Who is TSS?

Tucsonans for Sound Solutions (TSS) is a group of citizens concerned with the long-term future of both Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (DMAFB) and midtown Tucson. At the heart of this relationship is an overriding sense of fairness, that if all Tucson citizens benefit from DMAFB's presence, we should all be willing to sacrifice to ensure the Base's survival instead of placing this disproportionate burden on one segment of the population.

As stated in our mission statement, we feel that the only way to ensure DMAFB's longterm viability in Tucson is to reduce the loudness and amount of noise emanated by DM jets over the City to no more than what was occurring immediately prior to October 25, 2004. We have been told that the military conducts an environmental impact statement (EIS) at any base that undertakes a change in mission (i.e., if there will be a new type of plane assigned to the base); we demand that this EIS not only measure the noise levels (average and peak) but also examine all the health and other ramifications which will eventuate from this change in mission so that residents may adequately prepare themselves. This, we feel, is only fair.

It appears that the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) and amendment of the Airport Environs Zone (AEZ) in the Tucson Land Use Code (LUC) processes were, despite official protestations to the contrary, not conducted in a fair and inclusive manner and were in fact conducted in such a way as to benefit a small percentage of the Tucson population to the detriment of many other residents and possibly even the Base itself. This is no way to do business and we are concerned about not just the outcome of the JLUS/ AEZ process but about serious flaws within the process itself.

We are currently involved in mediation and discussions with our government officials at all levels (see our MC3 page for more information) in order to achieve a fair and just solution to DMAFB's encroachment problem, to Tucson residents' noise problem, and to the property value problems inflicted on homeowners by both the noise and the JLUS/ AEZ's failed attempt to properly address the first two of these. We are also actively reaching out to the public to keep them informed of this issue and, larger, how our government may or may not be working in our best interests. If you have an event -- neighborhood meeting, parents' group, &c -- and would like to hear a presentation on the DMAFB noise issue, let us know (feedback@tucsound.com) and we will try to arrange to have a speaker for you.