s appeal of the Children’s Museum’s plan to fence off 4,000 square feet adjacent to the Museum, closing it to the public. The fence will not be built and the area will remain open to the public.

ORIGINAL POST: A message from Armory Park Historic Zone Advisory Board Chair Martha McClements:

I hope you have seen the announcement concerning the Children’s Museum’s proposal to enclose part of the grass area along 13th Street for private use.
The Armory Park Historic Zone Advisory Board (APHZAB) voted to appeal the decision of the Planning Director (7 for and 1 opposed) and the Armory Park Neighborhood Association paid the fee out of funds held for Historic Preservation. At the time of the APHZAB meeting in May, we got 14 responses opposed to the fence. At the Plans Review meeting there were several letters in support of the fence.

The APHZAB appeal has to and is based on Historic Preservation. The other neighborhood concerns raised were placing public property behind a paywall (like the Reid Park Zoo expansion and Barnum Hill) and the lack of public input (the only review process was through the three Historic reviews, two of which opposed the enclosure). Please consider sharing your opinion on this matter (again) with the City Clerk – cityclerk@tucsonaz.gov – by 5pm on July 6 (Tuesday). If you wish to speak, email the City Clerk your request to speak by noon on July 7. Please do not send any comments about this appeal to members of the Mayor and Council. I do ask you to spread the word.

Those who wish to “attend” the meeting may do so at https://www.tucsonaz.gov/gov/mayor-and-council-live?fbclid=IwAR2EFhkMq-rJW_k3rvUsAB7scfqUINjOsKsz_SDX_Vw3EHFbGFpuF200ZbE

The meeting is July 7 at 5:30 PM. The appeal is #10 on the Agenda. https://tucsonaz.onbaseonline.com/1801AgendaOnline/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=1540&doctype=1

APNA Board Meetings

A reminder: The APNA Board holds monthly meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of each month (except January), at 6:30 PM. Because of COVID-19, APNA Board meetings are currently being held on line, at APNA Meeting Stream .

Meetings are open to all residents. Attending them is a great way to stay informed about issues of neighborhood-wide interest. We encourage you to attend!

Neighborhood Tree Planting Project

Have you been taking more walks in the neighborhood than ever before because covid’s got your cooped up? Can you believe it is still in the 90s in November? After the hottest summer on record no less! Well…Armory Park has a wonderful opportunity for you to join in and try to beat the heat, green our streets and take a stab at climate change by planting street trees!

WHAT: Armory Park is partnering with Trees for Tucson to do a one-day tree planting project.

WHO: Residents can have a tree (or three) planted out front of their house along the sidewalk and/or help volunteer to plant trees! We also need volunteers to help get out the word.

Click here to learn more about the project and order a tree.
Click here to sign up to volunteer (flyering or tree planting).

GOAL: We hope to plant 60 trees on planting day with 30 volunteers. Will you join us??

There’s More to Armory Park Than Historic Architecture

Check out this article from the Arizona Star on life in Armory Park:

https://tucson.com/news/local/theres-more-to-tucsons-armory-park-neighborhood-than-historic-architecture/article_fbe6a09e-b73d-5d2f-a898-52937ed2b0dd.html

Here’s a video of the article: www.azpm.org/p/azillhome/2020/11/8/183654-favorite-places-armory-park/

Pima County Health Department Adding New COVID-19 Testing Site Downtown

Pima County Health Department and Downtown Tucson Partnership have teamed up to provide free COVID-19 testing to individuals who work, live, and play downtown.

The new Downtown Tucson Testing Center will be located at 88 E Broadway Blvd., on the southwest corner of Broadway Blvd. and Sixth Ave. Testing will begin Friday October 16th from 10AM to 2PM every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Those seeking testing can register without an appointment on-site OR by appointment at www.pima.gov/covid19testing

While the new site is free and open to anyone, planners from the Health Department and Downtown Tucson Partnership are hopeful that the site will serve as an ideal and convenient place for downtown employers to direct employees for testing should they have any symptoms of COVID-19.

“Quick and accessible testing is a key factor in helping businesses protect their employees and patrons as the pandemic continues,” said Health Department Director Dr. Theresa Cullen. “We want to do all that we can to support businesses as they get back on their feet.”

The testing is being conducted by Paradigm Laboratories via their mobile testing unit. Results will be available in 72 hours or less and can be accessed through Paradigm’s easy to use online portal.

Tucson Electric Power has graciously offered the former MiAn Sushi retail and patio space for a socially distant patient registration and waiting area.

To learn more about COVID-19 in Pima County, visit http://www.pima.gov/covid19. More information about the Downtown Tucson Partnership can be found online at DowntownTucson.org

Early Voting Has Started!

Early voting began this morning! Visit the Pima County Recorder’s website for Election 2020 info. https://www.recorder.pima.gov/ElectionInformation

Downtown Ready to Reopen!

The Downtown Merchant’s Association, in partnership with Downtown Tucson Partnership and the Pima County Health Department, have the plans in place for a Grand Reopening of businesses in the downtown core. That reopening is coming on October 1st. All of the plans have the public’s health and safety as keys to the reopening.

Each business displaying this Ready for You emblem has demonstrated to Pima County Health inspectors that it is complying with the safety standards required for a safe reopening. You can find the full list of those standards at www.pimaready.com.