June 17, 2022

In this week's issue: 

• Message from Councilwoman Ann O'Brien
• DOJ Update
• Mark Your Calendars: Community Meeting
• COVID-19 Free Testing 
• 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 Councilwoman Ann O'Brien

We did it!

Wednesday night, the City Council voted 8-1 on the plan I helped develop to give our hard-working police officers a raise. I told you from day one, one of my top priorities is to support our public safety family in every way. I helped to vote down an effort last year to defund our police officers in a 4-5 vote; I fought to make our streets and officers safer by allowing our police department to purchase drones; and now, our officers will become the highest paid officers in the State of Arizona by 10 percent! I talk solutions and actions, not fluff and filler. In just the last year, I hope I’ve shown you all my commitment to our public safety family and our police officers. There’s still more to do but know that I’m the person to do it!

Aside from that amazing news, this week I’ve been hard at work trying to tackle the homeless and transient problems we’re all experiencing along the I-17 Corridor. On Monday, I sat down with the program coordinator for PHX CARES to learn more about the program, how it operates, who they report to, and how cases are tracked and followed through the process. In conjunction with the $15 million Council allocated last year to the Community Assistance Program, I’m confident PHX CARES will collaborate with our other departments and non-profits to tackle the drug and mental health crisis which are the leading contributors to homelessness.

Additionally, I spent Thursday morning in a collaborative meeting coordinated by the Metro District Community Collaboration’s Executive Director, Shannon McBride. Representatives from the private, public and non-profit sectors were present as we toured the Metro region and discussed different efforts currently underway and new ideas we can implement to push back on the increase in illegal activities. Present was Phoenix Parks and Planning Departments, Community Bridges and Community Medical Services, as well as Police, Valley Metro, the MetroCenter developers, and SRP. We toured the canal, Cortez Park, 27^th Ave and the QT on Dunlap to get a better sense of the overall problems as we look to work collaboratively as the area begins the process of receiving a facelift.

In the same vein, last night, I joined a group of local businesses along the 28^th Dr Corridor who are also experiencing transient problems. I’m thankful to Anzio’s Italian for hosting what I hope to be the first of many meetings for a new Business Alliance group I’d like to help form. For those unaware, 28^th Dr. and that QT have been a particular hotspot for transient activity. Recently, at the request of the community, we made some alterations at the bus stops at the intersection of 28^th Dr. and Cactus Rd. to discourage misuse and loitering. According to the businesses most impacted, the change has been night and day, but there’s still more we need to do. Just like with the solutions I’m bringing forward to support our police, I will bring action to this area, and we will see a positive change!

Tuesday, I spent the morning representing the City of Phoenix to two delegations of international Mayors and Councilmembers. I first met with the Deputy Mayor of Ramat Gan, Israel and representatives of their City Zoo to discuss how we can share best practices for our two zoos and create a better place for conservation research and entertainment. I also met with six mayors from all over the globe – Italy, Argentina, South Africa, Kosovo, Botswana, and The Gambia – to discuss democracy and learn more about our Council/Manager form of government. It’s always an honor to represent our City to the various international groups which come to visit and learn!

Lastly, at this point, I’m sure you’ve all heard about our officer who was ambushed and shot multiple times Tuesday afternoon. It was a miracle that she was wearing her bulletproof vest and will make a full recovery from this incident. Tuesday’s attack marks the 6^th ambush on our officers in as many months. 14 Phoenix Police Officers have been shot or injured by gunfire since the beginning of this year. No matter how often I receive one of these calls, it will never, never get easier. When the officer was brought to the hospital, she asked two things: if her family knew she was okay, and if they had caught the people who had done this. Individuals such as this officer are what make our police department one of the best in the Country and why I fight every day for better working conditions for them and for safer communities.

Thank you for everyone who called and wrote in to support the pay raise for our officers!

All my best, 

Ann 

Councilwoman, District 1

Weekly DOJ Investigation Update

Week of June 6

• City staff continue to work on DOJ's Third Request for document production.
• City staff and DOJ discuss next in-person visit schedule and request for production regarding document formatting and email searches.

Mark Your Calendars: Community Meeting

Our next meeting will be June 27th and located back up in the northern part of the district. We will be meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn located at Pinnacle Peak and 19th Ave (1940 W Pinnacle Peak Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85027). We will be meeting at our regular scheduled time for our evening meetings. Plan for checking to begin at 5:30pm and the meeting to start at 6pm.

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!

COVID-19 Free Testing & Vaccine 

COVID-19 Testing & Vaccinations

As many of us begin the trek back to the workplace, some companies may require employees to get tested or vaccinated for COVID-19 before coming back. 

Testing and vaccinations are offered by the city at no out-of-pocket cost. Please check out the Phoenix COVID testing and vaccination page for a list of events scheduled.

News From the City of Phoenix

New Crime Stop Phone Tree

Earlier this year a phone tree was implemented when callers contact the non-emergency phone number for the police department (602-262-6151).  This was done to allow those callers who were looking to reach other departments or outside agencies the ability to directly connect to them. If you are calling Crime Stop and need to speak to the non-emergency police, remember to press 4!

Black Mountain Coffee with a Cop

Please join us and your Black Mountain Community Action Officers for Coffee with a Cop. The upcoming coffee with a cop will be held on June 23rd at 10:30am. It'll be located at Schlotzky's Deli (1520 W Bell Rd). This is a great way to meet other active community members and get involved in your neighborhood!

Phoenix Public Library Summer Reading 2022 Game

As of Sunday, May 1^st, registration for Summer Reading 2022, themed, “Oceans of Possibilities” is open on maricopacountyreads.org and the game officially begins on June 1^st.  From June 1^st through August 1^st, participants are encouraged to read (and log) at least 20 minutes a day…and all reading counts! Throughout the 2 months of the game, those playing and achieving 500-1750-1,000 minutes read are eligible to earn special badges and prizes such as: free books, AZ State Park Passes, Phoenix Mercury tickets; free Rubios, Raising Caine’s and Peter Piper Pizza meals. And those achieving 1,000 minutes or more read are entered into a drawing to win a Family 4 pack to the Superbowl Experience 2023 and more! Learn more by clicking here.

News From Deer Valley Unified School District

DVUSD Transportation Jobs Now Available

Deer Valley Unified School District (DVUSD) is hiring bus drivers and assistants for next school year. Training is paid, including for a CDL license. Employees receive paid winter break, paid spring break, and eight additional paid holidays. Benefits include medical insurance, life insurance, disability, and retirement plans. 

For more information, visit https://careers.dvusd.org/ or call Amber Krueger at 602-467-5072.

News From Washington Elementary School District

WESD Announces New Online School, Enrolling Now!

We are excited to announce the opening of the WESD Online Learning Academy, our Arizona Online Instruction (AOI) school approved by the Arizona State Board of Education. The Online Learning Academy will serve grades K-8 starting in August. This school will take the place of the Distance Learning Programs (DLP) that were hosted by Desert View Elementary (K-4) and Royal Palm Middle School (5-8). The WESD Online Learning Academy will provide real-time instruction with WESD teachers. Space is limited in each grade level.

If you would like your child(ren) to attend online for the 2022-2023 school year, the enrollment window is currently open through Friday, June 24, 2022. For more information about Online Learning Academy and how to enroll, please click the link below or email DistanceLearning@wesdschools.org.

https://www.wesdschools.org/wesdola

Now Enrolling Families for the 2022 - 2023 School Year

WESD is enrolling kindergarteners for the 2022-2023 school year. Our free, full day program includes research-based curriculum that addresses reading, writing, math, science, social studies, physical education and art with plenty of time for exploration and play. Please share this information with your friends and neighbors who have children turning 5 before September 1. Online registration makes enrollment easy! Click the link for more info.!

https://www.wesdschools.org/registration

News From Glendale Union High School District

World-class Education in Your Own Backyard: Enroll Today!

Glendale Union High School District offers nine nationally recognized high schools right in your own backyard. All schools are ranked among America’s best high schools by U.S. News & World Report. GUHSD is proud to provide championship athletics, extracurricular activities, cutting-edge STEM opportunities, career & technical education options, and so much more. The new school year begins on August 8. It is not too late for new students to enroll for the 2022-2023 school year.

To learn more GUHSD news, visit our Facebook page @GUHSDAZ.

Interested in serving on Phoenix's Boards and Commissions? 

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: June 28th
• Next City Council Formal Meeting: July 1st

Councilwoman O'Brien has been appointed chairperson of the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee, and is also a member of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee and the Economic Development and Equity Subcommittee. Visit the Council Subcommittee webpage for the schedule of public meetings.  

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

Connect with us!

phoenix.gov/district1