by Corinne Murdock | Feb 22, 2024 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
The head of the town of Gilbert’s Office of Digital Government (ODG), Dana Berchman, resigned this week, several weeks ahead of a town council meeting to review the department’s scope and purpose.
The council’s pending review came after the publication of an AZ Free News report on ODG monitoring the online speech of employees and elected officials, and seeking action against those whose personal speech conflicted with their preferred, more progressive speech.
Town residents at subsequent council meetings either condemned or defended ODG. Those in condemnation of ODG expressed displeasure with the department’s budget and scope, disagreeing with ODG members using town time and resources to monitor the personal online speech of employees. Those in defense of ODG felt that the department was essential for delivering public communications in a timely manner.
Berchman emailed her resignation letter to the council on Tuesday. While Berchman didn’t cite the pending council review of ODG, she did include a plea for the council to support ODG’s continued existence and functions in her absence. Berchman also said that under her leadership ODG had improved the quality of Gilbert residents’ lives and delivered all necessary information “expediently, efficiently, and economically” to them.
“The Gilbert Digital Team’s unwavering dedication and rare talents are just what this community has needed over the last decade,” said Berchman. “Please do not forget the importance of the work that this team does and the incomparable impact they have on our community engagement.”
The former chief digital officer urged the council to not forget the significance and impact of ODG work. Berchman listed the remainder of the ODG team by name to thank them for their work: Jennifer Harrison, Derek Konofalski, Brenda Carrasco, Kelsey Perry, Lauren Oxford, Eva Kirschbaum, Oskar Agredano, Jordin Sanchez, Kailey Latham, Aymie Spitzer, and Debbie Dana. Berchman also thanked Town Manager Patrick Banger for creating and building up the department.
“Together we have pushed the boundaries of local government communications to new levels to set a high standard which other communities around the country, and even world, strive to replicate,” said Berchman.
ODG staff salaries amounted to over $1.15 million a year. Most ODG staff made over or close to six figures a year, per 2023 fiscal year salaries: Berchman made over $200,800, with the remainder of staff ranging from about $67,000 to $138,000.
Berchman’s resignation will take effect on March 7, two days after the scheduled council meeting to address ODG. Berchman clarified to the Gilbert Independent that she plans to launch a consulting firm upon leaving ODG.
Councilman Jim Torgeson proposed the council review of ODG. In a Facebook post announcing the council review, Torgeson urged town residents to be measured and respectful in their approach to ODG.
“I believe this to be an extremely important topic,” said Torgeson. “As a Town, we must remember that there are growing pains.”
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Corinne Murdock | Feb 21, 2024 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
The Chandler City Council will vote to renew a police union memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Thursday, a weighty decision given recent allegations of an ongoing FBI corruption investigation involving one of the council members and the former police union president.
Those purportedly under investigation are Councilwoman Jane Poston and former Chandler Law Enforcement Association (CLEA) President Michael Collins. As first reported by ABC15, Chandler’s recently retired police chief, Sean Duggan, claimed the existence of the FBI probe in an email to City Manager Joshua Wright last November. The FBI didn’t confirm the existence of any investigation in response to questioning from the outlet.
“In this matter, information was uncovered indicating Collins and Poston may have committed violations of federal law and as such, an active public corruption criminal investigation is underway,” said Duggan.
Poston denied the existence of any such investigation in a statement released earlier this month to ABC15, calling the claim an “unsubstantiated rumor.” The councilmember said she was unaware of Duggan’s email prior to the recent reporting on its contents.
“No one from any investigative agency has contacted me. Based on the complete lack of evidence, I decided to treat this as the unfounded rumor I believe it to be,” said Poston.
A spokesperson for the city also denied that the city manager was contacted by the FBI regarding such an investigation.
An additional, related concern ahead of Thursday’s vote relates to a potential conflict of interest for Poston over the proposed CLEA MOU. Poston’s company, J2 Media, has done public relations for CLEA in recent years, and serves as one of their business supporters.
One of J2 Media’s creations for CLEA in 2021 was a presentation advocating for terms of the existing MOU.
Thursday’s city council meeting will address the renewal of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with CLEA to last through 2026. The updated MOU includes several substantive and expensive changes:
- Merit increases of up to five percent for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 fiscal years;
- Maintaining the compensation market position at third market as a measure for market increases;
- A $1,500 bonus to certain CLEA members;
- A five percent Special Assignment Pay Differential for officers assigned to Bike Team, School Resource Officer, Behavioral Health Unit, and Neighborhood Response Team;
- Vacation accrual increases of .3 hours per pay period for 0-5 years of service, .4 hours per pay period for 5-10 years of service, .1 hours per pay period for 10-15 years of service, and the annual maximum vacation accrual cap increase of 80 hours;
- A $10,000 contribution into the Post Employment Health Plan (PEHP) of any officer with 10 or more years of service;
- A $25 per pay period contribution increase into PEHP accounts by the city;
- $900 to $1,750 graded PEHP sick leave contribution amounts based on years of service;
- A one-time $10,000 PEHP contribution for officers with 10 years or more of service who didn’t receive a 2024 contribution;
- A one-time $5,000 PEHP contribution for officers with 15-19 years of service;
- A one-time $10,000 PEHP contribution for officers with 20 or more years of service;
- Contributions to retiring officers’ PEHP account align with graded PEHP sick leave contribution scale, except for officers with over 30 years of service (they receive 50 percent of sick leave balance);
- And, an increased 1.5 pay rate for officers working through a holiday shift.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Corinne Murdock | Feb 21, 2024 | Education, News
By Corinne Murdock |
An Arizona State University (ASU) professor is among the 38 law professors petitioning the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the release of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
ASU law professor Gregg Leslie and 37 other professors submitted their petition days ahead of Tuesday’s hearing on Assange’s extradition from the U.K. Should the court deny his request to block his extradition, Assange will be taken to the U.S. to face 17 espionage charges over his 2010 publication of classified materials.
Among the leaked materials were footage of a 2007 airstrike in Baghdad revealing that soldiers shot 18 civilians from a helicopter, including a Reuters journalist and his assistant; nearly 391,900 Iraq War logs spanning 2004 to 2009; and the “Cablegate” files consisting of diplomatic cables revealing U.S. espionage against the United Nations and other world leaders, tensions with allies, and corruption in other countries.
The DOJ accused Assange of working with former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to obtain classified information. The DOJ charged Assange with espionage in 2019, alleging that he used Manning to secure certain sets of classified Secret documents: about 90,000 Afghanistan war-related significant activity reports, 400,000 Iraq war-related significant activities reports, 800 Guantanamo Bay detainee assessment briefs, and 250,000 State Department cables.
In 2020, the DOJ issued a second superseding indictment broadening the scope of the charges to include allegations that Assange recruited computer hackers to benefit Wikileaks. The indictment cited an alleged unauthorized access to a government computer system of a NATO country in 2010, and a contract with a hacking group to obtain materials from the CIA, NSA, or New York Times.
Last week’s letter from the 38 law professors made the case that Assange qualified as a journalist and, therefore, the First Amendment protected Assange’s actions. The law professors countered that Wikileaks’ openness to receiving information didn’t qualify as Assange recruiting sources or soliciting confidential documents
“Award-winning journalists everywhere also regularly ‘recruit’ and speak with sources, use encrypted or anonymous communications channels, receive and accept confidential information, ask questions to sources about it, and publish it,” said the professors. “That is not a crime — it’s investigative journalism. As long as they don’t participate in their source’s illegality, their conduct is entitled to the full protection of the First Amendment.”
The law professors further warned that Assange’s prosecution served as an “existential threat” to the First Amendment and would, in time, enable the prosecution of other reporters. They cited the police raid of a local Kansas newspaper that occurred last August based on verbal allegations of identity theft.
“It could enable prosecution of routine newsgathering under any number of ambiguous laws and untested legal theories,” said the professors.
In that case, a disgruntled local restaurant owner had told the city council and the county attorney — the brother-in-law of the hotel owner housing her restaurant — that the local newspaper had illegally obtained documentation of an unresolved DUI charge that proved she had been driving without a valid license for over a decade. At the time, the newspaper had also been investigating claims of sexual misconduct by the police chief. Within days, the police conducted their unlawful raid. The newspaper had obtained the documentation legally through public records.
Similarly, editors and publishers of a number of news outlets, including The New York Times and The Guardian, argued that Assange engaged in journalism by obtaining and disclosing sensitive information for the public interest.
In a 2019 press release announcing Assange’s charges, the DOJ dismissed the claim that Assange qualified as a journalist.
“Julian Assange is no journalist. This is made plain by the totality of his conduct as alleged in the indictment — i.e., his conspiring with and assisting a security clearance holder to acquire classified information, and his publishing the names of human sources,” stated the DOJ.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Elizabeth Troutman | Feb 21, 2024 | Economy, News
By Elizabeth Troutman |
Residents of Tempe, Arizona, own the sixth most credit cards of any city in the nation, according to personal-finance website WalletHub.
The city with the largest number of credit card owners was Port St. Lucie, Florida, followed by Nashua, New Hampshire; Irvine, California; Garden Grove, California; and Cape Coral, Florida, WalletHub’s Wednesday survey showed.
“Port St. Lucie, FL ranks first because residents own a lot of cards and are adding new accounts quickly,” WalletHub editor John Kiernan said. “Port St. Lucie residents opened more credit cards than people in any other city during Q4 2023, at 1.45 cards on average. People in Port St. Lucie own an average of 6.39 credit cards, which is more than the average in all but three other cities, so it’s especially important for residents to ensure they make all their monthly payments on time and avoid overspending.”
Wallethub conducted the survey to determine which areas might be financially vulnerable this year, as credit card debt continues to climb due to inflation and record-high interest rates.
“There isn’t a magic number of credit cards you should have in your wallet. It’s good to own multiple cards if you can manage them well, by paying on time, keeping your credit utilization low and waiting at least six months between applications,” Kiernan said. “However, if you’re opening new cards simply to spend beyond your means, you’ll quickly find many cards hard to manage.”
The report measured the average number of cards owned per person and the average number of new cards opened per person in Q4 2023, as well as the percent change in both from Q4 2022.
Residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Honolulu, Hawaii; Wichita, Kansas; Huntington, West Virginia; Portland, Maine; Des Moines, Iowa; South Burlington, Vermont; Lincoln, Nebraska; Pearl City, Hawaii; and Washington, D.C. had the least credit cards.
Tempe is home to Tempe Town Lake, Arizona’s second most popular public attraction, drawing 2.4 million visitors and generating nearly $2 billion in economic impact since its opening.
Technology, restaurants, retail, and hospitality are all rapidly growing in Tempe.
“We have a lot of corporate offices along Rio Salado. So, you’ve got a lot of larger players like Caravana, State Farm, and Open Door,” Colin Diaz, president, and CEO of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, told Fox 10. “We still have a decent amount of health care. There’s financial tech that’s growing as well, manufacturing is still a pretty good space.”
In 2021, Tempe had a population of 179,000 with a median age of 29.6 and a median household income of $64,080.
Elizabeth Troutman is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send her news tips using this link.
by Elizabeth Troutman | Feb 20, 2024 | Education, News
By Elizabeth Troutman |
Former boxing champion Mike Tyson recently launched a middle and high school in Phoenix, Arizona.
Tyson Transformational Technologies Academy is a Cognia Accredited Micro-School in Arizona for grades six to 12.
The world Champion boxer, entertainer, and entrepreneur partnered with the Foundations Academies School System and undefeated MMA fighter Daniel Puder to start the school.
“It’s important to me that I am able to share my life experiences to inspire the next generation,” Tyson said. “This new educational institution will build core values that I am honored and grateful to be part of the Arizona community. I was thrilled to be part of the ribbon cutting ceremony and meeting some of the students.”
The price of tuition is covered through the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) and internal school scholarships.
Since late 2022, all Arizona students have been eligible for an ESA as a K-12 student or as a preschool student with a disability. Families with qualifying students enrolled in the ESA program can use their ESA funds for expenses including educational services, education providers, curriculum, and other educational expenses.
Tyson’s school aims to “redefine learning by combining innovation, financial literacy, mentorship, and community engagement.” The academy will provide quality education and opportunities for personal growth to every youth regardless of their academic challenges, ethnicity, or socio-economic status, the Feb. 15 news release says.
“As a society, we get to build our youths for the next generation,” Puder said. “We are so blessed to have Mike Tyson part of our school system. He inspires our students.”
To enroll their child, parents can contact (480) 448-5181.
Elizabeth Troutman is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send her news tips using this link.
by Corinne Murdock | Feb 20, 2024 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
Arizona ratepayers are overpaying by up to four times more than they should for unreliable energy due to renewable energy mandates — and stand to pay even more in the future — according to congressional testimony by Nick Myers, commissioner for the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC).
Myers testified to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee last week that the whole renewable energy mandate movement not only constitutes bad policy, but defies common sense.
“Our ratepayers are paying three times for the same generation and retiring reliable generation in favor of unreliable generation is just bad. It’s common sense: you have to have a backup plan,” said Myers. “You have to create more dispatchable generation that sits there idle so that you can use it when the sun goes down or the wind doesn’t blow: we don’t have a whole lot of wind in Arizona, but you have to have that generation available to come online when it happens.”
Myers said that most of ACC’s current challenges stem from a lack of adequate infrastructure to replace the “early forced retirement” of coal plants. He said that ratepayers are having to pay three to four times more than they should because of this dilemma.
“Personally, it pains me to have to prove accelerated cost recovery for early shutdown of coal plants while at the same time authorizing recovery on new purchase power agreements and then because the utilities are ultimately responsible for keeping the lights on, we also have to approve the building of reliable dispatchable generation in the form of natural gas,” said Myers. “That means our ratepayers are paying three times for the same energy generation that could be had by simply keeping our existing generation online until natural retirement or even better beyond that.”
Additionally, Myers said that ratepayers pay four times more than they should for energy due to renewable energy mandates forcing utility providers to invest in “premature technology” under long-term contracts. Myers said that the cost burden is projected to worsen over the next two decades as the price of solar energy drops. The commissioner disclosed that additional problems concerned delayed development and commercialization of newer technologies, namely small modular reactors.
According to Myers, ACC has approved nearly 2,000 megawatts of solar plus battery connections and hundreds of megawatts of thermal generation in the past year.
Myers further noted that a “one size fits all” approach to regulation was impossible due to Arizona’s diverse topography and climate, citing the disparities between the northern and southern parts of the state.
The commissioner also clarified that Arizona lacks the infrastructure to supply natural gas and that the state can’t allocate much more to turbines for intermittent renewable resources.
Instead, Myers said that they have turned to alternative solutions, such as hydroponic basins — an initiative that he says won’t come to fruition in the next decade — as well as salt caverns for natural gas and possibly hydrogen storage. That latter proposal, he said, may provide buffering for the entire west coast and parts of Mexico.
Another solution in the works concerns an increase in the number and size of pipelines laid from Texas to California.
Myers said that ACC has been active in Day-Ahead Markets (DAMs), which matches energy buyers and sellers, a tool they view as a possible stepping stone for a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO). He said that DAM simulations have yielded net savings for utility customers, with or without the inclusion of Washington and California.
“While Arizona has many transmission lines in development, it is important to work with our neighbors to determine what is best in regard to long-term transmission suitable for our region,” said Myers.
When asked whether it was an ideal solution to have California govern the grid for western states, Myers said no. He cited California’s inability to secure power for its own residents and its legislative primacy clauses prioritizing its own interests above that of other states.
“Should we have a problem, California will only make a change if it benefits California, and that is a huge problem for us,” said Myers. “Just look at how much of a bang-up job they’ve done at keeping their own lights on.”
Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-08), who sits on the subcommittee, commended ACC for rolling back renewable energy mandates earlier this month. Lesko said that the retraction was a “reasonable approach” that she felt attracted more businesses to the state, in contrast with the steady bleed of businesses from neighboring California.
Lesko asked about the reliability and potential problems posed by carbon capture technology and storage outlined by the EPA proposal to reduce carbon emissions by 90 percent by 2030. Myers agreed that the technologies were purely “aspirational” and a threat to reliability. He, along with other state public utility commissioners testifying that day, expressed a desire for the EPA to take back their proposal.
“Those technologies are so much in their infancy that they are extremely expensive, the timeline is extremely rushed, and there is absolutely no infrastructure in place to handle either one of those technologies,” said Myers. “It would absolutely increase costs dramatically to Arizona utilities if we had to do that; it might also accelerate the closure of certain plants because of these requirements.”
As an example of the high cost to ratepayers, Myers explained that hydrogen would have to be converted to ammonia en route since it can’t be piped in long distances.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
