How Tucson leadership just changed the redistricting code to do what they tried to do in 2022: Move El Rio to Ward 3
The amendment is official now after City Hall voted unanimously to amend the current policy without be clear that they were voting to change the city code.
The Legal Details that form the basis of this article
This is how one part of the redistricting code currently stands:
(B) Maintain established and recognizable ward boundaries with a minimum of disruption.
This amendment, without any councilmember, city manager, or city attorney discussing that this part of the policy would be changed by their vote tonight, voted to approve the following:
Tucson Code Section 10A-44(b)(1)(B) is amended to read as follows:
(B) Maintain established and recognizable ward boundaries with a minimum of disruption, except as may be necessary to achieve the other factors and objectives as listed in this section.
Mark my words, this little change they just made? It's going to come back to bite us when they decide it's time to redraw those ward lines.
What just happened at City Hall?
¡Orale, mi gente! It's your compa Maextro Morales back again, coming at you with some serious chisme from City Hall. It's time for another round of "Let's See How We Can Mess With The Barrios."
Now, let me break it down for you. Our beautiful westside - El Rio, Barrio Hollywood, Menlo Park - these aren't just neighborhoods, mi gente. They're the beating heart of Tucson's Chicano soul. These streets have seen more history than a telenovela has drama. From the Chicano Rights movement to fighting off gentrification, our people have been holding it down for generations.
But apparently, some pen-pusher in a fancy office decided that our unity was just too damn powerful. They cooked up this plan to change the city code, supposedly to "prioritize rough proportionality." Sounds nice, right? But let's keep it real - we've seen this movie before, and we know how it ends.
Here's what went down at City Hall
They just voted to change Tucson Code Section 10A-44(b)(1)(B). It used to say they had to "maintain established and recognizable ward boundaries with a minimum of disruption." Now they've added a little asterisk that says "except as may be necessary to achieve the other factors and objectives as listed in this section."
Translation? They're giving themselves a free pass to carve up our barrios like a piñata at a quinceañera.
And don't even get me started on the doublespeak coming out of City Hall. The city attorney and mayor’s telling us there's no need to redistrict this year, but they still have to go through the motions. Meanwhile, our new city manager Tim Thomure's talking about "tension" between keeping ward boundaries and achieving "rough proportionality."
Y'know what's really in tension, ese? The truth and whatever's coming out of their mouths.
Let's not forget, this is the same crew that tried to move El Rio out of Ward 1 back in 2022. We shut that down then, but now they're back with a new play. And Councilmember Lane Santa Cruz is out here talking about how important it is to make more "minority-majority" wards… how?
BY MOVING EL RIO INTO WARD 3!!!
Don’t you all remember this map? That was their proposal to make Ward 3 more “minority-majority.” Unfortunately, the current code says to “Maintain established and recognizable ward boundaries with a minimum of disruption.” But not anymore after their vote tonight.
Now, don't get me wrong - representation matters. But splitting up our barrios isn't the way to do it. It's like trying to make your abuela's menudo better by taking out all the hominy. You're not improving it, you're destroying what makes it special!
And here's the kicker - they passed this change without even really talking about it. It's like they snuck it in while everyone was distracted by the shiny object of "no redistricting this year."
So here's my message to you, mi gente: Stay woke. Keep your eyes on City Hall like a halcón. Because mark my words, this little change they just made? It's going to come back to bite us when they decide it's time to redraw those ward lines.
Remember, united we stand, divided they redistrict us. So let's stand together, fight together, and keep our barrios whole. Because at the end of the day, our community isn't just lines on a map - it's the beating heart of Tucson's soul.