February 9th, 2025

In this week's issue: 

• Message from Vice Mayor Ann O'Brien
• DOJ Update
• Mark Your Calendars: Community Meeting
• News From the City of Phoenix
• News From Deer Valley Unified School District
• News From Washington Elementary School District
• News From Glendale Union High School District
• Phoenix Boards and Commissions
• City Council Meetings
• Connect with us!

Message from Vice Mayor Ann O'Brien

In case you’re unaware, we have already entered almost a full month into the State’s Legislative Session. Although I serve the City of Phoenix, what happens at the State Legislature is incredibly impactful to how we operate at the City. Two years ago, the State Legislature removed the ability for cities and towns to collect rental taxes. This cost Phoenix an estimated $300,000,000 over the next four years. Four years ago, Governor Doug Ducey signed into law the flat income tax rate, which is now costing Phoenix an estimated $160,000,000 over the next four years. And while Phoenix doesn’t have a food tax, this year, the State Legislature is mulling over a bill which would eliminate food tax for those municipalities that do – which will cost them even more money than what the State Legislature has already taken from their coffers.

Now, I totally understand the desire to lower and remove certain taxes – but those should be decisions made by the local governments of the municipalities based on their budgets and services provided to their constituents. For example, Phoenix doesn’t need a food tax to provide the level of services and quality of life afforded here in the City, but another city may based on its economy. When the State Legislature makes decisions on policies that don’t impact them but impact the everyday life of the residents I get the opportunity to represent, that’s when I have a problem. The State didn’t collect rental taxes. They lost nothing. But Phoenix’s Public Safety family lost $40,000,000 over four years – contributing to our rising response times.

But it’s not just municipal revenue the State Legislature impacts; it’s also the quality of life in your neighborhoods by circumventing the responsibility of the local government to appropriately plan and develop its own community by allowing towering commercial and residential buildings within 100 feet of your single-family home. Two years ago, the State Legislature proposed a bill that would throw all city zoning laws out the window and allow a free-for-all for developers in your neighborhood. Last year, the State Legislature legalized casitas and accessory dwelling units to be utilized as short-term rental options after Phoenix had limited that use to protect the quality of life in your neighborhood.

But I think there’s a balance between the need to provide more options for developers to build a diversity of housing options and total elimination of all requirements. For example, I am actually running a bill this year which I believe will do just that. I’m working with a group of diverse stakeholders to run and support a bill referred to as the Home Ownership Act. This bill will help to deregulate an overregulated policy which is preventing a lot of our shared-wall products from being developed. Think townhomes, duplexes, row homes, etc. This type of housing was common for first-time homebuyers and those retirees who were looking to downsize until a group of California-based law firms came in to overregulate.

As a result, people like my son – who makes a decent wage in the construction industry – are unable to afford a home in the city he was born in. The average cost of a home in Phoenix today is over $400,000, compared to $138,000 in 2010 (which would be just under $200,000 in today’s dollars, counting for inflation). It’s the reason why our teachers and nurses are unable to live in the community they serve in; and a leading contributor to the traffic congestion on our roads as Phoenix workers are having to move to the furthest outreaches of the Valley to afford to live.

But, unlike my office and those of my colleagues, the State Legislature rarely hears input from residents before making decisions which impact your daily lives. So, I’m asking you to help me contact the State Representatives who will be voting on this bill in the coming weeks and tell them we need more housing diversity and deregulation on shared-wall products here in Arizona. Tell them you support the Home Ownership Act and demand they support this bill. The members to email are:

• Rep. Walt Blackman
• Rep. Lisa Fink
• Rep. John Gillette
• Rep. Rachel Keshel
• Rep. Aaron Marquez
• Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton
• Rep. Betty Villegas

If you’re unable to shoot a quick email and have signed up for the State Legislature’s Request to Speak system in the past with our office, you can always sign in as “Support” for the Home Ownership Act – which is HB2713. To sign in, please click on this link. Once signed in, you’ll want to register your support for HB2713 – which is my bill.

If you have any questions or troubles signing in, please respond back to this email or call my office at 602-262-7444

Ann O'Brien 

Vice Mayor of Phoenix

DOJ Investigation Update

DOJ Update

• President Trump has put a stay on all investigations related to Civil Rights Violations. While staff continues to speak with the DOJ, the future is uncertain.

Mark Your Calendars: Community Meeting

Our next meeting will be Friday, February 28th, at the DoubleTree Hotel located at 10220 N Metro Pkwy E, Phoenix, AZ 85051. Plan for check in to begin at 7:30am and the meeting to start at 8:00am.

You can register below for the upcoming meeting! As a reminder, please fill out the form SEPARATELY for EACH member of your family planning to attend. Thank you!

News From the City of Phoenix

Join the City of Pheonix Aquatics Team!

Ready to make a splash this summer? The City of Phoenix Aquatics is hiring lifeguards, and we need YOU!

Get certified with a Lifeguard Certification Class – all you need to do is:

• Be 15 years old by the end of the class
• Pay a class fee of just $20
• Attend all class dates (mandatory!)

Sign up today! Click here to find a class date & time.

Don’t forget to:

• Submit your City of Phoenix application
• Watch your email to sign up for an interview in March!

Get ready to dive into a rewarding summer job with Phoenix Aquatics!

Join the Graffiti-Free Phoenix Movement!

February 2025 marks the 11th annual Graffiti Free Phoenix Awareness campaign focusing on education, awareness and calls the community to action. 

Send us photos of your removals, so we may highlight the great work, to keep Phoenix Graffiti Free on the city’s social media pages.

See graffiti? Report it!

Reporting graffiti is an important step to keeping Phoenix graffiti-free. Don't forget, graffiti is a crime. If you see it in action, call 911. If you notice graffiti, report it using one of three simple methods: 

• Call: 602-534-4444 
• Email: blight@phoenix.gov 
• Online: myPHX311 Phoenix.gov/myPHX311

Trail Heat Safety Survey: Share Your Feedback!

As temperatures rise, it’s more important than ever to ensure Phoenix trails remain enjoyable for everyone while minimizing heat-related risks to both trail users and first responders. The Parks and Recreation Department is seeking your feedback on proposed changes to the Trail Heat Safety Program, which could impact trail usage during extreme heat conditions. We invite you to complete a short survey to share your thoughts. Learn more about the Trail Heat Safety Program and complete the survey.

Cactus Park Coffee With a Cop

Please join your Cactus Park Precinct Commander Hein along with officers who serve for Coffee with a Cop at The Cracked Egg at 3422 W Glendale Ave on February 26th at 8:00am. This is a great opportunity to come out and meet the members of our police department that make up the Cactus Park Precinct.

Upcoming Freeway Closures

Upcoming Weekend Closures 

• Southbound I-17 will be closed between Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive and Happy Valley Road from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, to 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17. 
• Northbound I-17 will be closed between Happy Valley Road and Loop 303/Sonoran Desert Drive from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, to 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24. 
• Southbound I-17 will be closed between SR 74 and Loop 303 from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, to 5 a.m. Monday, March 3. 

This weekend’s work will replace bridge deck joints in the closed area. For more information, please visit the project webpage at: azdot.gov/i-17HappyvalleySR74.

Drivers should use caution and be prepared to slow down and merge safely when approaching and traveling through any work zones.

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Teen Art Contest

The City of Phoenix Strategic Initiatives Section of the Human Services Department announces our 2025 Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Teen Art Contest. We invite teens (13 – 18 years old) to participate by designing a social media graphic that illustrates respectful and healthy relationships with the theme #RespectThatPhx.

The contest runs from January 21, 2025 – February 4, 2025. The top three winners will receive gift cards: $300 (1st Place), $200 ($2nd Place), and $100 (3rd Place).

Contest Guidelines:

• Participants must be between the ages of 13 to 18 years old and live in the City of Phoenix. 
• Artists under 18 years of age must have parent/guardian permission to participate.
• Submissions must be original artwork or design.
• Submissions must incorporate the color orange in recognition of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and the theme #RespectThatPhx.
• No copyright figures will be accepted.
• Artwork should be 1080 x 1080 pixels (standard square post on Instagram).
• Artwork should be emailed to copstrategicinitiatives@phoenix.gov.
• Artists acknowledge that their artwork may be featured on City of Phoenix social media accounts or in City of Phoenix materials.  

Participants must complete the submission form found here.

A New Way to Compost Food Waste

The City of Phoenix has a new collaboration with Mill and R.City to prevent food waste at City Hall, all while supporting Valley farms. Mill has placed 25 of their odorless food recyclers in breakrooms through City Hall. The recyclers turn kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich grounds, which R.City collects monthly and turns into compost for local farms.

You can get involved with composting at home, too! Sign up with Mill risk-free for 30 days, or learn more about at-home composting from the Public Works Department.

City Launches Community Survey

The City of Phoenix is ready to launch the community survey. This survey asks questions on a wide range of topics around life in our community, from what residents think is working, to where they see a need for improvement, providing feedback that is used to calculate ongoing satisfaction scores. The survey is one more way to gather information from residents in our effort to more holistically understand neighborhood issues and enhance our responsiveness to community priorities.

The survey takes less than five minutes to complete and is available in both English and Spanish. The survey system sets response targets based on Census data to ensure community representation. Survey responses will be anonymous.   

The survey is served up to residents on various websites and social media platforms. Residents can also respond to the survey directly with this link.

We’ve also created a survey landing page on Phoenix.gov to answer questions, including the security and privacy of the survey.

News From Deer Valley Unified School District

10 DVUSD Schools Honored with PBIS Awards

Ten DVUSD schools were recognized for their implementation of PBIS systems on their campuses! PBIS, or Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports, are positive interventions or system changes that work toward creating a positive school climate, prevent problem behaviors on campus, and reinforce positive behaviors at school. 

Congratulations to: Park Meadows Elementary, Sunset Ridge School, Hillcrest Middle School, Inspiration Mountain School, Desert Sage Elementary, Village Meadows Elementary, Las Brisas Elementary, Stetson Hills School, Esperanza Elementary, Diamond Canyon School.

Two DVUSD Students Named Finalists for Flinn Scholarship

Congratulations to Mountain Ridge High School senior Pravneet Chadha, and Sandra Day O'Connor High School senior Maya Ysabella Bustos on advancing to the finalist round of the 2025 Flinn Foundation Flinn Scholarship!

Pravneet and Maya are two of 36 finalists who have advanced. Approximately 20 Flinn scholars are announced later in the spring. Pravneet and Maya, and our four other semifinalists, will be honored for their accomplishments prior to Tuesday night's governing board meeting.

Six DVUSD Teachers Earn National Board Certification ot Re-certification

Congratulations to DVUSD’s newest nationally board certified and re-certified teachers! These teachers represent 4% of teachers throughout the nation who have earned this prestigious certification!

National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. It’s the highest certification a teacher may obtain in addition to being the most respected one.

• Inspiration Mountain School - Deborah Carey (maintained)
• Mountain Ridge High School - Deborah Johnson (new) & Molly Britton (new)
• New River Elementary School - Lisa Hancock (new)
• Paseo Hills School - Justin Price (maintained)
• Union Park School - Heather Walsh (maintained)

DVUSD Celebrates National CTE Month

Arizona’s Governor has officially proclaimed February as CTE Month in Arizona! This month, we celebrate the transformative power of CTE in shaping students’ futures and strengthening our workforce. See the governor’s proclamation HERE. We look forward to the DVUSD Governing Board proclamation of CTE Month in our district next week.

Since 1984, CTE Month has spotlighted the value of hands-on learning, career readiness, and workforce development. Today, CTE continues to equip students with the technical and academic skills necessary for high-demand careers – fueling Arizona’s economy and providing pathways to success.

In Arizona, CTE is delivering real results:

• High Graduation Rates and Career Readiness: Arizona CTE students graduate high school significantly higher than the general student population (94.5% vs. 77.3%). These students leave high school better prepared for rewarding, family-sustaining careers with industry-recognized credentials.
• Strong Workforce Alignment: CTE programs align with Arizona’s economic needs, preparing students for the 36% of jobs requiring education beyond high school but less than a bachelor’s degree by 2031. Key industries include manufacturing, bio-science and health care, and digital media.
• Significant Post-secondary Achievements: During the 2022-23 school year, Arizona students earned 56,117 sub-baccalaureate credentials in CTE fields, demonstrating the critical role CTE plays in advancing technical and academic skills.

Recent DVUSD CTE Highlights

• FBLA Region 3 Conference (SOHS - 13 Gold medals, 7 Silver medals, 17 Bronze medals) (MRHS - 35 Gold Medals, 27 Silver Medals, 22 Bronze Medals)
• DECA District 2 Conference (MRHS - 12 Gold Medals, 8 - Silver Medals, 9 - Bronze Medals, 48 Test Medals) (DVHS - 2 Overall Medalists) (BCHS - 25 Overall Medalists including 3 first place overall event winners)
• HOSA State Qualifiers - Over 100 DVUSD Nursing and Sports Medicine students from DVHS, MRHS, and SOHS qualified for state competition through regional competition and online state testing
• Kudos to business partner Sundt Construction for partnering with the BGHS Construction Tech Program to support students in mastering Carpentry skills this month
• Avenue 27 and the CTE Ambassadors hosted the Parent Organization President's luncheon at BGHS showcasing exceptional cuisine and the CTE experience
• Thank you to Honor Health for coming aboard as a business partner hosting Nursing clinical rotations in Spring 2025 as well as Mayo Clinic for conducting mock interviews with Nursing students and offering priority hiring to our future CNA's
• And a shout out to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, TSMC, West-MEC, Elevate Ed AZ/the Greater Phoenix Chamber, and Banner Health for their continued financial and/or educational support in advancing opportunities for DVUSD students in high-wage high demand careers including Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare, IT, and Construction Trades

District 1 is seeking community leaders interested in serving as the District's representative for various boards and commissions, such as the Village Planning Committee. 

To start the application process, please visit the Boards and Commissions webpage. 

Upcoming City Council Meetings

• Next City Council Policy Meeting: February 11th
• Next City Council Formal Meeting: February 19th

Vice Mayor O'Brien has been appointed chairperson of the Economic Development & Housing Subcommittee, and is also a member of the Public Safety & Justice Subcommittee. Visit the Council Subcommittee webpage for the schedule of public meetings.  

Learn more about Vice Mayor O'Brien, her priorities and focus for District 1 on the district's webpage.

Connect with us!

phoenix.gov/district1