Last Week at the Legislature
Sunday, May 7, 2023
Sunday, May 7, 2023
Hi Friend,
Last week we met only on Wednesday to discuss or vote on non-controversial bills, so most of tonight's newsletter will skip right to the coming week and bills.
The big news is that we'll be receiving proposed budget numbers on Monday (tomorrow). One of my top priorities is to make sure that the ESA voucher program gets capped. My colleagues and I have been hearing from multiple ESA parents about issues with the program including financial shenanigans, nonsensical accreditation for vendors that open the state up to enormous liability, and parents pursuing questionable disability diagnoses for their children in order to play the system for $30,000 per student or more.
ESA vouchers have for years been slashing our state's ability to properly invest in the children who's families choose and depend upon our public schools. But ESA's are not just an education issue anymore. At this point, the program that is estimated to cost taxpayers almost a billion dollars over the next three years, threatens to bankrupt the state. It's the legislature's responsibility to also fund our ability to fight the fentanyl crisis and drug cartels, protect Arizona's children, combat elder abuse and consumer fraud, fund secure and safe elections, and address the homelessness and affordable housing, healthcare, teacher, and water shortage crises. To do so, we must cap the universal ESA voucher boondoggle.
Judy
Representative Judy Schwiebert, LD2
jschwiebert@azleg.gov
Your Input Wanted!
Homelessness & Affordable Housing
The most frequent issue I hear about from our community is concern about the growing number of people living on our streets and in our washes. Indeed, despite heroic efforts by our cities to keep our communities safe and clean while also respecting people's constitutional rights, Maricopa County reports a 72% increase in the number of unsheltered people in recent years.
The sad fact is that the rate of homelessness among seniors over 55 has ballooned over 250% since the early 1990's, making them the largest group of those experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
I've been working with Phoenix CARES, the police, our city councilwoman Deb Stark, and non-profits like Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) to address the homelessness issue as quickly as possible, but the state legislature needs to take action also. That includes investing in the Housing Trust Fund to reduce evictions AND provide treatment for people with mental health and substance abuse issues.
One bill to address this problem is SB1585 from Senator Catherine Miranda which I hope will be funded in the budget. It would
Provide $10M for rental assistance and eviction prevention for people over 65.
Require $145 M for a homeless shelter and services fund and award that could be provided in grants to cities, counties, nonprofits and others for programs.
Setup an Affordable Housing pilot program to provide funds for leasing vacant commercial and hotel spaces.
What's clear is that we can't arrest our way out of this crisis.
"Homelessness is a Housing Problem "
- Gregg Colburn, national housing scholar
Colburn goes on to say that, "Cities with higher rents and lower rental-vacancy rates... see higher per capita rates of homelessness."
The lack of housing supply is driving the skyrocketing cost increase so if we really want to reduce the number of people living on our streets, we need to prioritize long term solutions that will increase supply and reduce costs.
Arizona is currently 270,000 housing units short of what we need just for current residents - to say nothing of the 200+ people moving here every day. It would cost $70 Billion to build the units we need right now, something that no Housing Trust Fund or federal/ state affordable housing programs can begin to cover.
In 2022, AZCentral reported that "Metro Phoenix rents soared almost 80% between 2016-2022 per Colliers real estate brokerage." The median income only climbed 22% during those five years.
Teachers, construction workers, service workers and other middle income folks are being forced out of the market, too. Those making $50,000 can only afford to rent 1-bedroom apartments in Phoenix and Glendale. Firefighters with a typical salary of $57,000 can only afford 2-bedroom apartments in Phx.
The housing shortage is also an economic nightmare for our state. Unless we act now to create more affordable housing, Arizona stands to lose $35.6 Billion in wages and GDP due to lost economic activity each year. We need solutions, and we need them now. Per economist Elliott Pollack, “If this is not addressed now, the problem will worsen. The only way to fix this properly is to build more and build now.”
So, I'm grappling with my vote on two controversial affordable housing bills. They would pre-empt city control which I usually strongly oppose, but would do so to allow housing to be built more quickly, which we desperately need.
I'd like your feedback before I vote on these two bills in coming weeks.
SB1161 applies only to cities of over 525,000 people
(Currently Phoenix & Tucson) and has a very narrow focus. It would
Increase the availability of affordable multi-family homes within a half-mile of the light rail
Stop the city from blocking construction of these homes and
Give preference to in-state residents for available housing assistance
Currently, many of the new projects being built along the light rail are high end apartments or condos. That’s because developers who want to build more affordable housing for the average worker can’t afford the years and sometimes millions of dollars in attorney fees to get through zoning regulations and permissions. This bill would NOT require that ONLY affordable housing be built in the area, it would just reduce the delays and costs that currently prevent affordable housing developers from doing so.
I can also see that it would be smart to ensure that workforce housing is available along the light rail so that people can have easy transportation to good jobs, schools, healthcare and a higher quality of life.
The community would still have full input on any development other than low-income housing that is constructed in a commercial, mixed-used, or multi-family zone. This means people can weigh in on new grocery stores, doctors’ offices, luxury housing, or market rate housing in the same exact way they typically do. Currently, land zoned for single-family housing generally does not require a public hearing before approval. Yet low-income housing complexes are subjected to robust public input processes that often end in the delay or termination of the complex.
By subjecting low-income housing construction to a similar approval process as single-family construction, we are making the process more equitable. SB1161 also asks cities to create a Housing Plan to plan for future growth. This provision will allow for more community input on the types of housing people would like to see in their communities.
This bill is supported by a wide variety of stakeholders including the Arizona Housing Coalition, Action for Safety & Justice, Arizona Multihousing Association the AZ National Organization for Women (NOW), Carpenters Local #1912, the League of Women Voters, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Americans for Prosperity and others.
It is opposed by cities and the League of Arizona Cities & Towns.
SB1163/HB2536 have been combined, apply to cities of over 25,000 and are still being amended.
At this point, they...
Allow homeowners to build a casita on their single-family lot which could be a quick way to help increase the number of long-term rental properties available. Casitas are one of the most naturally affordable forms of housing with rents 19% less than other market-rate rentals, and would let families make separate affordable units for adult children or grandparents, but restricts them from being used as short-term rentals.
Allow single-room occupancy projects to be built which would provide more affordable housing for seniors and others. Currently, zoning prevents developers from building this kind of project.
Increase the number of duplexes and triplexes which are often significantly cheaper to rent or buy
Expedite the approval and construction of manufactured homes, often the most affordable option for home ownership.
Prevent cities from restricting design and other requirements that slow the approval process.
SB1163/HB2536 also asks cities to create a Housing Plan to plan for future growth. This provision will allow for more community input on the types of housing people would like to see in their communities. So, the same public input process to any new zoning is preserved. The bills simply expedite the timeline. They also preserve private property rights by allowing homeowners to build casitas on their own property without the input of their neighbors, similar to any other aesthetic changes a person might currently make to their home. Some Arizona cities, like Tucson, already allow casitas and do not mandate strict design regulations. In other states where casitas have been legalized, cities have maintained neighborhood character by discounting permits if homeowners use pre-approved floor plans. City leaders are fully empowered to seek community input on those floor plans.
It is supported by the Arizona Multihousing Association, Chicanos For La Cause, Urban Phoenix Project, Home Builders Association of Central Arizona and over 400 others.
It is opposed by cities and the Arizona Association of School Business Officials, the League of Arizona Cities & Towns, Susan Edwards, Save Our Schools Arizona and over 120 others.
Again, I'd like your feedback before I vote on these two bills in coming weeks:
Highlights of Last Week
Monday: The 2023 Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony
What a privilege it was to attend the very moving DPS Officer Memorial Ceremony honoring the 30 DPS officers who since 1958 have made the ultimate sacrifice for our safety.
Wednesday: the Arizona Community Foundation sponsored talk on "Homelessness is a Housing Problem"
National housing expert Gregg Colburn explained that skyrocketing rent and housing prices are at the root of the homelessness crisis. If people on the street are mentally ill, the question is when did they become so? Living outside on the streets is a brutal existence that is more likely than not to result in mental health issues. The problem isn't as simple as that But I came away convinced again that we need to work together with cities, counties, and non-profit groups to prioritize this growing problem immediately.
Thursday: Children's Action Alliance Kids Town Hall
I really enjoyed participating in the Children's Action Alliance Kids Town Hall on Thursday evening. The kids had such great questions about schools, healthcare, foster care and more. Following the Q & A we worked together on a creative problem-solving process, taking an issue and creating a proposal on how to fix it. I wish the state legislature worked as cooperatively!
Friday: Aguila Youth Leadership Institute's Breakfast of Champions
What a beautiful morning to celebrate the success of the Aguila Youth Leadership Institute in preparing hispanic youth for higher education and careers. Among the honorees at this year's event were my colleagues Representative Cesar Aguilar and Representative Flavio Bravo, and former Representative Christian Solorio. It was great to see Congressional candidate Raquel Teran and the Mexican consulate's Liz Bravo there as well!
Saturday: North Phoenix Budget Town Hall
My colleagues from LD4, Representative Laura Terech and Senator Christine Marsh, and I were excited to see such a great turnout of folks from LD2, LD4 and other surrounding districts at our Budget Town Hall. A big thank you to Mary Fortney and Jacob Sumner for all their organizing and to Adam Metzendorf for his great work as our moderator. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to answer questions, and truly vital to hear about the priorities of the people we represent.
May 8-13, 2023 is Teacher Appreciation Week!
Parents of over a million students across Arizona choose our public schools for their children for many reasons, including the fact that they provide
A community center for all families,
Tested and proven academic excellence,
After school clubs and activities,
Great principals and administrators who are essential school leaders AND
Outstanding teachers who are dedicated to ensuring that every student, whatever their background or ability, is welcomed and receives a great education
Whether or not you currently have young children, public schools and their teachers are essential to the future of all of our lives together.
During this Teacher Appreciation Week, our House Teacher Caucus is proud to recognize just some of the many outstanding teachers in our districts who dedicate themselves to preparing our young people to become contributing members of our communities.
Paradise Valley Unified School District
Corri Schembri (North Canyon High School Algebra)
Alexandra Bacon (Eagle Ridge Elementary 6th Grade)
Kristol Ferro (Palomino Primary School 2nd Grade)
Cassandra Chilton (Vista Verde Middle School 7th Grade Science Teacher)
Tammy Fish (Campo Bello Elementary School 5th Grade Teacher)
John Love (Hidden Hills Elementary School K-2 Special Education Teacher)
Sara Pinchoff (Echo Mountain Intermediate School 4th Grade Teacher)
Stasia Stoffey (Sunset Canyon Elementary School Math Specialist)
Jamy Sunderland (Palomino Intermediate School 5th Grade Teacher)
Abby Stehlik McKennon (Cactus View Elementary School 5th Grade Teacher)
Deer Valley Unified School District
Kathy Market (Barry Goldwater High School Special Education Teacher)
Denise Torres (Esperanza Elementary Special Education Teacher)
Wendy Whitlock (Mirage Elementary Reading Interventionist)
Valerie Looney (Paseo Hills Elementary 8th Grade Math Teacher)
Kelsey Chancellor (Union Park Elementary 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher)
Glendale Union High School District
Delta Apodaca (Greenway High School EL English Learner Teacher
Christina Irvine (Thunderbird High School Math and English Learners)
Washington Elementary School District
Norka Schlaak (Ironwood Elementary 4th grade CCA teacher)
Dena Kolstedt (Desert Foothills Junior High School Science Teacher)
Priscilla Andrade Perez (Acacia Elementary 5th Grade Teacher)
Taylor Miller (Chaparral Elementary ELL Teacher)
Genevieve Chairez (John Jacobs Elementary Kindergarten Teacher)
Click here for this week's Ed Report from Save Our Schools
Here's a portion of what you'll learn from Save Our Schools this week:
"With budget attempt #2 dropping on Monday, the same question is on everyone’s minds: will this year’s state budget actually support Arizona educators and students, and finally prioritize public education by capping or rolling back ESA vouchers?"
Click here for this week's Civic Engagement Beyond Voting Weekly Report
Here's a portion of what you'll learn from CEBV this week:
The House has 31 Republicans again, and right on cue, the House Rules Committee is meeting Monday at 1 PM. Its sole agenda item is to seek “permission for late introduction of measures sponsored by Speaker Toma relating to the budget” — in other words, they’re introducing budget bills.