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Greg Stanton's
My Turn – Ahwatukee Republic News Column
December 2005
Supporting Strong Civic Programs All Through the Year
Happy New Year to you and your family. There’s no better way to end the year than with a big thank you to many who have helped make our community successful.
Thanks to all involved in the fabulous Ahwatukee Foothills Festival of Lights, including the organizers, hundreds of volunteers and business and community sponsors. The community event does a great job capturing the sprit of the season. Special thanks to Festival of Lights Committee President Jim Crouch, Vice President Susan Ballman, Treasurers Bill and Janyce Hazlett, Secretary Vicki Witt and Lisa Liddy, who coordinates the event’s publications. They led a hardworking group that, as usual, did a great job. You can always get information about the event by visiting
www.festivaloflightsaz.org
Thanks to all of you who filled out U.S. Census survey forms last fall. The Census sent the critical surveys to one out of every 13 households in Maricopa County, including more than 27,000 in the city of Phoenix. The people of Phoenix batted nearly a thousand, with virtually every household that received forms returning them. That is a great effort from our residents and the city, county and federal workers who helped get word out about the program.
Here’s why the special mid-decade count is important for Phoenix. Our return rate means Phoenix will receive more state dollars to pay for important things like police and fire protection, programs for children and seniors, libraries and parks. Survey responses from you and your neighbors ensure that Phoenix will get as much of the funding as possible to keep all of the above running strong.
As chairman of the City Council Education Subcommittee, thanks to all who supported their local schools through the Arizona Education Tax Credit program. Hundreds of Ahwatukee Foothills residents donated up to $300 to extra-curricular activities like athletics, band and before- and after-school academic clubs. Those who gave will get the money back as a dollar-for-dollar credit on their 2005 state taxes.
The tax credit dollars are critical for Phoenix schools citywide. Call your local school or school district for more information on how you can give in 2006, or contact the Phoenix Youth and Education Programs Office at 602-495-0314.
Extra-curricular activities can be the key to developing future musicians, scientists, teachers, artists and athletes. They are crucial programs for our schools and our students. Your donations help those programs to continue.
I also want to thank some unsung heroes in our city, Phoenix neighborhood code enforcement officers. Their job is to keep neighborhoods cleaner and safer for all of us. They do important work in our community and sometimes their work puts their safety at great risk. That’s why we will be pursuing state legislation to protect our neighborhood code enforcement officers.
I wish you a happy and healthy 2006 and I look forward to working with you to make our community as strong as possible.
Phoenix City Councilman Greg Stanton represents Ahwatukee Foothills. If you have any questions about any issues, please feel free to call Councilman Stanton's office at 602-262-7491, e-mail greg.stanton@phoenix.gov or visit phoenix.gov/district 6.
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