Join TCFC and Important Guests for in-person Crime/Border/Addiction/Fentanyl Forum, Thursday, October 19th @ 6pm
TUCSON CRIME FREE COMMUNITY FORUM
Thursday, October 19th, 6:00 pm at the Ellie Towne Community Center Located at 1660 W Ruthrauff Road
Don’t miss this educational forum, speakers are experts from our region that will identify some of the issues and potential solutions revolving around crime and substance abuse.
All candidates are invited, please contact TCFC at help@tucsoncrimefree.com for table space.
Seating is limited, please RSVP at:
CLICK HERE: RSVP for Attendance
TCFC is being hosted by the Flowing Wells Neighborhood Association and Community Coalition, a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to improve the safety and quality of life in Pima County.
Here is a preview of our Guest Speakers:
Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels and Commander Robert Watkins
Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels is a 39 year law enforcement veteran. Commander Robert Watkins is a 21 year law enforcement veteran. Both men are highly accredited and experienced in their careers. Sheriff Dannels has 3 primary objectives: Organizational Development, Border Security and Community Outreach. Dannels is “A Sheriff for All the People”
Sheriff Dannels and Commander Watkins will be presenting on the realities of our southern border. Failed federal policies, human trafficking, drug trafficking, Cartel involvement and the dangerous real world scenarios these men and their deputies face on a daily basis.
Retail & Commercial Real Estate Expert - Ashley Chiquete
Ashley Chiquete is a native Tucsonan known for her leadership and relationship building and is a commercial property manager with Cushman & Wakefield PICOR. Ashley joined the team in 2021 in a support role and quickly advanced to oversee a portfolio comprised of retail, office, and industrial properties. Ashley holds her Arizona real estate license and is a member of Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Tucson.
Ashley will be presenting on general negative effects of crime and how this widely affects tenants, patrons, and property owners.
Steve Holmes - Pima County Deputy Administrator
Steve Holmes joined Pima County following 28 years of extraordinary service in public education and a very successful period as Superintendent of the Sunnyside Unified School District. Over the last year with the unanimous support of County Administrator Jan Lesher and the Board of Supervisors, Steve has led several joint initiatives with TCFC. Initiatives have included the highly successful, "Say No To Panhandling, Say YES to Helping Agencies Serving Those In Need" signs at County intersections as well as launching the TRANSITION CENTER at the Pima County Jail.
Steve will be presenting on the goals of reducing recidivism and guiding people to the services they need to transform their lives by directing them to the TRANSITION CENTER.
CEO of Gospel Rescue Mission - Lisa Chastain
Lisa Chastain is an expert in addiction and rehabilitation services. Lisa is the CEO of Gospel Rescue Mission which is recognized as one of the most successful models for empowering people to overcome addiction and return to society as productive members. Lisa followed in the footsteps of her grandfather, Ray Chastain, who founded Gospel Rescue Mission and created the Center of Opportunity opening in 2019 with the generous help of the local H.S. Lopez Family Foundation. With over 20 years working with homeless and those on-the-brink, Lisa has a passion for helping people become self-sufficient.
Lisa will be presenting on her experiences of being the CEO of Gospel Rescue Mission, and creating a pathway for people to transform their lives.
Very smart officers of the law work at the Tucson Police Department and Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Historically, these departments have successfully and repeatedly conquered crime to make our community a safer place to live. Currently our community is in a crime crisis so we need both department to operate at maximum crime fighting efficiency to begin to reduce the adverse effect crime has on our city. One obvious solution is to hire more police officers, jail staff and support personnel. A less obvious solution is for the city council and pima county board of supervisors to streamline or eliminate rules, policies and procedures that get in the way of doing good police work. In other words lead, follow or get out of the way. Cops can do great police work if you allow them to do so. Citizens of our community deserve it.
Please don’t blame it on her age, we “youngsters” do not want her either. Regina Romero needs to be voted out. She doesn’t care about Tucson and it shows.
If we do not vote out the current city queens in November, times for Tucson will really be tough. Not only will the city be destroyed by world and nationwide events, but also by the immature, inexperienced decisions being made by these youngsters in office.
This is shaping up to look like another Republican-Independent loss. Both(actually 3 I guess), non-democrat candidates sound virtually identical. If the candidates are serious about saving Tucson:
1) Why don’t you meet, discuss what you have in common, and someone sacrifice the mantel of “Mayor” for the benefit of the citizens of this city?
2) Can’t one of you promise the other a position of power where they can pursue their goals and policies-all of which appear to be to our benefit? Maybe one can agree to run this time and let the other run next time?
3) Maybe you can agree to split the mayorship? Time? Area?
4) Why does it have to be either-or?
5) If the non-democrat vote turns out to be greater than the democrat vote and the child wins again, well, I know that if I were you, I would be embarrassed to consider myself a Tucsonan. How could you have done this to us? Is it ego at this point?
At the current rate, the old divide and conquer strategy, Ross Perot gave us Bill Clinton, will probably work for the democrats and we will truly end up with a third world city. And after 47 years here, I’m gone.
Please resist the temptation of inviting local law enforcement. Whatever narrative your panelists share will only be echoed in an effort to appear insightful and progressive. The latest version of a narcissistic “speciality sergeant” or commander would join the fold. He or she would listen attentively with a crumpled brow to appear stoic and wise. In the end, the only appreciable contribution from the representative would be praise for the police chief as the “right person for the job,” and commentary about the city council doing their best to address complex problems in a complex world (having no real answers, topics will be brushed to the next meeting).
A transition center is a tough challenge. The Crisis Response Center has a stranglehold on turnstile-clinic operations and the organization makes lots and lots of money showing people the door after 3 hours from LE dropoff.
Please do not forget about Pima County’s pursuit of Mcarthur grant funding that resulted in the absolute joke called the “Jail Population committee.” https://www.kold.com/2023/08/09/reform-with-few-results-pima-county-jail-population-continues-rise-despite-decade-long-effort/
With the Pima County Sheriff asking for a new jail a transition center is a big ask. A transition center makes the absolute most sense, but to turn the course flow of money from CRC and city stakeholders requires resolve and a leader not afraid to tell the truth for fear of losing access to some funding spigots. Too many local police leaders and those governing the city and county are primarily interested in prolonging their careers, making more money and earning more accolades. I don’t know if I would recognize sincerity given the status quo but I would recognize leadership. My sincerest hopes that some authentic leadership reveals itself at this meeting to inspire and motivate.
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