Dozens of Tucson residents packed a room at the Donna R. Liggins Recreation Center for a town hall on extreme heat, Tuesday night.
The community space is located in the historic Sugar Hill neighborhood and also serves as a cooling center for those in need of shade, shelter and water during the summer months.
Elected officials like congresswoman Adelita Grijalva and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero were in attendance, as well as local stakeholders who work in climate and environmental justice.
Tuesday night’s speakers called for action from the community and accountability from the fossil fuel industry.
“We’re about to enter the hottest summer of our lives and it has to do with this industry that has continuously fought against anything that would make our community more resilient,” said Vanessa Gallego-Lujan with the Sierra Club.
Tucson has already hit record-temperatures so far this year, reaching 100 degrees for the first time in March.
Forecasters are predicting warmer temperatures this summer due to a potentially strong El Niño weather pattern.
Theresa Cullen, Director of the Pima County Health Department told residents that heat-related deaths are preventable, after stating that 350 people have died from heat related illnesses in the county over the last three years.
Cullen also said that city and county officials are working to ensure that up to 50 places locally will be available to offer respite from the heat this summer.
“All that work happens because of the community,” she said.
