by Staff Reporter | Oct 31, 2024 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The nation’s fifth-largest city, Phoenix, is also home to one of the highest eviction rates in the nation.
Rising evictions appear to be a side effect of the city’s burgeoning housing crisis amid a declining economy. A report from the Wall Street Journal released this week highlighted the trend of increased evictions, featuring some of the Phoenicians who underwent evictions recently.
Phoenix has a rate of 16 eviction filings per 100 renter households according to estimates from Eviction Lab, a Princeton University research group that tracks eviction rates in 36 major cities and 10 states across the country.
According to data pulled from American Community Survey and reported by the Eviction Lab, Phoenix has over 583,600 renter households and typical rent averages nearly $1,400 a month.
Per data acquired by Eviction Lab from the Maricopa County Justice Courts, there have been over 285,300 eviction filings since March 2020, with nearly 90,600 of those (31 percent) filed within the past year and over 6,000 (two percent) within the last month. Between January and September, there were nearly 69,000 evictions. Should these evictions keep up with the monthly average of around 7,700 evictions, there would be nearly 92,000 evictions by the year’s end.
There were about 83,200 eviction filings in 2023. The all-time total high for evictions was about 83,700 evictions in 2005. The average eviction judgment from January to September sits at over $3,100, which is less than the $3,400 average of 2023.
Nearly 39,700 of recent years’ evictions were categorized demographically as white neighborhoods, nearly 22,800 were “other” neighborhoods, and over 20,700 were Latino neighborhoods.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego told the Wall Street Journal that folks should look to the state for reforms on laws allowing such a high rate of evictions.
“We don’t control evictions,” said Gallego.
The increased evictions may curb the small gains the city has made in reducing its homeless population — an aspect of the fast-growing metropolitan area that also incurred national interest.
Maricopa County’s latest Point-In-Time Homeless Count from January reported over 9,400 individuals as homeless in the Phoenix area, a decline from the January 2023 total of over 9,600.
Earlier this year, we reported that the city had spent over $180 million over the course of three years to address its homeless population.
The Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES) did offer a rental assistance program for families and those over the age of 60 years, but applications closed in August.
ADES also offers resources for emergency short-term housing.
ADES directed those in need of assistance to visit 211, the Short-Term Crisis Services Program, or their local Community Action Agency for other support services.
Community Action Agencies can provide utility or mortgage assistance, eviction or foreclosure prevention assistance, rental deposits, and emergency shelter. ADES warned that these agencies are currently experiencing high demand.
Maricopa County has five Community Action Agencies with multiple locations providing various assistance: Maricopa County Human Services, City of Glendale Community Action Programs, City of Phoenix Human Services, City of Phoenix Family Services Centers, and Mesa Community Action Network.
Those interested in knowing which health and human services programs they qualify for may use the Arizona Self Help questionnaire.
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by Staff Reporter | Oct 31, 2024 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Grand Canyon University (GCU) will now cover the college costs for over 300 students this academic year.
The university expanded its Canyon Rising Scholarship (formerly the Students Inspiring Students Scholarship) to meet the needs of 305 high-achieving, low-income high school seniors. 100 of those scholarships will also include total coverage of costs for on-campus housing and meal plans.
GCU President Brian Mueller said in a press release that the university had a duty to give back to the community around it by offering opportunities for growth.
“As GCU continues to grow, it is important to the university that the community surrounding it grows along with it,” said Mueller. “Historically, education is the great equalizer in society, providing equality of opportunity for all socioeconomic classes.”
Mueller shared that the majority of students within the scholarship program were first-generation college students and students of color.
“Since this program’s inception, the overwhelming majority of scholarship recipients have been first-generation college students and students of color because that is the demographic of the community in which we reside,” said Mueller.
The scholarship program is open to over 20 high schools in GCU’s inner-city neighborhood.
GCU began its Canyon Rising Scholarship (Students Inspiring Students Scholarship) in 2016. The university initially partnered with Alhambra High School.
GCU has offered over 1,000 scholarships since the program’s inception eight years ago.
Those admitted into the program participate in an honoring ceremony at the start of the school year at GCU’s Global Credit Union Arena, attended by loved ones of the students as well as donors to the program.
GCU revealed in its press release that it plans to expand career counseling efforts to assist these program students for job preparation post-graduation. Jennifer Mitchell, GCU K12 and Collegiate Advancement director, explained that the counseling fulfills GCU’s goal of sustained success to impact not only program participants’ futures but the well-being of their communities.
“Our program leaders will work to connect scholars with real-life work experience in their neighborhood, which means a greater likelihood they’ll stay and be part of the transformation of their community,” said Mitchell.
These scholarships are renewable for up to eight semesters and not subject to GCU CAP policy. In order to be eligible for the next round of Canyon Rising Scholarship grants, students must qualify to receive the maximum Pell Grant amount as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), have a minimum 3.0 unweighted high school GPA, be a graduating senior from an Arizona high school, and be an incoming high school senior starting in the fall 2025-26 academic year.
In order to get started, students must apply to GCU, which doesn’t require an application fee; submit their high school transcripts; meet with their university admissions counselor to review eligibility requirements; complete FAFSA (GCU school code 0010704); and register for courses and begin their degree program at GCU.
Those accepted into the scholarship program must also participate in the Canyon Rising Scholarship Seminar, which equips students with introductions to university management, LEAD support, presentation for success at GCU, and expectations for the school year.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Oct 30, 2024 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The outcome of a new poll is indicating the defeat of Proposition 140, the “Make Elections Fair Act,” which proposes to overhaul Arizona elections with ranked-choice voting and open primaries.
The Arizona Free Enterprise Club (AFEC) released the poll on Tuesday, conducted by Data Orbital. The pollster surveyed over 500 voters over the past weekend to gauge their support for Prop 140; only 42 percent of respondents expressed support for the measure, with those who have already voted at 38 percent in support.
AFEC President Scot Mussi stated in a press release that the poll results indicated an opposition to election reforms similar to those adopted by California.
“This latest poll demonstrates that Arizonans do not appreciate these special interests attempting to commandeer our elections for their radical agenda,” said Mussi. “Arizona voters are diligently doing their research on Prop 140, and they are being turned off by its dangerous effects on our state’s elections and future.”
Mussi remarked that the defeat of Prop 140 would be “sending a message to these out-of-state billionaires and California liberals” that Arizonans won’t adopt “a system run by a partisan election official and his band of unelected bureaucrats.”
By “partisan election official,” Mussi was referring to the Secretary of State — under Prop 140 reforms, the secretary decides the number of candidates who may qualify for the general election ballot in every race, even their own. Theoretically, that could mean a general election ballot consisting of only one party.
AFEC also criticized Prop 140 for its speculated potential to increase tabulation errors, lengthen voting lines, and delay election results.
41 percent of respondents said they were not supportive of the measure. Eight percent said they were undecided, and five percent said they could not recall on how they had already voted on the measure.
The poll surveyed 261 males and 289 females, and respondents were nearly evenly split on whether they were “extremely likely” to vote (291) or had already voted (231). A select few were only somewhat likely (15) or “50/50 likely” (13).
A majority of respondents were 65-and-over, white, Republican, in possession of some college education but no degree, and had voted in the last four elections.
Respondents were heavily weighted in the 65-and-over crowd at 33 percent (182 respondents), with decreasing numbers of participation as the age brackets went younger: 17 percent at ages 55 to 64, 14 percent at ages 45 to 54, 14 percent at ages 35 to 44, 13 percent at ages 25 to 34, and eight percent at ages 18 to 24.
A majority of respondents self-identified as white (71 percent), followed by Hispanic (20 percent), African American (four percent), Asian (two percent), and other (two percent).
Also, more respondents were Republicans: 39 percent. 32 percent of respondents were Democrats, 25 percent of respondents were independents or unaffiliated, and about four percent were “other” voters.
42 percent of respondents received some college education but no degree. 25 percent had a bachelor’s degree, 15 percent had a high school degree or an equivalent, over 14 percent had a graduate degree or higher, two percent didn’t have their high school diploma, and one percent refused to answer.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Oct 29, 2024 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Maricopa County says its current election plan is adequate to ensure everyone will have an opportunity to vote in this election, despite additional reports of long voting lines and wait times.
The county board of supervisors and recorder’s office issued their assurance through the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) last Friday in response to a Thursday letter from GOP congressional candidate Abraham Hamadeh and the Republican National Committee (RNC) requesting a new election plan.
Deputy County Attorney Joseph E. La Rue issued the response letter on behalf of MCAO. LaRue began his letter with a remark aimed at the author of the Hamadeh-RNC letter, Harmeet Dhillon, for submitting the letter to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and Maricopa County Recorder’s Office rather than MCAO.
“We do not know how they do things in California, where you are barred,” said La Rue. “But here in Arizona, it is an ethical violation for an attorney to communicate about the subject of her representation of her client with someone that the attorney knows is represented.”
As the Arizona Daily Independent reported, the Hamadeh-RNC letter claimed that it took voters longer on average to complete their ballots than the county predicted: an average of 15 minutes compared with the county’s 12-minute estimate, due to the ballot consisting of two pages.
La Rue responded that this comparison was “inaccurate” because it was based “on outdated information.” La Rue further dismissed Dhillon’s reliance on Verity Vote data, characterizing it as a “discredited organization that has been shown to play fast and loose with the facts” based on VoteBeat reporting.
La Rue clarified that the board of supervisors had expanded the in-person voting plan during its September 9 meeting to accommodate the two-page ballot.
La Rue also defended the county’s decision on the number of voting locations, check-in stations, and voting booths. He reported that the county had expanded the numbers of these election components adequately from past elections: a 40 percent increase since 2020 and a 10 percent increase since 2022 in voting locations; a 35 percent increase since 2020 and 33 percent increase since 2022 in check-in stations; and a 60 percent increase since 2020 and a 23 percent increase since 2022 in voting booths.
At the close of his response letter, La Rue concluded with a decisive “no” on the request from Hamadeh and the RNC to devise a new election plan.
“In light of the county’s extensive preparations for in-person voting on November 5, 2024, our clients do not see the need for an emergency meeting with your clients,” stated La Rue.
The county’s denial of a request for expanding election location capacities, such as establishing additional voting booths, came ahead of Monday reports from the media and individual voters on long wait times and lengthy lines for in-person early voting.
Maricopa County has warned that it could take them anywhere from 10 to 13 days to count all the ballots, due to the nearly 2.1 million mail-in ballots requested in this election. The county came up with the timeline based on the percentage of voters who waited to turn in their early ballots closer to or on Election Day in the 2022 election — almost 20 percent.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Oct 27, 2024 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Phoenix Police Department (PPD) is being sued over its failure to release records that allegedly reveal additional wrongdoing by former officer and Democratic nominee for Maricopa County Sheriff, Tyler Kamp.
Multiple media reports have emerged on the sexual harassment complaints and reprimands for misconduct that Kamp received while employed with PPD.
Kamp’s past misconduct included a city investigation which found that Kamp sexually harassed a rookie female police officer via text in 2020 and in his last year on the force in 2021, though he was never disciplined since the investigation took place after he retired from the department. In 2014, Kamp was suspended for a day for breaching a confidential law enforcement database for personal use. Arizona law classifies unauthorized access to criminal history as a class six felony. In 2013, Kamp was punished for repeatedly using a city vehicle for personal use.
The unreleased records sought may provide more background on Kamp’s past — and now they’re being fought over in court.
Maricopa County voter Brian Anderson filed a request for those records on Kamp back in March. When PPD failed to return the records after five months, Anderson had an attorney send PPD a demand letter. In response to that letter, PPD said it would produce the records by mid-September. After PPD failed to produce those records, Anderson filed a lawsuit in court.
“Defendant’s failure to disclose Mr. Kemp’s [sic] personnel records before the Primary Election has already resulted in the public not knowing possibly important matters of concern that the public should have knowledge of before voting at the General Election,” read one court filing.
The records sought on Kamp seek to corroborate rumors and allegations that Kamp engaged in sexual acts with a civilian in a patrol car while on duty, engaged in sexual acts in the stairwell of PPD headquarters, and committed other sexual harassment and stalking incidents in addition to those publicized by local media. These claims made their way into the September debate between Kamp and his Republican opponent, Jerry Sheridan (who was the second in command under former Sheriff Joe Arpaio).
Although it is unclear why PPD refuses to release the records, there are some who would stand to benefit.
Phoenix City Councilman Kevin Robinson was Kamp’s supervising officer and the assistant chief at PPD, and currently serves as his campaign chairman. In the press release announcing Kamp’s run, Robinson offered praise for his former subordinate.
“I have known Tyler for many years, going back to our time working in law enforcement together,” said Robinson. “He will bring extensive law enforcement and management experience to the role, and ensure a leadership grounded in integrity, accountability and a deep commitment to serving the community.”
In the recent past, MCSO chief deputies have made over $200,000.
On Tuesday, PPD and Anderson convened in court briefly and were scheduled for a full hearing next week.
Kamp, formerly a Republican, switched parties last December to run as a Democrat. Kamp’s platform includes building on the work of Democratic Sheriff Paul Penzone, which includes more restorative justice rather than incarceration — though the county sheriff has no role in prosecution or sentencing. Some have criticized restorative justice as a “soft-on-crime” approach for practices such as having offenders apologize to victims in exchange for lighter sentencing or parole. Restorative justice is often implemented in high-crime cities like Los Angeles and Chicago.
Kamp also proposes establishing a task force for crime trends, a cross-agency task force, more hiring incentives like bonuses and continuing educational support, and bringing an end to the Melendres Court Orders.
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