City discusses addressing homelessness with regional agency in policy session
The City Council met for the policy session on April 13, 2021 (John Sanders/DD)
Cities like Phoenix in the state of Arizona are trying to address the widespread issue of
homelessness, and in this week’s policy session the City Council met with the regional agency Maricopa Association of Governments, a group that focuses on addressing problems and insensitive government actions.
MAG has members from 27 cities and towns and three Native nations that are devoted to exploring the issue. It was formed in the late 1960s and since then, its formation has tackled community issues such as the completion of a multi-city sewage treatment plant located at 91st Avenue.
The Phoenix Police Department has been fiercely criticized in recent weeks for several incidents of misconduct. Reporting this month from ABC15 revealed that Phoenix cops had passed around challenge coins that celebrate shooting a protester in the groin back in 2017. And the Maricopa County Attorney s Office dismissed a case earlier this month against anti-police brutality protesters who were falsely accused of being part of criminal street gang after it was revealed that police and prosecutors misled a grand jury with false and misleading statements and testimony. County Attorney Allister Adel has since announced that a retired judge would review the case for possible ethical violations.
Trash outside tents near Ninth Avenue and Jackson Street on Feb. 5, 2020.
After a two year process, Phoenix leaders approved more shelter beds for the Human Services Campus. But homeless service providers didn’t get all they wanted.
Existing zoning limited the campus near 13th Avenue and Madison Street to 425 beds. Wednesday night, the council approved adding 275 more shelter beds near downtown, along with 200 more beds during harsh weather. But the majority of council members did not support a new 100-bed low-barrier shelter. Low-barrier shelters usually have fewer rules and welcome people as they are. The motion approved by the council defined low barrier as servicing people convicted of sex offenses, actively using drugs and/or those carrying weapons.
Blue Mesa Tacos was the only restaurant open pre-security at Terminal 4 on September 4, 2020.
Rent relief for restaurants and retail shops at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will continue through next year. But the offer comes with conditions.
Since April, concessionaires have been paying rent based on a percentage of sales only, generally 13% to 15%. The offer could continue through December 2021 if passenger traffic remains below 80% of last year’s levels. Councilwoman Laura Pastor added conditions to the deal during last week’s council meeting. They include requiring businesses that recall employees to provide a reasonable period for them to return to work.