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“So find a place for yourself. Whatever talent or ambition you have, find some way to put it to work. Build something that didn’t exist yesterday. Stand up for someone who can’t stand up for themselves. Bring people together who weren’t talking before. That’s leadership. That’s what moves the needle. Your generation has far more power than you may realize. And if you harness that power, if you find your leadership, your issues, your voice, the world will not be able to ignore you.”

-Harrison Ford delivering ASU’s commencement speech


** Congratulations to all the graduates!
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** Sunday Rundown
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While the Legislature remains recessed, I spent time this week back in the community, continuing budget conversations and stakeholdering future policy solutions.

One of the highlights was meeting with more than 30 Arizona high school students who received international recognition for their science research projects and earned spots at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) ([link removed]) hosted here in Phoenix at the Convention Center.

ISEF is the world’s largest pre-college STEM competition, bringing together more than 1,700 students from over 60 countries, regions, and territories to compete for over $7 million in awards and scholarships. The Arizona students projects were remarkable - ranging from topics like lithium battery recycling, nanoparticle enabled rapid detection of infectious diseases, engineering fiber-gauze infused with traditional Mexican plants, and a trash collecting robot.

Getting the chance to meet these students and hear about their research was an incredible reminder of the talent, curiosity, and innovation being fostered right here in Arizona classrooms.

Arizona ISEF student finalists visiting the Capitol

Some of the most important responsibilities we have as elected officials are to listen to those too often unheard, elevate the voices of people on the front lines, and look beyond surface-level responses to address the root causes impacting our communities.

With legislative work light this week, I am turning the next section over to Phoenix Councilmember Anna Hernandez to discuss an important ordinance recently passed by the City Council that directly impacts some of our city’s most vulnerable residents and the service providers working every day to care for them. Her perspective highlights why thoughtful, compassionate policymaking matters and why leadership requires us to center people, not just politics.

With kindness,

Phoenix Passes Ordinance that Criminalizes Medical Care and Food Sharing in Phoenix Parks

By Councilwoman Anna Hernandez, Phoenix District 7

On May 6, Phoenix City Council passed the Medical Treatment and Food Distribution in Parks Ordinance by a vote of 6-3. The ordinance makes its class 1 misdemeanor to distribute medical care or provide food to individuals that have sought shelter in Phoenix parks outside of the City's new limited permitting process. My colleagues on council who voted for the ordinance say it is a compromise between care providers and the residents who live around the park. They also claim that the ordinance will reduce needles and trash in our parks. Residents who supported the ordinance say it will keep the homeless out of our parks because they go there to get the care and support that providers bring.

I disagree with the ordinance supporters and voted no. Here's why:

* Council was provided ZERO empirical evidence that restricting and prohibiting care providers, reduces harm, increases safety, or resolves the concerns raised by residents. Nor were we provided substantive evidence that the issues raised are really a serious problem.
* Our residents are already hurting. Over 400,000 Arizonans have been cut from SNAP with 180,000 who are children. Medicaid cuts are on the rise with 300,000 Arizonans losing healthcare coverage due to federal cuts. Plus, in a couple of months, just as this ordinance goes into effect, we will see sustained summer temperatures exceeding 110°F. We are in a humanitarian crisis. Now is not the time to attack anyone who is trying to help.
* Jail for helping is too harsh. A class 1 misdemeanor carries a maximum punishment of 3 month probation, a $2,000 fine, and 6 months in jail. This is not only overly punitive, it is counterproductive, and it is fiscally irresponsible. It imposes criminal liability on care providers who are compensating for gaps in our own municipal capacity.
* This is a massive waste of taxpayer money. When we arrest someone for serving food or providing harm reducing care, our taxpayers pay roughly $600 for that night in jail. Instead of wasting this money we could provide 40 $15 meals to our residents or 30 hours of work at $20 an hour for a youth or senior resident or 20 $30 trash cans or 10 $60 needle disposal boxes. All of which will actually reduce the problem. But instead, we chose to just throw this taxpayer money away.

I get it. Everyone wants clean and safe parks. This includes families that live around the parks and kids who use our playgrounds. And it includes our unsheltered residents. The parks belong to them too and they go there to be safe. If we really wanted to, we could provide more care and clean up our parks without criminalizing. This issue at its core is a public health issue. And we need to solve it through a public health approach and not a criminal approach.

We have already seen success with harm reduction strategies, such as coordinated sharps collection efforts. We have data that proves that harm reduction organizations in our communities actually reduce the amount of waste in those communities. We need more community education, safe use and distribution sites and more solutions focused on the root causes of this public health crisis.

Criminalization does not eliminate need. It displaces it. And, as it always is, people of color and poor people will be the most impacted by this criminalization. The choice here must be more care and not punitive consequences.

Should you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts, please don't hesitate to reach our office at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

[link removed]

Councilwoman Anna Hernandez, Phoenix District 7

Watch the video ([link removed]) [link removed] read the Phoenix New Times coverage ([link removed]) on the council ordinance.


** Community Corner
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Shining a spotlight on the Arizona Housing Coalition ([link removed]) , a nonprofit collaborative organization made up of more than 350 members working to end homelessness and advocate for safe, affordable housing for all Arizonans.

Their annual conference this week brought together more than 500 service providers, developers, policymakers, advocates, and community leaders to the Phoenix Convention Center for two days of collaboration, education, and honest conversations about the challenges Arizona families are facing. It is one of the few spaces where people from every corner of the housing world come together to wrestle with difficult realities and work toward practical solutions that can actually move the needle forward.

I had the opportunity to participate on a bipartisan panel alongside Representative Carbone, Senator Bolick, and Senator Bravo discussing the work still needed to create meaningful statewide housing solutions. I was also deeply honored to receive the Coalition’s Champion of Affordable Housing award.

What I admire most about the Arizona Housing Coalition is their willingness to sit in the hard spaces. They advocate fiercely while bringing together people from very different perspectives because they understand housing is about far more than buildings or policy debates. It is about dignity, stability, and opportunity for Arizona families.

Their work is rooted in research, data, and real-world solutions while always centering the voices and lived experiences of those on the front lines. They work alongside veterans, advocate for policy solutions at both the state and national levels, and partner with organizations touching every facet of housing and homelessness.

Arizona is better because of organizations like this and the people willing to keep showing up to do the hard work behind the scenes.

Sen. Bolick, Rep. Liguori, Sen. Bravo, and Rep. Carbone
Statewide Housing Research ([link removed])
Perspectives From The Frontline ([link removed])

Local Eats

We were thrilled to be back hosting a community coffee at Cultivate Coffee in Sunnyslope.

Cultivate is more than just a neighborhood café. As a nonprofit, they are dedicated to helping individuals in need by creating a space centered around community, hope, leadership, job opportunities, and life skills that help people thrive. They are also intentional about partnering with farms that prioritize not just quality coffee, but ethical and sustainable treatment of workers. This newsletter was fueled from a bag of Cultivate’s delicious Peruvian beans.

It was wonderful to sit down with neighbors and talk through a variety of issues impacting the community, including a conversation with Charlie, who is advocating for the reinstatement of statewide trail funding in this year’s budget. These conversations are always a reminder that some of the best ideas and advocacy efforts start right at the community level.


** Upcoming Events
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Come as you are and color your heart out! Every third Wednesday from 11 AM to 1 PM, Phoenix Center for the Arts invites individuals, families, and neighbors of all ages to join us for a joyful afternoon of creativity, color, and connection. No experience needed—just bring your imagination! Featuring local artist Bryson Bost (@brysonbostart) and Crayola-donated materials, this free event is all about playful expression and community vibes. Free.


** Phoenix Mercury
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** vs
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** Los Angeles Sparks
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** Thursday, May 21, 2026
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* 7:00 pm
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Tickets start at $20

Get Tix ([link removed])

Come out on Saturday, May 24 for the first-ever Mac & Cheese Festival at Chase Field! From 11AM to 4PM, experience a day packed with bold flavors, tasty drinks, and live entertainment -- all in celebration of the ultimate comfort food.

Mac & Cheese bites will be available for just $7 each, featuring crave-worthy creations like:
* Nashville Hot Chicken Mac
* Mediterranean Mac
* Walking Taco Mac
* Chicken Parmesan Mac
* And many more!

Event Info ([link removed])


** Got a community event, organization, or important advocate that deserves highlighting? Reply to this email to let us know!
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