| 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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| Councilwoman Ann O'Brien Announces the Launch of the Phoenix Community Court | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-1/2969 | | City Council District 1 | 1/8/2024 7:00:00 AM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/2969/Newsroom_Council_News_01.jpg | | Councilwoman Ann O'Brien Announces the Launch of the Phoenix Community Court | <div class="ExternalClass590109DE494E4696984CC5C65D4197F8"><html>
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<span style="font-size:13.3333px;">The City of Phoenix officially opened its Community Court this month. Community Court will operate two days a week with two presiding judges. The specialty court will begin hearing cases this week, starting on the 9th.</span>
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<span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;">“This program has been a long time in the making for us in Phoenix. My office has been researching homeless problems and solutions throughout the past two years and came across the successful Community Court model already operational in Mesa,” said Councilwoman Ann O’Brien. </span>
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<span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;">The Community Court will operate as a pre-adjudication court system offering homeless individuals who have committed crimes the opportunity to receive services rather than going through the traditional judicial system. Individuals participating in Community Court will be given the options to choose for themselves – services or consequences. Once an individual has been arrested and arraigned, a city prosecutor will determine if the individual is qualified to participate in Community Court based on the level of their crime and housing status. No one charged with aggravated assaults or domestic assault will be qualified to participate in the Community Court program.</span>
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<span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;">Once an individual agrees to participate, a navigator will be assigned to them to create an individualized plan that will help to elevate them out of homelessness. If an individual chooses not to follow their personalized plan or to leave Community Court at any point in time, they will be returned to the traditional judiciary court system to proceed with their case. When an individual completes their plan and graduates from Community Court, their charges could be dropped, lowered, or considered time served. </span>
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<span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;">“Community Court is a proven model in other municipalities that show when homeless individuals commit low-level crimes, as a result of their conditions, there can be positive outcomes,” Councilwoman O’Brien continued. “We have a responsibility to all our citizens to prosecute crime and to keep our streets clean and neighborhoods safe. However, we also have a responsibility to provide the services needed to ensure people who want to can lift themselves out of homelessness.”</span>
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<span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;">Community Courts was one of many solutions published in <a target="_blank" href="/district1site/Documents/Proposed%20Homeless%20Solutions%20Plan.pdf">Councilwoman O’Brien’s Proposed Homeless Solutions</a> plan released six months ago.</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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