by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 8, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
As Arizona’s homeless problems continue to grow, one Arizona legislator has introduced legislation to deal with some issues the state faces.
This week, State Representative Matt Gress unveiled HB 2782, the Arizona Homeless Protection and Drug Control Act. This bill would “bring significant amendments to existing laws to reduce homelessness and drug-related crime within designated homeless service zones.”
“This legislation is an important step towards reducing chronic homelessness and drug-related crime, ensuring that Arizona’s vulnerable populations are effectively supported while ensuring public safety,” said Representative Gress. “Establishing accountability within homeless service zones will help safeguard our communities from drug-related crime and offer a more structured and supportive environment for our homeless population to rebuild their lives.”
The freshman lawmaker added, “We are taking decisive action to improve the quality of life in these zones, ensuring that they are safe and conducive to rehabilitation and support services. Our goal is to help people and address the root causes of homelessness, which ultimately leads to safer, healthier communities across Arizona.”
According to the press release issued by the Arizona House of Representatives Republican Caucus, the legislation would “introduce new sections under Title 13, Chapter 34, to focus on the unlawful presence and activities related to dangerous drugs in homeless service zones.” Additionally, the bill would “revise existing sections under Title 41 to establish a permanent Homeless Shelter and Services Fund to allow money to be used for temporary emergency shelter while also providing clear guidelines for mixed hoteling in homeless service facilities.”
In the 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, which was published in December 2023, there was an estimate of 14,237 people in Arizona who were experiencing homelessness. Arizona had one of the highest rates in the nation of unsheltered people who were experiencing homelessness (7,615, 53.5%). The Grand Canyon State also observed one of the highest increases in individuals who were experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic between the years of 2020 – 2022 (29.3%).
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Oct 29, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Two Arizona officials have taken steps to look out for their constituents ahead of the Fall Classic.
On Wednesday, both Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and State Representative Matthew Gress sent out communications about the upcoming World Series. Mayes took time to “warn consumers to be vigilant against World Series scams.” In a statement, Mayes said, “As Arizonans cheer on the Diamondbacks as they head to the World Series, remember to safeguard yourself against curveballs that scam artists may throw your way. Whether you’re purchasing tickets or looking for a place to stay, always remember to step up to the plate with caution. Your vigilance is the best defense against falling victim to fraudsters.”
Gress sent a letter to Governor Katie Hobbs, asking the state’s chief executive “to issue an executive order extending the time for businesses to sell alcohol during the World Series. He said, “Arizona is a state of champions, and the Diamondbacks’ journey to the World Series exemplifies that spirit. By extending service hours, we’re giving fans an extra hour to celebrate and support our local businesses. Let’s come together, have fun, and show the world why Arizona is the place to be.”
The first-term lawmaker based his request to Hobbs on A.R.S. § 4-244(15)(b), “which allows the governor to issue an executive order extending alcohol sales hours for professional or collegiate national sporting events.” He also highlighted the necessity of working with law enforcement officials to implement this request, saying, “We can strike a balance between celebration and responsibility. With input from our dedicated public safety community, we can make this World Series a memorable and safe event for everyone involved.”
In Attorney General Mayes’ consumer protection alert, she gave the following tips to consumers who are looking to purchase tickets or lodging arrangements for the World Series:
Purchasing Tickets
- Buy tickets only from trusted vendors.
- Be wary of purchasing tickets from someone you don’t know on Craigslist, eBay, or other similar person-to-person marketplace or auction sites.
- Do not pay for tickets with cash, wire transfer, gift cards or pre-paid money transfer. Scam artists often request payment methods that are difficult to trace or recover. If the tickets turn out to be fake, it is highly unlikely you will get your money back. If you pay by credit card and the tickets turn out to be fake, you can dispute the charge.
- If you plan on using a mobile wallet or peer-to-peer payment service, be sure you understand the protections the service provides before making a transaction.
- Be wary of advertisements with low prices. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Lodging
- When booking online, be cautious about making reservations with unknown people or businesses. Make sure you receive a written confirmation of your reservation. Legitimate businesses will provide a written confirmation of your reservation.
- Avoid rental companies or individuals listing rental properties who can’t be reached by phone during normal business hours, who tell you that they are out of state or out of country, or who request communication via text only.
- Remember, scam artists often request payment methods that are difficult to trace or recover. If you pay by credit card and there is a problem, you generally have greater protections than other forms of payment.
The World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers started Friday night. The D-backs are the away team and will host games on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Oct 23, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanksi |
A freshman legislator is continuing to work toward transportation improvements for an Arizona freeway.
This week, Arizona State Representative Matt Gress sent a letter to the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), addressing the extension of Proposition 400 and the necessity of using those allotted dollars for SR 51. He highlights the “crucial” need for Arizona’s freeways to “be among the best in the country” due to “Maricopa County being the fastest growing county in the country and Phoenix and Scottsdale among the fastest growing cities.”
In his letter, Gress notes that “SR 51 has become one of the busiest routes in the state highway system” and that “the pavement between the I-10 ministack and Shea Boulevard is well past its expected life.” According to the letter, the area of freeway described by the legislator “was installed back in 2004 making (that) pavement one of the oldest in the county.”
Representative Gress writes, “In July the Legislature approved legislation to enable Maricopa County to call an election for the extension of Proposition 400 which includes $600 million for the capital rehabilitation of the region’s freeway pavement,” adding that “these funds must be used to ensure our freeways are kept in the best conditions for the people that use them every day to go to work, transport goods, and recreate in our state.”
The lawmaker expressed his hope that MAG expediently takes care of these issues, stating, “I want to ensure your commitment to utilizing these funds to rehabilitate SR 51 in the first phase of MAG’s plan consistent with Proposition 400 monies if approved by the voters.”
Arizona legislators and the state’s governor reached an agreement on Prop 400 at the end of their marathon session in July. After the passage of the proposal out of his chamber, Senate President Warren Petersen said, “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.” Governor Hobbs added, “Today, bipartisan leaders invested in the future of Arizona families, businesses, and communities.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Sep 5, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A freshman Arizona Republican Representative scored a victory in his efforts to uphold the interests of hard-working taxpayers.
Last week, Representative Matt Gress issued a press release, announcing that “the Arizona Department of Housing won’t be enforcing a controversial – and very likely illegal – provision in its contract with the City of Scottsdale.”
Gress’s release explained that the “contract provision would have authorized the City to use the state funds to house homeless people from ‘the zone’ in downtown Phoenix and foreign nationals who otherwise would have been expelled under Title 42 in a hotel close to Pima and Indian Bend Roads.” The release added that “the City was previously awarded a $940,000 grant from the Department of Housing to carry out the terms of the contract,” and that “the Department has now admitted to Representative Gress that, despite the terms of the Contract, it does not intend to enforce the ‘Zone’ or the ‘Title 42’ provisions of its Contract with the City.”
In a statement accompanying his release, Gress said, “This is a victory for the safety and well-being of Scottsdale’s residents, many who staunchly oppose their tax dollars being spent to house homeless from other cities and foreign nationals who should have been deported under Title 42. I maintain serious concerns regarding the city’s intentions to utilize area hotels for this purpose and intend to pursue this matter further. Soon I will announce details of a public subcommittee hearing where I plan to delve more deeply into the problematic approach of converting hotels to housing for homeless.”
On August 3, Representative Gress transmitted a letter to Arizona Department of Housing Director Joan Serviss, expressing his concerns about “significant and unsettled questions (regarding) the validity and enforceability of the Contract” between the City of Scottsdale and the Department. Gress asserted that “nothing in state law or S.B. 1720 (what the Department derived its authority to execute the Contract under), however, authorizes the Department or the City to use state monies to provide housing for foreign nationals who entered the country after Title 42 was lifted in early May.”
The Representative warned that “if the Department enforces this unlawful provision, or if the City attempts to require the hotel to house individuals from the Zone or aliens who have been released under the federal government’s unconstitutional parole program, the City and the Department will be vulnerable to a lawsuit by a taxpayer to recover the illegal payment of public monies.”
Director Serviss responded to Gress on August 18, informing the legislator that “while we stand by the validity of the Contract, we have confirmed with the City that the shelter beds and services provided pursuant to the Contract have not and will not serve those individuals impacted by the Zone and Title 42.”
The issue of temporarily housing foreign nationals in cities around Arizona is not new to the state. In 2021, former Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich sent a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Acting Director of the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, “expressing grave concerns that an ICE contractor has apparently subcontracted with the current owners of a hotel…in Scottsdale to operate a 1,200-person ICE detention facility.” Brnovich noted his disappointment with the federal government over its neglect to confer with his office before executing this contract, highlighting the “important public safety issues involved in locating any detention center in a community setting.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Aug 11, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona’s Democrat Governor is moving ahead with her plans to talk to the state’s utility companies to address the heatwave. This week, Governor Katie Hobbs announced that she had “scheduled a roundtable meeting with utility company leadership for August 18.”
Hobbs plans to use the event to “highlight her administration’s efforts to protect Arizonans during the historic heat wave and discuss actions utilities can take to address future challenges.”
In a statement, Hobbs said, “Extreme heat can be devastating when not properly addressed. That’s why I’m taking action to provide relief through additional resources and collaborating with utilities, local organizations, cities, and county officials. Together, we will keep Arizonans safe through this historic heat wave and ensure our state is prepared for future emergencies.”The governor also revealed that her Office would “provide $50,000 to Valley Interfaith Network for staffing, water, and expanded cooling center service throughout Arizona.”
Hobbs’ announcement followed a controversial letter sent to Arizona utility companies at the end of last month, in which she asked for “written plans outlining how they will protect Arizonans during this devastating heat wave.”
The governor directed the utility companies to focus their plans on the areas of Disconnects, Grid Security, Emergency Response, Customers in Arrears, and Community Service.
Republicans and Democrats largely broke to partisan corners with their responses to the governor’s efforts on this front. Phoenix Councilwoman Laura Pastor tweeted, “Phoenix has been experiencing a historically hot summer – if a statewide or even citywide power outage were to happen, lives would be lost. We need to know what to do during that situation and how we can help our residents. Governor Hobbs is asking the right questions.”
The Arizona Democratic Party also weighed in, posting, “As Arizona faces a historically hot summer, Democrats are delivering real relief! Thank you Governor Hobbs.”
Republican Representative Matthew Gress took an opposing view to the governor’s announcement, writing, “Governor, you *do* know the utilities already submitted those plans and briefed the Commission…back in April…right? And you do realize the excessive heat warning has been in effect for nearly a month? We’ve hit new records for several weeks now? Every time, our utilities performed flawlessly. But really glad you weighed in weeks after the heat wave started! You’re really on top of things.”
Representative Joseph Chaplik added, “Another example of an unqualified Hobbs Governor/CEO of AZ. As Gov, you should have already known all this from communicating with APS and SRP over the last 9 months with preparation for the summer. We all know we get hot in the desert during July. No need to publicize your late demands. You should be thanking them for being prepared.”
Long-time Arizona journalist Howie Fischer pointed out that the governor’s request to state utility companies was “not within her constitutional duties (but was) the role of the Arizona Corporation Commission.”
Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope agreed with Fischer, tweeting, “Correct, it’s not within Governor Hobbs constitutional duties. Perhaps her interns oughta watch one of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee hearings that Senator Sine Kerr chairs so she can learn about energy plans and how the utilities plan for summer.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
