- vovomeena restaurant on 7th Ave and Mcdowell

Welcome to Spring! The trees are budding, birds are singing, and Spring Training is in full swing across the Valley. We have about two months to enjoy perfect patio and hiking weather before the summer heat sets in and we return to our air conditioned hibernation. With festivals happening every weekend, there’s no shortage of ways to get outside and make the most of it.

This Week at the Legislature

This week marked the voting phase for many of the bills we’ve been tracking. We voted on over 150 bills, with about a quarter of them passing along partisan lines.

One of the more politically partisan bills, HB 2031, an Arizona version of "DOGE-lite," aimed to eliminate eight state boards and commissions, including the Arts Commission. During the vote, the bill faced bipartisan pushback, with arguments highlighting the economic contributions of the organizations and the importance of these groups in protecting public health and safety. It ultimately failed, with 42 members voting against it.

Meanwhile, HB 2700, a bill requiring the State Board of Education to update high school social studies materials to reflect the proposed renaming of the Gulf of ‘Merica, appears headed for a likely veto from the Governor.

The High Cost of Federal Budget Cuts for Arizona

On a budget front, things are still moving behind the scenes. While we wait for the a negotiated state budget, I am tracking the federal one, along with the tariffs and other detrimental consequences to our states economic health. As the graphic below shows, there is an estimated $3.8 billion cost to Arizona as a result of the tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.

Arizona relies heavily on federal funding, receiving $29.9 billion annually to support critical services. But with potential federal budget cuts looming, the state could face devastating financial shortfalls. In the Appropriations Committee, Rep. Livingston estimated our state could lose anywhere from $5 billion to $13 billion, threatening essential programs that impact millions of residents.

One of the biggest concerns is Medicaid, which accounts for $14.8 billion in federal expenditures for Arizona. Traditional Medicaid services alone total $5.2 billion, providing healthcare to low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Cuts at this scale would put immense pressure on state resources, potentially reducing access to healthcare, straining hospitals, and shifting costs onto Arizona taxpayers.

Beyond healthcare, federal cuts could ripple across education, infrastructure, and public safety, forcing difficult decisions at the state level. Our state budget is also severely strained as vouchers for private schools edge over $944 million. Every financial decision at the state level now has to be made with extreme caution due to uncontrolled spending on private school subsidies. It makes me think of all the good things we could fund to help people if we had this additional billion dollars that was redirected from our budget just a few short years ago.

As these discussions continue in Washington and locally, it's crucial to recognize what’s at stake for Arizona’s economy and communities.

With Kindness,

Sarah

Novel Notions

Grab a book and start reading! Yoni Appelbaum, the author of Stuck has graciously confirmed participating in a virtual book club meeting with us in April. This will be a very special event to hear directly from the author about his extensive research into housing mobility. He traces immobility back to the beginning of zoning and the following century of legal segregation that has driven up housing costs, empowered bigotry, widened economic divides, and locked generations into poverty.

Thank you for all you have signed up already. Details will be sent out shortly when we have a confirmed date and time.

Community Corner

At the start of each floor session, a member is invited to deliver the opening prayer. I had never requested to do so—until I connected with Dr. Albert Celoza, Executive Director of the Arizona Interfaith Movement (AZIFM). Dr. Celoza addressed the House with an inspiring message of empathy and the golden rule, embodying his lifelong commitment to interfaith dialogue, global citizenship, and community empowerment.

From studying with Thich Nhat Hanh in France to exploring Biblical archaeology in the Middle East, Dr. Celoza’s global experiences inform his leadership. He has served as president of the United Nations Association of Phoenix & Arizona and currently leads the Asian Pacific Community in Action.

Dr. Celoza’s background in world religions, political science, and diplomacy empowers the work of the Arizona Interfaith Movement to bridge cultural divides through education and activism. Both he and AZIFM continue to inspire a more inclusive and connected society.

PSA - Outreach Action

Neighbors - if you live in the North Central Phoenix corridor you should be notified that there is a zoning meeting on Thursday, March 6th to approve an application for a homeowner looking to sell firearms out of their home. (Photos of the home’s gun room below)

The home is located in a busy area with heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic, surrounded by schools, preschools, churches, and family homes. Neighbors and gun safety advocates have raised serious concerns about the risks to community safety if this permit is approved. This is not a safe or suitable location for such an operation, and the potential dangers to residents—especially children—cannot be ignored.

Please email the Zoning Department by Tuesday to inform them of your opinion on this and ask them to deny his application.

And Spring Means Home Tour Season!

Only one more to go in the Encanto-Palmcroft neighborhood on March 16th.