Today we tackle a big problem facing our community. The challenges of people without shelter, people with drug use disorders, people who suffer from overdoses and people who commit property crimes are real.

As mayor, board chairman and county attorney, there is no time for me not to worry about my son, my lost mother, who has a substance use disorder. Her father was worried about her daughter walking safely to school. The neighborhood association protects the park. and small business owners who need to manage their own property.

We, the leaders in charge of these issues in the City of Tucson and Pima County, are working together to address these realities that directly or indirectly affect nearly everyone who calls Southern Arizona home.

Only when cities and counties work together can we begin to tackle these difficult challenges. We recognize that the hard work going on behind the scenes to address these concerns may not always be known to the public, so we We are working to communicate more effectively with This article is just the first report on what’s happening in our streets, parks and small businesses.

The pandemic did not cause these problems that we are dealing with, but the stress of so many illnesses, loss of life, and necessary COVID-19 restrictions has certainly exacerbated them.

This became a puzzle for the city and county to work together to solve.

This city/county team supports fentanyl, the overdose epidemic it has inflamed, and the drugs that harm our most vulnerable people, disrupt businesses, and affect the quality of our daily lives. Focuses on accountability to dealers. The following are just a few examples of ongoing efforts.

Under the leadership of Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Pima Board Oversight Chair Adelita Grijalva, and County Administrator Jean Lescher, we are on schedule to expand use of prison grounds and consider court-ordered detoxification. doing.

County Attorney Laura Conover surveys the prison population daily and conducts initial hearings to determine who is in custody and who is eligible for release.

TPD has launched a location network survey to uncover the networks of criminals and locations within the community that facilitate violent crime.

Sheriff Chris Nanos, Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmer, and Conover County Attorney Release First Joint PSA on Good Samaritan Act “Make The Call,” Urging People to Call 911 Immediately in Case of Overdose encouraged to Increase Narkan distribution.

As a recipient of the Opioid Settlement, the Pima County Health Department is supporting these efforts. We also have aggressive programs to address these issues from a public health perspective.

County and city leaders are meeting with stakeholders, local nonprofits, and county health department experts to hear their concerns and take steps to address their specific needs.

There is no doubt that the most effective way to meet these challenges is by working together and working with the public we serve. We don’t have all the solutions, but we have a broad approach to finding the best ways to move forward towards healthier and safer communities.