by Matthew Holloway | Jan 14, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
A new study based on FBI crime data has identified the areas most afflicted by crime in the state of Arizona and found Mohave County to be a crime hotspot.
According to the research by Suzuki Law, through analysis of crime rates per 100,000 residents in each county’s jurisdiction, Mohave County ranked highest followed by Pima and Yuma Counties, La Paz County, and finally Maricopa County rounding out the top five.
The report found:
- “Mohave County holds the top place with a total crime score of 99.54. Its monthly average property crime rate is 167.9 per 100,000 residents, about 121% above the statewide average of 76.1. The county has a violent crime rate of 108.5, roughly 74% higher than the statewide average of 62.2.
- Pima County follows in second place with a total crime score of 88.27. The average monthly property crime rate stands at 168.2 per 100,000, the highest among all counties in Arizona. On the other hand, the county’s violent crime rate of 83.7 is 35% above the statewide average of 62.2.
- Coming in third, Yuma County has a crime score of 86.86. Its average monthly property crime rate of 124.0 per 100,000 is nearly 63% above Arizona’s average. Yuma County has the highest violent crime rate in Arizona, at 109.3. This is around 76% higher than the statewide average of 62.2.
- La Paz County ranks fourth with a crime score of 79.43. Here, the monthly property crime rate is 140.5 per 100,000, about 85% more than the state average of 76.1, and the violent crime rate of 82.3 is 32% above the state average of 62.2.”
A spokesman for Suzuki Law commented on the clear disparity favoring crimes against property saying, “The data indicates that property crimes are a major issue in Arizona, especially in counties like Mohave, Pima, and Yuma. While all types of crime have serious implications for community safety, the prevalence of property offenses in these counties demands focused attention from law enforcement and policymakers.”
Maricopa County, despite the obvious handicap of having the largest population by far, ranked relatively low at fifth place with an property crime rate of 105.6 per 100,000, about 39% higher than the state average of 76.1 and with violent crime at 71.3 or about 15% over the state average of 62.2.
In the top ten ranking, five counties are notably absent: Pinal, Apache, Graham, Navajo and Santa Cruz.
Top 10 Arizona Counties by Overall Crime Rate Score
1. Mohave County — 99.54
2. Pima County — 88.27
3. Yuma County — 86.86
4. La Paz County — 79.43
5. Maricopa County — 63.99
6. Gila County — 61.62
7. Yavapai County — 54.10
8. Cochise County — 46.21
9. Greenlee County — 43.20
10. Coconino County — 39.08
The law firm suggested that the installation of proactive security measures are among the most effective deterrents but stressed the need for legal assistance for victims. “Installing home security systems is one of the most effective ways to protect your property, with studies showing it can reduce burglary risks by up to 60%.” The attorneys also called for personal vigilance, situational awareness, and the avoidance of high crime areas.
Community-led initiatives are also valuable. “Neighborhood watch programs have proven to reduce crime rates by 16% in participating areas,” they observed.
The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office was contacted to comment on this report but did not reply by the publication deadline.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 13, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
With his oath of office once again taken, incumbent Republican Congressman Eli Crane (AZ-02) announced he will be returning to the House Committee on Homeland Security. He will join fellow SEAL Rep. John McGuire (R-VA-05) and Congressional Freshman Class President Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX-26) on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
“I came to Washington to drain the Swamp and fight to secure our border. In the 119th Congress, I’ll be a committee member of both Oversight and Homeland Security, playing a direct role in fulfilling both of those objectives,” said Crane. “It’s an immense honor to, once again, to serve and represent the People of Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District. I will forcefully keep up the fight to put Arizonans and Americans FIRST.”
Crane’s subcommittee assignments have not been released as of this writing, however during his last term with the Homeland Security Committee he served on the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence, and the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability.
Congruent with his assignment to the Homeland Security Committee, Crane released a statement the same day after the passage of the Laken Riley Act, which as the Congressman described, “would allow state attorneys general to sue the Secretary of Homeland Security for injunctive relief if immigration actions such as parole, violation of detention requirements, or other policy failures harm that state or its citizens.” The bill, if signed into law, will also update federal law making it mandatory for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to issue detainers and take custody of illegal aliens who commit theft-related crimes, such as shoplifting, under state and local law.
“I’m pleased to report that the Laken Riley Act passed out of the House of Representatives. This bill will protect our communities and give our law enforcement agencies the resources they need to prevent avoidable tragedies,” said Rep. Eli Crane. “It’s appalling that 159 Democrats sided with criminal aliens by voting against this commonsense measure. Despite their senseless opposition, I’m glad we were once again able to get this bill across the finish line. I appreciate Rep. Mike Collins for his leadership, and I look forward to its swift passage in the U.S. Senate before heading to President Trump’s desk.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 13, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Growers Market, a composting business located in Laveen, will be shuttering its operations in South Phoenix as a direct result of legal action brought by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
According to a release from Maricopa County, the operators of Growers Market concluded an agreement with the Board that they be prohibited from operating the firm’s composting facility on the Laveen property involved in the legal complaint. The company also agreed to a series of strict stipulations imposed by the county that will result in the business’ operations being shut down rapidly and the composting material removed from the land.
As reported by ABC15, the facility, located near 27th Avenue and Dobbins, was first mentioned in a legal complaint against Growers Market on December 18th. According to the order obtained by ABC15, the court found the composting operation to be in violation of the property’s RU-43 zoning designation adding, “A composting operation is not authorized in that zoning designation without a special use permit. Defendants had neither applied for nor received a special use permit allowing the use of the Property for a composting operation. Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance (MCZO) sections 501 & 503.”
The county issued a Notice and Order for the owners to comply with the zoning in August and issued a hearing summons in September for the violation. On November 8th the hearing officer issued a Judgment and Order finding the business in violation of zoning, and the order was not appealed.
In a statement released to the press, Supervisor Steve Gallardo, who represents District 5 where the property is located, said, “This settlement is a big win for Laveen community members. This business could have continued operating for months while we waited around for court hearings to be scheduled. Instead, we took complaints seriously, took action to hold this business responsible, and prioritized results.”
Under the terms of the court order, the business must vacate the property by no later than March 1st or face fines of $1,000 per day. Growers Market will be authorized to begin processing all material on the land until January 20 when grinding or screening of mulch material must cease and all related equipment must be removed from the property.
Until the property is cleared, the county advised, Growers Market is permitted to haul off remaining mulch and materials Monday though Friday between 7am and 5pm through the March 1st deadline but must submit to regular inspections and provide weekly progress reports to County officials.
“Look, I support small businesses and want to see them thrive,” Gallardo began. “But when their operations start to affect the health and well-being of local residents, we have to get involved and put an end to it. I’m thankful for the sense of closure this settlement provides so Laveen residents can get back to their normal lives.”
According to the order, the property is anticipated to be used as a tree farm after the cleanup is complete.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 12, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Town of Gilbert is the target of a lawsuit by the Goldwater Institute on behalf of the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona and a local property owner, Jonathan Barth, for allegedly violating the Arizona Constitution which bans tax increases on “services.”
According to Goldwater, the tax increase imposed by the Town of Gilbert includes “many types of business that do not produce tangible goods, such as advertising, photography, utilities, hotel/lodging, and construction.”
Goldwater is challenging two of the tax increases in particular: on homebuilding and short-term rental properties.
As noted in the text of the lawsuit, the Arizona Constitution prohibits “any county, city, town, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the state, or any district created by law” from creating any new or increasing any existing transaction-based taxes on the “privilege to engage in, or the gross receipts of sales or gross income derived from, any service performed in this state.”
The new tax ordinance in question, per the Town of Gilbert’s website, imposes a 0.5% increase in the existing sales tax and creates a “use tax” to be “paid for by residents and businesses when purchases are made online with out-of-state vendors who do less than $100K of sales in Arizona per year.”
The lawsuit explains that, “As a result of the Ordinance, individuals, businesses, and taxpayers, including Plaintiff Jonathan Barth, who engage in the rental or lease of real property, including for transient lodging, will pay a higher tax rate for the services they perform. Additionally, individuals, businesses, and taxpayers that engage in general contracting services, including the members of Plaintiff Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (“HBACA”), will pay a higher tax rate on the services they perform.”
Barth, an educator and father of five, will be impacted because he earns supplemental income by managing his detached bungalow as a rental for short-term tenants. He told Goldwater, “This tax hike makes it all the more difficult to make ends meet in Gilbert.”
Former Mayor Brigette Peterson and all of the members of the Town Council are named as defendants in addition to the town itself.
The town allegedly intends to use the projected $55 million yield of this new tax for “Critical Infrastructure Projects,” adding that “Time is of the essence as many of Gilbert’s services are over capacity and new infrastructure is needed.”
The Goldwater Institute has found however, that these “Critical Infrastructure Projects,” include pickleball courts, splash pads, a ropes course, and a “statement” bridge.
The Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA) told Goldwater that the new taxes will result in increased construction costs in the town as well. HBACA CEO Jackson Moll warned, “Gilbert officials are trampling on their own constituents’ rights with no regard for the consequences their illegal actions will have on taxpayers and homebuyers. The Arizona Constitution is clear: increasing taxes on services, including on construction contracting, is unlawful.”
As previously reported by AZ Free News, the Goldwater Institute pursued a similar action against the Town of Payson in September when the Town Council decided to incur a $70 million debt via a bond measure without a public referendum.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 11, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
A report released by the Arizona Child Fatality Review Team (CFRT) has generated severe backlash from Arizona State Representatives Quang Nguyen and Selina Bliss, who serve as Chair and Vice-Chair of the House Judiciary Committee. The backlash came after the CFRT made the blatant unconstitutional recommendation to “remove all firearms in households with children,” claiming that “the presence of firearms in a household increases the risk of suicide among adolescents.”
According to a press release from the Arizona House of Representatives, Reps. Nguyen and Bliss penned a letter to Jennie Cunico, Cabinet Executive Officer of the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), voicing in the strongest possible terms their objections to the CFRT’s report.
In their letter, Nguyen and Bliss wrote:
“We are appalled that the CFRT, speaking on behalf of the Arizona Department of Health Services, is actually advocating for stripping Arizonans of their Second Amendment rights in their own homes. This radical proposal is reminiscent of New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s 2023 gun control order, which attempted to prohibit carrying of firearms in public for self-defense. You may recall that Governor Grisham’s order—accurately characterized as ‘insanely unconstitutional’ and ‘outrageous’—was swiftly blocked in court.
“The CFRT’s ‘do something’ approach to child-fatality legislation would not only violate the constitutional rights of millions of Arizonans; it is also irrational from a policy perspective. The CFRT’s Report notes that 31 children drowned in 2023 and that the majority of these deaths occurred in pools and hot tubs. Yet the CFRT does not recommend the elimination of pools and hot tubs. Instead, the CFRT advocates for common-sense ideas: ‘close, constant supervision of children when around water, increased availability and affordability of swim lessons for children, and proper pool enclosures.’
“Effective policy solutions—even for problems that are difficult and complex—must be designed to fully protect constitutional rights and liberties. We urge you to direct the CFRT to reconsider its unjustified attack on the Second Amendment and amend its Report.”
“Proposals to strip citizens of their firearms are not only unconstitutional but also lack common sense,” Nguyen explained. “While the report suggests reasonable safety measures for other risks, such as drowning, the CFRT overreaches by advocating for the elimination of firearms entirely from homes with children.”
“Our state should focus on education and safe practices, not on extreme measures that undermine individual liberties,” Representative Bliss agreed. “We stand firm in defending the Second Amendment rights of Arizona families.”
In a later post to X, Nguyen acknowledged an op-ed from AZCentral’s Laurie Roberts criticizing him for his stance writing, “Anytime Roberts writes about my work negatively, I know I’m doing the right thing. I’m very sure she’s okay with abortion of innocent children.”
Roberts suggested the report’s call to remove guns from Arizona homes does not violate the Constitution and “goes on to recommend that ‘parents of adolescents should remove all guns from their homes, especially if there is a history of mental health issues or substance abuse issues.’ This because more children are dying by suicide, with close to half killing themselves with guns.”
However, as the Representatives point out, the language explicitly used by the report is as follows:
“Since the CFRP determined that access to guns was the biggest risk factor for firearm deaths, CFRP believes that the most effective way to prevent firearm-related deaths in children is to remove all firearms in households with children because the presence of firearms in a household increases the risk of suicide among adolescents.”
The recommendation of the CFRT is direct, unambiguous, and lacks the nuance suggested by the local columnist.
The CFRT is comprised mostly of appointees nominated by the state officers who were in turn appointed or nominated by Democrats Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
