How I Voted On This Week’s Bills
May 26, 2024
Hi Friend,
Welcome to Last Week at the Legislature, my weekly report to you on what happened last week in your State House and how I'm representing our community. A special welcome if you are new here!
The State House continues to be at recess, and will not meet again until June 4, when we will most likely be voting on HCR2060. This is Speaker Toma's unfunded mandate to require local police and law enforcement to jail immigrants who they believe may have crossed the border illegally. It passed the State Senate last week, and if it passes in the House, will be sent directly to the voters in November.
In the meantime, I've been spending my time meeting constituents and attending events organized by our neighbors to make our community a better, safer place for all of us. Check out the upcoming activities, too, including our LD2 blood drive on June 1.
It's an honor to serve you in the Arizona legislature. Please feel free to contact me anytime.
Judy
Representative Judy Schwiebert, LD2
jschwiebert@azleg.gov, JudySchwiebert.com, 602-935-0468
How I Voted This Week
On Wednesday, May 15, State House representatives voted on 15 bills, including the following. You can find out more about the rest of the bills and how everyone voted here and here. (You'll just have to scroll down to click on individual bill numbers.) Again, as you see, virtually all the bills are sponsored by Republicans.
Democrats have proposed many great bills on behalf of constituents, but they almost never get this far under the one-seat majority in both chambers. Democratic members have been a part of amending many of these bills to make them better, however.
HB2720 (Carbone-R) accessory dwelling units; requirements This bill would require a city of at least 75,000 people to allow for accessory dwelling units (ADUs or casitas) on any parcel of land or lot zoned for single family homes. I wanted to vote YES on this bill because I strongly agree that ADU's are an important way to increase affordable housing, especially for older family members or young adults. However, because this bill allows the ADU's to be used as short term rentals (if the owner occupies one of the residences), community members in Phoenix and other cities where short term rentals have been destroying neighborhoods strongly objected to this bill. I voted NO because I agree with those concerns. Until the legislature rolls back the state pre-emption on cities so they can regulate their own short term rental market, I don't think it's wise for us to allow statewide expansion for STR's (short term rentals) as this bill would do. However, it passed 35-22. Having been already approved in the Senate, it now goes to the Governor's desk for her signature or veto.
HB2721 (Carbone-R) municipal zoning; middle housing. This bill requires a municipality with a population of 75,000 or more to authorize the development of duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, or townhomes on all lots zoned for single family use by January 1, 2026. I voted YES because we need more affordable housing and this "missing middle" housing is inherently less expensive than stand-alone houses. That's because the homes are generally smaller than a single-detached home on the same lot and the cost of land is split between a few households.. It passed 42-15, and now goes to the Governor's desk for her signature or veto.
This Week In LD2
Coffee with a Cop
8:30 am on the 4th Thursday of Each Month
Biscuits Cafe, 3rd St & Bell
It was great to join Coffee with a Cop again this past Thursday with my friend and neighbor Councilwoman Debra Stark Thank you so much toLieutenant Ben Sywarungsymunand our Community Action Officers for keeping our neighborhood informed on how to stay safe.
What great news that our North Phoenix community saw a 9% drop in violent crime and a 13% drop in property crime since last year at this time!. Also, great to learn about how to get help for people experiencing homelessness in our washes and streets by calling Phoenix Cares at311. Join us on June 27 for our next Coffee with a Cop!
REACH-North Phoenix
Addressing the fentanyl epidemic
Thank you to Lisa, leader of REACH North Phoenix which is meeting monthly now at the JuniperPhoenix Public Libraryto help educate community members, youth and parents about how to prevent fentanyl use and overdose deaths. This coalition of leaders including the National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, North Phoenix Chamber, city and county services, helped train us this month to use Naloxone, an easy nasal spray that is an immediate way to reverse an otherwise fatal overdose, and gave us free kits.
Fentanyl use is rampant. It's easy for people to make their own pills even right in our own neighborhood, and it's vital we do all we can to address this epidemic. Learn more at theirwebsite, view the meetings at theirYouTube channel, and join us next month on Thursday, June 27, 1 pm at the Juniper Library for a data and planning session.
Assyrian American Cultural Organization’s new Community Center!
Big congratulations to the Assyrian American Cultural Organization on their beautiful new home at Thunderbird and 19th Ave. I was so thrilled to join Nahrain and AT Younadam for the ribbon cutting last Sunday, May 19! So glad to have their community center in our very own LD2!
LD2 North Phoenix Community Builders
Nominate Your Favorite Local Business!
As a lifelong member of our community, I'm so grateful to the many people and local businesses who make it such a great place to live. 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.
Check out our website at LD2NPCB.com to learn more about past recipients and nominate your favorite locally-owned businesses or nonprofits in LD2. I'm honored to be a part of recognizing them in this way for the vital role they play in making our community the safe, thriving, unique place it is.
Join Our Campaign!
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 NEW LD 2 Campaign office at 1524 W. Bell Road (behind the Discount Tire, next to the Liberty Tax office). You can still sign school board candidates and the access to abortion petitions there - or make phone calls - or write postcards.
Host a House Party
Introduce Us to Your Neighbors
Be like Libby and Ed Goff who hosted a House Party to tell their neighbors about what's at stake in this election, and then encourage them to be like you and donate or volunteer. Thank you so much to the Goffs for the wonderful party they hosted on Sunday, June 2!
Invite your neighbors to subscribe to this newsletter by sending them this link.
Paid for by Judy for AZ. Authorized by Judy Schwiebert