Imagine Greater Tucson
Phase I Data Gathering
| Tucson Regional Environmental Leaders Breakfast Group – Table 2 | ||
| The Historic Y – 738 N. 5th Ave, Tucson | ||
| Date of Conversation: Thursday, January 06, 2011 Time: 8:00 -10:00 AM | ||
| Facilitator: Sue Morman Recorder: Michelle Crow | ||
| Number of Tables: 1 Number of Participants: 7 | ||
| Theme 1. Economic Development | ||
| What do you like the most about our community/region? | ||
| Astronomical research hub | ||
| Environmental opportunities for research / improvement | ||
| What do you most want to change or improve about our community/region? | ||
| Greater economic investment in renewable energy, especially solar, to mark Tucson as a key environmental city in the US | ||
| Substantial and means based incentives for sustainable housing | ||
| Downtown 'look and feel' | ||
| 100% clean and renewable energy and fuels | ||
| More positive business culture – downtown renewal | ||
| Theme 2. Education | ||
| What do you like the most about our community/region? | ||
| Higher education through vibrant University of Arizona | ||
| What do you most want to change or improve about our community/region? | ||
| Better ethnic diversity education | ||
| Better education TUSD | ||
| Investment in higher education as well as K-12 | ||
| Theme 3. Natural Environment and Climate | ||
| What do you like the most about our community/region? | ||
| Birds and wildlife | ||
| Unique plants and animals | ||
| Beautiful desert environment and sun ! | ||
| Unique natural environment close at hand | ||
| Nature | ||
| Environment | ||
| Sunshine | ||
| Natural habitat in urban areas | ||
| Ease of access to larger natural areas | ||
| Access to natural environment | ||
| Natural beauty and weather | ||
| Conservation, sense of place, natural beauty, climate, support systems | ||
| What do you most want to change or improve about our community/region? | ||
| Summer is too hot | ||
| Greater protection of natural habitat | ||
| Meaningful valuation of natural capital – putting economic value on health, education, sustainability | ||
| Environmental literacy – raising awareness | ||
| Theme 4. Sustainable and Land Use | ||
| What do you most want to change or improve about our community/region? | ||
| Sprawling development | ||
| Less growth | ||
| Less need to drive – public transit or clustered development | ||
| Population within natural carrying capacity | ||
| Improve city parks – wild / natural spaces | ||
| Lowering carbon emissions | ||
| Public transportation – sustainable and comprehensive | ||
| Sustainable water management – growth issues | ||
| Use low water native-type plants – no sales of high water use plants | ||
| Local water dependency only with rising aquifer | ||
| Greater use of rainwater | ||
| Truck by-pass | ||
| Add more bike lanes - “Bike Friendly” | ||
| Why is this important? How does this affect you? | ||
| Growth is an economic driver | ||
| There will be some sort of population pressure | ||
| Legal and illegal immigration | ||
| Consider refugee population and our diversity | ||
| We need a philosophy of government that values health and safety | ||
| Water and energy will drop our growth if we don't plan in a different way | ||
| Population – can reduce in a community | ||
| Growth is a self-fulfilling prophecy if we plan for it | ||
| We will grow – population | ||
| Consider using planning tools for no growth to sustain Tucson | ||
| Refurbish old | ||
| Downtown lacks residential development – just big buildings | ||
| Taking down older buildings hurts lower income | ||
| Phoenix is prettier | ||
| Take down old | ||
| Infill, yet keep some vacant lots | ||
| Sprawl jeopardizes sense of community | ||
| Zero population growth | ||
| Long term planning is missing – too many changes suggested in conversation | ||
| Government should provide an incentive to take us to a new place | ||
| Not too late to save our identity – don't blade the desert | ||
| Healthy environment necessary for human health | ||
| Theme 5. Cultural Health and Diversity | ||
| What do you like the most about our community/region? | ||
| Cultural diversity | ||
| Progressive population | ||
| Healthy ethnic diversity | ||
| Indigenous cultural history' | ||
| Extensive social networking | ||
| Small town community atmosphere in a bigger city | ||
| Council and supervisors are approachable | ||
| Informal lifestyle | ||
| Neighborhoods (associations) | ||
| Culture | ||
| Diversity of arts / music / festivals | ||
| What do you most want to change or improve about our community/region? | ||
| Openness to new / different ideas (change from status quo) | ||
| Changing poverty | ||
| Lack of inclusive social contract | ||
| Greater connection between Tucson interest groups and University | ||
| Lack of political will to make change in the city | ||
| Why is this important? How does this affect you? | ||
| Imagine and create new possibilities – this is an artful experience – have some fun | ||
| Value differences as opportunities – we aren't trying to change others, but expand ourselves and our community | ||
| Many students have not taken part in the political process | ||
| Something about students – they aren't engaged like they used to be | ||
| In political situations, we don't involve enough youth | ||
| Healthy, stable population = students, diversity, elderly | ||
| Many UA students come to and contribute to the culture – being limited by tuition increases how many students can afford it? K-12 students not being prepared for higher ed. Negative impact on business and culture. | ||
| Hispanic culture is the heritage (Native American), people know how to use the resources | ||
| Nice contrast with Maine - “Translucent white” - love to hear the 2nd language – Hispanic culture | ||
| Not much interest of getting involved from students because they are looking to go elsewhere. | ||
| No simple solutions, but there is no overall vision for bringing young people into the political process. | ||
| IGT can be an insertion point for this issue. | ||
| People will talk about consuming less, but don't want to talk about population growth. We're already beyond carrying capacity. Throws economic development paradigm out the window. | ||
| Has there been a group in Tucson to focus on population growth? | ||
| There are groups on campus that are interested in participating – things they are passionate about. Student government is engaged with the student body – could be uplifting to bring to the community as a whole. | ||
| “Have to stop spending time putting out fires. Have to go after the arsonist.” Get at the root causes. Earth jurisprudence | ||
| How can we provide right livelihood that is sustainable but doesn't depend on growth? | ||
| What is a sustainable economy? | ||
| What is economic sustainability? Raytheon may leave but they make “bombs for a better tomorrow" | ||
| Education is important to improving our area. It's about investment. | ||
| Government / council needs to be committed to sustainability. I stay here because there is work to be done. | ||
Monday, January 17, 2011