Yuma Mayor Douglas Nichols has received a lot of media attention in recent months as he tried to draw attention to border issues in the region.
Located in Yuma County, a small but important county, It has a border crossing from Mexico to the United States and has important agricultural and defense industries.
Nicholls, recently reelected to a third term, spoke to the Republic of Arizona about the city’s most pressing issues.
border security
Nichols said shipping containers that Gov. Doug Ducey recently placed in some gaps in the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border have helped control the flow of migrants and keep them out of the city. However, he pointed out that they had not secured the border.
The number of migrants crossing the border into Yuma remains a major concern, the mayor said. According to the most recent data at the time, 800 to 900 people were crossing into Yuma each day, Nicholls said.
“We are only a day or two away from being overwhelmed,” he said, adding that resources such as agents and non-patrol personnel are increasing along the border.
In one of the gaps in the wall near the busy Morelos Dam, the governor also placed shipping containers to block the flow of traffic, Nicholls said.
He said the federal government has plans to close that gap and was told construction could begin in September, but nothing has started so far. interview time.
water use
of Drought and declining Colorado River water levels continue to be a major concern in a city where agriculture is the main economic driver. Yuma produces 90% of his North American leafy greens in the winter.
Nichols said there have been months of meetings at the farming community, state and federal levels, as well as engagement with the U.S. Reclamation Service, to find solutions to the water crisis.
He said it’s up to the agricultural industry to figure out how to make the most of water sources.
“They need water, so it’s in their best interest to make sure they’re doing everything they can to maintain the water and keep the river alive,” he said.
From a city perspective, Nichols said Yuma is updating its drought management plan and educating residents about water conditions and what they can do at home to better manage their water use.
He also said the city is converting some of the reservoirs not used as parks into zero-scape landscapes that reduce the need for irrigation. Nonetheless, it said the city’s per capita water use has decreased.
US Census data It shows that the population has been increasing since at least 2010, but has declined from 2020 to 2021.
Another way the city monitors usage is through programs that monitor water flow, Nicholls said. This allows the owner to be notified when water is constantly running, i.e. a possible leak.
Human resource development
As previously reported by the Arizona Republic, Yuma’s labor force growth and retention has increased significantly, especially with more people leaving rural towns and moving to urban areas.
About half of Yuma County’s population lives in Yuma City.According to the city study A survey conducted in April 2021 found that compared to December 2019, the Yuma County workforce is down about 3,500, the largest decline in 20 years.
Nichols said the city has just completed a targeted study to understand the types of industries and businesses that thrive in Yuma.
Nichols said some sectors could include agrotech and defense industries, as the region has a very large military presence and a thriving agricultural industry.
Each year, 500 to 900 U.S. Marines complete their missions and leave the Corps while stationed in Yuma, he noted.
“By leveraging their expertise, security clearances and skill sets, it’s a great place for defense industry contractors to come and set up shop here,” says Nicholls.
housing
Research from 2021 The proportion of renting households with significant financial burden or paying 30% or more of their income for housing increased from 18% in 2010 to 32% in 2019.
Nicholls said Yuma works with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME program, part of which funds affordable housing projects and provides rental assistance to low-income residents.
The city has also initiated an infill program to develop buildings on vacant or underutilized land. According to Nicholls, the program not only encourages “creation of density in the city center” and redevelopment, but also discourages sprawl into agricultural areas.
re-election
For Nichols, who was born and raised in Yuma, solving these problems has motivated him throughout his tenure as mayor. He first ran eight years ago after being recommended by a friend of his and a local business his owner.
Last month, Nichols was elected to serve a two-year term as president of the Arizona Federation. As for his future career move, Nichols said he’s only focused on his one mayoral term at a time.
“When I first ran for mayor, I thought I had done one term and was here for a third term,” Nichols said. “It’s where I can be empowered. That’s my motivation. How can I help my hometown?”
Southern Arizona coverage on azcentral.com and Arizona Republic Funded by a non-profit organization Reporting to America In connection with the Republic.
Please contact the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com.
