Local opinion: Support for our Mayor and City Council

and analysis of the writer:

On Tuesday, Aug. 19, I watched almost three hours of the City Council Study Session. With the political environment that is our current reality, I have changed my national news focus to our local politics — as these policies are the things that have the most effect on my daily life and the health and sustainability of our community.

I am a Tucson native, U of A graduate, retired educator and a current court-appointed Special Advocate for foster children. In all of my roles I have learned to function within systems — the public education system, the State Board of Education, the juvenile justice system, and a richly diverse community. As a Jewish woman who was married to a native Mexican Catholic, I have lived on the fringes all my life.

I am so very disheartened by the rhetoric and criticism of our current mayor, Regina Romero. On social media, she is accused of single-handedly ruining the city. Blamed for gun violence, drug addiction, unsafe public transportation, violent crime, unsheltered populations and potholes. There is name-calling, criticism, personal attacks, sexist and racist comments. These are not followed by any suggestions or civic engagement — no participation in building community or seeking solutions.

Well, I listened for three hours to better understand what is happening in our city. I heard report after report of services and policies that are having a positive impact on our community. I heard reports from the Tucson Police Department, local partners providing wrap-around services for the unsheltered, programs providing support for small businesses, providers and builders working on affordable housing projects, water reclamation and distribution and the Tucson program that Mayor Romero and TPD initiated — VIVA — Violence Interruption and Vitalization. And, perhaps most notable, the final RTA plan that will go to voters under the new leadership of Mike Ortega (thanks to the relationship and history between Mike and the city leadership).

I heard reports of progress, services, resources and policies supporting new levels of accountability and transparency and comments addressed to increase responsiveness to and access to the residents of Tucson. I heard person after person thanking Mayor Romero for her leadership and vision. All these things are happening in an economic downturn: A slowing housing market, decline in retail and investment from our southern neighbors, loss of grants and federal funding, struggles at the U of A and general chaos and confusion at every level of government spilling into our streets. We had the business community campaign and vote against a sales tax increase in favor of supporting a new data collection center — which was opposed by the general public.

This is a time for community partnerships, leaders with vision and grit. We need to support public education, our working families and address complicated generational social problems with a variety of innovative approaches and increased accessibility. We need business leaders working with the elected and appointed city and county leaders to find paths forward to protect our resources and sustain a safe and healthy community. As a CASA, I see the great need of our foster system, and it takes all of us, the court, the DCS, Easter Seals, staff, training and licensing and volunteer advocates. It, in fact, takes a city. This is the time to focus on what is going right and do more of that: Treat one another with tolerance and respect, listen carefully and with an ear for solutions, and take a hard look in the mirror.

Democracy is a participatory process — stand, engage, collaborate, dialogue, question, seek understanding. At this place and time, we are the ones who will make the difference. We the People.