Know Tucson
As a council member for the City of Tucson, Lane has a responsibility to serve as a bridge between community and city hall.
One strategy of the Ward 1 Office to educate, organize, and fulfill this responsibility is Know Tucson. It is a newsletter, podcast, and a tool to share, grow, connect, and update.
Know Tucson Podcast - Episode 20
In episode 20 we had the privilege of speaking to my good friend and local historian, Dr. Lydia Otero. In December 2019, they released their new book, "In the Shadows of the Freeway: Growing up Brown & Queer." The book outlines the displacement of families that lived along what is now the I-10 freeway. Otero examines how decisions made by city officials have historically negatively affected the communities they've lived in. They also share stories of resistance from within those communities.
Dr. Otero's personal story of resistance is also about growing up brown & queer in Tucson. This memoir gives a name and face to the lives impacted by the construction of the freeway. You can pick up a copy of this book at the following locations:
Why I Love Where I Live located at 267 South Avenida del Convento Building 6, Tucson, AZ 85745.
Petroglyphs at 267 South Avenida del Convento Building 10, Tucson, AZ 85745.
Antigone Books at 411 N 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705.
Know Tucson Podcast - Episode 19
For Episode 19 of Know Tucson, Council Member Lane Santa Cruz and Mayor Regina Romero discuss their experiences as mujeres in politics, becoming empowered and navigating misogyny in their careers.
Newsletter - Attainable Housing, Redistricting, Sun On-Demand, In-Custody Death Report
Originally published Nov 19, 2020.
Newsletter - M&C Highlights, Richard Elías Mission Library, Voting
Originally published Oct 28, 2020
Newsletter - Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Period Product Drive, Podcast
Originally published Oct 13, 2020. Includes
Podcast - Episode 18
In Episode 18 of Know Tucson, Pascua Yaqui Council Herminia “Minnie” Frias and Pima County Supervisor Betty Villegas joined us to speak about efforts to restore an early voting site on the Pascua Yaqui nation. We also had three members from the Tucson Native Youth Council––Azul Navarrete-Valera, Esai Flores, and Tossi Masso Molina––on to tell us more about the council and share their experiences as Tucson Native youth.
Podcast - Episode 17
For Episode 17 of Know Tucson Council Members Nikki Lee and Lane Santa Cruz discuss their time in office so far as the most junior members of the council, and the ways in which being moms helps them show up in the work.
Newsletter -
Menstrual Product Drive, Census, Mask Distribution Events
Originally published on September 30, 2020.
Includes M&C decision on the Central Business District and changes to Route 22 from September 22, information on the 2020 Menstrual Product Donation Drive, a Census update and more.
Newsletter -
Racial Equity, Anti-Discrimination, Climate Emergency, and Gentrification
Originally published on September 15, 2020.
The highlights from the September 9 M&C meeting, include a delay on the decision on the Central Business District, a motion to prepare an anti-discrimination resolution, and local updates.
Podcast - Episode 16
A discussion on the Central Business District and gentrification
In Episode 16 of Know Tucson we had a discussion with Raul Ramirez and Josefina Cardenas about the proposed expansion of the Central Business District, the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET), and recent protests about how these items under consideration by the Mayor and Council contribute to gentrification.
Newsletter - Resiliency Fund, Tribute to André Newman
Originally published on August 28, 2020. Includes details and information about the We Are One | Somos Uno Resiliency Fund; a tribute to André Newman, one of our Westside neighbors whose life brought so much joy to Tucson; and an update on the upcoming Mayor and Council meeting on September 9.
Podcast - Episode 15
In Episode 15 of Know Tucson we had a discussion with Francisca Porchas Coronado. Francisco has worked as an organizer for over 15 years on a variety of issues, including civil rights, climate justice, criminalization, and migration on a local and national level. Francisca founded Healing in Resistance, a wellness project that centers the healing of Latinx/migrant people on the frontlines in the fight for migrant rights. Francisca is also the founder and coordinator of Latinx Therapists Action Network, a network linking Latinx therapists to frontline migrants rights organizations working in Latinx communities and Native mental health services.
Podcast - Episode 14
Small Business Continuity Grants
COVID-19 has impacted communities across the country and devastated small businesses. In Episode 14 of Know Tucson we had a discussion with Francisca Villegas, director of the YWCA’s Women’s Business Center of Southern Arizona, and focused on the small business continuity grants available through the We Are One | Somos Uno Resiliency Fund. We discussed the details of the program and how it is addressing the gaps in the federal Small Business Association loan program.
Podcast - Episode 13
What does the census mean to Tucson? As we all know, this important process takes place every ten years. Our guests, Anakarina Rodriguez the regional census campaign manager for NALEO; Justin Loyd, community organizer with Arizona Coalition For Change; and Adriana Garcia Maimiliano, chief of staff for Phoenix Council Member Carlos Garcia, explain how completing the census means more political representation, access to resources, and understanding who needs assistance.
Newsletter - FY 2021 Budget Vote, Mask Up Tucson
Originally published on July 24, 2020.
Includes Mayor & Council highlights from the July 7th and July 21st meeting, and photos from the Ward 1 Mask Distribution event at Mission Manor Park on Saturday, July 18th.
Podcast - Episode 12
In Episode 12 of Know Tucson, we were joined by Tylee Nez and Eddie Elías Barron, two of the youngest street ambassadors with Transportation and Mobility.
Tylee and Eddie shared their personal experiences with transportation, and how they are conducting outreach for Move Tucson given the challenges presented by COVID-19.
The feedback the city receives through Move Tucson’s interactive map and survey will help determine how we fund our transportation and mobility system for the next two decades. If you have not participated yet, visit MoveTucson.org.
Podcast - Episode 11
In Episode 11 of Know Tucson, we talk to community member Vanessa Gallego on the death of Carlos Adrian Ingram-Lopez, and the subsequent justification that his death was a result of “poor life choices” rather than the 12+ minutes of physical restraint that TPD used on someone who was in need of emergency care. Our conversation is about our collective grief surrounding mental health, generational trauma, and addiction in our familias.
My older brother Jorge “George” Santa Cruz would have turned 40 on July 7, 2020. I’ve been vocal about his accidental overdose as a way to normalize and bring awareness to the disease that is drug addiction. His death shifted for me many things but stepping into my truth, was a big one. I’m putting all of this messy life stuff out there because being in the shadows silences and kills people.
The death of Carlos Adrian, has been a painful reminder that conversations, as scary and vulnerable as they are, need to be had about police violence, and its many manifestations, pain that leads to addiction, and lack of public support services. This is a must if we are to heal and transform ourselves and the world around us.
Newsletter - Pride 2020, M&C Updates
Originally published on July 6, 2020.
Podcast - Episode 10
In Episode 10 of Know Tucson, Council Member Lane Santa Cruz and Liz Soltero share some opportunities to get community feedback on the cities adoption of its recommended budget and to talk about Ordinance 11746.
Podcast - Episode 9
We continue to see and hear, as our community mourns, calls for accountability and calls to amplify and listen to Black voices.
In Episode 9 of Know Tucson, Andrés Portela and Jasmine Rucker sit with us and talk about what they’re experiencing and feeling at this moment.
Newsletter - George Floyd protests fuel policy changes at Tucson Mayor and Council
Originally published on June 12, 2020.
In response to the recent protests over the murder of George Floyd, the Tucson Mayor and Council passed a series of motions to condemn White supremacy; review Ordinance 11746; allocate funding toward a housing and social work; fund an equity needs assessment; delay the budget process to allow for more community input; and more.
Podcast - Episode 8
It’s been a painful, heavy week. All over the world people are grieving the loss of George Floyd who was taken at the hands of police.
In Episode 8 of Know Tucson, Council Member Lane Santa Cruz and Liz Soltero reflect the importance of racial equity, and the difficult, uncomfortable conversation at last week’s Mayor and Council meeting about the city’s strategic plan to distribute the $95.7 million in federal CARES Act funding.
Flor Espinoza-Burruel and Jamie Utt-Schumacher also share an outside perspective of the discussion and dialogue at the Mayor and Council meeting.
Newsletter - Moving Toward Equity
Originally published on May 29, 2020.
In order to understand the impacts as we plan for the most vulnerable, the City of Tucson needs an assessment protocol that studies, designs, and challenges internal city policies and practices. In addition, it is important prioritizes equity in our COVID-19 response and funding allocation. For these reasons, the Mayor and Council approved an equity assessment on May 5th, and an equity framework for the COVID-19 CARES Act funds on May 27th.
Podcast - Episode 7
Lane and Liz discuss high school graduations with TUSD Board Member Adelita Grijalva and Sendy López, a graduating senior at Pueblo High.
Podcast - Episode 6
Lane and Liz discuss the call for an equity lens within city government.
Know Tucson Newsletter - Equity, Recover, and Resilience
Originally published on May 15, 2020.
A brief update on the Coronavirus, Mayor and Council highlights, a reflection on the Dunbar Pavilion’s decision to create space for VisionQuest, and a community shout out to our nurses and healthcare workers!
Podcast - Episode 5
Listen to a discussion on April 29, 2020 with Benny Galaz, small business owner of BK Tacos and El Berraco. Recently, BK has been giving Sonoran Hot Dogs to healthcare workers as a thank you for their sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re listening to his input on the effects of COVID-19 on his business, and the difficulty of receiving loans from the federal government and the City of Tucson. While the Somos Uno Fund was aimed at filling the gaps left by the federal government, the mechanism used to roll it out was full of inequities.
Podcast - Episode 4
Listen to a discussion between Lane, Liz, and Antonio on the South 12th Avenue Improvement Project, the Coronavirus on the Navajo Nation, and a community spotlight on youth climate activist: Tylee Nez.
Know Tucson Newsletter - Earth Week Spotlight
We met Tylee over a year ago and had the honor of having her as part of the campaign and youth team that helped get us into office. Tylee is currently a senior, and we’re super proud that she got into Tuffs University and UC Berkeley, and that she’s planning to study environmental engineering and public policy.
Tylee has also been active with the Arizona Youth Climate Coalition, and as part of Earth Week we wanted to use this platform to let her share some of her work.
Podcast - Episode 3
Listen to a discussion between Lane, Liz and Flor on the We Are One/Somos Uno Resiliency Fund, local places to eat, and poetry from Flor. On April 12, Mayor Regina Romero wrote an Op-Ed announcing the fund in the Arizona Daily Star, and for the past week city staff has been finalizing the details. The Resiliency Fund is aimed at helping cover some of the gaps that the federal CARES Act was not addressing.
Know Tucson Newsletter - Policy Update, 12th Ave, Support Local Efforts
On Tuesday, April 14, Tucson Mayor and Council held a study session and a regular meeting with primary focus on small business economic redevelopment strategies and city budget discussions, especially in regard to impacts of COVID-19 and the CARES Act.
Easter Sunday and the Coronavirus
With Easter Sunday right around the corner, we're sharing posters to continue spreading positive messages around social distancing, proper hygiene, and additional precautions for all of our communities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Podcast - Episode 2
A discussion on the Census race question for Latinx communities, and on Easter Sunday and the Coronavirus.
April Newsletter
A tribute to the late Richard Elías, information on the U.S. Census, and brief updates around the Coronavirus in Arizona.
Know Tucson Podcast - Lane Santa Cruz & Liz Soltero
In this podcast, Council Member Santa Cruz and Chief of Staff Liz Soltero discuss recent community updates on the Coronavirus pandemic, and reflect on the untimely passing of Richard Elias, a community giant and chairman of the Pima County Board of Supervisors. Published March 30, 2020.
COVID-19 Updates
These updates include information on Mayor and Council, ways to help, supporting local businesses, and county and federal updates. Published on March 29, 2020.
Coronavirus Resource and Information Guide
In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, our office has pulled together a resource and information guide. This is in no way exhaustive, and information and availability of resources is constantly changing. Published on March 20, 2020.
March Newsletter
A brief recap on Council Member Lane Santa Cruz’s first three months since taking office. Published March 10, 2020.