The city of Tucson is going to host a special day next month to try to tackle a backlog of more than 40,000 arrest warrants—most stemming from failure to appear in court.

These warrants total about $120 million in uncollected fines, City Councilman Steve Kozachik says on his weekly newsletter. 

On so-called Warrant Day—happening Saturday, Aug. 8—people with a warrant can head to the Tucson City Court, 103 E. Alameda, and work on a plea agreement and/or a payment plan to pay off any fines, which doesn't mean you're off the hook, according to Kozachik. Whatever charges a person may have will still be on that person's record and the person can still be taken to jail if the charges are not cleared.

"However it works out, though, you won’t have to drive around worrying about getting busted if you’re pulled over, and the city will be able to finally clear the debt from its books," he says. 

If you think you might have a warrant on your name, check out the City Court website, www.tucsonaz.gov/courts, and click on the “see if you have a warrant” link.

Warrant Day is an all-day event.

Time flies. Vote now.

Vote. Everybody is else is doing it. 

Last week, we talked about something called the "Summer Passport," a scavenger hunt of sorts, dreamed up by our advertorial team. This week, they handed me the prize list. You can read your way through the whole thing below but it's, uh, a lot.  

Here's the deal: 

Pick up a Weekly and flip through until you see a bingo-style page. For the issue that comes out today, it's on Page 15. Start visiting the businesses, the first of which will give you a yellow stamp sheet likes the ones pictures below. Each business has a task you have to complete (ie, take a selfie, eat a quesadilla, sing on stage—basically, things you would want to be doing with your day anyway) in order to get their square marked off. Once you've stopped by all 24 locations, come by the newsroom (7725 N. Mona Lisa Road, #125. We're open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and turn in your game card. You have until Friday, Sept. 4 at noon to enter.

We're giving away three ridiculously sizable packs of prizes. Basically, winning means we've got your entertainment and gift-giving budget covered for quite a while.

So hit the streets, check out some local businesses and do some good luck rituals, because these prizes are pretty damn hefty. But first, get a look at this prize list: 

You know that intense, inescapable anxiety that comes with impending deadlines? The kind that is still stressful even when the source of the stress has temporarily been forgotten? Sometimes I'll be sitting on my couch and suddenly I'll remember that I've been worrying about ... something. The rent is due? I need to call my mother back? Perhaps its just another existential crisis? 

Well, if you've been feeling the pressure of a mysterious but looming deadline, I bet it's because you've been stressed out about finishing your Best of Tucson ballot. With the Aug. 2 deadline right around the corner, I can't blame you. These are weighty decisions. So, head over to the finalist* ballot, make sure you vote in at least 30 categories, and hit submit. Time is running out. 


*Yes, this is a ballot of finalists. In the last round of voting, you could nominate whomever you wanted or whatever categories. Now, if you want to vote in a specific category, you have to pick someone still in the running. We don't want your grump phone calls about which breakfast spots didn't make the list. It's not our fault you live in a city with a booming brunch scene.

Barrio Hollywood residents voted last week to change the rules of who's allowed to be a voting  member of the neighborhood association. 

Voting rights in the association are now exclusive to those who live in the barrio. Meaning, if you are a business or property owner whose home isn't in the barrio, you can't vote on neighborhood issues.

(Here's the story Arizona Public Media's Amanda LeClaire produced. You need visuals and audio to get a sense of the emotions that were flying in the meeting.)

Barrio Hollywood Neighborhood Association President Kacey Carleton, who supports businesses being part of the voting process, sent out this email days after last Thursday's vote, (here's part of it):

Hello Neighbors,

The special meeting held last night resulted in a deciding vote for Proposal 2 of Article II of the BHNA bylaws. Despite the effort which went into it, the voting process was again full of indiscrepancies and the balloting problematic. The count was overwhelmingly in favor of a Resident Only membership making any formal complaint of the process fruitless.

The formation of an election committee will be discussed at our monthly meeting in September.

The special meeting was called for a discussion and vote of the bylaws since many claimed at the July 2nd meeting that they had had no opportunity for discussion. The majority of the attendees last night clamored for the vote to take place immediately and were not interested in any discussion or contribution.

The meeting and vote were engineered to focus solely on Article II of the bylaws when the special meeting was called to discuss and answer questions of the entire document. The remaining Articles will be on the Agenda of the September meeting for a vote. 

Residents and businesses originally voted on the issue July 2, but those results were nullified because: A. Carleton apparently sent out a last-minute announcement that the voting session began at 5:30 p.m. and the original 6 p.m. Residents say business owners showed up to vote early and then left. And, B. When talks of amending the bylaws reached the ears of the city of Tucson, the Office of Integrated Planning threatened Barrio Hollywood to de-register it as a neighborhood association, should they vote for a bylaw that would exclude businesses. The city later said that as long as businesses can weigh in on what goes down in the neighborhood, even without voting rights, it means the bylaws are inclusive and the barrio is not up for punishments. 

Kayla is too sweet for her own good! Easily stealing the hearts of many since being at Humane Society of Southern Arizona for four months, Kayla is one darling pup! Kayla is gentle, playful, easy to walk, and has a beautiful temperament. Although this adorable girl can be quite shy in some situations, she is likely to warm up quickly to those that give her a good back-scratch. Kayla is looking for an indoor lifestyle with a family that has a calm home environment, no cats, and lots of love to give. Kayla will need patience and plenty of adjustment time as well. If given the chance, this sweetheart will easily become the furry love of your life! Please come by HSSA today to meet precious Kayla.

Kayla—3.5-years-old —Pit Bull Mix—F—#803050

Every summer, as even lifelong Tucsonans hide away near their swamp coolers or run off on beach vacations, things slow down here in the Old Pueblo. In an effort to get you out of the house and running* around town, our advertorial team dreamed up a "Summer Passport."

If you are one of our super cool print readers—thanks for that, by the way—then you may have already noticed something on Page 25 of the paper. If not, here's the deal: 24 local businesses have given us gift cards—so, so, so many gift cards—and we're raffling them off in packs.

Here's how you play:

Pick up a Weekly and start visiting the businesses listed on Page 25. The first business you stop by will give you your golden passport. Each business has a task you have to complete (ie, take a selfie, eat a quesadilla,  sing on stage—basically, things you would want to be doing with your day anyway) in order to get their square marked off. Once you've stopped by all 24 locations, come by the newsroom (7725 N. Mona Lisa Road, #125. We're open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and turn in your game card. You have until Friday, Sept. 4 at noon to enter.

We're giving away three ridiculously sizable packs of prizes. Basically, winning means we've got your entertainment and gift-giving budget covered for quite a while.

So hit the streets, check out some local businesses and do some good luck rituals, because these prizes are pretty damn hefty.


*We're not really going to make you run. You can drive around with the air conditioning up as high as your little heart desires. It's hot out there.

Chances are, unless you've just stumbled across our website for the first time ever, you're aware we're running our annual Best of Tucson survey. We're in the middle of the finals right now. 

But, there is a problem. About 600 people have started but not submitted their Best of Tucson ballots. 

Maybe those 600 people are taking their time and considering their options, maybe they got started and realized they didn't have strong enough opinions on the minimum 30 required categories, maybe the 216 category survey is a liiiittle intimidating. Whatever the case, those 600 votes matter—in fact, I looked at the numbers and in some categories, they're game changers. 

So take a look at your ballot! Even if you've already submitted it, you can tweak your answers. Make sure you've filled out at least 30 categories, press submit, and feel free to check back in and confirm your "Best Public Garden" pick still holds up after you've had a few days to mull it over.

The wait for a downtown grocery store is almost over because according to Johnny Gibson's Downtown Market co-owner Christi Cisek, the new store will be opening to the public on Monday, July 13. After passing the final inspection for the space on July 8, Cisek says the long road to opening the market was finally fully in the owners, which include her husband Paul, herself and Ron and Kelly Abbott of Rincon Market.

"Once it's finally in our control, and it is now, the opening will be very fast," Cisek says, citing bumps along the way such as loan and bank issues and the challenges involved in renovating the building. "We have a cot up here (on the second floor) where we can get some rest. We're working non-stop."

On Monday, you can stop into the market to catch the first glimpses of all of their hard work, amounting to the beautifully renovated historic building stocked with fresh, local and organic produce, a deli counter and cafe, a floral department and a bar with 15 local beer taps (and one extra with Pabst) and 8 wine taps. Should you buy too much to carry home, the market will also offer pedicab rides for customers who live within a mile radius. 

Both Paul and Christi Cisek say their grocery items will be affordable, despite the upscale digs and convenient location, comparing the pricepoint to Safeway. 

"I like to say we'll have everything from Kraft macaroni and cheese to caviar and everything in between," she says, adding that once they're legally allowed to, they will also be accepting food stamps.

"We're not looking to exclude anyone," Paul adds. "We really want this to be a place people in the neighborhood can go to."

In terms of vendors, everything from produce to honey and other goods will skew towards the local. Paul says simply that, "If it's local, we're buying it."

The market will also feature an 16-foot salad bar and a cafe that serves hot grilled sandwiches, cold sandwiches and the ability to heat up entrees or even fresh meat and fish from the in-house butcher case.

"People can pick a piece of fresh fish from the case and we'll grill it up for them to eat on the patio," Christi says.

While the meat case won't be ready on Monday, the Ciseks say they wanted to get the community in to see their store as soon as they could. Johnny Gibson's Downtown Market (11 S. Sixth Ave.) will soft open on Monday, July 13 beginning at 7 a.m. until midnight. After that, regular hours will be in place, which is daily from 7 a.m. until midnight. For more information, you can visit the market's website.