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Residents press Tucson leaders on public power, Project Blue and free buses during public comment
Summary
Dozens of speakers used the call‑to‑the‑audience to urge public power, protest Project Blue and data‑center deals, defend free bus service, and press the city on transparency and labor protections; speakers named Tucson Electric Power and asked that the city put public power before voters.
The study session’s 30‑minute public comment period featured a steady stream of speakers pressing the mayor and council on public‑power proposals, Project Blue and city transparency, and defending the free‑bus program.
Jason Jensen, who identified himself as having become unhoused in June, said the free‑transportation program is critical to his survival and called it "one of the greatest assets I've ever seen any city have." He urged the council to preserve the program and its mobility benefits for people transitioning out of homelessness.
Multiple speakers urged the council to pursue municipal control of Tucson Electric Power. Reed Sparling (identifying himself as a resident) directly questioned the city’s past dealings with TEP and raised a series of campaign‑donation examples when discussing Project Blue and the city’s transparency. "Was it because of the $500 donation from TEP CEO Susan Gray to mayor Romero in 2023?" Sparling asked, listing several donations he said demonstrated longstanding relationships between TEP and elected officials and urged accountability for the Project Blue process.
Other speakers — including longtime union and labor advocates — argued that any public‑power move must protect workers and honor collective‑bargaining commitments. Ben Lucero and Desi Navarro urged the council to demonstrate how workers’ rights, union time and benefits would be preserved under a municipal utility while also pursuing public‑interest goals such as lower rates and local control.
Several residents tied concerns about data centers and fiber licenses to wider questions of environmental stewardship and affordability, arguing that a public‑power path could provide long‑term rate relief. Supporters of public power highlighted the feasibility study the city commissioned and urged the council to "put it before voters" and move toward implementation.
Mayor Regina Romero and council members listened without taking an immediate policy vote; the public comment segment concluded and the meeting proceeded to the consent agenda and other business.
Next steps: public commenters asked the council to pursue ballot options for public power, protect workers’ rights in any transition, and increase transparency around fiber and data‑center agreements; the council did not take immediate action on those requests during this meeting.
