[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6066605,"mediaKeyId","3164860-256153f4fafd8b23d5649403c83f5938","parentId",3164860,"title","Residents press Phoenix to fund protected bike lanes, pedestrian safety in capital plan","audioSeconds",73,"startMs",3489000,"endMs",3562000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3164860-256153f4fafd8b23d5649403c83f5938&start=3489&end=3562","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3164860-256153f4fafd8b23d5649403c83f5938/thumbnail_3489000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6066605/Phoenix/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Residents-press-Phoenix-to-fund-protected-bike-lanes-pedestrian-safety-in-capital-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6066605-a577dedc2261f58b3845c39784d1cc44/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145721&Signature=nZ~LgEDnIdgHcJdf~iERa7lT50OQsgGr0kT4rYfYHH1cb-k9Bq0t-6nWatCQDkLZ3P6QM03kgEoVas8KdJJaU2BT-AokS7EL02y4si9nWFXcu7AkqMwTIj3w4riImGQlq4MX2wxwt7mhkPRHL-c5utOzhvx39ixwKFyXzUFX4Un~mUGXHzICTfFA4m76QAVxNriUPnyUg6Vbzy3ZoGSflC1UGi2O8mSNiO32HAYEnGdRF5CyjJ2pLGwPXM3NHiv5CPYQkrmenfxYnvUb9PdZ60CSYpBA0QWrtDBCbvow9wFA0mhOVsLo7ac9U78kKAc7zikJ44kgMzrF4tAdHj-7hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","AZ / City of Phoenix ","date","2025-04-06T00:00:00Z","article","Several residents used the budget hearing to urge the city to fund active-transportation and pedestrian-safety projects in the capital-improvement program (CIP), including an extension of a protected bike lane on Third Street and the enhanced option E design for McDowell Road.

Will Green, a member of the Urban Phoenix Project board, called for extension of the Third Street two-way protected bike lane through South Downtown and funding for enhanced option E on McDowell between SR-51 and Seventh Street, which includes protected bike lanes and street trees. “Phoenix can be a great city to be in, or it can be a great city to drive through, but it can't be both,” Green said.

Other commenters supported additional HAWK pedestrian crossings and more street trees. Melinda Riddle, a resident who bikes regularly, described dangerous conditions when trying to access existing multiuse trails and asked the council to prioritize safe connections to Rio Salado and other corridors. Charlene Sork asked the city to fund Vision Zero elements and stressed transportation diversity to serve residents who do not or cannot drive.

Why this matters: speakers linked active-transportation investments to equity, safety and climate goals, and argued that protected bicycle infrastructure and pedestrian crossings would reduce collisions and expand mobility options for residents without cars.

What the city said: staff noted the CIP includes pedestrian and drainage items; attendees were directed to existing CIP materials and staff for more technical follow-up.

Ending: Advocates requested that council prioritize protected bike-lane extensions, street trees and pedestrian-safety crossings as part of the final budget and CIP funding decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Phoenix City 2025-2026 Budget Hearing - Communitywide Bilingual Hybrid - City Council Chambers April 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During the budget hearing, speakers urged funding for Third Street protected bike-lane extension, enhanced option E on McDowell Road (protected bike lanes and street trees), HAWK pedestrian crossings and more street trees to improve safety and transportation options.","taxTitle","Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2207,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6066610,"Speakers at Phoenix budget hearing describe shelter needs, report police destruction of homeless property",214,2624000,2838000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3164860-256153f4fafd8b23d5649403c83f5938&start=2624&end=2838","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3164860-256153f4fafd8b23d5649403c83f5938/thumbnail_2624000.jpg","/articles/6066610/Phoenix/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Speakers-at-Phoenix-budget-hearing-describe-shelter-needs-report-police-destruction-of-homeless-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6066610-29f025d3ed80a0b97ec8e93008ad0e0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145721&Signature=EunZqXc37CV9JL9caWyorbAyOVjyKXiq32fFbF38ZSDjIV59uTNQuObk6lII4EMWugSKRZlr6djin3S2EWgEiuCq8wHFwWxOb3PAHGMpI-NflbWJ-DRKQlv5kQr7XdZZdE3d~Klk-3K6huHXJGGmjSdVSXaHNRT3V5qvBZ4w0lPXtV3cWKXYiVenxuUiOLKFLxIFv32ddpKrx4jO4AOkb9828ENgbH9lF5rH9ZDq8G4PxC3t50pONHzA99rci5yctuvQldTD69-8iKiMhoFDZ5gxpPYRN0K-qJBUBP6qQvFqrFtRuxjE4u8HJzbzLu0RzwGu42VwSVtEpLMVsic2PA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of speakers described homelessness and shelter-related needs during the city’s budget hearing, urging continued general-fund support for shelters, heat-relief centers and services to help residents obtain identification documents.

Several attendees said they had lost important documents and personal belongings during city-police or shelter interactions and asked the council to change enforcement practices that they said lead to property being confiscated or discarded. “They give everyone 10 to 15 minutes to do this and if it's not done, they call in a city truck and put all of your belongings in the truck and take it to a landfill,” said Frank Urban of Fund for Empowerment, describing his experience and observations about enforcement practices affecting people experiencing homelessness.

Speakers also urged funding to keep shelter facilities open and to make those facilities accessible to people with physical or other barriers. Elizabeth Venable noted that the preliminary budget includes substantial general-fund support for shelter facilities and urged attention to accessibility and service quality so residents can actually use those resources.

Why this matters: testimony emphasized the human and public-health impacts of displacement. Faith Kearns and others described having personal property destroyed, having to replace identification documents and the ongoing hardship that follow such losses. Evelyn Castillo, Phoenix field organizer for Take Back Our Homes, said many councilmembers support a right-to-counsel measure but that funding and promotion of existing eviction legal services is inadequate.

What the city said: Councilwoman Keisha Hodge Washington acknowledged the public comments, noted staff from the Office of Homeless Solutions and Human Services were present in the chamber, and encouraged attendees to speak with staff after the hearing to provide details for follow-up.

Ending: Advocates asked council offices to guarantee continued shelter funding and to examine enforcement and property-handling policies for people experiencing homelessness; no formal council action on these issues was taken at the hearing.","Multiple witnesses described experiences with homelessness, asked for continued general-fund support for shelter operations and heat-relief sites, and reported police practices that reportedly resulted in loss of identity documents and other personal property.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6066616,"Phoenix staff outline FY25-26 trial budget; TPT increase, fire, homelessness and water projects highlighted",437,39000,476000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3164860-256153f4fafd8b23d5649403c83f5938&start=39&end=476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3164860-256153f4fafd8b23d5649403c83f5938/thumbnail_39000.jpg","/articles/6066616/Phoenix/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Phoenix-staff-outline-FY25-26-trial-budget-TPT-increase-fire-homelessness-and-water-projects-highlighted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6066616-6bb85971740345b7d59c8505546d1f95/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145721&Signature=fjgBmo1YGSLIPXate7Qlvp6i3LF~WvduVE2msIAneojVdv3Ze5Ny2fxa0I~ofyVb8wxhQSCaYHHtLXVQI8wnmrmGnU3wfx~241y9myLWpck2e2JQtI24Fytt5Vc0qeydrmFhEf80N2XV5PTUzAohnl1-EvvLjEY0NGKtspAfIZnhLTzqbkbP2aH9y7Ss48EnOgk93oC6gsjtG~AoD7G4~9gSkD0fWYyv3Vvjj20sX4srlvomWD8p3W6cYQ8R8F98MXAG9~mQayW4vUKDfP4T8OQK~m0R7IWSUYCYyaVr0GXbvlzeJmCQtrnivwpUW3noB7V6Lj7MDB81aq9JR4aACA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff opened a public budget hearing by summarizing the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 trial budget and the rationale for specific revenue and spending strategies.

The presentation said recent state-level changes have reduced local revenue: “the state eliminated the ability for cities to collect residential rental sales tax, and they also lowered the individual income tax rate,” a staff presenter said. To offset those losses, the transcript notes the City Council voted on March 18 to increase the transaction privilege tax (TPT) rate from 2.3% to 2.8%, effective July 1, 2025.

Major budget priorities described in the trial budget include additional funding for the Phoenix Fire Department to reduce emergency-response times, $4.5 million in general-fund resources for the Office of Homeless Solutions to replace ending federal pandemic-era support, and a $5.6 million non-general-fund addition for the Water Services Department to fund reopening the Cave Creek Water Reclamation Plant.

Why this matters: staff framed the trial document as a “road map” for balancing estimated resources with projected expenses ahead of council adoption. The presentation reiterated that the trial budget was presented to the council on May 6 and was voted on May 21, with legal adoption scheduled for June and the property tax levy ordinance adoption scheduled for early July (all dates were described in the staff remarks).

Other budget strategies described: reprioritizing the general fund to reduce expenditures without cutting core services, setting aside projected resources to balance future budgets, and using excise-tax proceeds to finance large public safety capital projects (the presentation listed two new fire stations and additional apparatus as examples).

What the article does not claim: this hearing recorded public input and departmental explanations; no new ordinances or final budget adoptions were enacted at this hearing. Specific line-item appropriations and final adoption remain council actions to be completed in coming weeks.

Ending: Staff encouraged attendees to review materials posted online and at room kiosks and to submit feedback; a city representative said summaries of comments would be distributed to all council offices.","City staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 trial budget framework, citing state revenue reductions, a previously approved transaction privilege tax increase, proposed allocations for fire response, homeless services and a water reclamation plant reopening.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6066621,"Residents urge Phoenix to fund ‘right to counsel’ as budget hearings continue",3254,1644000,4898000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3164860-256153f4fafd8b23d5649403c83f5938&start=1644&end=4898","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3164860-256153f4fafd8b23d5649403c83f5938/thumbnail_1644000.jpg","/articles/6066621/Phoenix/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Residents-urge-Phoenix-to-fund-right-to-counsel-as-budget-hearings-continue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6066621-acbe49496395f410dde792a1e70b63ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145721&Signature=nLvt5z6HtEF3cpjlXGwnU2~qqegvlAppMzcEUJA2g-go4BYN2UanPGzPoaVDdsHOf341kDDRQj4p3G2o0EhlCz5hK1QGlq6n63zoi77ejpFkmzPWjdy~oMmclKV0mNkR~g0RN6TKlp243nShetAipUvOKkGsC2JB6pT1w~0j4YAhf2P~JkHFDggWRpRYFOHj15VOkO92h15vhJySnFF3FPEcbx0cDFu74ZTP~onfYsKsc3YdNe6Vej80W6cUakR~SmbPdtfweAHtFiA2050XTLsP8FXnLtSnQ1JaNR69Jp2m0ALomDpwzeB0yYQNYRL6HrQYKKulBljREBZuhm~aqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of Phoenix residents used a city budget hearing to press the council to fund a permanent right-to-counsel program that would provide legal representation for tenants facing eviction.

Community members said the city can avoid later social-service costs by preventing displacement. “Preventing evictions is not only the right thing to do, it's the fiscally responsible thing to do,” said Andrea Luna, one of the first public commenters. “Each eviction costs the city tens of thousands of dollars in emergency shelter, health care, policing, and other crisis services.”

Why this matters: speakers said eviction filings in Phoenix are at historically high levels and that tenants rarely have legal representation. Multiple commenters cited local figures — including repeated claims that Phoenix sees about 40,000 eviction filings a year and that fewer than 1% of tenants receive legal help — and urged the city to invest in a program similar to ones in Philadelphia, Cleveland and other U.S. cities that have reported cost savings after creating right-to-counsel programs.

What commenters asked for: residents and advocates requested permanent annual general-fund allocations to build a citywide program, expanded outreach and tenant education, and promotion of existing eviction legal services. “We have the capacity. What's missing is the commitment from council and the city manager's office,” Andrea Luna said. Numerous speakers described personal harms from evictions or near-evictions, including health, employment and family instability. Catherine Wilkins said she was forced out of an apartment after a $400 rent increase and did not have an attorney.

Supporters also pointed to pilot programs and national examples. Nathan Hatch and others noted Philadelphia's initial investment and Cleveland's reported savings, asking Phoenix to match similar per-capita funding levels. Several speakers said the city’s current eviction assistance program reaches only a small fraction of those affected and must be better funded and promoted.

Council response and next steps: Councilwoman Keisha Hodge Washington, the only councilmember present at the hearing, thanked speakers and said she heard requests for right to counsel and for stronger promotion of legal-assistance services. “I heard you, the right to counsel,” Hodge Washington said, adding that she has represented tenants in evictions and that she was taking notes to inform budget discussions. She also noted staff from relevant departments — including Human Services and the Office of Homeless Solutions — were present and available to speak with attendees.

What the article does not assert: the hearing included many personal testimonials and policy recommendations; there were no formal council votes on a right-to-counsel ordinance during this hearing. Budget adoption and any ordinance would require separate council action.

Ending: Advocates said they will press council offices and staff to allocate general-fund dollars and increase outreach for eviction prevention before the council’s final budget adoption process.","Dozens of residents told a Phoenix City Council budget hearing that a funded right-to-counsel program for tenants would prevent evictions, reduce costs to the city and stabilize neighborhoods. Speakers also pressed the council to expand promotion and funding for existing eviction legal services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press Phoenix to fund protected bike lanes, pedestrian safety in capital plan

Speakers at Phoenix budget hearing describe shelter needs, report police destruction of homeless property

Phoenix staff outline FY25-26 trial budget; TPT increase, fire, homelessness and water projects highlighted

Residents urge Phoenix to fund ‘right to counsel’ as budget hearings continue