by Matthew Holloway | Nov 19, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman-elect Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-8) released a new video via X in which he memorialized his victory against Democrat Greg Whitten in the November General Election.
In the video posted to X, Hamedeh told his supporters, “I’m ready to go to Washington, D.C. to fight. Fight with everything I’ve got for every single one of you here and everybody in this district and all across Arizona. Because despite the many problems we face, I still believe in America, because I believe in all of you. We took on so many powerful people in this race. And it showed us that the American people are stronger than the money that they have. And that’s what this victory is about. It’s a victory about all of you. It’s a victory for ‘We the people.’”
Hamadeh added, “I love you Arizona. I love my country, and I love you. And that’s why I’m with you now and forever. Thank you, Arizona. God bless you. God bless the United States. And let’s keep winning.”
As reported by the Arizona Daily Independent, Hamadeh pledged to “deliver real results, protect our freedoms, and restore America’s greatness.” He added, “This is a victory for every Arizonan who’s fed up with open borders, skyrocketing prices, and a political class that has sold our country out to the highest bidder. Arizona deserves a fighter who will go to Washington, drain the swamp, and actually put America First—and that’s exactly what I’m here to do.”
He remarked that his campaign “was a true grassroots movement fueled by Americans who believe our best days are still ahead.”
“After four years of Joe Biden in the White House and radicals trying to tear this country apart, we need strong, fearless leaders who will fight for the America we know and love. I am honored to be that fighter for Arizona’s 8th District,” Hamadeh said. “This isn’t just about policy; it’s about the courage to fight for the values that have made America the greatest country in the world.”
He told the outlet that his first priorities when he takes office are to deliver on his promises to “secure the border, bring down inflation, protect seniors and stand strong for America’s military and law enforcement.”
In a statement to AZ Free News Hamadeh said, “From day one of my campaign, I made a promise to Arizonans: to bring bold, courageous leadership to the table. As I set out to represent Arizona’s 8th District in Washington, my mission is clear—I will never stop fighting for my constituents, for future generations, and for the revitalization of the United States of America. Together, we will restore the strength and spirit of this great nation.”
In the Sunday post to X, Hamadeh wrote, “Arizona… I am with you, now and forever. Let’s roll.”
In the most up-to-date results from Arizona.vote, Hamadeh handily defeated Whitten by a thirteen-point margin or approximately 47,925 votes. That’s around the combined populations of Sun City West and New River, two of his smaller constituent cities.
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 | Nov 16, 2024 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The massive microchip manufacturing firm, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), finds itself facing a class-action lawsuit brought by over a dozen of its current and former employees. TSMC was brought into Arizona through the Biden administration’s CHIPS Act.
The charge presented is a potentially devastating one: that TSMC is engaging in “anti-American” hiring and workplace bias and is discriminating against American workers while favoring Taiwanese nationals imported on work visas. For a firm that is now deeply tied to the political fortunes of the outgoing Democratic administration, and the now-minority party in Congress, the allegations are stunning.
The lawsuit makes the claim that TSMC employs over 2,668 workers in its North American operations and that the vast majority of them are Asian, stating, “This grossly disproportionate workforce is the result of TSMC’s intentional pattern and practice of employment discrimination against individuals who are not Asian and not Taiwanese citizens, including discrimination in hiring, staffing, and termination decisions.”
In the text of the suit, attorneys representing the workers note, “TSMC’s bias in favor of Asians and Taiwanese citizens was even apparent when it was hiring construction workers to build its first Arizona fab (via TSMC affiliates United Integrated Services (UIS) and Marketech International Corp.). TSMC chairman Mark Liu complained of “an insufficient amount of skilled workers” to build the facility and planned to fly workers in from Taiwan. TSMC agreed to focus on local hiring for those positions only after massive and public outcry from Arizona labor unions.”
The incident referenced was covered by AZ Free News in July 2023 when Liu made the complaint coinciding with President Joe Biden’s first visit to Arizona to tour the facility. Biden told reporters at the time that he “owes an awful lot” to TSMC with Corrinne Murdock observing that founder Morris Chang’s wife worked on his first Senate campaign.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego also reportedly holds ties to TSMC with a former senior policy advisor and campaign donor, Laura Franco French, serving as TSMC’s director of state government relation. French took the role directly following her tenure with Gallego’s office.
At the time, Liu told reporters, “We are encountering certain challenges, as there is an insufficient amount of skilled workers with the specialized expertise required for equipment installation in a semiconductor-grade facility.”
“While we are working to improve the situation, including sending experienced technicians from Taiwan to train the local skilled workers for a short period of time, we expect the production schedule of N4 process technology to be pushed out to 2025.”
The suit notes that TSMC applied for and received a $6.6 billion grant from the Federal Government via the CHIPS Act predicated on a diverse hiring policy and claims the firm “willfully disregarded diversity commitments TSMC made in the CHIPS Act,” adding that approximately half of TSMC’s Arizona work force of 2,200 people are Taiwan nationals on work visas.
Daniel Kotchen, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, told AZFamily, “If you are receiving federal funding to create jobs in the U.S., it is your responsibility to live up to the rules and laws under the U.S.”
Deborah Howington, a current talent acquisition executive at TSMC, was the first plaintiff claimed to have witnessed the culture of illegal, discriminatory practices that favored Taiwanese candidates and employees first-hand. As reported by Forbes, Howington alleges in the suit that TSMC specifically sought candidates from Taiwan for jobs in the U.S. and confidentially employed an “Asian headhunter,” to attract these recruits.
A company spokesperson responding to questions on the lawsuit told Forbes, “TSMC believes strongly in the value of a diverse workforce and we hire and promote without regard to gender, religion, race, nationality, or political affiliation because we respect differences, and believe that equal employment opportunities strengthen our competitiveness.”
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 | Nov 15, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Bruce Cohen has chosen to recuse himself from the alternate electors case after reports revealed a series of emails he sent to his colleagues that openly defended Vice President Kamala Harris and urged other jurists to do likewise.
As previously reported by AZ Free News, the controversy that preceded Cohen’s recusal centered around a series of emails in which he demanded that his fellow judges and commissioners stand in defense of then-Democratic Presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. The Judge offered these emails in response to criticisms levied against Harris that she was a “DEI Hire.” Cohen particularly characterized the issue in racial and gender-based terms calling upon white men in particular to defend Harris, along with any colleagues who identified as “person(s) of color.”
Cohen wrote in part, “It does matter if your chromosomes are made up of ‘XY.’ It matters even more if your skin color is characterized as ‘white’ or Caucasian. We must speak out. We must tell those within our circles of influence that this s**t must stop. NOW! We cannot allow our female colleagues to feel as if they stand alone when there are those who may intimate that their ascension was anything other than based upon exceptionalism. We cannot allow our colleagues who identify as being a ‘person of color’ to stand alone when there are those may claim that their ascension was an ‘equity hire’ rather than based solely upon exceptionalism. We no longer can stay silent merely because others are exercising their right to free speech — we, too, have that same right and must exercise it.”
Attorneys representing Republican state Sen. Jake Hoffman, a defendant alongside several other prominent Republican figures facing charges for their participation in an alternate slate of Electoral College votes during the 2020 Presidential Election, told the Associated Press that Judge Cohen “bears a deep-seated personal political bias that overcame his professional judgment.”
Arizona attorney Mark L. Williams, who represents former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, told the AP, “Given the statements the judge made, I think it’s appropriate that he recuse himself.”
He added, “The way I see it, the case against Mr. Giuliani and the other defendants is falling apart and I think the attorney general should just wind down the case and dismiss it.”
Michael Colombo of Dhillon law group, writing on Hoffman’s behalf in a motion for recusal, explained, “The utter contempt Judge Cohen displayed against President Trump in his Aug. 29 email makes it clear that Senator Hoffman — who is on trial for exercising his First Amendment rights as a supporter of President Trump — cannot receive a fair trial before Judge Cohen.”
Columbo also took aim at Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes writing, “While Judge Cohen is entitled to his political opinions and speech, his rhetoric and exhortation precisely mirrors the evidence of hostile partisan political zealotry at the heart of the motions to dismiss that have been languishing before the Court for months. In short, the evidence before the Court of the Attorney General’s unlawful retaliation against Defendants includes her demonization of Republicans as well as her Chief Deputy comparing Republicans to Nazis and the Defendants in this case to Vladimir Putin.”
He added, “Even if Judge Cohen can somehow separate his apparent detestation of President Trump from his adjudication of a case that centers around defendants’ political activity in support of President Trump, the appearance of impropriety is a stain on this case that cannot be removed.”
Cohen, scheduled to retire in January, defended his actions in the text of his order, and even doubled down claiming, “This judicial officer expressed in an email support for the exceptionalism of the judicial officers of Maricopa County and was a stand for decency and respect. What was contained in the email is not reflective of bias.”
Per Courthouse News, all scheduled hearings are now vacated and the case is on hold pending the assignment of a new judge.
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 | Nov 15, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Over Veteran’s Day weekend, personal-finance website WalletHub released a ranking of the Best and Worst Places for Veterans to live. And the state of Arizona was represented by seven of our cities.
According to WalletHub, the rankings were based on a series of “19 key indicators of livability, affordability and veteran-friendliness,” including the availability of jobs related to military skill-sets, records of veteran income growth over time, and the availability of VA Healthcare.
WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo explained, “When veterans return home from serving our nation, it’s important for them to live in a place that provides good education and employment opportunities, along with access to quality care for their physical and mental health. The best cities for veterans have all these characteristics, plus added bonuses like large veteran populations for community support, plus many restaurants and entertainment venues that offer veteran discounts.”
All told, the seven Arizona cities ranked were, in order: Scottsdale, leading at #7; Gilbert at #15; Chandler at #16; Mesa at #29; Glendale at #44; Tucson at #62; and finally, Phoenix came in at #75.
Gilbert and Chandler ranked 2nd and 5th, respectively, for the lowest percentage of veterans in poverty. Otherwise the state failed to rank in the top 5 of the study’s focus areas.
Essentially, this places Arizona firmly in the middling range of neither the worst nor the best.
While cities like the top five: Austin, TX; Orlando, FL; Raleigh, NC; Tampa, FL; and Virginia Beach, VA, have cause to celebrate the ranking, the release could leave Arizonans asking questions.
As of late 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau, cited by ABC15, recorded that there were 454,620 veterans of the Armed Forces living in the state or approximately 62 of every 1,000 adults, ranking us at 13th in the nation statistically.
By concentration, most resided in Sun City and Sun City West, Sun Lakes, Carefree, Apache Junction, and Union Hills.
Over a third served during the Vietnam War, 43% served in either the Cold War period or Gulf War, with just 17% of the veterans in the youngest cohort: those who served in the Global War on Terror. The number who served in Korea and the Second World War are dwindling fast at just 3% and 1%, respectively.
Arizona plays home to defense contractors as Honeywell, Raytheon, General Dynamics, BAE Systems, and Northrup Grumman. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics examined the unemployment figures as of March 20th, specifically targeting veterans, and found that only 47% of those surveyed were employed, while 2.9% were collecting unemployment and a staggering 51% were “not in labor force.” That means they were either on disability, retired, on other benefits, or simply stopped trying to find work. This gives a potential glimpse into why more young veterans aren’t making Arizona their home, and instead serves as a retirement destination.
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 | Nov 14, 2024 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
A post-election letter obtained by AZ Free News from Arizona Education Association (AEA) President Marisol Garcia to union members, saw the labor leader address AEA members as if reacting to a great catastrophe. Rather than remarking on a largely peaceful and uncommonly decisive national election that provided an unambiguous mandate to the incoming government, she spoke of families and students being “directly in danger,” and that “no one is coming to save us.”
In the text of the letter, Garcia speaks in disturbingly combative terms, suggesting that there are individuals, either teachers or students, they will need to “protect,” because they “are being targeted.”
She also told Arizona educators, “We are going to be the union thugs that we were meant to be…” and added instructions that they “Drink some water, get some rest, get off social media and surround yourself with joy and get ready. Because, it’s on y’all.”
AZ Free News independently confirmed the letter was sent to Arizona educators and the language is consistent with Garcia’s post to X on November 6th when she wrote, “Join your union—Unbreakable Solidarity, and “OK take a deep breath, find some space the rest, and know the way through this is through it TOGETHER. Elections are one tactic. Organizing for solidarity and power is another. ✊🏾”
In the full letter Garcia wrote:
AEA,
First, how proud we must be for all the efforts that everyone put into this year’s election work. We all have to be proud of the new leaders that we saw step up. The goals that brave locals made and worked hard to reach, many of which they broke, too much shock to themselves. Ballots continue to be counted in every county and so many of our focus races are yet to be called—so as usual the work continues.
In that vein, our labor work, our power building work must continue as planned, with more clarity on the importance of unbreakable solidarity. The talk, the words, now more than ever become the walk and the work.
I won’t sugar coat this, many of us, our families and our students are directly in danger. You might recall, last year I reminded the delegates that no one is coming to save us — we have to save ourselves. The mechanism to which we can save ourselves is through good old fashion local organizing work.
Building our smaller circles into bigger circles. Embracing the things we have in common to find solution for the things that threaten all of us. Small group meetings, engaging in difficult conversations and above all listening. Our union knows how to do this, we have the ability to not just work through this, but lead through this, together.
On a personal note, as a product of ancestors who survived hundreds of years of institutional impacts, including genocides, starvation, and military attacks. I’m still here. My great great grandmothers did not give up. They fought back and organized collectively to survive, sharing food, housing, powerful stories and safety. This resilience was passed to their next generations and will continue with my son.
We will not comply in advance, we will not shirk, we will not forget the fights we have survived nor will we not prepare to protect those who are being targeted.
We are going to be the union thugs we were meant to be… we will fight, because together we are always stronger and whether we like it or not, it is our destiny to be in the fight.
Drink some water, get some rest, get off social media, and surround yourself with joy and get ready.
Because, it’s on y’all.
Unbreakable solidarity.
Marisol Garcia, President.
Arizona Education Association
Turning Point Action Field Representative and VP of Greater PHX Republican Women, Alyssa Goncales shared an image of the letter in a post to X, writing, “The AZ teachers union is an obvious branch of the Democratic Party. @MarisolGarciaAZ doesn’t care about the rights of all teachers and students. She’s just spreading fear and pushing the lefts agenda. It speaks volumes to what public school is trying to do to our children. Great push for AZ parents to homeschool.”
Notably in the union’s recommendations for the 2024 ballot, all of the recommended candidates in partisan races were Democrats.
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.
