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“When we practice loving kindness and compassion
we are the first ones to profit.”
- Rumi
Another well paced week at the legislature, with more bills trickling out of committee and making their way to the floor. We have only voted on a handful of bills so far, with most of them carrying more bipartisan support than controversy.
In the controversial corner unfortunately, HB 2062 was debated, a bill that would redefine sex in state law as male or female and define sex-based terms like “man”, “woman”, and “girl”. I see this policy as a recycling of discriminatory ideology that diverts attention away from the real challenges our state faces. Legislating on talking points is an approach some choose to take, but we must remember that their are real human lives - friends, family, colleagues, children, and constituents - who will be harmed.
It was also a week with a handful of Democratic bills making it through committee - Rep Nancy Gutierrez’s great school lunch bill being one of them. HB 2213 ([link removed]) would provide free school meals to all children currently receiving reduced price lunches, leaving no child hungry while learning.
This coming week, I have a bill on deck—HB 2467 ([link removed]) —which would allow renters to opt in or out of a program that reports their rental payments to credit agencies. The research has shown reporting of rental payments helps renters build and boost their credit, making a path to homeownership more attainable in the future.
Very recently, Arizona has become a national leader in the Build-to-Rent (BTR) market. Phoenix is at the forefront of this surge, with over 6,000 of the 8,000 new rental units built in just the past three years. Another 14,000 BTR homes are in development, with 7,200 of those units in Phoenix. This places Arizona as the second largest build to rent state, trailing Texas. (For background: BTR properties have become popular to build because they don’t require the same 100-year assured water supply in areas where groundwater isn’t managed. Builders have also stopped building smaller for-sale products - like townhomes and condos - due to a prevalence of law suits on these developments that have made insurance unaffordable.)
With so many rental properties coming online, we need to consider how this shift affects pathways to homeownership. The rapid expansion of rental homes and apartments could be creating new generations of "forever renters." For those who want to build credit—whether to purchase a home or simply improve financial stability—programs like HB 2467 can provide a valuable opportunity. By allowing renters to have their on-time payments reported to credit agencies, this initiative can help them strengthen their credit and keep homeownership within reach, rather than being locked into long-term renting
Over the past few years I have become interested in learning more about philosophy, both to improve my understanding of the world and myself in it. Each week, I enjoy reading the Philosophy Break ([link removed]) newsletter and found today’s topic relevant to include and share in mine. In 1951, Hannah Arendt wrote a 500+page book, The Origins of Totalitarianism ([link removed]) which outlines the institutions and movements of two totalitarian regimes - Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia. Here is an outline of the main findings, which eerily reflect our current reality.
1. One of the essential preconditions of totalitarianism is loneliness. When loneliness is experienced by more of the masses, it primes the public to prepare for totalitarian domination.
2. A lonely, disenfranchised people become unified by a common set of enemies - make people feel like others are their enemy and it is a ‘one against all’ world.
3. Conviction becomes more powerful than truth - society is prone to accept a person for what he pretends to be.
4. In fact, the goal of propaganda is to render people incapable of identifying truth - destroy the distinction between fact and fiction by flooding a lonely society with misinformation.
5. When people become cynical of truth, their loyalty goes to whoever can evoke the strongest feelings. Totalitarian leaders base their propaganda on exploiting their audiences willingness to believe the worst, no matter how absurd.
Happy Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day to those that celebrate. In case anyone cares to know - I am rooting on Kendrick to win. Good luck to both teams and spread some love this week.
With Kindness,
Sarah
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** Community Corner
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I spent an evening with the Coronado neighborhood at their monthly meeting, and it was a perfect reminder of what community looks like. Not only do they support each other, but they also uplift local businesses—this time, by gathering at MacAlpine’s Diner and Soda Fountain, a longtime Phoenix favorite.
It was my first neighborhood meeting where everyone enjoyed a tasty treat, and I can say, the coffee milkshake I ordered did not disappoint! I can’t wait to take my family back for more.
** And Spring Means Home Tour Season!
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Bring yourself, the pets, and family to enjoy the good weather with some community fun! Our LD 5 Democrats and I will be at all of them. See you there!
** Field Trips and Culture Pass with Act One
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Many students in Arizona who attend Title I schools are currently unable to attend field trips. That’s where local charity Act One steps in! They offer in-person arts experiences to students in Phoenix and Tucson as well as virtual reality field trips to students attending Title I schools statewide, providing students living in rural areas the opportunity to have arts education experiences.
Act One also manages the Culture Pass program which allows local residents with public library cards to “check out” passes that are good for admission for two people to dozens of arts and cultural sites throughout the state. The program is targeted to primary Spanish speakers, indigenous communities, individuals with disabilities, and individuals on fixed incomes such as students and retirees. Many patrons of the program say that they would not be able to afford these incredible experiences otherwise.
To learn more about Act One’s incredible work bringing access to the arts, click on the link below!
ACT ONE ([link removed])
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