Speaker Series Event

NEXT TUESDAY!

Voices from Across Our Community 



Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson  

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

6:00- 7:00pm (Doors open at 5:45)

Join us for an inspiring talk on Hopi dryland farming and desert resilience with Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson, University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment. Blending scientific insight with lived experience, Dr. Johnson offers a forward‑looking, genuinely fun vision of sustainable agriculture in arid environments.

‘Grandmother’ Cottonwood Toppled, Protesters Arrested

On Monday, October 5^th, Border Patrol agents — with assault rifles at the ready— raided a protest camp in Lochiel, southeast Arizona, clearing the way for contractors to cut down the last standing cottonwood early Monday morning. Activists had protected the tree for more than 70 days.

The scene was both chaotic and heartbreaking: at least 10 protesters were arrested, and agents reportedly entered private property without a warrant, destroying tents and equipment, according to witnesses on the ground.

The cottonwood, lovingly known as the “grandmother tree,” was hundreds of years old — a towering landmark in the remote San Rafael Valley, about 25 miles east of Nogales. Its loss is more than the removal of a single tree; it marks the destruction of one of the last grand dames of the valley and the erasure of irreplaceable riparian habitat and cultural history.

Click here for Instagram Video of this sad event

Many environmental organizations and border‑region researchers have long argued that the double border wall planned for this area is unnecessary and ineffective, citing analyses from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Center for Biological Diversity, and reporting from The Arizona Republic and The Guardian, which document limited security benefits alongside significant ecological damage.

Information Sources:

AZ Luminaria, Inside Climate News, Instagram Video, News4 Tucson, and personal observations & discussions with protest participants by LDA members & leadership during 10/04/26 visit. Photos: AZ Luminaria, Mason Kumet and LDA

Data Center Moratorium

... with a Catch

PIMA County

Makes Major Exception.



Last week we shared that the Pima County Board of Supervisors approved a 120‑day pause on new data centers. After a closer look, there’s an important twist — the moratorium doesn’t apply to the two projects already in motion: Project Blue and Project Gravel.

That carve‑out emerged after an unexpected hour‑long executive session, a move that strongly suggests supervisors received last‑minute legal guidance. Supervisor Rex Scott said his vote was shaped by legal advice.

Even with the exemptions, supporters called the moratorium a meaningful first step. Supervisor Jennifer Allen said the pause gives the county time to strengthen zoning rules so future proposals face clearer, more protective standards. Supervisor Matt Heinz pushed for new health‑monitoring tools — air‑quality sensors, noise measurements, and other ways to track real‑world impacts.

As always, the Living Desert Alliance will continue tracking developments closely — from zoning updates to public hearings — and we’ll keep our members informed as new information emerges that affects the future of our beautiful Sonoran Desert.

Use this sliding scale survey to weigh in on Pima County’s proposed zoning updates.

Review Jan Lesher’s County Memo: 09/21/26 update on data‑center zoning changes.

DON'T LET CAMPAIGN NOISE DECIDE YOUR VOTE

In this sea of campaign noise,

how can we prepare for a trip to the ballot box?

This linked opinion piece by Thomas Wiewandt—award‑winning independent educational media producer, owner of Wild Horizons Productions, and LDA member—offers a clear, thoughtful guide. Wiewandt encourages voters to take a broad, well‑informed view of the upcoming elections, noting that many people focus on single issues and miss the larger picture shaping Arizona’s long‑term future.

He cautions against relying on social media or campaign rhetoric, where facts and opinions often blur. Instead, he points readers to reputable, nonpartisan organizations that analyze candidate backgrounds, records, and policy positions.

The link provides easy‑to‑navigate tools to help voters cut through campaign noise and make thoughtful, informed decisions at the ballot box that help Keep our Desert and Community Livable and Thriving.

Check it out and forward to family and friends. They'll be glad you did!

Last week, Attorney General Kris Mayes provided a detailed and thoughtful response to our candidate questionnaire, offering clear insight into her positions on the issues we raised. For those who would like to hear directly from her — and ask questions about her work, priorities, DATA CENTERS and other matters facing Arizona — she will be speaking, along with other candidates, at Coyote Trails Elementary School, 8000 N Silverbell Rd, Tucson, on Friday, October 9th from 6:00–8:00pm. It’s an opportunity to learn, listen, and engage in an open community conversation.



Small Changes,

Big Wins:

Easy Ways to Cut Carbon, Waste and Water Use at Home

Sustainable Tucson is excited to invite the community to a lively series of events all about “Easy Ways to Cut Carbon, Waste, and Water Use at Home.”

Their mission—building a resilient, equitable community that thrives in harmony with our desert environment—comes to life in these hands‑on, learn‑as‑you‑go sessions.

Bring friends, family, and anyone who loves discovering smart, simple ways to live greener. Each event listed below is designed to be engaging, practical, and a great way to connect with neighbors while learning how small changes at home can make a big difference for Pima County’s future.

•  Saturday, October 10 from 3 to 4 pm: Mission Library, 3770 S. Mission Rd. Topic: Water in the Desert.

• Thursday, October 15 from 2 to 3 pm: Murphy-Wilmot Library, 530 N. Wilmot Rd.Topic: Waste Not, Want Not. Reducing Food Waste in Your Home.

• Friday, October 22 from 2 to 3 pm: Dusenberry-River Library, 5605 E. River Rd. Topic: Reducing Single-Use Products in Your Daily Life

• Saturday, October 24 from 10:30 to 11:30 am: Caviglia-Arivaca Library, 17050 W. Arivaca Rd.Topic: Waste Not, Want Not. Reducing Food Waste in Your Home.

See You at the

Tucson Meet Yourself

Folklife Festival

October 16th - 18th,

Jácome Plaza , 101 N Stone Avenue Tucson

The Annual Tucson Meet Yourself (TMY) Folklife Festival is back downtown, celebrating the traditions, flavors, music, and stories that make our region so vibrant

Produced by the Southwest Folklife Alliance, TMY is a free, three‑day festival where more than 500 artists, cooks, dancers, musicians, and tradition‑bearers share the everyday cultural practices that define their communities.

This year, keep an eye out for your Living Desert Alliance leadership! We’ll be out and about, enjoying the festival, meeting neighbors, and chatting with folks as we wander through the booths and performances. It’s a wonderful chance for us to listen, connect, and share our mission to Keep our Desert and our Community Livable and Thriving.

Come say hello, join the fun, and celebrate the incredible cultural richness of Tucson. See you there!

Help Keep our Desert and Community

Livable and Thriving

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