Imagine Greater Tucson
Phase I Data Gathering
| Tucson Young Professionals - Table 2 | ||
| Tucson Association of Realtors - 2445 North Tucson Bl, Tucson | ||
| Date of Conversation: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 Time: 6:00 � 8:00 PM | ||
| Facilitator: Marc Fink Recorder: Lindsey Sexton | ||
| Number of Tables: 1 Number of Participants: 9 | ||
| Theme 1. Business Environment | ||
| What do you like the most about our community/region? | ||
| Strong local business sector | ||
| Low cost of living | ||
| Access to local leaders | ||
| What do you most want to change or improve about our community/region? | ||
| Low-paying jobs | ||
| Retention of young professionals | ||
| More jobs, higher paying | ||
| University to 4th Ave to Downtown corridor- rezone area on University to connect the whole thing | ||
| Easier ability to infill near the downtown core for more concentrated/diverse development | ||
| Lack of skilled jobs outside of aerospace | ||
| More big business in Tucson (only small firms) | ||
| Why is this important? How does this affect you? | ||
| Need a better tax environment to attract companies, but that's risky because the money coming into the city would be lower | ||
| Jobs pay for police, defense, education, etc. in the community. They are a vital part of our lives. There is not a value on the thing that is the greatest good to your life and others. We need a vibrant business environment. Jobs are the foundation | ||
| Also, professionals plateau or spouse can't find a job here outside of defense, university, or science | ||
| Retention of young professionals. We don't have anything to offer them | ||
| Theme 2. Natural Environment | ||
| What do you like the most about our community/region? | ||
| Climate/landscape/natural landscape | ||
| Sunshine | ||
| Physical beauty | ||
| Nature/outdoors | ||
| Good outdoor activities (cycling, hiking, etc.) | ||
| Nature - outdoor activities | ||
| Sunshine/weather/outdoor opportunities | ||
| Preservation of the natural environment | ||
| Climate | ||
| Wildlife | ||
| Why is this important? How does this affect you? | ||
| Great for cycling | ||
| Can be physically active all year instead of stuck inside. We can hike, see wildlife and flowers, and the sunshine | ||
| We can have a sense of pride because we have a city and a preserved environment | ||
| Not much else to brag about the city except for how it looks | ||
| I feel good when it's not rainy, gray, or snowy. The mountains are pretty | ||
| Theme 3. Built Environment | ||
| What do you most want to change or improve about our community/region? | ||
| Vibrant downtown | ||
| City support for activity-minded (sports and fitness) events | ||
| Segregation of areas | ||
| More developed park space (plenty of open acres, need more fields) | ||
| Sports district (preferably downtown). It brings money, invigorates the community, and creates a common bond | ||
| Random "bad" neighborhoods | ||
| Why is this important? How does this affect you? | ||
| Sports- I want teams to create a sense of community and brings revenue | ||
| Even the older generations want a downtown. It's for everybody | ||
| Want to attract and retain young people that can enjoy a downtown | ||
| I love the fantastic bubble of living and working downtown | ||
| I hate sitting all day; driving to schools and work. I want more activity in my life | ||
| It's so fun when you can walk to bars and restaurants. It's healthier to connect to your neighbors | ||
| City has "strangled" ideas for dense city growth | ||
| Need to approve zoning in a large area, not just block by block | ||
| Theme 4. Transportation | ||
| What do you like the most about our community/region? | ||
| Easy access (fast) to many diverse geographies/locales, both by road and air | ||
| What do you most want to change or improve about our community/region? | ||
| Mass transit system w/quick rental cars at random stops | ||
| Public transportation - need more | ||
| East/west transportation - need faster option | ||
| Easier connection from west to east | ||
| Traffic | ||
| Better east/west thoroughfare | ||
| More/better transportation options | ||
| Better public transport | ||
| Why is this important? How does this affect you? | ||
| What about being a walking city or acclimate to the climate of how we travel | ||
| We already have some hubs that could be used for mass transit | ||
| The less traffic the more city is accessible to me (less expensive, less time, more entertainment and fulfillment in life; less anxiety) | ||
| Be strategic about where you have growth - lots in some areas, little in others | ||
| We need better connectivity to pockets that already exist | ||
| Like to see more pockets of economic activity. Could set up incentives to put businesses in these pockets because it will keep you connected | ||
| Sprawled out so it's hard to connect the different directions together w/public transportation | ||
| Accessibility is low. So it hurts jobs and growth | ||
| Hard for people to take a job because public transit won't get you there or it is limited. There are too many transfers | ||
| This is a great city for trying to leave - easy airport in and out, can take road trips easily to lots of places. Easy weekend trips | ||
| Theme 5. Consequence | ||
| What do you most want to change or improve about our community/region? | ||
| Crime | ||
| Theme 6. Education | ||
| What do you most want to change or improve about our community/region? | ||
| Better schools | ||
| Less monolithic school district in Tucson - Get schools closer to the parents | ||
| Education | ||
| Education K-12 | ||
| Schools | ||
| Why is this important? How does this affect you? | ||
| Value a connection between kids with teachers. Missing from public schools because there are so many rules. We need parents to be invested | ||
| Disconnect between schools in a small district and some schools really hurting financially | ||
| You miss out on diversity when you go to a better school (culture, value, different morals) | ||
| Can't attract quality business or workforce if low education for kids. Example: Foothills is thriving and Rincon high school is failing | ||
| Tucson should get rid of open enrollment, hurts communities. Should make bad schools better schools | ||
| We value and want our children to have a good education | ||
| Theme 7. Culture | ||
| What do you like the most about our community/region? | ||
| Mexican cultural influences | ||
| People- general kindness | ||
| Connected/Close community | ||
| Culture (relaxed) | ||
| Sense of community | ||
| Close-knit community | ||
| Preservation of heritage (art, culture, music, history, and museums) | ||
| Constant festivals | ||
| City festivals (Dia de Muerte, 4th Ave street fair, Rodeo Parade) | ||
| Arts and Culture | ||
| What do you most want to change or improve about our community/region? | ||
| Better music scene | ||
| Old guard embrace volunteer generation (embrace change) | ||
| City life | ||
Tuesday, January 25, 2011