March 8th, 2025

In this week's issue: 

• Message from Vice Mayor Ann O'Brien
• 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

I hope you all had a wonderful first full week of March! Last week had me concerned about the incoming heat, but it seems like we had a false Spring! All week, I was wondering if I had been teleported to Chicago because Pheonix was windy!

But, while we had a short window of good weather last weekend, I was able to get out and attend the ArtLink Gala with the Mayor. ArtLink is an organization focused on increasing the love of arts in the community and fostering the development of young artists while encouraging the continued growth of existing artists. While we may not have murals and art installations all over the place like some of our municipal peers – both locally and nationally – the arts scene is vibrant throughout the downtown region. In my capacity as Chairwoman of the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee, I’ve asked staff to prepare a conversation in the next few months about the economic impacts public art has within our community.

I have expressed a desire to see more public art throughout Phoenix – and especially up in North Phoenix. No pun intended, but North Phoenix is a blank canvass. We should encourage the creation of art to come in with the private developments as Phoenix builds out. Art creates culture, and culture creates community. When I look at cities like Scottsdale that have public art on almost every corner, or areas of Chicago or New York that have entire walking tours of the different neighborhoods which highlight all the public art, I think about what can be done in our City. The inclusion of public art in private development shouldn’t be seen as a hindrance, but as an asset that will make people want to live in and visit different areas of Phoenix. I’m looking forward to the presentation from staff and our private partners to drill down into the qualitative benefit public art has on our community!

Starting off this past week, I had Mimi duties! While my daughter was traveling for work, I brought Rylee to a ribbon-cutting event for a new restaurant concept which opened up in the pre-security portion of Sky Harbor’s Terminal 4. She was beyond excited and playful! Mesmerized by the new, modern vending machines located in this new restaurant, which was opened in partnership with Coca-Cola, Rylee enjoyed one of the first meals to be prepared in the brand-new kitchen! Sky Harbor isn’t just for folks traveling, with the light rail now connecting Metrocenter with the Sky Train into the airport, it can be a location for a fun date night! Starting soon, the Aviation Department will be partnering with groups to host regular events in Sky Harbor’s pre-security region of both Terminal 3 & 4 to help activate an area that was hit hard by Covid. I’ll be sharing those opportunities as they become available.

Thursday morning, I toured one of our city’s Head Start facilities at Sunrise Elementary School located in the Deer Valley Unified School District. As Chairwoman of our EDH Subcommittee, I also chair the City’s Head Start Committee. For those unfamiliar, Head Start is a federally funded program offering early childhood development for underprivileged communities. During my time on the Deer Valley School Board, I would regularly schedule classroom visits on Wednesday mornings after a school board meeting to remind myself of why I started in public service. I have been off the school board for a number of years now, and it has been some time since I was inside a classroom. I felt so warming to get to visit with the teachers and caregivers and see the kids – some as young as only a couple months old. I even got to read to a class of three-year-olds the story of Green Eggs and Ham to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday!

Today, I fly out to our nation’s capital to join my colleagues at the National League of Cities and Towns Congressional City Conference where we will connect with peers across the country and advocate for our local needs. On that note, I want to touch on this recent desire for clawing back federal funds which help provide for local programs – like Head Start. While I fully understand the desire to audit and ensure every dollar is being spent wisely and appropriately, the federal government would be best to remember the residents in Phoenix are also federal taxpayers. So, when the federal government provides grants to help expand a bridge in the heart of West Phoenix, that benefits federal taxpayers. When they fund programs like Housing Choice Vouchers or Head Start, that benefits federal taxpayers. When the City of Phoenix receives federal funding to reduce the heat island effect and help to install electric vehicle infrastructure, that benefits federal taxpayers. We can disagree on what the federal government should fund in local jurisdictions, but the notion that the federal government should pause or cease funding to programs and grants that benefit federal taxpayers on a local level – that’s where I’m going to push back.

Wish me a safe flight, and I’ll check in with you all when I’m back!

Ann O'Brien 

Vice Mayor of Phoenix

Mark Your Calendars: Community Meeting

Our next meeting will be Monday, March 24th, at the Beuf Community Center located at 3435 W Pinnacle Peak Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85027. Plan for check-in to begin at 5:30pm and the meeting to start at 6:00pm.

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

Community C.A.F.E. Conversations

Be a part of developing the 2030 Food Action Plan, the Energy Access Plan and the update to the Climate Action Plan. Participate in community C.A.F.É. (Climate, Action, Food, and Energy) conversations. Conversations will focus on different elements of the plans – from heat to energy, water, food, air, and more. These conversations are intended to be an engaging and interactive space. Each community C.A.F.É. conversation will be approximately two hours with both in-person and virtual options available as well as English and Spanish language interpretation options. In-person sessions will include food in appreciation for your time and participation, and activities for children. To learn more about dates, times, and how to register click visit www.phoenix.gov/oep/cap

Bus Rapid Transit Coming Soon!

The City of Phoenix Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Program is moving forward with its first corridor – 35th Avenue – and we want to hear from you! Visit www.meetphoenixbrt.com to learn more about community outreach events happening in February and March 2025.

Share Your Feedback on How Phoenix Spends Grant Funds

Every five years, the City of Phoenix partners with the community to develop a strategic Consolidated Plan. The plan defines strategies to address housing, community development needs, and current market conditions in order for the City of Phoenix to make informed decisions on an estimated $130 million in HUD grant funding.  Grants include the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnership (HOME), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). Your feedback is crucial to improving your community. Take the survey now!

Phoenix Public Library is More Than Books

Get ready for spring gardening! Visit a Seed Library at any one of our 17 locations and check out some seed packets to take home. We have a wide variety of fruit, vegetable and perennial seeds available along with tips and materials to get you started. All for free with your PPL card!

Join the City of Phoenix 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!

Cactus Park Crime Update

The officers of the Cactus Park Precinct actively work to address criminal activity in our community, and we like to highlight a small fraction of this work with you, our community and business leaders. Regularly, the showcased examples start from a call for service from an engaged community member like you.

In an Emergency or to report suspicious activity 911 | To report a crime or non-emergency 602-262-6151 option #4 | Silent Witness 480-WITNESS 

Here’s the latest update from Cactus Park Precinct:

On February 24, 2025, a suspect entered a store in the area of 2700 West Beardsley, placed numerous items in a cart and fled the store without paying.  A nearby security guard attempted to stop the suspect; however, he brandished a knife and fled the area.  Responding officers located the suspect in the area of 3100 West Yorkshire Avenue where they attempted to stop him.  The suspect attempted to flee from officers, running in traffic and into a nearby apartment complex as he attempted to escape.  Ultimately the suspect failed to comply with officer’s instructions, was tased, and ultimately apprehended.  Great work by our patrol teams!

If you have any questions or concerns in your area or are looking for ways to be more involved in your community, please click on the link below and contact your area Community Action Officer.

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

DVUSD Will Be Back With More News!

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: March 18th
• Next City Council Formal Meeting: March 26th

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