We Are D5 Monthly Newsletter
May 2022
Welcome to the We Are D5 Monthly Newsletter! Our mission of this newsletter is to demystify the role of local government in our community and keep you up to date with County politics. As a life long resident of District 5 and now as Pima County Supervisor, it has always been vital to our shared community to know what's going on in our community and how everyone can get involved. Please share widely with your community and as always, please reach out to our team at district5@pima.gov with any questions or concerns. (Para español, haga click en el botón de arriba a la derecha y seleccione el idioma español.)
Stay safe,
The People of District 5
Youth Spotlight: Meiling Lily-Rose Wong
Meiling Lily-Rose Wong is a Tucson native. She is Mexican, Vietnamese, and Chinese. Meiling is a 7th grader at Roskruge Bilingual Magnet School. She is an active performer under Compañía de Danza Folklorica de Arizona (CDFA) and a member of the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center’s Lion Dance Troupe. Meiling is a strong vocal critic against the injustices of racism, prejudices, and violence against the Asian and Latinx communities and all minority populations. Since returning to in person school she has maintained an honor roll status. Meiling’s goal is to become an anesthesiologist in the future. She is also a huge Disney fan and loves to cook Asian food.
If you know a young person in our community who you think should be highlighted, please email district5@pima.gov and nominate a youth!
Women's History Spotlight: Esther Don Tang
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Grew up working in the family business - her parents established one of the first bakeries in Tucson, as well as multiple grocery stores
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Graduated from Tucson High and the University of Arizona
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Built a chain of grocery and drug stores with husband David Tang
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Served on the board of the YWCA
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Director of the Pio Decimo Neighborhood Center for 25 years
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First non-Hispanic to be named La Doña de Tucson by Los Descendientes del Presidio de Tucson
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Named Tucson Woman of the Year in 1955
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Received an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from the University of Arizona
Business Spotlight: Noodleholics
Noodleholics opened four years ago this April, and serves a selection of noodles made in-house daily in the style of Guangzhou and Guilin cuisine. It was featured in Bon Appetit Magazine, and has been so successful that it expanded to a new location in Oracle. Gluten-free and vegetarian options available.
Check them out at 3502 E. Grant Rd., Tucson, AZ 85716
Period Poverty Awareness Week
Period Poverty Awareness Week 2022 was a success! On May 3rd, the Pima County Board of Supervisors declared May 23rd-May 29th as Period Poverty Awareness Week.
In honor of the special week, The District 5 Office collaborated with the Diaper Bank, the YWCA Southern Arizona, Pima County Health Department, and Pima County Public Library to coordinate a donation drive of period products. As a part of the donation drive’s effort, Supervisor Grijalva hosted a Plática with Adelita on the subject of period poverty and menstrual justice, and hosted two pop-up donation sites to kick off and finish the week. A BIG THANK YOU to our amazing partners and to community members who shared or donated to the drive! We couldn't have done it without you!
All donations will go to the Diaper Bank and the YWCA Southern Arizona to distribute to those members of our community who need them the most.
Didn't get a chance to donate?
Find out how you can help the Diaper Bank here. Find out how to help the YWCA here.
COVID-19 Updates
COVID CASES RISING
From the May 27, 2022 Health Dept. Press Conference:
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Pima County is seeing an increase in COVID cases and positivity.
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The week of May 16th, Pima County had between 147 and 161 cases per 100,000 people, and a positivity rate between 12 to 16 percent.
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Our hospitalization rate is increasing slightly, but not dramatically, which is why we are still in the "green" according to the CDC.
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COVID can still result in hospitalization or death for high risk individuals.
Non-COVID Items
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No cases of Monkeypox have been identified in the state of Arizona.
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There is an increased number of flu cases for this time of year.
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The Pima County Health Department received a grant to purchase and distribute gun locks.
Stay safe out there!
For the most up to date information on COVID-19, vaccinations, boosters, and testing, please visit the Pima County Health Department's website.
Policy Updates
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May
The 51st Anniversary of Mariachi Cobre
At the Board of Supervisors meeting on May 3, 2022, I presented a proclamation for the 51st Anniversary of Mariachi Cobre to Roberto Martinez, musical director of the Sunnyside High School mariachi. The Mariachi Los Diablitos de Sunnyside serenaded us and performed The Star Spangled Banner.
From the resolution: "Tucson’s Mariachi Cobre has played a key role in the mariachi education movement in the United States and education has always been central to its work and has guided its musical philosophy."
Congressman Grijalva
Bans Off Our Bodies
D5 staff attended the Bans Off Our Bodies rally with the Tucson Women's March on May 14, 2022 following the leak of an opinion from the Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade. My favorite Congressman spoke! We have to make our voices heard when our basic human rights are at stake. Society has come too far to go back. Women and anyone with a womb should be guaranteed the right to choose a safe and legal abortion if they do not want to have a child. Bodily autonomy is the only way to guarantee gender equality. La lucha continúa!
Honor Song
A big thank you to Tucson Indian Center Finance Director Michael Spotted Wolf for joining Pima County Board of Supervisors' May 17th meeting. Michael read the land acknowledgement and shared an honor song. We really appreciate you taking the time to do this. The land acknowledgement grounds us at the start of every meeting. Thank you!
¡FELICIDADES!
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Congratulations to the many incredible D5 Graduating Seniors who represent the top 5 students in their respective schools! We are all so proud of you and your achievements!
As the American abolitionist and political activist Harriet Tubman once said, "Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars, to change the world."
Felicidades to every Graduate and Senior in the Class of 2022, we wish you all the very best and look forward to seeing what you will do to change the world!