South Tucson public housing tenants asked the city council earlier this month for a firm deadline on an investigation into the housing authority, saying they have dealt with mold, no air conditioning and a broken elevator.

Leaders from the South Tucson Tenants Union and community members living in units managed by the South Tucson Housing Authority shared their concerns during the city council’s Oct. 6 meeting, after initially raising them during an Aug. 25 special meeting.

Marisol Winfrey Herrera, an organizer with the tenants union, told council members that City Manager Veronica Moreno has not fulfilled a public records request for the housing authority’s finances, hiring grievance information and employee code of conduct.

“We are just demanding more transparency about whatever administrative investigation is being carried out,” Winfrey Herrera said, requesting a hard deadline for the investigation and a conclusion to residents’ ongoing grievances.

Winfrey Herrera also questioned how the investigation is being conducted.

“Who is asking the questions? What questions are they asked? Who is being asked any questions, and in what environment?” Winfrey Herrera asked. “The statements that tenants have given in public spaces with limited time does not constitute a full and thorough questioning of what they have experienced.”

Juana Miranda, a housing authority tenant, said tenants felt pressured to sign a petition supporting Housing Director Irma Gonzalez that had been circulating around the complex.

“A person I know was not in favor but signed (the petition) anyway, because since he was paying his rent that day, he didn’t know if he was going to receive retaliation as a result,” Miranda told council members in Spanish. “He felt obligated.”

However, not all tenants share those concerns.

Henderson Wilborn started the petition supporting Gonzalez, which received 42 signatures. He said the allegations brought up in the meeting should be investigated fairly, but that his experience differs from other tenants.

“From my perspective, Director (Gonzalez) has worked to uphold (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) policies and the responsibilities outlined in residents’ lease agreements,” Wilborn wrote in an email. “My intention in supporting the petition was to encourage a balanced assessment of her leadership, including both residents’ concerns and the progress I have witnessed.”

Wilborn said he recognized that improvements take time, resources and coordination, but that he has seen progress.

“Based on my observations, Director (Gonzalez) is working to make improvements with the resources available to her,” he wrote in the email.

Tahoma Pace, who has been a housing authority tenant since 2024 and was at the meeting, had her statement read to the council by Wilborn.

“Even when I expressed my frustration strongly, she treated me with respect, addressed me as ‘Miss Pace,’ and remained calm,” Pace wrote. “I recognize improvements made during Ms. Irma’s administration, including roof repairs, chiller systems, and improvements to the elevator, including its announcements.”

Pace wrote that she appreciated Gonzalez’s work to secure resources, coordinate repairs and improve conditions for residents.

“In my experience, Miss Irma and staff are working to make our housing safer and better maintained,” Pace wrote.

The council did not give the union a deadline. It then turned to public safety and heard an update on a county partnership.

The City of South Tucson has partnered with Pima County to launch the Regional Initiative for Safety and Engagement Co-Responder Program, known as RISE. The pilot program aims to reduce homelessness and drug use within the municipality.

Cynthia Chapman, safety and engagement liaison for Pima County Justice Services, said the RISE program, which is funded by opioid settlement money, is a countywide effort to improve public safety while improving public access to behavioral health and substance use treatment.

“Efforts are in place to increase diversion from arrest to treatment for individuals who need it, provide faster linkage to treatment … to reduce overdose deaths, to reduce the repeat law enforcement contacts with individuals and to increase community trust in law enforcement’s crisis response,” Chapman said.

After funding was awarded and county supervisors approved the program, Pima County Justice Services met with the South Tucson Police Department and courts to provide cross-agency training and identify where the city’s justice system needed support.

The program has hired staff, including peer navigators who will work at the Sam Lena Library to connect people seeking help with resources. Most recently, the police department set aside office space for co-responders from Connected Health Solutions, who will respond to substance abuse-related calls.

“We have a one square mile (city) where the whole population is affected by the fentanyl, poverty and homelessness crisis … money going to this is actually a sign that Pima County … cares about jurisdictions,” said Councilman Brian Flagg, who has sat in on the opioid committee previously. “This co-responder program, courtesy of opioid settlement money, is going to help people struggling with addiction and help our cops make South Tucson a safer, more beautiful place.”

Councilman Cesar Aguirre said he knows firsthand what diversion programs can do.

“I went through a diversion program that really saved my life,” Aguirre said. “I’ve got a feeling that if we can really push to make this a bigger, better program, and really push to get the funding that we need, that we can really make a difference here in South Tucson.”

Council members also learned the results of the investigation into how the Board of Adjustment approved the permit for a cell tower.

Since March, community members have raised concerns about the tower. They say the city did not notify them of the planning and zoning meeting where the board discussed it, and that the city changed its regulations after approving the permit. They also worry about potential health risks.

According to the investigation, the Board of Adjustment received plans for a 70-foot cell tower, which violates a city ordinance limiting towers to 50 feet. The zoning materials for the application’s review did not include that limit.

At a Feb. 25, 2025, public hearing, the board heard that the 70-foot tower met the applicable height requirements and approved it as proposed.

The city’s former attorney reviewed the matter Sept. 14, said the board’s approval remained in effect and recommended issuing the permit. The city issued the permit to Pinnacle Consulting on Sept. 17 and received all required fees.

“The issued permit remains subject to applicable construction, building inspection, and safety requirements,” said Michelle Stinton, the city’s current attorney.

Aguirre expressed his frustration at not being able to revoke the permit.

“All parties agreed on the wrong standard, and then everybody applied that,” Stinton said. “That’s where … we can say that there was an actual mistake.”

The council requested that the city attorney review the current ordinance regarding wireless communication regulations and return to the next meeting with recommendations.

Topacio “Topaz” Servellon is a reporter with Tucson Spotlight. Contact them at topacioserve@gmail.com.

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