Make Housing Affordable Again
August 18, 2024
Hi Friend,
As I work to represent my LD2 neighbors, I remain focused on listening to your priorities. So, I've been having some great conversations with folks at your doors.
The great need for more affordable housing is among the top issues I'm hearing from you and I agree! You'll read more about that in the articles below.
If I have not yet knocked on your door, please feel free to contact me anytime. It's the honor of my lifetime to serve this wonderful community where I've spent my life.
Judy
Representative Judy Schwiebert, LD2
jschwiebert@azleg.gov, JudySchwiebert.com, 602-935-0468
This Week in Affordable Housing
A close personal friend had to move out of our community last year after her rent shot up by $700 per month. She's not alone.
Fortunately, she was able to find another place to live, but too many can't find anything they can afford.
Rents increased by 72% from 2010 to 2022 in Arizona.
Today, a minimum wage worker would need to work 86 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom home. Nearly half of all renters spend more than 1/3 of their income on housing, and eviction filings are at record levels, contributing to the skyrocketing number of people experiencing homelessness.
In fact, older people on fixed incomes are the fastest growing segment of people experiencing homelessness.
So, it's no surprise that the increased cost of rent and housing is one of the top priorities I hear about from my neighbors.
The median sale price of homes increased by 57% since 2019. One 30 year old working man told me he didn't know how he would ever be able to afford to move out of his dad's home. Maybe he'd inherit it someday.
Having a home, whether it's one we're purchasing or renting, is the very foundation we all need to thrive. Arizonans deserve leaders who will make housing affordability a top priority.
What I've Helped Accomplish So Far
While we have much work still to do to make housing more affordable, I was honored to join the governor this week to reflect on the progress we made in the session that ended in June.
I helped pass legislation last session that will increase the supply of affordable housing as quickly as possible, including bills to
allow commercial buildings to be adapted for housing (HB2297),
speed up new building by requiring cities to complete zoning applications within 30 days (SB1162).
allow Arizonans to build backyard casitas in order to provide the most affordable and quick housing for young adult children or aging parents (SB2720),
require cities to allow more duplexes and triplexes that provide lower-cost housing to be built (HB2721)
Finally, Governor Hobbs'Arizona is Home mortgage assistance program has already helped 100 middle class families purchase their first home through down payment assistance and interest rate relief. The money is there because of a record $150 million investment I helped direct to the Housing Trust Fund in our 23-24 budget.
What More Can We Do to Make Housing Affordable?
This past week I attended the non-partisan ASU Morrison Institute for Public Policy's Housing and Water Summit with many of my colleagues. It was a great opportunity to hear from the very experts we should all be listening to as we develop policies to address making housing more affordable.
Unfortunately, in recent years the one-seat Republican majority in the Arizona legislature has not been listening to the experts. Instead, they have prioritized policies that protect corporate interests by handcuffing our cities, preventing them from taking the action they need to keep housing affordable and reduce homelessness.
With a new Democratic majority next year, we could enact legislation to return power to the cities so they can make decisions that would
Allow for Inclusionary Zoning:
Arizona is one of only seven states that prohibit cities from enacting inclusionary zoning policies which could incentivize builders to include affordable housing units in their plans.
Stabilize Rents:
Arizona has seen rents shoot up 72% since 2010. While some say we should allow the free market to have its way, we've also seen nine major Phoenix and Tucson landlords accused of price-fixing.
What is the role of government in protecting us as consumers? One potential solution to keeping rents affordable would be an incentive program for landlords not to increase their rent.
Allow Cities to Regulate Short-term Rentals:
Almost ten years ago Arizona passed a law pre-empting cities from adopting any regulations on short-term rentals. Many of these are now owned by corporations and are turning some neighborhoods into hotels. In some areas, workers can't afford to live in the cities where they work. Over 65,000 housing units are now short-term rentals which makes them a significant contributor to our housing shortage. Allowing cities more control over short-term rentals could offer more local control.
It's vital that we elect legislators this November who will prioritize the need for all Arizonans to have an affordable place to live. Please help spread the word.
Please Support Crucial School Bond Elections This November!
This November 5, we will see crucially important bond elections from the Glendale Union High School and the Deer Valley Unified School Districts.
These carefully planned proposals minimize the impact on taxpayers while providing crucial support to schools that the legislature has been underfunding for years.
Learn more about the Deer Valley Bond & Override proposal here
Learn more about the Glendale Union High School District's Bond proposal here.
Invite a Friend to Meet Us!
RSVP here!
๐๐จ๐ข๐ง ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ.
Meet our LD2 candidates Judy Schwiebert for state senate and Stephanie Simacek for state house, and learn more about their role in government, what they believe and support, and how they'll change LD2.
Bring a friend and learn more about how you can support Judy and Stephanie up to election day.
Coffee and donuts will be provided.
Host a House Party
Introduce Us to Your Neighbors
My running mate Stephanie Simacek, our district manager Mary Fortney and I are always enormously grateful to friends who are hosting House parties to tell their neighbors about what's at stake in this election, and then encourage them to be like you and vote, donate, and even volunteer. Please host a house party where you can introduce your neighbors to us! Find out more about hosting by emailing Mary.
Pick Up Your Yard Signs!
We have yard signs!! Show your support for Schwiebert & Simacek - Pick up our yard signs at our office today!
Then plant them and see our support grow in your neighborhood.!
1524 W. Bell Rd (behind the Discount Tire)
Monday & Tuesday, 1-3 pm
Thursday & Friday, 3-5 pm
Saturday, 10 am-4 pm.
Get Ready for the General Election Nov 5
Be sure to visit BeBallotReady.Vote to verify your voter registration information for the crucial upcoming General Election on Tuesday, November 5.
You will be prompted to log in to your Voter Dashboard by entering information you already know. Once in, you can change your address, registration status, and political party, or join (or un-join) the Active Early Voting List so that your ballot will be mailed to you (or not).
About 90% of AZ voters are now on the Active Early Voting List, including me. If you want to go to the polls on Election Day, just take your completed ballot to any polling location, skip the line., and drop it in the official secured container.
Get Notified When Your Ballot is Received
Do you receive text notifications like I do from Maricopa County Elections when your ballot is sent, then received, and then counted?
If you don't already receive them, it's easy to sign up. Just text JOIN to 628-683, or visit BallotStatus.Maricopa.Vote.
If you're not signed up to receive an early ballot for the general election you can still do so until October 25.
LD2 North Phoenix
Community Builders
Nominate Your Favorite Local Business!
I'm so grateful to the many people and local businesses who make our community such a unique and thriving place. That's why I'm excited to be partnering with the Bell Road Business Alliance and Stoke Interactive to recognize many of the local Community Builders in our neighborhood. (LD2 extends roughly between Thunderbird and the 303, 32nd Street to 43rd Avenue.). Nominate your favorite local business here https://ld2northphoenixcommunitybuilder.com/
Thank you HALO Animal Rescue! 3227 E. Bell Road
We had a wonderful visit to ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐, nominated by Denise Spaulding for our North Phoenix Community Builder recognition. ๐๐๐๐ (๐๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ง through increased adoption, sterilization, and pet care education) is a private non-profit founded in 1994 by two women, Heather Allen (pictured here with me) and her mom, Michel Herstam.
HALO provides over 3,000 adoptions per year. Their adoption counselors thrive on helping people find their new best friend, and most pets go home the same day
Pet ownership is very important to many people at all stages of life and giving LD2 a source for adoption in its neighborhood is a blessing. For locations, hours, and photos of adoptable pets visit
www.halorescue.org. OR, to support their non-profit work check out their HALO Animal Rescue Thrift Boutique at 11649 N. Cave Creek Rd, #F, Phoenix, AZ 85020.
Support Our Community !
We love having the chance to support the Puma Empowerment Center at Paradise Valley Community College with a Fall Food and Clothing Drive. From now until September 1st, we will collect Womenโs & Menโs Professional Business attire and food pantry donations.
We are seeking current and fashionable items, including: Women's and Men's Professional Business Attire for their Dress for Success program. Learn more at this link.
Food Pantry Donations -Non-perishable food items -Snack Items -Water & Soft Drinks -Toiletries -Hygiene products -Cleaning supplies
Drop off donations to the LD2 Office at 1524 W Bell Rd, Suite 6, Phoenix, 85027 during office hours.
Join Our Campaign!
Thank you, Volunteer Andy Schwiebert
While we have many incredible volunteers, I want to celebrate my son Andy for coming over to help me canvass this week. Like so many of us, he has a busy career and family life. He's a minister at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in downtown Los Angeles, husband to Allison and dad to daughters Kaira and Amara, and has many other commitments. But he took the week off to drive over and help me reach out to folks in this community where he grew up.
As a very proud mom, it was a special treat!
Yes, it's hot, but canvassing is the best way to help make sure we're listening to our neighbors. Be like Andy. Come help us earn the votes of our community for the AZ State Senate.
Our Legislative District Will Determine the Direction of our State & Nation
We need YOU to help elect an Arizona legislature focused on the real issues we face like the teacher, affordable housing, and water shortage crises; keeping our families safe from gun violence; and reducing healthcare and other costs. Turning out voters for LD2 will help elect Democrats all the way up the ballot
Be a part of history by volunteering for our campaign today!
Join a Community Canvass. We're knocking on doors so we can listen to fellow voters about what's important to them. We want to elect listeners like Stephanie Simacek to the State House and me to the Senate who will truly represent our community Use this link to find a day and time that works for you. We'll buddy you up with someone experienced. We need door knockers and drivers.
Donate! We need everyone's help to pay for the staff, literature, and other advertising that are essential to winning these very competitive races.
Visit OUR LD 2 Campaign office at 1524 W. Bell Road (behind the Discount Tire, next to the Liberty Tax office). Come help us make phone calls, write postcards, and/or launch a canvass!
Or, pick up a yard sign!