Vice Mayor Ansari's Statement on Phoenix Mobile Home Vote | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-7/2703 | | City Council District 7 | 3/23/2023 7:00:00 AM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/2703/Newsroom_Council_Statement_07.jpg | | Vice Mayor Ansari's Statement on Phoenix Mobile Home Vote | <div class="ExternalClass52E4DDA95B2041A99483BFA14709B667"><html>
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<span style="font-size:13.3333px;">At its most basic level, homelessness is about housing – and today, City Council failed to keep hundreds of families in their homes.</span>
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<span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;">The families of Las Casitas, Weldon Court, and Periwinkle mobile home parks have spent thousands of hours at City Council meetings, sharing how the stress of their upcoming evictions is negatively impacting their lives.</span>
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<span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;">It’s incredibly frustrating and disheartening that my colleagues continue to share their concerns about homelessness in the Valley, and in my district in particular, yet they’ve chosen to ignore the pleas of these families facing eviction.</span>
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<span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;">I’d be more than willing to work with Grand Canyon University, Trellis, the property owners of Weldon Court and Las Casitas, and the residents to get people housed. But the reality is these families are already home.</span>
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<span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;">Even more concerning is that this issue is not confined to just the Periwinkle, Las Casitas, and Weldon Court mobile home residents. There are 425 mobile home parks in the city. As more people move to our city, we have to find ways to accommodate new development without displacing residents.</span>
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</html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/district7 | News | district-7 |
Vice Mayor Ansari Hosts the 2nd Annual Nowruz (Persian New Year) Honoring the Global Movement for Women's Rights | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-7/2682 | | City Council District 7 | 3/9/2023 7:00:00 AM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/2682/Newsroom_Council_News_07.jpg | | Vice Mayor Ansari Hosts the 2nd Annual Nowruz (Persian New Year) Honoring the Global Movement for Women's Rights | <div class="ExternalClassB0F8308B00C4418484B2EEAC4927E5B7"><html>
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<strong>Phoenix, AZ: </strong></span><span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;">In recognition of Women's History Month, Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari is thrilled to host the 2nd annual No</span><span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;">wruz (Persian New Year) at Civic Space Park, a multicultural dedication and resource fair to honor the global movement for women's rights.</span></div><div><span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;"><br></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Over the last year, women across the globe – particularly in Iran and Afghanistan – have unified to advance the rights, freedoms, and equality of women, children, LGBTQIA, and other oppressed peoples. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;">"Empowerment starts when we support each other – and this Nowruz, we’ll stand in solidarity with the women leading the movement for equal rights," said Vice Mayor Ansari. "In the celebratory spirit of the holiday there will be live music, performers and Nowruz-themed crafts. We’ll end the evening with a candlelight vigil honoring the women and allies who have lost their lives in the struggle for equality and those who continue their work." </span><br></div><div><span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;">Attendees can purchase traditional foods and handmade goods from local restaurants and artists representing the Persian and Middle Eastern communities. Those vendors include Al Zoubani Sweets, Ava Bakery and Restaurant, Hummus Xpress, Madd Pita & Tacos, Tzikii Food Truck, and art from local artist Nada al Rubiya.</span><br></div><div><span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Local non-profit organizations and government agencies will be available to share resources and services, particularly those tailored to Phoenix’s immigrant and refugee communities. The nonprofits include AIRS Charities, Arizona Afghan Association, Catholic Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Circle of North America, Lutheran Social Services, Operation Eagle, and Arizona Persian Cultural Center. The City of Phoenix’s Neighborhood Services Department, Parks and Recreation, and the Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Refugee Resettlement Program will also be on hand.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Additionally, at Vice Mayor Ansari's request, City Hall will light up green, white, and red from March 18 through March 21 to raise awareness for this global women's rights movement, particularly as women in Iran and Afghanistan continue to face severe oppression from their governments.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Attendance is free, with food and goods available for purchase. More details and event registration can be found here: <a href="https://www.nowruzphx.com/" target="_blank">nowruzphx.com</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><strong>Event Details </strong></span></div><div><ul style="" class="" dir=""><li><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><strong>What: </strong>Nowruz at Civic Space Park: Honoring the Global Movement for Women’s Rights </span></li><li><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><strong>Who: </strong>Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari, International Rescue Committee, and Arizona Persian Cultural Center, Downtown Phoenix Inc. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><strong>Where: </strong>Civic Space Park </span></li><li><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><strong>When:</strong> Saturday, March 18th 3:00 – 7:00 pm </span></li><li><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><strong>Media Contact:</strong> Emily O'Neil, Vice Mayor's Office Communications Director, (602)856-7448</span></li><li><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><strong>Quick Links</strong>: <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/1_oiAYKzT_CahTu7ehuizXKZNus1QOTD2/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword" target="_blank">Media Kit</a></span></li></ul></div></div><div><ul>
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Vice Mayor Ansari's Statement on the Source of Income Discrimination Prohibition Ordinance | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-7/2670 | | City Council District 7 | 3/1/2023 7:00:00 AM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/2670/Newsroom_Council_Statement_07.jpg | | Vice Mayor Ansari's Statement on the Source of Income Discrimination Prohibition Ordinance | <div class="ExternalClassB9C14FD35C7F48C4843995107D7C94DE"><html>
<div>"In the last few months, it's become clear that certain State laws are inhibiting our ability to make critical decisions about the future of the City of Phoenix, particularly on issues like community safety and housing affordability. <br></div>
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<div>Despite state lawmakers' passion for local control, the State Legislature has forced the City of Phoenix to sell confiscated weapons, including those used in violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Now, they are wading into local issues by prohibiting cities from protecting future homeowners and renters alike from housing discrimination. </div>
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<div>Prohibiting source of income discrimination is not only a necessary piece of our housing toolbox; Phoenix residents, particularly the elderly, have been vocal about the need to remove this barrier. They have spent hours at City Council meetings sharing how they’ve struggled to keep housing or have been outright denied housing. One speaker shared how many of her elderly peers have ended up living on the streets; another shared that without the support of her recently deceased husband, she has struggled to make ends meet. </div>
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<div>As today's speakers highlighted, Phoenicians should not have to wait 3-5 years on a Section 8 Voucher waitlist, only to be turned away from using that very voucher. The City of Phoenix, which is in the middle of a housing affordability crisis, currently has over 15,000 residents on that wait list. </div>
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<div>Our job as City Councilmembers is to listen to our residents and take action to move our communities forward together. Yet, just like selling confiscated guns, the City of Phoenix must follow the laws established by State lawmakers – regardless of their negative impact on our residents. </div>
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<div>I urge State lawmakers to pass policies that return control to local governments, such as Representative Longdon's bill HB 2191, which would allow cities and towns to pass their own policies without fear of financial penalties from the State."<br></div>
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