Mayor and Council Preside over City Fatalities Up in 3 out of 4 Categories; Mayor and Council Create Hostile/Stressful Work Environment for Drivers on the FREE CRIME BUS
City of Tucson Official Fatalities up year-over-year in 3 out of 4 categories with Pedestrian deaths rising rapidly
Mayor Romero and Council continue to preside over policies resulting in record crime and death in the City of Tucson. We are on track to have record fatalities in 2023 in all categories. Last year we saw record pedestrian deaths. The vast majority involved pedestrians being under the influence of fentanyl or a combination of drugs at the time of death. Drugs and alcohol are often factors with the drivers as well.
It took 13 months from the time TCFC met with Mayor Romero, for her and the City Council to finally acknowledge our plea and declare a Fentanyl Emergency in the City of Tucson. While Mayor and Council focus their efforts on the nice-to-have, FUN projects for them, they have lost focus on core services of enforcing our laws, answering our 911 calls, having enough TPD officers to enforce laws, which is resulting in record fatalities, and a community that is simply not safe to live or do business in.
We need our elected leaders to focus on public safety instead of pet projects we can't afford like the FREE CRIME BUS. Riders that qualify for financial relief from fares can and should be supported, however there must be accountability. We need the City to place officers or security on every bus to keep our drivers, riders and community safe from the shootings, stabbings, assaults, drug use and the spread of crime around Tucson and surrounding communities.
Mayor Romero and Council by directing TPD to not enforce our laws have created a high stress and hostile work environment for drivers and make the FREE CRIME BUS unsafe for all.
Last week TCFC was on scene and reported on a confrontation started by a passenger that ended in the arrest of a veteran Sun Tran employee at Grant and Oracle. By many accounts by people at the scene of this incident and on social media, this Sun Tran employee was well known and well liked in the community. This incident never should have occurred. What we are seeing is likely the result of a Sun Tran driver simply being pushed too far. What led up to this event? How many times has this driver and others put up with physical and verbal abuse that has not been reported. Why are our electeds not giving the voices advocating for a safe bus system the attention they deserve?
Tucson, Arizona has been named the “Crime Capital” of the state. In the FBI’s 2022 Uniform Crime Report, Tucson’s crime statistics revealed the city as the most perilous major city in Arizona. It reported a violent crime rate of 9.7 incidents per 1,000 residents, a significant deviation from the national average of 5.1 per 1,000 residents.
I don’t know where Denise and Alfaro live but they surely continue to stick their heads in the sand. Have either of you boarded a city bus in Tucson since they became the free transit of the drug dealers, drug abusers and perverts? It is easy to criticize groups like TCFC when you do nothing. How about some research by you personally instead of being Regina’s parrot? Tucson can change, VOTE for change and candidates who want change.
I appreciate that people like “Alvaro” and “Denise Meeks” make comments here. It shows just how backwards people in Tucson are. All they can see is how criminals are the actual “victims.” In reality neither of these individuals probably deal with these issues on a daily basis. I’m happy for them they can have such a utopian view. On the street however, people like this would be the first to get stabbed and robbed or worse.
Why does this newsletter hate on the bus so much? There are a lot of real concerns and issues that would make more sense to address. I see very little connection between crime and fare-free buses beyond the name CRIMEBUS that this newsletter uses. I was expecting more information and thoughts on reducing crime.
This is a crime, the bus line is sorely needed by so many people. In response to the last town hall and the Sheriffs in Cochise County, it sounds like it is time to call in the US Army to help with the border control issues. CW
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