2021 Tucson City Council Election Ward 6 Candidate Guide

Steve Kozachik Visit candidate website Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and moved to Tucson in 1968 at the age of 12. Bachelor's and Master's from UA / Public Administration and Higher Ed Mgmt. Worked in labor relations for ASARCO for 10 years after college and then 32 years in Intercollegiate Athletics at UA until February, 2021. Have served on Tucson City Council since 2009. Married for 42 years to wife Ann. One daughter and 2 grandkids.

Val Romero Visit candidate website Tucson Native, Dad, Grandpa, community leader, business owner, graduated from Salpointe Catholic High school, Owner of Arizona Grill & Hearth, a local business, involved with local organizations and chambers around our community. Not a politician and never will be, I am here to serve the Tucson community, to get it back on track and pass the torch to our future.

Steve Kozachik The most important issue in Ward 6 is also the most important issue for the region; PFAS water contamination threatening our central well field. Cause is fire fighting foam used on DMAFB. We have spent or committed over $50M to remediate. Litigation is in place vs 3M and other manufacturers. Working w/DOD to remediate.

Val Romero City council elections are city-wide, so based on that I will be representing the city of Tucson as a whole. The rise in crime is a major problem in the city of Tucson. There are not enough police personnel to handle policing in our city, we are losing officers to early retirement and transfers. We need to get this under control and when we do this will fix a lot of other social issues.

Steve Kozachik We've done well managing through the pandemic. Invested CARES and ARPA dollars in support of local businesses, keeping people in their homes, and non-profits addressing the needs of the less fortuanate in the community. We took bold action early, and in so doing mitigated community spread. I support the mandatory vaccination for city workers. Different action would have been to adopt my Resolution urging the UA to implement mandatory testing for all students, whether they live on or off campus.

Val Romero D. There has been a lack of transparency on so many levels, taking it from a public safety issue and turning it into authoritarian rule. In addition, it has created mass job loss, a rise in crime, homelessness, and excessive panhandling throughout our city. There is currently no recovery plan in place.

Steve KozachikOn accessible dwelling units: Not as presently proposed.

On Proposition 206: Yes, with a caveat. I'm still looking into some concerns over privacy related to check-off/union votes, impact on Independent Contractors, the city having to set up a local Labor Department, and citizen right to bring a private action. I support the $15 p/hr rolled in over time, but nuances w/in the Prop I'm still looking into for possible impacts on the city obligations.

Val RomeroOn vaccination requirements: When a government thinks they know what is best for a community and they believe you are intelligent to make our own decision, that is called authoritarianism. I believe that all individuals are sovereign - individuals and their doctors know this is not a one-size-fits-all answer. Everyone should so what is good for them and their health.

On accessory dwelling units: I did initially, but after hearing from several constituents I have to take a second look at this to make sure I am representing my constituents as a whole -- I would need continuing information and constituent feedback on this in order to assess the pros and cons.

On streateries: This is an interesting work in progress, and what I love about these are local culinary artists bringing their talent to our community… LOVE IT! We need to think about how to make this a stable part of Tucson culture. Maybe the city of Tucson can work with them to see how we can move forward on marked areas with 4 to 8 Vendors in paved spaces around town, with an outlet for each vendor to cut down on generator noise. Each location should have a restroom and sanitation space. This is one of many opportunities we should look at.

Steve Kozachik I am already working with city legal, city real estate and private landowners for the city to buy up vacant parcels, issue an RFP for development and including in the terms some portion of any residential component to be affordable housing. In the current housing market, private development cannot get lending approved for low cost housing, so we have to play a role. Also incentivizing tenant improvements to existing vacant storefronts in shopping centers. Residential is an allowed use in commercially zoned areas.

Val Romero The 4th Ave Coalition has good data on this -- sometimes it is better to not reinvent the wheel: https://historic4thavecoalition.org/tools/what-is-a-cba/

Steve Kozachik Transit accounts for 31% of the greenhouse gasses in Pima County. Expanding our Frequent Transit Network, continuing our free transit, and building roadway upgrades with our Complete Streets design standards in mind so all modes of travel are taken into account. Roadway design to encourage transit, pedestrian and bike travel. Commercial development at a neighborhood scale to encourage walking to local stores - what we're doing on the Sunshine Mile, for example.

Val Romero I would love to continue to support solar energy in our community -- we have so many days of sunshine we should be focusing on this sustainable energy source!

Steve Kozachik We're making significant investments in our parks system through Prop 407. Providing public open space with amenities all ages can enjoy and participate in makes the community more livable for everyone. But kids in particular need the play space, which we're investing in and providing.

Val Romero Enhance and promote our parks and rec; these have changed for the worse since I was a kid and a dad. Promote kid-night movies at Reid park at the band stand with food trucks, get families back out as a community. I personally frequent a park most Sundays with my granddaughter, and many parks need upgrades and maintenance to make them desirable locations to spend time. These are just a few thoughts from a Grandpa's point of view.. I would love to hear feedback from Moms!!

Steve Kozachik We are adding officers, and we are adding support staff who will have skill sets to support public needs that don't necessarily require a law enforcement response. For too long police all over the country have been tasked with providing both law enforcement and with bringing social service and behavioral/mental health expertise to complex circumstances. We are understaffed in TPD, so we're adding officers. But that effort must be augmented with others who may be better suited on a given call to de-escalate and offer individuals in crisis services they need. Not all 911 calls warrant a police response.

Val Romero By adding adequate police personnel to promote a safe community and address our increasing crime rate.

Steve Kozachik Continued investment in road repair - we've invested over $200M, with a new ballot measure called for next May to continue that work. Road diets in appropriate areas to slow traffic. Continue to encourage multi-modal infrastructure; our roads are for everyone. Cars, bikes, pedestrians must all feel safe. HAWK crossings, protected bike lanes and ADA accessible sidewalks w/adequate tree canopy.

Val Romero First of all we need to realize that Tucson is a vehicle commute community. People are not biking from Rita Ranch to Reid Park, nor are they biking from Midvale Park community to Park Place Mall; if they are doing that, no one is doing it between June and August during the Tucson summer. Tucson was designed for vehicles and A/C in mind. The best way to improve transportation and road safety would be to utilize the money that has been allocated to fix our roads and maintain them. Certain areas like the Sunshine Mile would be good for bike lanes, crosswalks, sidewalks, neighborhood lighting, etc, and a smaller community could sustain a biking option there.

Steve KozachikOn expanding bus routes: We're continuing to invest in our Frequent Transit Network in areas where density and ridership warrants.

On expanding light rail: That will require federal funding. The currently debated infrastructure bill contains some money earmarked for that. We're already considering possible routes.

On widening roads: No - widening roads leads to greater congestion and people driving at higher speeds. Our focus should be on making our roadways safer by slowing traffic, not incentivizing more traffic at higher speeds.

On repairing existing roads: Yes - we've invested over $200M so far and have another ballot measure called for next May.

On adding sidewalks: In consultation with neighborhoods, yes. Some don't want sidewalks. Some do. Any that go in must be ADA compliant. Our Prop 407 dollars are already investing in connectivity amenities like this, but any must be done in consultation with residents. Along arterials, yes. With tree canopy and wide enough to allow local restaurants to expand w/outdoor seating.

On adding crosswalks:Only when they can be augmented with added safety features such as flashers or HAWK lights. Just painting lines on the ground isn't enough.

On adding traffic calming features: Yes, where neighbors request them. I've successfully advocated for reduced cost speed tables, and have added Green Stormwater Infrastructure money to help with calming features such as chicanes and traffic circles. All must be done with access for public safety vehicles in mind.

On adding lighting along roads: Along arterials, yes. Not all neighborhoods want added lighting, so that's a conversation we have regularly. Any new lighting must be Dark Skies compliant to protect our astronomy industry.

On adding bike paths:Yes, and we're doing this through the $225M we're investing in parks and connectivity through Prop 407.

Val RomeroOn buses: I would need a report on this, asking questions about things like which routes are working and which are not, number of riders on routes, is this a good return on investment, are we serving citizens using this mode of transportation, and do we need to focus more routes downtown and on the Sunshine Mile.

On expanding light rail: No, this would be cost-prohibitive and not a financially good return on our investment. We could perhaps consider this in the future, but not now.

On widening roads: Not necessarily widen roads, but repair and maintain them, as well as working with the federal or State government to assist us in creating a west-to-east, east-to-west freeway corridor. This would help constrain our CO2 footprint with emissions produced by stop-and-go traffic, with less traffic and thus less wear and tear on our streets. I think we need to look at solutions for future problems and not just put a band-aid on our current ones.

On adding sidewalks: Repair and maintain sidewalks, not add. Elderly walkers and wheelchair-bound citizens have trouble navigating the uneven sidewalks -- during my canvassing, I tripped and stumbled many times walking on our sidewalks… sometimes it is safer to walk in the street and take on traffic because of their poor condition.

On adding crosswalks: Only in population-dense areas where it makes sense to add them.

On adding traffic calming features: I assume you mean speed bumps; a traffic calming feature to me would be a Zen Garden and a waterfall on the side of the road. There are key locations for speed bumps and speed plateaus, and they should be used as an option as needed.

On adding light along roads: I would have to defer to the 2012 City of Tucson/Pima County Outdoor Lighting Code Adopted by City of Tucson ordinance #10963 on February 7, 2012, and work off of our current code.

On adding bike paths: In certain areas this makes sense, but city-wide it does not. I am sure there are not many people working at Raytheon who bike to work or take the bus.

Steve Kozachik Zanya's Mediterranean

Val Romero Pizza - Roccos & Mama's
Burgers - Lindy's & Divine Bovine
Italian - Mama Louisa's
Mexican - El Sur, Boca & Calle Tepa
Sandwiches - Serial Grillers
Diners - Alice's Restaurant, Biscuits & The Hungry Fox
Greek - Opa's
Breakfast and Lunch - Sonoran Brunch
Wings - Wings over Broadway & ATL Wings
These are just Ward 6… there are great restaurants city wide!!