Council Member Rocque Perez supports resolution reaffirming support for tucson groundwater contamination survivors

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Tucson City Councilmember Rocque Perez joined Mayor and Council colleagues in advancing a resolution reaffirming the City of Tucson’s commitment to survivors of the longstanding TCE groundwater contamination on the Southside — recognizing both the historic harm and the ongoing trauma experienced by impacted families.

The resolution, brought forward for study session consideration following advocacy from the Tucson Human Relations Commission, acknowledges that contamination from trichloroethylene (TCE) — a jet engine degreaser used at and around the Tucson International Airport and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base beginning in the 1950s — continues to shape the lived experience of Southside residents decades later. The contamination plume ultimately led the area to be designated a federal Superfund site, requiring long-term remediation and oversight.

During Council discussion, members emphasized that while significant progress has been made in containing and treating contaminated groundwater, the emotional, psychological, and intergenerational impacts remain real.

Councilmember Perez supported moving the resolution forward as both a public acknowledgment of harm and a commitment to sustained action.

“This is not just about contamination that happened decades ago,” Perez said. “It’s about the families who are still living with uncertainty, with medical complications, and with generational trauma tied to decisions that were made without their consent or protection.”

The resolution recognizes the City’s remediation efforts in partnership with Tucson Water, state and federal agencies, and calls for those efforts to continue. It also urges expanded access to healthcare resources, continued public transparency, and deeper collaboration with Pima County’s Health Department to ensure residents receive coordinated support. City leaders amended the draft to formally include Pima County’s health department in the effort before final adoption.

The measure was shaped in part by a letter from the Tucson Human Relations Commission, grounded in years of community engagement and testimony from impacted residents. Community members and researchers have documented the emotional toll of living above or near the contamination plume, including stress associated with uncertainty around long-term health outcomes.

Residents like Alisha Vasquez have shared family stories of illness and unanswered questions tied to the plume, underscoring why public acknowledgment matters. Advocates stressed that the resolution does not reopen settled litigation, but instead affirms the City’s responsibility to stand with affected families while remediation and monitoring continue.

Perez emphasized that reaffirming support for contamination survivors aligns with broader principles of environmental justice and public accountability.

“For too long, Southside families carried this history quietly,” Perez said. “Reaffirming our support means saying clearly that their experience matters, their health matters, and their voices are heard. We will continue pushing for transparency, sustained remediation, and meaningful health resources for those impacted.”