DISTRICT 5 DIGEST: September 2021

September 7th Meeting

D5-Sponsored Voter Registration Day Proclamation - September 28th

• Our office worked with the League of Women Voters and the One Arizona Coalition, which includes Mi Familia Vota and Coalition for Change, to register students to vote.

National Suicide Awareness Month

• Suicide is the tenth-leading cause of death in the U.S., and the suicide rate in the U.S. has increased by 35 percent since 1999.

• Pima County encourages residents to stand “Together for Mental Health,” increase understanding of mental illness and access to mental-health resources to reduce the occurrence of suicide in our community.

Amicus Brief in Support of Arizona School Board Association (ASBA) Mask and Vaccine Mandates

• The Board of Supervisors had previously voted to support local school districts implementing precautions to keep students and staff safe.

• This Amicus Brief will explain that “issues raised in the ASBA Complaint that are germane to the duties of Pima County and the Pima County Health Department, and the health and welfare of Pima County Residents.”

• This item passed 4-1, with Supervisor Grijalva voting in favor.

Allocation of AZ Bowl Funding to Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) Nahui Ollin Wellness Program

• The Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $38k in funding to this CPLC program.

• The Nahui Ollin Program offers Chantlacah O.G. (Homies, Original Gente) Chantlacah O.G. allows a space to engage in critical dialogue on healthy manhood and masculinity.

• These are the funds that would have gone to sponsoring the Arizona Bowl, and that were withdrawn due to sexist comments made by the founder of Barstool Sports, the title sponsor of the Arizona Bowl, as well as concerns about Barstool Sports’ online content.

• This item passed 4-1, with Supervisor Grijalva voting in favor of this reallocation.

Disincentives for Unvaccinated Employees of Pima County

• At the previous Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board voted to incentivize employees who received their vaccine with a $300 bonus.

• This policy was successful. As of August 16th, 2,865 employees, or 46 percent had received at least one dose of vaccine. As of September 3rd, 4,427, or 66 percent, of employees had received at least one dose of the vaccine.

• On September 7th, the Board voted on disincentives for employees who do not get vaccinated.

• The disincentive is a $45.51 vaccine surcharge per pay period, or $1,183.26 annually, for all unvaccinated employees on the County insurance plan.

• Employees who have a valid medical or religious exemption would not be subject to the surcharge.

• This item passed 4-1, with Supervisor Grijalva voting in favor.

Acceptance of $2 million in Federal Funds to Provide Shelter Services for COVID-19 Positive/Exposed Asylum Seekers

• Providing extra hotel sheltering allows for isolation and quarantine of people referred by Casa Alitas.

• This is the best way to keep asylum seekers, and the community at large, healthy and safe.

• This item passed 4-1, with Supervisor Grijalva voting in favor.

 

September 21st Meeting

D5-Sponsored “Falls Free Pima Falls Prevention Awareness Month” Proclamation

• September is Falls Free Pima Fall Prevention Awareness Month.

• From the proclamation: “slips and falls impact people of all ages in Arizona, resulting in personal and financial tolls for older adults in Pima County and the health-care system.”

• This was presented to Pima Council on Aging.

D5-Sponsored "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" Proclamation

• October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

• The pandemic has exacerbated social and livelihood stresses and circumstances that lead to partner violence.

• October 21st, 2021 is Wear Purple Day to raise awareness of domestic abuse, so remember to include something purple in your outfit that day.

• This proclamation was presented to Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse. 

Update on Emergency Eviction Legal Services Program and the Rental Assistance Program

• Supervisor Grijalva requested an update on these programs at the board meeting.

• Over $27 million in rent and utility assistance paid out and/or obligated to 4,325 eligible households across this County. 

• According to Arizona Public Media, "Pima County in particular leads nationwide in getting these federal funds to renters in need. The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that Pima County has approved or paid nearly 80% of its share of the funds."

• The County will roll out an outreach program to landlords who may not be aware of the program.

• Eviction filings are down from pre-pandemic levels, from 250 evictions per week to 142 evictions per week.

• Through September 3, 2021, 198 tenants have been referred to counsel (in the legal services program) and 137 rent assistance applications were initiated and assigned to a caseworker for processing. 

The Election Precinct Consolidation

• This would have reduced the number of election precincts from 249 to 207.

• The BOS voted unanimously against this item. Supervisor Grijalva is committed to making voting as accessible as possible.

Justice Court and Constable Reprecincting

• Supervisor Grijalva voted in favor of Option 1, which passed with a 4-1 vote.

• This option protects the rights that are guaranteed by the Voting Rights Act.

Sun Corridor Inc., Contract for $650,000

• Supervisor Grijalva voted against this contract.

• The item passed 3-2.

• The County provides a fourth of the funding for Sun Corridor, and Supervisor Grijalva would like a ten-year longevity study to see how many companies attracted by Sun Corridor have stayed in Pima County, how many companies hire local employees, and how much of the revenue from these companies stays in Pima County.

Certificate of Participation to Fund $50 Million in Road Repair Projects

• Supervisor Grijalva voted against this item in April because so little of the funding would be dedicated to District 5.

• Only 2.5 percent of road repair projects would be in District 5.

• This item passed 4-1, with Supervisor Grijalva voting against it.

5% Pay Increase for Employees of Pima County

• This item passed unanimously.

• While Supervisor Grijalva supports an increase in compensation, since two years ago was the last time employees received a pay increase, she believes that general percentage increases do not address issues of compression. 

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