| Councilwoman Ann O'Brien's Comment on the Adoption of the Final 2021-22 Budget | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-1/1954 | | City Council District 1 | 6/16/2021 10:52:00 PM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/1954/Newsroom_Council_Statement_01.jpg | | Councilwoman Ann O'Brien's Comment on the Adoption of the Final 2021-22 Budget | <div class="ExternalClass8F7DDD008C70470F9E508B533D15529D"><html>First, I want to thank City staff in all the different departments who have put so much time and effort into creating this budget.<br><br>My office has received well over 200 emails and phone calls asking us not to defund the police and to oppose the budget. I want to make this very clear, I do not support reducing or defunding our public safety officers. This budget, as proposed, does NOT defund the police. There has been misinformation passing around claiming the current budget will cut and/or fully defund the police. This is simply inaccurate.<br><br>In fact, this budget actually provides more funding to our public safety department in additional civilian positions created for the expansion of the Community Assistance Program, which will be designed to provide properly trained responders to deescalate situations where police officers may not be involved.<br><br>I supported the budget as written so that our police force can continue to receive the funding they need in order to keep our neighborhoods and communities safe, as well as to actively recruit more officers to maintain the recommended 2.5 officers per 1,000 residents recommendation.<br><br>This 2021-22 budget also helps to address early childhood education attainment for our most vulnerable communities. I believe a proper education for every child is the first step to raising Phoenix to the standards I know we can achieve.<br><br>This budget allocates necessary funding to help address our homeless population and works to create regional solutions with our neighboring municipalities to ensure our City doesn't bear the brunt of helping our vulnerable community members. This budget also provides necessary funds to our transit department which connects our citizens across the City. I hope to work closely with our Public Transit Department over the next year to develop new routes into the northern part of the City.<br><span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;font-size:10pt;"><br>Once again, thank you to city staff, who put all their time and effort into creating this budget. And more importantly, thank you to all the Phoenix residents, particularly Council District 1 residents, who participated in this budget process to ensure that everyone had a voice, had an opportunity to advocate for the programs that are important to them, and to share their thoughts and ideas on the future of our city.</span><br></html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/district1 | News | district-1 | District 1 | Ann | O’Brien |
| A Message on the Adoption of the Ordinance to Establish the Office of Accountability and Transparency | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-1/1919 | | City Council District 1 | 5/20/2021 12:00:00 AM | | | A Message on the Adoption of the Ordinance to Establish the Office of Accountability and Transparency | <div class="ExternalClassC3057F7859C6495192E15092ED5CD274"><html>
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<span style="font-size:14.6667px;">Thank you to all Phoenix residents, who called or emailed the District 1 Office to express their opposition of the adoption of the ordinance that establishes the Office of Accountability and Transparency. </span>
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<span style="font-size:14.6667px;">As I mentioned during the Council discussion, the Office of Accountability and Transparency (OAT) is supposed to serve as a "checks and balances" mechanism. But the way it is written currently, there is no balance. </span>
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<span style="font-size:14.6667px;">For example, the ordinance states that the OAT is being mandated to employ a future director and staff members without any background in law enforcement or have family members who previously served in law enforcement. Essentially, we are creating an Office that is supposed to work in tandem with our Police Department, yet not have ANY background or experience in how these types of investigations work or carried out. How can an Office designed to provide accountability and transparency by working with our Police Department function without any institutional knowledge?</span>
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<span style="font-size:14.6667px;">The city is creating an additional department and growing government to perform a process where one is already in place. Creating multiple departments and positions performing the same task is certainly a waste of taxpayer dollars. Currently, the Phoenix Police Department has a Use of Force Process. The moment there’s an application of force by an officer, the incident is either investigated by the Professional Standards Board or by the Violent Crimes Bureau. From there, the incident is either sent to the County Attorney or forwarded to the Use of Force Board, then to a Disciplinary Review Board before ultimately going to a Civil Service Board. That’s essentially five separate boards PLUS potentially being reviewed by the County Attorney. So why are we creating another Department of government to perform what is already a detailed investigation process?</span>
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<span style="font-size:14.6667px;">Again, I want to reiterate that I am supportive of increasing accountability and transparency, but by giving this Office of Accountability and Transparency FULL investigative authority, we are creating a system of checks and balances that has a whole lot of checks and not enough balances.<br></span>
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| Phoenix 2021 Inauguration Ceremony | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-1/1867 | | City Council District 1 | 4/19/2021 7:00:00 PM | | https://youtu.be/7V8Kvr84Q-g | Phoenix 2021 Inauguration Ceremony | <div class="ExternalClassFF08A3F618C64860943C2F105B714367"><html>
<p>On Monday, April 19, 2021 Councilwoman Ann O'Brien was officially sworn in as the City of Phoenix's District 1 Councilwoman. The Councilwoman will serve a four-year term. <br></p>
</html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/district1 | Video | district-1 | District 1 | Ann | O’Brien |
| Statement From Councilwoman Williams on the Passing of Calvin C. Goode | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-1/1678 | | City Council District 1 | 12/24/2020 1:00:00 AM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/1678/Newsroom_Council_Statement_01.jpg | | Statement From Councilwoman Williams on the Passing of Calvin C. Goode | <div class="ExternalClass5843DB53827A4459B342C84AD393B924"><html>
<p><span id="ms-rterangepaste-start"></span>“Today we lost a living legend. Calvin broke down barriers, uplifted our city and through his leadership challenged us all to do better. His statesmanship lead to an ordinance that prohibited workplace discrimination, he was instrumental in the observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and championed many programs that still touch the lives of many Phoenicians today. His legacy is all around us and Phoenix is a better place because of him."<span id="ms-rterangepaste-end"></span><br></p>
</html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/district1 | News | district-1 | District 1 | Thelda | Williams |
| October 2 Statement from Councilwoman Williams on 2020 Census | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-1/1546 | | City Council District 1 | 10/2/2020 8:00:00 PM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/1546/Newsroom_Council_Statement_01.jpg | | October 2 Statement from Councilwoman Williams on 2020 Census | <div class="ExternalClass73939724F844434F8738499C4FBADDA1"><html>
<p>“Thank you for your participation in the 2020 Census. As counting wraps up for the 2020 Census, I want to thank our residents who fulfilled their civic duty and responded, doing so will help to shape resources for children and our community over the next decade. I appreciate all of the Census workers, volunteers, community partners, count committee members and government employees who worked so hard to help residents get counted."<br><br></p>
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</html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/district1 | News | district-1 | District 1 | Thelda | Williams |
| September 25 Statement From Councilwoman Williams on 2020 Census | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-1/1532 | | City Council District 1 | 9/25/2020 8:45:00 PM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/1532/Newsroom_Council_Statement_01.jpg | | September 25 Statement From Councilwoman Williams on 2020 Census | <div class="ExternalClass3C899673CAC9408D871B076E93F2CE66"><html>"The 2020 Census deadline is here! Just 5 days left to respond before the Wednesday, Sept. 30 deadline. It is not too late to submit your response to the 2020 Census, it is safe and just 10 minutes of your time will have a significant impact on funds returned from the federal government over the next decade. To respond, simply visit <a href="https://icount2020.info/" target="_blank">iCount2020.info</a>; or call 1-844-330-2020 English, 1-844-468- 2020 Spanish.<br><br>If you have any questions, call my office at 602-262-7444."<br><br>National Self-Response 66.3%<br>Arizona Self-Response 63.4%<br>Phoenix Self-Response 65.2%<br><br><div style="text-align:center;"><img style="margin:5px;width:428px;height:120px;" alt="" src="/district1site/MediaAssets/Census_iCount_cityofphx_logolockup_RGB_h_Opt3%20(002).png" /><br></div></html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/district1 | News | district-1 | District 1 | Thelda | Williams |
| September 18 Statement From Councilwoman Williams on 2020 Census | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-1/1514 | | City Council District 1 | 9/18/2020 8:00:00 PM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/1514/Newsroom_Council_Statement_01.jpg | | September 18 Statement From Councilwoman Williams on 2020 Census | <div class="ExternalClass5424E79D3E60432D98A8EA1B205C9A48"><html>
<span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:17.3333px;">“We have just 12 days left to respond to the 2020 Census. Arizona currently ranks 45th among states and territories with a total enumeration rate (self-response plus nonresponse follow up) of 88.9%. This means we have just under two weeks to get counted. </span><br style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:17.3333px;"><br style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:17.3333px;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:17.3333px;">
A complete count is critical to determining how taxpayer dollars will be returned to communities for the next decade. Undercounts literally translate to lost revenue for much needed programs in our community. Programs such as public safety planning, including police and fire stations; hospitals and healthcare; food assistance programs, help for the homeless; highway planning; construction; public transit; emergency management; education and Head Start; school lunches; disaster response; housing assistance are all funded through census counts.</span><br style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:17.3333px;"><br style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:17.3333px;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:17.3333px;">You also can still respond online, by phone or by mail, simply visit </span><a target="_blank" href="https://icount2020.info/"><span style="font-size:17.3333px;">iCount2020.info</span></a><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:17.3333px;">; or call 1-844-330-2020 English, 1-844-468-2020 Spanish; or respond by mail. <br></span><br style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:17.3333px;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:17.3333px;">
If you have any questions, call my office at 602-262-7444." <br></span><br style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:17.3333px;"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:17.3333px;">
National self-response rate: 66.0%<br></span><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:17.3333px;">Arizona self-response rate: 62.9%<br></span><span style="font-size:17.3333px;background-color:window;color:windowtext;">Phoenix self-response rate: 64.5%
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</html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/district1 | News | district-1 | District 1 | Thelda | Williams |
| September 11 Statement from Councilwoman Williams on 2020 Census | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/district-1/1499 | | City Council District 1 | 9/11/2020 9:00:00 PM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/1499/Newsroom_Council_Statement_01.jpg | | September 11 Statement from Councilwoman Williams on 2020 Census | <div class="ExternalClass7B4831467C284108ACC1FB3F82856830"><html>“The U.S. Census Bureau deadline to respond to the Census is Sept. 30. Get Counted! It just takes 10 minutes to respond, don't delay.<br><br>You also can still respond online, by phone or by mail, simply visit <a target="_blank" href="https://icount2020.info/">iCount2020.info</a>; or call 1-844-330-2020 English, 1-844-468- 2020 Spanish; or respond by mail. If you have any questions, call my office at 602-262-7444."<br> <br>National self-response rate: 65.7%<br>Arizona self-response rate: 62.4%<br><p>Phoenix self-response rate: 63.9%<br></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img style="margin:5px;width:363px;height:245px;" src="/district1site/MediaAssets/censustaker.jpeg" /><br></p></html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/district1 | News | district-1 | District 1 | Thelda | Williams |
