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No additional funding was approved for the Pima Early Education Program, or PEEPs, waiting list during yesterday’s Pima County Board of Supervisors meeting, despite a lengthy discussion over how to spend approximately $14.5 million in available county funds.

County Administrator Jan Lesher recommended directing most of the money toward employee pay increases and recruitment incentives, public safety initiatives and expanded court operations in an Oct. 13 memo. Although the document identified the PEEPs waiting list as a possible recipient of $1.8 million in unallocated funding, her proposal did not include money for the program.

During the meeting, Board Chair Jen Allen proposed using $1 million of that remaining balance to address food insecurity and barriers to health care, including helping residents navigate changes to SNAP eligibility and access medical services. District 5 Supervisor Andrés Cano suggested an alternative that would redirect $750,000 from proposed employee recruitment and retention incentives toward emergency assistance, while District 2 Supervisor Matt Heinz pushed for a larger investment of at least $5 million to help food banks respond to growing demand.

Allen maintained her $1 million proposal, arguing that the county should preserve its planned investments in employees while keeping some money in reserve amid financial uncertainty. Supervisors approved her amendment 4-1 — with District 4 Supervisor Steve Christy voting against — then approved Lesher’s spending recommendations as amended by another 4-1 vote.

The decision leaves approximately $800,000 unallocated, with no additional money designated for the PEEPs waiting list. The vote did not eliminate or reduce the program’s existing funding, but it means the county will not use this spending package to expand access for families currently waiting for early childhood education assistance. Watch the meeting here.

The Arizona Attorney General’s office, Southern AZ Legal Aid and City of Tucson Code Enforcement will hold an in-person and virtual renters rights event to talk about tenants rights to safe and clean housing. The event will take place on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Ward 6 council office at 3202 W. 1st St. with presentations beginning at 5:30 p.m. The meeting can be joined online here.

Tucson Meet Yourself is back in downtown this weekend, Oct. 16-18, showcasing Tucson’s diverse foods and cultures. Downtown streets north of Congress Street and around Jacome Plaza will be closed as food trucks fill the streets. Stages throughout the festival will feature mariachi performances, recipe sharing, traditional dances from several countries and educational conversations covering topics from local journalism to environmental efforts. Learn more about the festival at tucsonmeetyourself.org and see the schedule at tucsonmeetyourself.org/schedule.

Pima JTED information sessions on Prop. 427: Pima Joint Technical Education District will hold two virtual sessions, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 and 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, on its proposed bond, which would let the district issue up to $250 million in bonds for facilities, equipment, technology and safety upgrades. The district says enrollment has risen 77% in five years and that limited space keeps 600-800 students from being served each year. Join a session on Oct. 15 or Oct. 24.

The Unbelievable Borderlands Festival will take place Oct. 16–18 at historic Camp Naco. The festival will feature presentations, music, food, tours and activities exploring the history, culture and communities of the Arizona-Sonora borderlands. Saturday’s festival admission is free. 

The League of Women Voters of Arizona is hosting a virtual debate with Arizona Corporation Commission candidates at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18. Five candidates are running for two seats on the commission, which regulates utility rates and oversees utilities’ reliability and safety, as well as regulating pipelines, railroads, financial marketplace securities, and registering corporations and limited liability companies. Register to virtually attend the debate. 

Author Courtney Gustafson, Pima County Public Library’s Fall 2026 Writer in Residence, will lead a free memoir workshop called “Mapping Tucson Through Memoir” on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Martha Cooper Library. The workshop will explore how place and geography shape memoir writing, and participants can opt to have their work featured in a collaborative blog post mapping memories across Tucson.