Hello neighbors,
I’m skipping the pleasantries this month. It’s August. It’s hot. Spirit Halloween stores are popping up around town, reminding us that the heat won’t last forever. But while the temperatures will cool down soon, we’re jumping into a hot topic right now: Project Blue.
By now, you’ve probably heard about Project Blue, the proposed data center development at Site 1, which would sit on 290 acres at I-10 and Houghton.
Over the past several months, I’ve been doing deep due diligence on this project. I’ve worked to identify as many risks and potential rewards as possible, guided by the thoughtful questions and insights many of you have shared with me. While I’m still gathering information, my focus has now shifted to understanding where you stand and how you want me to vote.
At the end of the day, it’s not about what I think is best. My job is to be your voice at the table, and I take that job seriously.
To help with that, I’ve assembled a small advisory group made up of people I know and trust. These are folks who will shoot it to me straight and help make sure I’m listening in the right places. They are not a biased group. They are a reflection of Ward 4.
Our Ward 4 community is made up mostly of Republicans and Independents, with Democrats being the minority. The truth is, a lot of folks in this area didn’t vote for me and probably never will. That’s okay. My job is still to be your voice. And to do that well, I need to understand your perspectives.
This group includes longtime Ward 4 residents from across the political spectrum and is intentionally built to represent the broader community from a political standpoint. They are helping me stay grounded, challenge my thinking, and make sure I hear from everyone, not just the loudest voices in the room.
If you’ve been following along and have thoughts, comments, or a perspective you’d like to share, please send an email to ward4@tucsonaz.gov. Include the words “Vail Voice” in the subject line so I know you’re a reader of this publication. I genuinely appreciate every message. Your input is essential to this democratic process we are part of. It can still be alive and well when we stay engaged, listen to each other, and do the hard work together.
This article will likely reach you after our August 6 study session, where the Mayor and Council discussed Project Blue publicly for the first time. If the schedule stays on track, we are expecting to vote on whether to begin the annexation process on August 19. Annexation is a key step because it is what gives the project access to water. That is why this decision matters.
To review everything that has been shared so far, including video replays of community meetings, presentation slides, FAQs, the draft development agreement, and other key documents, please visit www.tucsonaz.gov/ProjectBlue.
If you want to see the questions I have already been asking, along with the answers we have received so far, you can read my newsletter here: bit.ly/nikkiPBquestiontracker. It includes a link to my question tracker, which covers more than 100 questions related to the development agreement language, water and energy, air quality, noise and light pollution, and potential community benefits for Ward 4 and southeast Pima County if the project moves forward.
Now is the time to do your research and let me know what you think. Please email your thoughts to ward4@tucsonaz.gov and include “Vail Voice” in the subject line. I’m listening, and your voice matters.
-Nikki
City of Tucson Ward 4 Councilwoman
Nikki Lee
520-791-3199
Ward4@tucsonaz.gov
www.tucsonaz.gov/ward4
Facebook: /CouncilwomanLee
Instagram: @nikkilee_az
Twitter: @CouncilwomanLee
or: www.facebook.com/cotward4
