Key Issues of the Campaign Quality of Life Issues: Neighborhoods / Safe Streets: here in Tucson we should be able to take pride in work at the City Council level that instills a sense of bonding in the community. City Council liaison would be present at neighborhood meetings and/or block parties upon request, to take note of concerns and report them to the Council office. Potholes need to be addressed in accordance with city growth. If we can't keep up with basic road maintenance then perhaps we should be concerned with our rapid growth. Why expand if we can't care for what already exists? The graffiti problem needs to be taken care of swiftly and has been in the past. The current city and county programs already in place should be encouraged and adequately funded. If we're honest about our desire to clean-up our streets and make our neighborhoods a safer place to live, graffiti is something that should be taken care of at first notice. Also, assistance should be provided to homeowners within city limits who cannot afford to clean or cover it (particularly seniors, and low income families, the disabled, and those on a fixed income).  Fire and Police: Dedicated Funding: Scare tactics should not be used in regards to city funds or revenue used towards fire and policemen and women. Regardless of what decisions are made either executive or by ballot propositions, the funding for public safety should have a dedicated funding source. It is a basic necessity and therefore should always hold its rightful place on the city's agenda.  Safety First in Community Growth: We need to carefully weigh the costs and benefits of growth on our city. There should be a plan in place to ensure that public services follow swiftly after new growth so that the needs of the population can be met. It is especially important that this plan include a good ratio of police and fire services to the community. Water/Environment: Planned Growth: Growth can be good for our city, but it must not go unchecked. When the city sells land to developers several issues need to be considered: environmental impact, the effect on our water table, location (Rio Nuevo should not be building condominiums over the top of cultural sites!), the tax revenue brought in vs. the amount needed to pay for the area's city services.  Protected Lands: The city should do everything in its power to protect key environmental and cultural lands within its boundaries. If our expansion may cost another species its existence, or cost our community to lose a cultural site, than our expansion is too costly. Sustainable Water/Resources: Tucson Water, Bob Walkup, and our many Council members boast about our ability to provide water "for the next 100 years". Well I ask you, is 100 years enough? Does that sound like sustainability? Will the people of our grandkids' generation be able to live here? Is a 100-year plan a viable plan for Tucson's resources? And if we continue to rapidly grow, how will this alter the "100-year plan"? Transportation: Lessen Road Congestion and Clean Our Air: Many of our traffic lights are outdated and out-of-sync with Tucson's current traffic needs. Timed lights are needed at many intersections throughout the city. Our answers to road congestion don't merely involve road-widening plans. You can't pave your way out of congestion! We need to update our traffic system with today's technologies. Our already, industry leading Sun Tran bus system (who's fleet consists entirely of bio-diesel and CNG busses) can take the next step in the green by embracing environmentally friendly technology as it becomes available.  City Council: Transparency: The people of Tucson deserve the right to know where ALL the money is going. Tucsonans deserve more than a pie chart depiction. We should list names of corporations, businesses, charities, and programs that are receiving city money. This information should be easily accessible to all our citizens. More Citizen Participation: Neighborhoods deserve a louder voice in our city's decision making. Liaison(s) should report neighborhood concerns to City Council. In addition City Council members should take the effort to make themselves more available to their constituents.  Fiscally Conservative: Justification: If money is being given to programs that aren't improving the quality of life for Tucsonans or the environment we live in, then it needs to be reclaimed.  Keep our Tax dollars in Tucson's Economy: City contracts must go to local businesses whenever possible. This would ensure that our money stays in Tucson much longer than it would if it was awarded to out of area contractors, planners, and corporations.  Accountability: Elected officials should see that the plans that are implemented in our city are not only begun, but overseen, and completed. Unfinished buildings, half-demolished underpasses, and incomplete projects should not be a part of our permanent city-scape. Each project should be completely planned out and verified before work begins. Those officials who commission these projects should take the responsibility to see that tax dollars that we invest are properly used. When projects fail, those officials should answer to the people and correct the problems that have been caused. Rio Nuevo: Too much money spent, too little to show for it: Rio Nuevo is a $1 billion dollar plan, with more than half a billion dollars already committed. It was voter approved in November of 1999, yet very little has actually even started.  Too Little Neighborhood Input: How is OUR hard-earned money being spent with our interests in mind? Plans now include a new arena, an IMAX movie theater, and other things which were not originally part of the Rio Nuevo project. Are these things vital to Tucson? Would they improve our community, or is endless money being thrown at things the average Tucsonan won't benefit from? Many long time residents have been ignored and sidelined by out of state investors and new interest groups. City Council should seek input from well established residents and businesses as they grow Tucson. If these issues are important to you please volunteer and/or make a donation to this campaign!