by Corinne Murdock | Apr 21, 2023 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
The city of Flagstaff received nearly $9 million in federal funding to provide about 100 additional rooms for the homeless.
The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) issued $8.95 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for purchase and renovation of the motel. The motel will provide 103 rooms as transitional housing before becoming permanent supportive housing.
Permanent supportive housing provides aid such as long-term leasing or renting assistance, as well as services to treat issues preventing total independence like mental illness and substance abuse.
Flagstaff Shelter Services (FSS), a nonprofit organization, will run the housing project. The housing is scheduled to become available this December.
FSS is the only Coconino County agency that provides emergency shelter and services without preconditions, such as sobriety, treatment, or service participation requirements.
Nixing preconditions for shelter and services is a key component of the “housing first” model toward addressing homelessness. “Housing first” theorizes that the homeless will choose to seek employment, achieve financial responsibility, receive mental health care, and/or receive substance abuse treatment if housing is first provided.
Flagstaff named housing first its choice approach for mitigating homelessness, following declaration of a housing emergency in 2020. The city unveiled its goals last February when it launched a 10-year housing plan to address the emergency.
Flagstaff noted that addressing homelessness would likely require an undisclosed number of millions of dollars.
In addition to outlining its housing first approach, Flagstaff attributed homelessness to systemic racial inequities. It also suggested implementing housing equity, in which individuals would receive disparate treatment in order to achieve purportedly equal outcomes.
Last July, FSS received nearly $6.2 million to purchase another motel, the historic Howard Johnson Motel off of Route 66, to provide 58 rooms to the homeless. FSS estimated they could serve over 1,000 people annually with emergency shelter through the motel conversion.
According to the Arizona Department of Economic Security annual report issued last December, there were over 13,500 homeless people in the entire state.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Daniel Stefanski | Apr 20, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs just marked her 100th day in office, and a recent poll showed that she isn’t quite as popular in her state as other governors are in theirs.
A recently completed Morning Consult poll (conducted January 1 – March 31) highlighted America’s Most Popular and Unpopular Governors. Arizonans would have to scroll far down the list to find their governor’s name and numbers; Hobbs was third from the bottom.
Hobbs’ approval rating was below 50%, at 47%. Her disapproval number was at 36%.
Politicos and other onlookers took to Twitter Wednesday to debate the significance of the numbers for Hobbs. DJ Quinlan, the former Executive Director of the Arizona Democratic Party, pushed back against some negative characterizations of the governor’s numbers, writing, “Since when is +11% grim? The previous governor was regularly underwater. A fair reading is that a plurality of voters have a favorable impression, but a lot of voters have yet to form an opinion.”
Governor Hobbs’ initial tenure as the state’s chief executive has not been smooth, and her administration has had to deal with multiple missteps, including her decision to pull the nomination of her first appointee to serve as the Director of the Arizona Department of Child Safety, the lack of transparency over aspects of her Inaugural Fund, or the sudden resignation of her press secretary – among others. Hobbs has also clashed with Arizona legislators over many of their proposals or their perceptions of her unwillingness to negotiate with them over different policies.
Most recently, Hobbs vetoed HB 2509, which had attracted significant bipartisan support in both chambers of the state legislature, inciting outrage from all across Arizona. This action led Democrat Representative Alma Hernandez to tweet, “It’s not a veto to be proud of, and I know I am not the only one who feels this way.” Laurie Roberts, a columnist for the Arizona Republic, also slammed the governor’s decision, writing, “Give Hobbs credit. The governor, with veto No. 63, did manage to bridge the deep political divide in the Arizona Legislature. Most everybody is mad at her on this one.”
Daniel Scarpinato, a veteran of the Governor’s Office during the Doug Ducey era, told AZ Free News that “First impressions matter, and the new governor has a lot of ground to make up.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Corinne Murdock | Apr 20, 2023 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
As the community mourned, Gov. Katie Hobbs celebrated killing a bill legalizing more homemade food sales with an email campaign applauding herself for issuing the most vetoes in state history. The bill would have the greatest impact on small business owners in the “cottage food” industry, such as street vendors.
State Rep. Alma Hernandez (D-LD20) voiced her frustration with Hobbs’ lack of support for the bill, HB2509, on Twitter. Hernandez, who trained at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said that Hobbs’ rationale for the veto flew in the face of public health professionals’ opinion.
“People are NOT dying from street food poisoning. This is personal. Not only do many Hispanics depend on this to make a living but many fear being reported and fined,” said Hernandez. “When my father was injured and could not work, my mother made cakes from home to ensure we could put gas and food on our table. This does nothing in the name of ‘health & safety.’ It goes against my community.”
State Rep. Consuelo Hernandez (D-LD21) added that the veto denied recognition of the popular practice of Latino communities relying on tamale sales for income. Hernandez called Hobbs’ celebratory email “cruel.”
In Hobbs’ letter explaining her veto, the governor claimed that the bill would increase risk of food-borne illness, as well as limit quality control preventing food contamination from hazardous chemicals, or rodent or insect infestation.
Sen. President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) arranged for a veto override next Tuesday.
“We will put it up for a vote. #freethetamales,” wrote Petersen.
House Speaker Ben Toma (R-LD27) assured that an override motion was prepared for next week.
The bill would be the legislature’s first override vote of the session.
Hobbs vetoed a total of 11 bills on Tuesday, raising the record to 63 — five more than the record set by former Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano.
The other bills Hobbs vetoed were SB1091, SB1101, SB1262, SB1455, SB1565, HB2379, HB2394, HB2474, and HB2691.
Critics shared images of the celebratory email Hobbs’ team issued following this latest round of vetoes.
Former senior policy advisor to former Gov. Doug Ducey, Christina Corieri, noted that she was one such small business owner-hopeful impacted by Hobbs’ veto.
After issuing the vetoes, Hobbs told her critics that she was delivering “sanity, not chaos” to the people.
“I will gladly work with anybody who will be a partner in addressing the real problems Arizonans face, but I refuse to play political games with our state government,” tweeted Hobbs. “I’m proud of the bipartisan accomplishments we have achieved and encourage leaders in our legislature to continue to come together and pass real solutions that will grow jobs, build roads and bridges, invest in education, and deal with our water crisis.”
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Daniel Stefanski | Apr 19, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona’s Democrat Governor may be wearing her record number of legislative vetoes as a badge of honor, but Republicans are attempting to ensure that she bears her actions as a political liability.
After Governor Katie Hobbs used her veto stamp on a bill for the 63rd time since she assumed office, Republicans pushed back against her propensity to reject many of their legislative proposals, providing Arizonans with examples of the bills vetoed by the state’s chief executive.
A release sent out by the Arizona State Senate Republican caucus noted that “Hobbs has so far chosen to alienate the remaining voters who also duly elected their Republican lawmakers to represent them on a variety of issues important to their lives and livelihoods, including:
- Inflation relief in the form of tax cuts on groceries and rent for our hardworking families.
- Requiring power companies to first prioritize affordability for Arizonans as well as grid reliability.
- Harsher punishment for domestic abusers of pregnant women.
- Greater penalties against fentanyl dealers when a child dies from an overdose.
- Declaring drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
- Parental notification of sex offenders on school campuses.
- Prohibiting racist curriculum in public schools.
- Health care requirements of providers for protections of infants born in distress.
- Ban on homeless camps outside of businesses.
- Religious protections for employees required to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Support for small, at-home businesses.”
In addressing the record number of vetoes (and those assuredly to come before the end of the legislative session), Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope issued the following statement: “Vetoing is a tool that weak leaders will use in an effort to control legislative priorities, and we’re witnessing this tactic front and center from Katie Hobbs. Instead of demonstrating diplomacy and bipartisanship, the Governor is showcasing her failure to work across the aisle.
Instead of accomplishing the priorities of our citizens and strengthening our communities, she’s done little outside of hosting press gaggles and photo ops with activists groups and Democrats alike. Republican lawmakers will continue to fight for legislation expected from the voters who elected us into office, and we’ll leave the political games, subsequent chaos and insanity to Governor Hobbs.”
The previous record holder for Arizona legislative vetoes was Democrat Governor Janet Napolitano in 2005, who jettisoned 58 bills that were sent to her desk.
The sheer number of vetoes stand in contrast to Hobbs’ December 14, 2002, tweet as Governor-Elect, where she posted a picture of incoming Republican legislative leaders Warren Petersen and Ben Toma, writing, “Had a productive discussion with Speaker-Elect Ben Toma and President-Elect Warren Petersen this morning. We are ready to find common ground and get to work on behalf of all Arizonans.”
While Hobbs’ record to date hasn’t been comprised of all vetoes, most Republican legislators have been angered by some of her final decisions on their bills and by what they have perceived as a closed door to her office. “Common ground” between the governor and Republicans in the state legislature has yet to be achieved.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Corinne Murdock | Apr 19, 2023 | Education, News
By Corinne Murdock |
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) released polling results last week reflecting around 80 percent support for police presence on K-12 campuses.
ADE contracted OH Predictive Insights to conduct the poll on public support for school resource officers. In a press release, ADE Superintendent Tom Horne stated that officers serve as an integral part of a healthy K-12 environment, providing safety while teaching classes and bonding with the students.
“They not only provide safety, but teach classes, and become friendly with students, so that students learn to trust them, rather than viewing police as enemies,” said Horne. “The worst tragedy one can imagine would be if a maniac invaded a school and killed 20 children, as has happened in other states, and that school passed up the opportunity to have a resource officer present to protect the students and staff.”
According to the poll results, 78 percent of respondents considered school safety very important and 81 percent supported police presence on campus.
The poll data came out just before the Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) voted to delay bringing back campus police. The vote came days after a high schooler at Betty Fairfax High School was arrested for carrying a gun onto campus.
Also in the press release, Horne urged PXU to hire school resource officers. It doesn’t appear that PXU plans to heed his call.
A poll completed last year with the PXU community reflected majority support for police presence on campuses. According to that poll, 80 percent supported officers on campus, and 82 percent testified to witnessing positive interactions between school resource officers and students.
PXU removed officers in 2021, following activist efforts associated with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests and riots prompted by the death of George Floyd.
Last Saturday was the deadline for ADE’s school safety grant applications. However, ADE noted in its press release that it would grant exceptions for late applications through this Saturday, April 22.
Horne warned back in February that schools without law enforcement presence wouldn’t be recommended to the State Board of Education for school safety funding.
“Every school should have a law enforcement officer to protect students and staff, and this should be accomplished on an urgent basis,” said Horne. “Delay in implementing this goal could leave schools more vulnerable to a tragic catastrophe. Schools that currently have no armed presence yet submit grants applications that do not request an officer will not receive a recommendation from this Department to the State Board of Education.”
Along with the poll, ADE issued a letter to every mayor throughout the state asking for support in establishing law enforcement presence on every campus. ADE is also awaiting data from local police departments on the impact of school resource officers.
In order to handle this initiative, ADE appointed a director of school safety: Michael Kurtenbach.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Corinne Murdock | Apr 19, 2023 | Education, News
By Corinne Murdock |
Arizona State University (ASU) featured prominent anti-racist proponent Ibram Kendi last Thursday, who proposed an authoritarian rule by anti-racist elite. Kendi said it wouldn’t be necessary for most of the country to support anti-racism — just those with power to mandate it. ASU characterized this solution and others presented by Kendi last week as the necessary steps for “meaningful change.”
“In order to create a society whereby we have policies and practices that are equitable and just and fair — and provide equal opportunity for all, and institutions that are built on those policies — we don’t necessarily need to create a critical mass of Americans who are anti-racist,” said Kendi. “We just need enough people who can get into positions of power, who will then institute [anti-racist] policies and practices.”
The campus venue for Kendi’s speech had to be relocated, reportedly due to outsized interest in the event. ASU estimated that about 1,200 individuals registered for the event. Kendi was the keynote speaker for the event: ASU’s annual A. Wade Smith and Elsie Moore Memorial Lecture on Race Relations. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as well as the School of Social Transformation organized the event.
During his speech, Kendi advocated for reparations for descendants of slaves. He also claimed that Arizona law impedes voting rights for “black, brown, and indigenous people.”
Kendi, a humanities professor and founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, has written several books promoting Critical Race Theory (CRT) concepts such as institutional racism and anti-racism. In his 2019 book “How To Be An Antiracist,” Kendi claimed that everything has to do with race.
“There’s no such thing as a non-racist or race-neutral policy,” wrote Kendi.
Moderating Kendi’s speech were School of Social Transformation associate professors David Hinds and Lisa Anderson, also an associate dean in the Graduate College.
Anti-racism has support across the state’s university system. Last summer, a Northern Arizona University (NAU) teacher development affiliate made anti-racism the focus of its annual summer conference. NAU also trained faculty in anti-racism as part of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
Support for anti-racism policies and practices has also dictated Arizona’s K-12 schools in the past — though the current Arizona Department of Education administration opposes it. Arizona’s first inductee into the National Teachers Hall of Fame declared that even “nice, white folks” could be racist if they didn’t subscribe to anti-racism, and that teachers opposed to anti-racism shouldn’t be allowed to teach black children.
School districts in recent years have established or supported policies and groups that subscribe to anti-racism, such as Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) and Litchfield Elementary School District (LESD).
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
