| Councilwoman O'Brien Elected as New Phoenix Vice Mayor | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-1/3327 | | City Council District 1 | 1/16/2025 12:00:00 AM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/3327/Newsroom_Council_News_01.jpg | | Councilwoman O'Brien Elected as New Phoenix Vice Mayor | <div class="ExternalClassCF9CB25C311E4D288C92BEA3F592D38D"><html>
<p><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:17.3333px;">In a 7-1 <span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;">vote, Councilwoman Ann O'Brien was selected by her peers to serve as the next Vice Mayor of Phoenix.</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:17.3333px;">As a dedicated member of the City Council, serving District 1 for the past four years, Vice Mayor O'Brien has been a leading voice on homelessness, public safety, economic development, and housing – serving as chair for two different subcommittees.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:17.3333px;">Most recently, she has served as the Chair of the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee where she was instrumental in creating the Community Court, offering our homeless offenders an alternative route through the judicial system and out of homelessness.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:17.3333px;">Currently, Vice Mayor O'Brien serves as the Chair of the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee where she is focused on reducing bureaucracy and cutting red tape to spur housing growth and ensure Phoenix remains competitive and attractive to companies looking to grow and invest in Phoenix.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:17.3333px;">The safety of Phoenix residents is of high priority to the Vice Mayor. During her last four years, Vice Mayor O'Brien has worked to ensure Phoenix Police are the highest paid law enforcement agency in the State and has fought to get the latest technology in the hands of first responders by pushing for drones and Artificial Intelligence technologies. In 2023, Vice Mayor O'Brien piloted a lockbox program where seniors and disabled adults could request a lockbox be installed on their home containing pertinent medical information and a key to the house to ensure easy access for first responders in case of an emergency.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:17.3333px;">“Congratulations to Vice Mayor O'Brien on assuming this new role! I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the City keeps providing top-notch services to our constituents, growing our strong local economy, and advancing solutions to the homelessness crisis. I have greatly appreciated her partnership over the last four years and am excited to see all that we'll accomplish for Phoenix in the year ahead," Mayor Kate Gallego said. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:17.3333px;">“I am beyond honored to be entrusted by my peers to serve in this important role," said Vice Mayor Ann O'Brien. “As Vice Mayor, I will continue to work towards reducing homelessness, cutting red tape, and making Phoenix the best place to live by staying committed to working with my colleagues in a nonpartisan fashion."</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="font-size:17.3333px;">Over the next year, Vice Mayor O'Brien will be focused on pushing for policies with meaningful results and not quick political wins. She is committed to bringing back more first-time homebuyer product, making meaningful reforms to modern day policing, keeping our neighborhoods clean, and bringing the City of Phoenix's technology out of the 20th century and into the 21st.</span><br></span></p>
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| Councilwoman O'Brien's Statement on the Release of the Department of Justice Findings Report | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-1/3130 | | City Council District 1 | 6/13/2024 7:00:00 AM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/3130/Newsroom_Council_Statement_01.jpg | | Councilwoman O'Brien's Statement on the Release of the Department of Justice Findings Report | <div class="ExternalClassE2928D906A49465A87048D1D506AE937"><html>
<div><strong>Phoenix, AZ -</strong> Throughout the Department of Justice’s nearly three-year investigation, Phoenix remained fully transparent and compliant. We provided over 179,000 documents, 20 terabytes of data, 22,000 body-worn camera videos, and 220 recordings of 911 calls. We also facilitated more than 200 hours of ride-alongs and 130 interviews with police department and city staff, including our Police Chief and City Manager. We opened the doors to our training academy and facilitated 8 field visits with the DOJ.<br></div><div><br></div><div>While we remained transparent with the DOJ, it was clear they were not willing to reciprocate. After having asked for adequate time to review the findings report and for a fully translated Spanish version to be released concurrently to ensure our entire population was able to access the report, we were denied multiple times.<br></div><div><br></div><div>During today’s press conference, the DOJ made clear their intent is for the City of Phoenix to enter into a consent decree and agree to federal court-ordered monitoring. They continued to refer to this model as a “track record of success.” Time and time again, this has proven to be a broken model for fixing and reforming police departments across the country.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Assistant Attorney General Kristin Clarke pointed to Seattle, Albuquerque, and Baltimore as examples of this successful model. If success to AAG Clarke looks like Seattle’s violent crime increasing by 37% in the first 10 years under a consent decree or a 53% increase in violent crime in Albuquerque since they entered into a consent decree in 2015, then we absolutely should sit down to negotiate other options for reform.<br></div><div><br></div><div>AAG Clarke acknowledged “no one size fits all on this approach,” so hopefully the DOJ will be open to negotiating an option which both Phoenix and the DOJ can agree will bring the needed reform to our Police Department. Because clearly, a consent decree doesn’t bring the necessary reforms.<br></div><div><br></div><div>A consent decree would impose significant financial burdens and bureaucratic hurdles, as seen with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Under a consent decree since 2015, MCSO must run every decision through their court-ordered monitor, which hampered their effectiveness. This ineffective oversight, combined with $250 million costs, recently led to Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone's resignation from office. Seattle and Detroit have faced similar financial strains, spending $100 million and $50 million respectively.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Our police department is not perfect, but we have already implemented significant reforms, such as revising our use of force policy with community input, mandating de-escalation training, removing them from interactions where a mental health professional may be better suited, and creating the Office of Accountability and Transparency, and the Civilian Review Board. In fact, the City of Phoenix and its Police Department have already implemented, or are currently implementing, many of the reforms the DOJ called for in other agencies they investigated and placed under a consent decree. Phoenix Police have demonstrated a commitment to improvement and transparency, showing we are capable of reforming ourselves without the need for a DOJ consent decree or a costly court-ordered monitor.<br></div><div><br></div><div>I stand firm behind the men and women of the Phoenix Police Department and trust our leadership to continue to improve and elevate the service we provide Phoenix families, businesses, and visitors. <br></div><div><br></div><div>Phoenix can and will make necessary changes – independently!<br></div><div><br><strong>Media Contact:</strong> Derrik Rochwalik, Councilwoman O'Brien's Chief of Staff, derrik.rochwalik@phoenix.gov, call or text (480)202-7347<br></div><br></html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/district1 | News | district-1 |
| Barrio Brewery Celebrates Grand Opening at the Deer Valley Airport | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-1/2990 | | City Council District 1 | 1/23/2024 12:00:00 AM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/2990/Newsroom_Council_News_01.jpg | | Barrio Brewery Celebrates Grand Opening at the Deer Valley Airport | <div class="ExternalClassD4D4EF6586F04014964F9A56F2882C1E"><html>
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<strong>Phoenix, AZ -</strong> After three long years of the restaurant space in the Deer Valley Airport (DVT) being closed, Barrio Brewery has officially opened its doors at the Deer Valley Airport. Based in Tucson, this location marks Barrio’s second location in Maricopa County with the first being at the Mesa-Gateway Airport.</span>
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<span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Established in 1991, Barrio Brewery holds the distinction of being Arizona's oldest brewery, and the only brewery in Arizona 100% employee-owned. The latest addition at the Deer Valley Airport will feature local microbrews and regional favorites, serving contemporary Mexican cuisine and traditional pub grub. Travelers and neighborhood patrons will be able to enjoy an earthy, down-home, comfortable dining experience. Their hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM.</span>
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<span style="font-size:13.3333px;">“I remember attending many community-based events at the old restaurant in Deer Valley Airport,” said Councilwoman Ann O’Brien. “Like many members of the North Phoenix community, I was thrilled when Barrio Brewery announced their intent to open their second valley location at DVT! I’m even more grateful the team at Kind Hospitality understood the sentimental value the old restaurant held in my constituents’ hearts. They’ve managed to incorporate many of the aspects that made the old restaurant so endearing and nostalgic.”</span>
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<span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Barrio Brewery will feature a full bar with their local brews, breakfast and lunch/dinner menus, community meeting spaces, private dining rooms, as well as some of the old model planes from the previous restaurant incorporated into their design. Patrons will also be able to bring their growlers in to fill them with their favorite Barrio beer, as well as grab-and-go 6-packs.</span>
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<span style="font-size:13.3333px;">This is sure to be a special evening filled with celebration, featuring delicious hors d'oeuvres and an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.</span>
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<strong>What</strong>: Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting – Barrio Brewery</span>
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<strong>When</strong>: Tuesday, January 23rd – 5:30pm</span>
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<strong>Where</strong>: Barrio Brewery – Deer Valley Airport (702 W Deer Valley Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85027)</span>
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<strong>Media Contact</strong>: Derrik Rochwalik, Councilwoman O'Brien's Chief of Staff, derrik.rochwalik@phoenix.gov, call or text (480)202-7347</span>
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