by Staff Reporter | Sep 25, 2024 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Despite Arizona spending over $1 billion annually to address homelessness, a new report finds that the problem has grown into a crisis in recent years.
The Common Sense Institute Arizona (CSI) issued a report on Monday revealing that the homeless population has grown by 40 percent in the last five years (9,900 in 2015 to 14,200 in 2023), with 53 percent of the current homeless population living without shelter.
Arizona’s 2023 Point in Time (PIT) count estimated the state to have over 14,000 homeless individuals; CSI speculated the PIT count was an undercount. CSI noted that the homeless population was more stagnant from 2015 to 2018, but that it has undergone “marked acceleration” from 2019 to present.
For the 10,000 homeless that Arizona’s emergency shelters serve annually, another 6,000 go without any shelter provisions.
CSI proposed the burgeoning homelessness crisis was due to gaps in data sharing between service providers — like the Homeless Management Information Systematic — as well as a shortage in affordable housing.
The organization arrived at those proposed solutions through consultations with 24 stakeholders representing the state’s over 200 public and private providers behind the $1 billion in homelessness-related expenses.
“Arizona lacks a unified, by-name list that would allow real-time tracking and service prioritization for individuals experiencing homelessness,” said CSI in a press release. “The state faces a severe housing affordability crisis, with a shortage of over 150,000 affordable housing units.”
Though the stakeholders were more unified in approaches to treating the problem, they disagreed about the root causes of homelessness. Some argued it was the housing markets, while others argued it was mental health and addiction.
The report also proposed that current coordination-related gaps exist in the state’s homelessness response systems, particularly the Continuums of Care (COCs). Additionally, stakeholders advised CSI that Arizona’s current system overly prioritizes meeting federal and external stakeholder requirements at the expense of effective services and interventions, such as tailored interventions addressing mental health or substance abuse.
“Decades of focus on permanent solutions to poverty and housing, although well intended, have left a system poorly adapted to the pressing problem – addiction, mental health, and chronically unsheltered homelessness,” stated the report. “Refocusing on emergency shelter, developing an effective command system to identify and respond to incidents in real time, and other reforms are needed to solve this crisis.”
These services and interventions, said CSI, ought to cultivate personal accountability and self-sufficiency within the homeless as steps to independence.
“To safeguard Arizona’s economic resilience and maintain a robust safety net for our most vulnerable citizens – the chronically homeless, who are often suffering with mental illness or addiction – public policy must acknowledge the paradox that the true strength of this safety net lies in preventing as many people as possible from needing it, rather than maximizing funding for, and the number of people permanently dependent on, that safety net,” stated the report.
CSI fellow Julie Katsel said in the same press release that Arizona’s homelessness reaching crisis levels proves that the state’s approach to the issue needs work, which she characterized as “injecting more money” into programs.
“We know that current systems haven’t solved the problem so far,” said Katsel. “[Arizona needs] improved coordination, more effective interventions, and better rapid response tactics are critical steps we need to take.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Sep 24, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Republican Party of Arizona (AZGOP) released a new billboard design on Thursday exemplifying a theme of unity. The new digital billboards featured across the Valley of the Sun prominently feature an image of President Donald Trump backed by the Arizona Flag’s rays of red and gold sun above the blue sky and flanked by former Democrats, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and former Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as well as Republicans Vice Presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), former Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, and ‘X’ owner Elon Musk. Although Musk has been supporting Trump, he has historically declared himself a “registered independent” and “politically moderate.” Thus the billboard represents real political unity representing Democrats, Independents, and Republicans.
According to a press release from the AZGOP, the new billboard is “part of its ‘Team Unity’ campaign, featuring President Donald J. Trump and Vice Presidential nominee Senator J.D. Vance alongside a coalition of prominent American heroes dedicated to restoring our great country.”
“The ‘Team Unity’ billboard is part of a broader effort by the AZGOP to energize voters ahead of the 2024 election. The AZGOP is committed to reaching every corner of the state with this message of hope, optimism, and most importantly, unity.”
The state party Chair Gina Swoboda hailed the billboard’s launch and emphasized the immense need for political unity in America:
“This billboard embodies the spirit of unity that our nation desperately needs,” said Swoboda. “The Trump-Vance ticket represents a powerful coalition of voices that will fight for America — protecting freedom of speech, addressing the health crisis, restoring prosperity, and ensuring security for all Americans. This campaign is about bringing together Arizonans and Americans who are united by their commitment to restoring our nation’s values and standing strong against those who seek to divide us.”
Dating back to his inaugural address in 2021 and throughout his term so far, President Joe Biden has often touted his administration as being one focused on “Unity,” but the message has largely fallen flat with voters, given that any “bipartisan” measures are only superficially so, typically representing the furthest left and most anti-Trump Congressmen and Senators siding against their own party, as well as the increasingly divisive and vitriolic rhetoric the Biden-Harris administration has employed against President Trump and his supporters.
During his inaugural address, Biden said, “We come together as one nation.” He claimed, “Democracy has prevailed,” adding, “We have much to repair, much to restore, much to build, much to heal, and much to gain. But we cannot do it while divided against ourselves. My whole soul is in this—bringing America together,” he said. It is time to end our “uncivil war.”
Alas, by September 2021, in his infamous “Red Speech” (Officially “Remarks by President Biden on the Continued Battle for the Soul of the Nation”), Biden seemed to wholly abandon the cause of ‘unity’ with pro-Trump Republicans when he declared unequivocally:
“Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.”
Although he attempted to pivot, claiming, “Not every Republican, not even the majority of Republicans, are MAGA Republicans. Not every Republican embraces their extreme ideology.” He quickly fell back to the divisive rhetoric, telling supporters, “There is no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans, and that is a threat to this country.”
He added, “MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution. They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people.”
However, as the 2024 Election loomed, a resurgence of the new “Unity,” began to spring from the Biden-Harris administration. Yet, even then, he readily maligned President Trump and his supporters, and Vice President Kamala Harris through her campaign has continued to do so.
The clear dichotomy presents the Trump campaign versus the effort to install Harris, as the only ‘true’ example of unity across the political spectrum.
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 Daniel Stefanski | Sep 24, 2024 | Economy, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A leading small business advocacy organization has presented several Arizona lawmakers with its top award.
Earlier this summer, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) presented a handful of Arizona legislators with its Guardian of Small Business Award. The individuals recognized with the award were as follows:
- Speaker of the House Ben Toma
- Representative David Livingston
- Representative Travis Grantham
- Senate President Warren Petersen
- Senator J.D. Mesnard
- Senator T.J. Shope
“These six lawmakers have gone above and beyond on behalf of Main Street Arizonans,” NFIB State Director Chad Heinrich said. “In this difficult economy, where costs continue to go up and open positions remain unfilled, it’s incumbent on lawmakers to not make it more difficult to own and operate a small business here in Arizona. Our members are grateful for each of these lawmakers’ commitment to free enterprise and sound policy.”
NFIB presented the award to Petersen in August.
NFIB presented the award to Shope in August.
NFIB presented the award to Mesnard in August.
NFIB presented the award to Toma earlier this month.
Toma responded to the award, stating, “Thank you. It is a great honor to be recognized by those dedicated to protecting and promoting small businesses.”
According to its website, “NFIB is the voice of small business, advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses, and remains so today.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Sep 24, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on Friday that nearly 98,000 Maricopa County voters whose citizenship documents got caught up in a coding error will be allowed to vote full ballot in November. Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer had moved to have them relegated to voting ‘Fed Only’ in November.
The court received several amicus briefs from voters and organizations across the political spectrum arguing against the move, including the Arizona Republican Party; the League of Women Voters of Arizona; Coconino County Recorder Patty Hansen and Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cazares-Kelly; as well as the Carlos Apache Tribe, Living United for Change in Arizona, League of United Latin American Citizens of Arizona, Mi Familia Vota, and the ACLU of Arizona.
The Republican Party of Arizona (AZGOP) filed an amicus brief Thursday calling upon the court to intervene and prevent the removal of 98,000 voters from the rolls whose registrations were potentially endangered by a controversial clerical error by state officials.
On Tuesday, Arizona’s Democrat Secretary of State Adrian Fontes announced that 97,000 inividuals would be impacted by an error that could prevent them from voting in state-level elections such as state legislative races, initiatives, and referenda. The error affects voters who were issued an Arizona driver’s license prior to October 1, 1996. The figure represents over 2.5% of the state’s total registered electorate. The outlet noted that a technical issue reportedly caused the error which has been resolved, however, the status of those affected is unclear.
In a statement published Thursday the AZGOP announced:
“Today, the Republican Party of Arizona filed an amicus brief in the Arizona Supreme Court supporting the preservation of voter rights in the case involving nearly 100,000 voters whose registration statuses were jeopardized by a state government clerical error.
The AZGOP urges the court to protect voters from sudden disenfranchisement and argues that the requested relief from Petitioner Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer violates both state and federal law.
The AZGOP’s amicus brief notes the importance of adhering to the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which prohibits systematic voter removals within 90 days of a federal election, and argues that the removal of voters based on this clerical error violates due process and the U.S. Constitution. The AZGOP maintains that any action taken to correct these registration issues should not result in the disenfranchisement of voters who have long participated in Arizona’s elections without issue.”
Gina Swoboda, AZGOP Chair said in a statement:
“Regardless of any outcome on this matter, all of these voters will receive a Federal Only ballot which permits them to vote for President, U.S. Senate, and U.S. Congress. The only question before us is if these voters, who have possessed an Arizona driver’s license since before October 1996, should be denied the right to vote for their representatives in the Arizona legislature, county, school board, and ballot measure contests.
Our brief makes it clear: nearly 100,000 Arizona voters should not be penalized for a mistake made by the government. We will not stand by as voters are disenfranchised, especially so close to an election. The law requires that any changes to voter registration or eligibility must be handled carefully and in accordance with federal and state law. Rushing to disenfranchise voters now would not only be illegal but would severely undermine confidence in our elections.”
In a lengthy post to X, Richer justified his lawsuit saying:
“My office discovered this issue last week, and we have been working with the Governor’s Office, the Secretary’s Office, the MVD, and the Attorney General to fix this moving forward. The number is about 97,000 registrants across the state. All of these people have attested under penalty of law that they are U.S. citizens. And, in all likelihood, they almost all U.S. Citizens. But they have NOT provided documented proof of citizenship. Moving forward (2025 onward), everyone agrees we need DPOC for those voters for them to vote a full ballot. But the Secretary and I have different opinions on what the law requires for the November 5, 2024 General Election. It is my position that these registrants have not satisfied Arizona’s documented proof of citizenship law, and therefore can only vote a ‘FED ONLY’ ballot.”
In the text of the amicus brief, the AZGOP argues that the declaratory judgment requested by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer would stand in violation of both the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Arizona’s Free and Equal Elections Clause, as well as the National Voter Registration Act. The party’s legal team explained, “It is difficult to imagine state action that would impose a more ‘severe’ burden on the right to vote than abruptly informing an individual who has lived and voted in Arizona for decades—and previously voted in all elections, state and federal—that they must suddenly prove that they are a U.S. citizen in the handful of days remaining before Arizona’s October 7 voter registration deadline if they want to vote in state elections this year.”
Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer writing for the majority ruled:
“In sum, Richer has not established that the county recorders have statutory authority to remove the Affected Voters from being able to vote in the upcoming 2024 General Election for federal offices and with respect to matters on an Arizona ballot. This is particularly true under the present facts, where a state administrative failure permitted the Affected Voters to be registered without confirming that they provided DPOC when they received their driver’s licenses and where there is so little time remaining before the beginning of the 2024 General Election.”
She continued, “Arizona law provides that ‘[w]hen the county recorder obtains information pursuant to this section and confirms that the person registered is not a United States citizen,’ the county recorder is to initiate a process to cancel a registration that includes sending the person notice that the person’s registration will be canceled in thirty-five days unless the person provides satisfactory evidence of United States citizenship. A.R.S. § 16-165(A)(10). Although challenges are pending to various aspects of the statute, subsection (A)(10) recognizes the right of any voter to notice and an opportunity to contest any determination of a voter’s ineligibility. A county recorder can therefore proceed with respect to individual voters under § 16-165(A)(10) as long as the provision’s due process requirements are followed… Regardless, we are unwilling on these facts to disenfranchise voters en masse from participating in state contests. Doing so is not authorized by state law and would violate principles of due process.”
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 Daniel Stefanski | Sep 23, 2024 | Economy, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Dozens of Arizona Republicans running for the state legislature received endorsements from a key organization for their support of small businesses.
Late last month, the National Federation for Independent Business Arizona PAC endorsed 51 individuals for their General Election races in the upcoming November contests.
“Locally-owned businesses are the foundation of our state’s economy, creating good-paying jobs and thriving communities,” NFIB State Director Chad Heinrich said. “A recent NFIB survey found that inflation and health care costs are taking a serious toll on our small business owners. These candidates understand the challenges small business owners face and support policies that will make it easier to do business in our state.
Heinrich added, “On behalf of our small business owner members, I’m proud to announce these endorsements for the 2024 general election, and ask all Arizonans to support these pro-small business candidates.”
Senator J.D. Mesnard, one of the Republicans who received an endorsement, said, “I’m proud to have been among a small group of Arizona legislators to receive the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the state’s leading small business advocacy organization. My colleagues, President Petersen and Senator Shope, also received this award for their work. NFIB holds legislators accountable for the way they vote on important small business issues. I believe that state government should follow the same financial guidelines that any responsible individual or family would follow: spend only what’s necessary, don’t rack up debt, invest in your learning, save for the future, and when times get tough, find responsible ways to trim. We should also create and protect policies that allow small businesses to thrive in our state. I have always voted on legislation with those beliefs in mind. This session, I received a 100% on the NFIB Arizona voting record.”
The NFIB endorsements are as follows:
Endorsed candidates:
Senate
District 01 Mark Finchem
District 02 Shawnna Bolick
District 03 John Kavanagh
District 04 Carine Werner
District 07 Wendy Rogers
District 10 David Farnsworth
District 13 J.D. Mesnard
District 14 Warren Petersen
District 15 Jake Hoffman
District 16 T.J. Shope
District 17 Vince Leach
District 19 David Gowan
District 25 Tim Dunn
District 27 Kevin Payne
District 28 Frank Carroll
District 29 Janae Shamp
House
District 01 Selina Bliss
District 01 Quang Nguyen
District 02 Ari Bradshaw
District 02 Justin Wilmeth
District 03 Joseph Chaplik
District 03 Alexander Kolodin
District 04 Pamela Carter
District 04 Matt Gress
District 07 Walt Blackman
District 07 David Marshall
District 09 Kylie Barber
District 10 Justin Olson
District 13 Jeff Weninger
District 13 Julie Willoughby
District 14 Laurin Hendrix
District 14 Khyl Powell
District 15 Neal Carter
District 15 Michael Way
District 16 Chris Lopez
District 16 Teresa Martinez
District 17 Rachel Jones
District 17 Cory McGarr
District 19 Lupe Diaz
District 19 Gail Griffin
District 23 Michele Peña
District 25 Michael Carbone
District 25 Nick Kupper
District 27 Lisa Fink
District 27 Tony Rivero
District 28 Beverly Pingerelli
District 28 David Livingston
District 29 Steve Montenegro
District 29 James Taylor
District 30 Leo Biasiucci
District 30 John Gillette
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Sep 23, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Maricopa County voters appear to be locked in with their support of a sales tax renewal for the November General Election.
Earlier this month, Noble Predictive Insights (NPI) released a poll to show that Maricopa County voters were overwhelmingly in support of Proposition 479.
Proposition 479 is a result of SB 1102, which was passed in 2023, requiring “that the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors call a countywide election for the continuation of the county transportation tax at least two years before the expiration of the tax, and shall conduct that election on a consolidated election date no less than one year before the expiration of the tax.”
The official title of the measure is the “Regional Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Investment Plan.”
If passed by Maricopa County voters, the revenues would be allocated in the following manner: “(a) 40.5 percent to freeways and other routes in the state highway system; (b) 37 percent to public transportation; and (c) 22.5 percent to arterial streets, intersection improvements and regional transportation infrastructure.”
According to the September survey released from NPI, Proposition 479 had 64 percent support from voters in August, compared to 18 percent opposition. Nineteen percent of voters were undecided about the question at hand.
The numbers for Proposition 479 are largely unchanged from two previous polls, dating back to July 2023. Opposition to the measure has only increased by a single percentage point since July 2023, while support has increased by eight percent during that same time frame.
“Maricopa County voters have had their minds made up for a year on this proposition – campaigns for it have clearly worked, and Prop 479 is on the fast track to victory in November,” said Mike Noble, NPI Founder & CEO.
After the Arizona Legislature passed a compromise for this proposal in July 2023, Republican Senate President Warren Petersen claimed victory, calling SB 1102 “the most conservative transportation plan in our state’s history.” He added, “The guardrails, taxpayer protections and funding allocations in the text of this bill reflect the priorities of voters, to reinvest their tax dollars in the transportation modes they use most.”
Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs, who signed the compromise, was diplomatic in her statement, saying, “Today, bipartisan leaders invested in the future of Arizona families, businesses, and communities. The passage of the Prop 400 ballot measure will secure the economic future of our state and create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs for Arizonans. I am glad we were able to put politics aside and do what is right for Arizona.”
Members of the Arizona Freedom Caucus were adamantly opposed to the bill as it was released and approved. After the Prop 400 plan passed through the Arizona Legislature, the Freedom Caucus tweeted, “Legislative conservatives near unanimously opposed this horrible bill. Conservative watchdog groups unanimously opposed it. The bill may have been better than the communists at @MAGregion’s horrific plan, but that’s a ludicrously low bar for success. This bill was antithetical to conservatism.”
The breakthrough on the Prop 400 compromise between Republicans and Democrats in Arizona’s divided government took place after Governor Hobbs vetoed a Republican proposal earlier that summer. At that time, Hobbs stated, “I just vetoed the partisan Prop 400 bill that fails to adequately support Arizona’s economic growth and does nothing to attract new business or create good-paying jobs.”
In May 2023, the governor had created unrest over ongoing negotiations, allegedly sending out a tweet that highlighted her fight with Republicans at the Legislature at the same time she was meeting with Senate President Warren Petersen.
Petersen stressed the importance of the agreed-upon bill, asserting that officials had “secured a good, responsible product for the citizens of Arizona to consider in 2024, giving voters the option to enhance critical infrastructure that our entire state relies upon.”
This NPI poll took place between August 12-16 with just over 1,000 registered Arizona voters, including 595 individuals in Maricopa County.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
