🌵 Grijalva Resigns, Wildlife Corridor Saved: Progressive Wins and Federal Funding Crisis at Pima County Meeting
Supervisor Adelita Grijalva's resignation to run for Congress, a crucial wildlife corridor victory, and devastating federal health program cuts highlight Pima County's eventful April 1 meeting.
😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾
🗓️ The April 1st Pima County Board of Supervisors meeting brought big changes! Supervisor Adelita Grijalva announced her resignation to run for her late father's Congressional seat. 🏛️
🌳 The Board saved an important piece of land called Kelly Ranch next to Catalina State Park, allowing wildlife to move safely through the area! 🦅🌲
🏡 They also changed housing rules to make it easier to build various types of homes that more people can afford.
💔 However, the meeting revealed that the federal government is cutting funding for crucial health programs that support our community, especially those tackling COVID-19 health disparities and vaccine equity. 💉
👏 A program assisting individuals after leaving jail is showing great success, demonstrating that housing support significantly reduces the likelihood of re-arrest.
🗣️ The meeting highlighted the divisions within our community - some speakers used harsh language about immigrants and homeless people, while others celebrated Grijalva's efforts in helping working families and protecting the environment. 🌍❤️
🗝️ Takeaways
🌵 Pima County Board approved the Kelly Ranch acquisition near Catalina State Park in a 4-1 vote, preserving 108.8 acres of critical wildlife habitat and riparian areas despite opposition from Supervisor Christy who wanted commercial development.
👋 Supervisor Adelita Grijalva announced her resignation effective April 4, 2025, creating a vacancy in District 5 that will be filled through an application process culminating in an appointment at the next meeting, with candidates accepting applications through April 7.
💰 The county faces a funding crisis as federal executive actions terminated health grants early, including COVID-19 health disparities and vaccine equity programs, leaving nearly $2 million on the table and affecting staffing for critical public health initiatives.
🏘️ The Board unanimously approved significant zoning code changes to allow duplexes and triplexes in all residential areas, addressing housing affordability through "missing middle" housing options that were common in earlier decades.
⚖️ The Transition Center serving individuals released from incarceration reported dramatic success, showing recidivism rates of less than 10% compared to the typical 28% rate, with housing access emerging as the most critical factor in reducing incarceration.
📉 Budget discussions revealed financial challenges, with the Board approving a one-year moratorium on the 17% fund balance policy to yield $12.2 million in one-time revenues while maintaining a 15% reserve of $92 million.
👥 Call to the public featured stark contrasts between xenophobic rhetoric targeting immigrants and emotional tributes to Supervisor Grijalva's service, highlighting the deep political divisions within the community.
📊 Federal workforce reduction has resulted in over 121,000 federal workers being dismissed, with plans to cut 20,000 jobs at the Department of Health and Human Services, directly threatening funding for county programs.
POWER & POLITICS: Pima County Board's Tidal Shifts - Grijalva Resigns as Xenophobic Narratives Dominate Public Comment
¡La lucha continua! The struggle continues as power shifts at Pima County's highest governmental body, where the battles for environmental justice, housing rights, and progressive governance play out in the seemingly mundane chambers of local government.
The April 1, 2025, meeting of the Pima County Board of Supervisors marked a dramatic turning point in local politics with the resignation of Supervisor Adelita Grijalva from District 5. The meeting—a microcosm of our national political divide—featured everything from thinly veiled xenophobia during public comments to emotional tributes for a departing Latina leader. All while the Board advanced crucial environmental conservation efforts and confronted devastating federal funding cuts targeting public health programs.
As we face escalating threats to democratic governance and social justice in Arizona, these local meetings become critical battlegrounds where policy is shaped, resources are allocated, and community voices either rise or are suppressed. Today's meeting was no exception.
Call to the Public: Right-Wing Rhetoric vs. Community Advocacy
The call to the public segment revealed the stark ideological battlefield that is Pima County politics, with conservative speakers employing increasingly inflammatory rhetoric while progressive voices fought to be heard:
Gisela Aron presented what she called a "Proclamation of Liberation Day," launching a barrage of xenophobic rhetoric accusing Board members of "endangering America's safety for the benefit of the United Nations' interference in sovereignty of our country." Aron claimed county leadership was "aiding and abetting the foreign border invasion" and was "subjecting us to disease that no longer exists in the U.S." Her comments—representative of the increasingly dehumanizing language deployed against immigrants—went unchallenged by the Board, highlighting the institutional reluctance to confront hate speech in public forums.
The normalized xenophobia in these chambers is exactly what emboldens ICE raids and border patrol harassment in our communities. When will elected officials start defending immigrant communities instead of sitting silently through these attacks?
Laurie Moore devoted her time to attacking LGBTQ+ recognition, specifically objecting to the Board's previous proclamation of Transgender Day. Moore demanded "Heterosexual Day" recognition, claiming heterosexuals were being "discriminated against," weaponizing the language of equality to undermine actual marginalized communities—a tactic straight from the far-right playbook.
"It was embarrassing and predictable to witness," Moore said about the transgender recognition, ignoring the reality that LGBTQ+ people face genuine discrimination, violence, and legislative attacks on their existence. "But heterosexual day in Pima County would be kind of DEI, right?" she added sarcastically, revealing the underlying contempt for diversity initiatives.
The conflation of recognition for marginalized communities with "discrimination" against the majority is a classic strategy to maintain power structures. There's no "heterosexual discrimination" happening here—just the momentary discomfort of not being centered in every conversation.
Anastasia Sasaki attacked potential homeless encampment plans, arguing that parks should be preserved "for the people of Pima County, not as residences and false residences of the homeless population." Her dehumanizing language—referring to "fecal matter," "needles," and "used condoms"—served to other unhoused residents rather than recognizing them as community members deserving of dignity and support.
"At what point is any of you or the Tucson City Council going to say enough is enough?" Sasaki demanded, advocating for forced removal rather than compassionate solutions.
The cruelty is the point. Rather than asking why people lack housing or supporting permanent supportive housing options, the focus remains on aesthetics and comfort for the housed population.
Joseph La Salvia detailed an 11-month battle with Pima Animal Care Center regarding barking dogs in his neighborhood, describing deteriorating mental and physical health due to sleep deprivation. "I am in my 20s, previously healthy, but a whole year of this relentless onslaught of noise has wrecked my mental and physical health," he testified, raising legitimate questions about enforcement gaps in county services while highlighting the interconnectedness of public health and quality of life issues.
Phineas Anderson reported organizing Tesla protests, claiming to have grown participation from 54 to 1,916 protesters. He presented a proclamation opposing "executive overreach," stating: "Whereas the Pima County Board of Supervisors has witnessed the consolidation of power in the executive branch by the current president through the following actions: The revocation of birthright citizenship, reasoning of federal spending approved by Congress, shuttering of federal agencies..."
Robert Royce shared personal grief about his brother's unexpected death while mentioning numerous candidates running for a soon-to-be-vacant Board seat. "Everyone gets brave when it's an open seat," he observed, noting: "When I ran for Congress in 1984, I was the only Democrat that had the spine to stand up to a established entrenched Republican." Royce advocated returning to Jeffersonian principles, though without specific policy recommendations.
In stark contrast to the right-wing grievances, multiple community members came to celebrate Supervisor Adelita Grijalva's service:
Anna Karina Rodriguez led an emotional tribute, saying: "We're all here to recognize and say thank you for your stepping up to fill in the seat as supervisor. During a time of COVID, I'm not even going to read what I wrote because this comes from the heart." Rodriguez highlighted Grijalva's courage in stepping up following the passing of Richard Elias during the pandemic.
Cecilia from the Pima Area Labor Federation praised Grijalva's labor advocacy: "I want to thank you. It comes from the 24 different affiliates we have in Pima County for always being there for us, whether we are bargaining a contract, whether we're protesting, whether we're on strike." Her comments highlighted Grijalva's consistent support for working people—a stark contrast to policies that often prioritize corporate interests over workers' rights.
Steve Valencia from Arizona Jobs with Justice Coalition offered: "I think that we have a big struggle ahead of us in this country. And I think that people like Adelita is ready for the job." Valencia recognized Grijalva's 12 years on the governing board and "all of the assistance that you gave to developing preschool education, quality education for all students."
Several environmental advocates spoke in favor of the Kelly Ranch acquisition:
Carolyn Campbell supported acquiring Kelly Ranch, highlighting its importance for wildlife conservation and noting: "It's been an honor to work with you and have you follow in the footsteps first of Supervisor Raul Grijalva and then Richard Elias, both really good friends."
Jeannie Coliani represented Friends of Catalina State Park, stating: "We feel that it would be a meaningful contribution to the nature, to the animal life of our state, and being adjacent to the park would just extend this wildlife corridor."
Christina McVeigh praised Grijalva's leadership approach: "You set an example for all board members in the way that you set up a strategic planning process for your district. And it was really refreshing to me, having lived here for so many decades, that I could be your mother, to see someone take that approach."
David Higuera presented critical findings from the Pima County Community Health needs assessment:
"There's one mental health provider for every 440 residents in our community. Almost one in 10 adults have a diabetes diagnosis. Opioid overdose deaths increased by 202% between 2016 and 2023. One in two adults over 65 in our community have a high social isolation risk score."
His presentation highlighted interconnected social determinants of health affecting county residents, noting: "There's nothing I believe that's left wing or radical about investing in the health and well-being of our community."
Melissa Tuseo offered suggestions for addressing homelessness through incentives and volunteer opportunities: "Not just for saving money, but for not saving money and resources, but creating a whole new system could really help change the dynamics of not just the problem, but how our community can move forward."
Grijalva's Emotional Farewell
In one of the meeting's most poignant moments, Supervisor Adelita Grijalva announced her resignation effective April 4, 2025. Her tearful remarks reflected on her service and the responsibility that comes with public office:
"I just want to thank you very much for the opportunity to serve with all of you. Gosh, I knew I was going to cry. I just think that it is such a privilege and a gift to have the opportunity to talk to people about what is happening in our communities. We all have such a responsibility, and it has been my pleasure to be here and serve with all of you."
With genuine concern for the community's future, she emphasized the challenges ahead:
"What's going to be happening with our budget next year and the upcoming year is going to be really difficult. And so I hope you all just continue to put the people of this community to the top of mind when we're making all of these really difficult decisions."
Grijalva acknowledged her staff members by name and reflected on following in her father's footsteps, noting that both Congressman Raul Grijalva and she lived in and represented the same barrio—a powerful statement on authentic representation that connects directly to the communities being served.
"Your mom and dad produced you. Not just biologically, but politically," said one community member during the tributes, recognizing the intergenerational commitment to social justice that Grijalva embodies.
In a political landscape increasingly dominated by those who serve corporate interests, Grijalva's departure represents a genuine loss for progressive representation. Who will champion working families, environmental justice, and authentic community-based governance in her absence?
Kelly Ranch Acquisition: Environmental Justice Victory Against Developer Pressures
In a significant win for the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, the Board approved the acquisition of the Kelly Ranch (Desert Springs subdivision) adjacent to Catalina State Park. The 108.8-acre parcel, acquired for $6 million plus closing costs, represents crucial habitat protection in an era of relentless development pressure.
Mark DeBonis from County staff explained: "This property is identified as being important in maintaining habitat connectivity and wildlife corridors. It's within the biological core and includes important riparian habitat areas of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan."
The structured payment plan includes a $2 million down payment with the balance paid in installments, demonstrating creative financing to achieve conservation goals despite budget constraints.
Supervisor Grijalva highlighted the personal significance: "It's going to abut right up to Catalina State Park, which I think is a perfect location to continue to extend what the goals were of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, which is essentially we want to ensure that there is a wildlife corridor, that there is protection."
She added an emotional historical note: "On my last meeting on this board, it's so appropriate that I'm going to be voting in favor of this because in 1990 when they wanted to do a huge development of Kelly Ranch, my dad was an integral part of ensuring that didn't happen. And so it is a very full circle moment for me."
In predictable opposition that privileged potential profits over ecological integrity, Supervisor Christy argued against the purchase: "We're talking about housing issues being so limited in Pima County. And here we're going to take a large piece of property off the tax rolls." Christy's comments highlighted the false binary often presented between environmental protection and economic development, ignoring the crucial ecosystem services and quality of life benefits provided by preserved open spaces.
The endless push for development over conservation reflects our warped economic system that fails to value ecological services and prioritizes short-term profit over long-term community well-being. Acquiring Kelly Ranch represents the kind of forward-thinking investment that will benefit generations to come, preserving biodiversity while preventing urban sprawl.
The motion passed 4-1 with Supervisor Christy opposing.
Federal Funding Crisis: Right-Wing Attacks on Public Health Infrastructure
Perhaps the most alarming agenda item came through Michelle Davis's presentation on federal executive actions threatening county funding—a direct result of right-wing attacks on public health infrastructure:
"Two big ones specifically—COVID-19 health disparities and vaccine equity—were termed or stop work order before their performance period and date. The health disparities grant had an extension that was approved via contract to go through May 2026... The vaccine equity grant was due to term at the end of this fiscal year, 6/30/25. That was termed three months early, leaving almost $2 million across those two grants on the table."
This early termination directly impacts staffing and services in the Health Department, with Davis adding: "These grants really tie to access to public health services, immunizations, supplies."
The Department of Health and Human Services is undergoing massive shifts affecting multiple county departments:
"Health and Human Services saw a tremendous shift in scope, staff and potentially funding. It's important to know that our health department of their grant portfolio, 92% roughly, is sourced from health and human service agencies."
Davis outlined the federal workforce crisis: "Federal workforce update, as I updated last meeting, we'll know more about the large scale federal reduction in April and May... but we estimate at least the count as of last week was over 121,000 federal workers were dismissed. Department of Health and Human Services announced cuts to 20,000 jobs with a direct firing of 10,000 employees."
The systematic dismantling of public health infrastructure is not accidental—it's strategic. These cuts disproportionately harm marginalized communities who rely on public health services while advancing an ideological agenda that prioritizes corporate profit over human wellbeing. The attacks on vaccine equity programs are particularly cynical, directly undermining efforts to address racial health disparities.
Supervisor Heinz proposed joining legal action: "I think we need to join the lawsuit that 23 states and Washington, D.C. just announced earlier today on this public health funding because it's affecting every state." He correctly noted these were contracted obligations: "These are contracts. These are grants or contracts. I think you even mentioned that there's a signed agreement."
Budget Deliberations: Navigating Fiscal Constraints While Protecting Services
County Administrator Jan Lesher and Finance Director Michelle Campagne presented options for the fiscal year 2025-26 budget, highlighting difficult choices ahead to maintain essential services:
The Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) policy discussion revealed the technical mechanisms that fund capital improvements, with Campagne explaining: "The policy outlines the calculation for which the dollars are moved into the capital improvements fund. The calculation is 60% of the cumulative reduction in debt service combined with 60% of the net excess, the increase in the net excess value in any given year."
A proposed one-year moratorium on the 17% fund balance policy would yield $12.2 million in one-time revenues while maintaining a still-healthy 15% fund balance of $92 million. Campagne noted: "Even with that, our projected FY25/26 fund balance reserve at 15% is still $92 million, which is still a healthy reserve in this economic climate."
The Board approved $2.2 million in one-time expenditures from contingency funds for critical needs, with staff emphasizing: "These are items that were included in drafts of the supplemental and/or the CIP budget... If we don't do them this year, we have a larger fund balance to go into next year... The bottom line is it's not going to get cheaper."
These technical budget discussions might seem arcane, but they determine which communities receive resources and which are neglected. Behind every percentage point and fund allocation are real people whose access to healthcare, housing, and essential services hangs in the balance.
Housing Choice: Expanding Options in a Housing Crisis
In a significant step toward addressing housing affordability, the Board approved a zoning code text amendment (Ordinance 2025-8) aimed at increasing housing options throughout the county.
Mark Holmes explained the amendment's purpose with clarity: "The goal is simple. It's to allow more choice for different housing types. Right now there are certain zones in what is arguably an antiquated zoning code of ours that is continually evolving... There are certain zones that only allow a single family home. Regardless of your acreage, you have no choice."
The changes will:
Add the definition of a "triplex dwelling" to the code
Allow duplex and triplex dwellings as permitted uses in all rural and residential properties
Revise development plan requirements to apply to properties with four residential units or more (changed from three)
Holmes noted these changes represent a return to historical housing patterns: "This idea is actually looking way back in time, back in the day when people were using duplexes and triplexes. So it's reintroducing the plexes... a term out there is called the missing middle."
This zoning reform represents a rare bright spot in housing policy—enabling gentle density increases that can help address both housing shortages and affordability while maintaining neighborhood character. But we need much more aggressive action to truly address the housing crisis, including tenant protections, anti-displacement measures, and deeply affordable housing production.
Transition Center Success: Evidence-Based Justice Reform Works
Kay Bresly, Director of Justice Services, presented compelling evidence of the Transition Center's success in reducing recidivism and supporting successful reentry:
"We have surpassed serving 2000 unique individuals at the transition center, month over month. We continue to see more and more folks coming through," Bresly reported, with monthly usage increasing from about 115 to over 328 people.
The data on recidivism rates was particularly striking: "While about 28% of misdemeanor offenders are typically rebooked within 30 days, those going through the Transition Center have rebooking rates of 10% or less."
Housing emerged as the most critical factor in successful reentry: "Housing continues to be our most critical need and the data demonstrates that our community is safer when we do have housing placement for individuals coming through." Bresly highlighted a dramatic contrast: individuals with housing were far less likely to return to jail than those without stable housing.
When asked about service gaps, Bresly identified after-hours support as crucial: "We really struggle to see services available after 5 p.m... It is not smart for the community to have individuals who are getting released at midnight, 2 a.m., and then having limited access or no access to transportation or housing in the middle of the night."
These results demolish the false "tough on crime" narrative that has dominated criminal justice policy for decades. The data clearly shows that providing support services—particularly housing—creates better public safety outcomes than the revolving door of incarceration. Yet funding for these evidence-based approaches remains precarious while jail budgets continue to expand.
District 5 Vacancy: The Fight for Progressive Representation
Following Supervisor Grijalva's resignation, the Board unanimously approved a process to fill her vacancy—a process that will determine whether her progressive legacy continues:
Applications will be accepted April 2-7, 2025
Applicants must submit a letter of interest, resume, financial disclosure statement, and conflict of interest forms
The Human Resources Department will conduct background checks
A League of Women Voters public forum will be held during the week of April 7-11
Board members will conduct individual interviews with candidates
The appointment will be made at the next meeting
Chair Scott emphasized the accelerated timeline: "I recognize that it is a more accelerated timeline than we used when we appointed Supervisor Bronson's replacement, but I also recognize that we're in the middle of budget season and I want the folks of District 5 to have a voice at this dais as the fiscal blueprint for the coming year is being considered."
The appointed supervisor will need to run in both the 2026 general election to complete Grijalva's term and again in 2028 to secure a full term.
This appointment process will be critical for maintaining progressive representation in District 5. The timeline may be accelerated, but community members must engage immediately to ensure the appointee reflects the district's values and will fight for environmental justice, workers' rights, and equitable resource allocation during the crucial budget process.
Complete Voting Record: The Power of the Roll Call
Voting records provide invaluable accountability tools—revealing the true priorities of elected officials beyond their rhetoric. Note Supervisor Christy's pattern of opposing funding for affordable housing, community services, and environmental conservation while supporting law enforcement expenditures. These aren't random votes; they represent a coherent ideology that prioritizes property interests over human needs.
The Path Forward: Organizing for People-Centered Governance
As Pima County navigates significant leadership transitions, budget constraints, and federal funding challenges, we stand at a critical juncture that demands our collective action. The stark contrasts at this meeting couldn't be clearer: on one side, community voices advocating for environmental protection, humane treatment of unhoused residents, and evidence-based justice reform; on the other, those promoting xenophobic fear-mongering and pushing back against essential social services.
The Kelly Ranch acquisition victory demonstrates that when community members organize effectively and show up consistently, we can achieve meaningful wins for environmental justice and future generations. As developers and right-wing interests pushed to commercialize this critical wildlife corridor, progressive organizing ensured this ecological treasure would be preserved for generations to come. Similarly, the Transition Center's evidence-based approach to justice reform proves that compassionate, supportive services create better outcomes than punitive policies—a rebuke to the "tough on crime" rhetoric that has devastated communities of color for decades.
With Supervisor Grijalva's departure, it falls to all of us to ensure her progressive legacy continues through active participation in the appointment process and subsequent elections. The next supervisor from District 5 will face immediate challenges with budget decisions that will impact vulnerable communities for years to come. Will they maintain Grijalva's commitment to environmental justice, workers' rights, and equitable resource allocation? Or will they be captured by developer interests and the politics of austerity? The answer depends entirely on who shows up to demand accountability.
We've seen this cycle before—progressive leaders fight to implement transformative policies only to have their work undermined by corporate-backed replacements who dismantle progress in the name of "fiscal responsibility." This moment requires not just passive observation but active intervention in our political system.
Progressive governance doesn't happen by accident—it requires sustained community organizing, showing up at meetings, submitting public comments, and holding representatives accountable for their votes. It means countering xenophobic rhetoric with values of inclusion and dignity for all community members, regardless of immigration status. It means fighting for housing policies that recognize shelter as a human right rather than a market commodity. And it means pushing for environmental protection that preserves our precious Sonoran Desert heritage against relentless development pressure.
The federal funding cuts targeting public health programs—particularly those aimed at addressing health disparities—reveal the cynical political calculation at play. By attacking vaccine equity programs and COVID-19 health services, right-wing forces are deliberately undermining services that disproportionately benefit marginalized communities. These aren't abstract budget decisions; they represent a direct assault on the health and wellbeing of our most vulnerable neighbors.
Countering these attacks requires building coalitions across issues—connecting environmental advocates with housing justice organizers, labor unions with immigrant rights defenders. The attempt to divide communities against each other—as we saw in the xenophobic public comments—can only succeed if we allow artificial divisions to override our shared interest in a just, sustainable future for Pima County.
As the renowned labor organizer Dolores Huerta reminds us: "Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world." The Board of Supervisors meeting may seem like bureaucratic procedure, but it represents a battleground where real decisions affecting real lives are made. Our presence—or absence—in these spaces has consequences.
Those considering applying for the District 5 vacancy must be prepared to stand firm against growing anti-immigrant sentiment, advocate for continued funding of critical social services, and navigate increasingly complex budget constraints without abandoning progressive values. We need representatives who understand that environmental protection, housing justice, and workers' rights are not luxury items to be sacrificed in times of austerity but essential components of a just society.
How will you engage with these critical county issues in the coming months? What qualities should we demand in the next District 5 supervisor to ensure the people's interests remain at the forefront of decision-making?
Remember, public comment at Board meetings is your constitutional right - the next Pima County Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for April 16, 2025. ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! The people united will never be defeated!
QUOTES
"Whereas you have endangered America's safety for the benefit of the United Nations' interference in the sovereignty of our country... Whereas we the people are negatively affected by crime perpetrated by the border invasion, often leaving lasting physical, emotional, and social devastation behind." — Gisela Aron, delivering xenophobic rhetoric during public comments
"I'm kindly requesting of this board in order for you not to be accused of discrimination that you have in the very near future a proclamation declaring heterosexual day." — Laurie Moore, objecting to transgender recognition and demanding heterosexual recognition
"We're talking about housing issues being so limited in Pima County. And here we're going to take a large piece of property off the tax rolls." — Supervisor Christy, opposing the Kelly Ranch conservation acquisition in favor of development
"What's going to be happening with our budget next year and the upcoming year is going to be really difficult. And so I hope you all just continue to put the people of this community to the top of mind when we're making all of these really difficult decisions." — Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, in her resignation remarks
"There's one mental health provider for every 440 residents in our community. Almost one in 10 adults have a diabetes diagnosis. Opioid overdose deaths increased by 202% between 2016 and 2023." — David Higuera, presenting critical findings from the Community Health Needs Assessment
"While about 28% of misdemeanor offenders are typically rebooked within 30 days, those going through the Transition Center have rebooking rates of 10% or less." — Kay Bresly, Director of Justice Services, on the success of the Transition Center
"I think we need to join the lawsuit that 23 states and Washington, D.C. just announced earlier today on this public health funding because it's affecting every state." — Supervisor Heinz, addressing federal funding cuts
"The goal is simple. It's to allow more choice for different housing types... This idea is actually looking way back in time, back in the day when people were using duplexes and triplexes. So it's reintroducing the plexes... a term out there is called the missing middle." — Mark Holmes, explaining housing choice zoning reforms
PEOPLE MENTIONED
Adelita Grijalva (Supervisor, District 5): "I just think that it is such a privilege and a gift to have the opportunity to talk to people about what is happening in our communities." Resigned effective April 4, 2025, after serving through COVID-19 pandemic and following the passing of Richard Elias.
Steve Valencia (Arizona Jobs with Justice Coalition): "I think that we have a big struggle ahead of us in this country. And I think that people like Adelita is ready for the job." Praised Grijalva's 12 years on the governing board.
Cecilia (Pima Area Labor Federation): "I want to thank you. It comes from the 24 different affiliates we have in Pima County for always being there for us, whether we are bargaining a contract, whether we're protesting, whether we're on strike."
Gisela Aron (Public Commenter): Delivered xenophobic "Proclamation of Liberation Day" claiming Board members endangered "America's safety for the benefit of the United Nations."
Laurie Moore (Public Commenter): "I'm kindly requesting of this board in order for you not to be accused of discrimination that you have in the very near future a proclamation declaring heterosexual day."
Anastasia Sasaki (Public Commenter): Opposed homeless encampments in parks, stating, "I think it's extremely, extremely egregious... We need those parks for our use."
Joseph La Salvia (Public Commenter): "A whole year of this relentless onslaught of noise has wrecked my mental and physical health." Described 11-month battle with PACC over barking dogs.
Phineas Anderson (Public Commenter): Organized Tesla protests growing from "54 to 1,916 protesters" and presented proclamation opposing "executive overreach."
David Higuera (Public Commenter): Presented Pima County Community Health needs assessment findings: "Opioid overdose deaths increased by 202% between 2016 and 2023."
Supervisor Christy (Board Member): Opposed Kelly Ranch acquisition: "We're talking about housing issues being so limited in Pima County. And here we're going to take a large piece of property off the tax rolls."
Michelle Davis (County Staff): Reported on federal funding impacts: "Two big ones specifically—COVID-19 health disparities and vaccine equity—were termed or stop work order before their performance period and date."
Kay Bresly (Director of Justice Services): "We have surpassed serving 2000 unique individuals at the transition center month over month." Reported dramatic success in reducing recidivism rates.
Mark Holmes (County Staff): Explained housing reforms: "This idea is actually looking way back in time, back in the day when people were using duplexes and triplexes. So it's reintroducing the plexes."
Supervisor Heinz (Board Member): "I think we need to join the lawsuit that 23 states and Washington, D.C. just announced earlier today on this public health funding."
Jan Lesher (County Administrator): Guided Board through budget discussions and options during financial constraints.
Michelle Campagne (Finance Director): Explained fund balance policy: "Even with that, our projected fund balance reserve at 15% is still $92 million, which is still a healthy reserve in this economic climate."
Chair Scott (Board Member): Emphasized the importance of filling Grijalva's seat quickly: "I want the folks of District 5 to have a voice at this dais as the fiscal blueprint for the coming year is being considered."
Carolyn Campbell (Environmental Advocate): "It's been an honor to work with you and have you follow in the footsteps first of Supervisor Raul Grijalva and then Richard Elias, both really good friends."
Mark DeBonis (County Staff): "This property is identified as being important in maintaining habitat connectivity and wildlife corridors. It's within the biological core and includes important riparian habitat areas of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan."
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