Councilman Greg Stanton and Councilman Michael Johnson
Republic My Turn Column
Phoenix Not Getting its Share of the Federal Pie
Federally funded programs provide essential services to millions of Americans. Although Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in the United States, it ranks only 17th in federal support. This is a disturbing statistic.
Our city is not receiving much-needed federal funding in such areas as the Community Development Block Grant program, energy assistance, low-income housing and Head Start. We are working diligently to rectify this situation.
CDBG, for example, provides federal grants to communities and allows local residents to decide how to use the money to improve the community. Over the decades, CDBG resident committees have recommended proposals to improve Phoenix small businesses, build or improve homes that form the backbone of our neighborhoods and make urgent repairs to community assets such as domestic violence havens and community-based youth facilities.
CDBG success stories can be seen in programs and projects as diverse as the residents of Phoenix themselves.
Nevertheless, Congress is considering slashing $4.3 million, or 25 percent, from Phoenix's block grant.
The proposed cut is on top of the 10 percent reduction enacted last year. If there are more cuts in block grant funding, Phoenix residents will not be able to improve their neighborhoods.
Federal support for energy assistance program is also being threatened, even though more than 200,000 Phoenix households qualify for federal utility assistance. Of those households, 70,000 are headed by seniors.
Despite the need, less than 4 percent of Arizona households that qualify for federal energy assistance receive help. Even North Dakota, with fewer than 1 million people, receives more per-capita energy assistance than Arizona.
Proposed cuts in federal housing programs threaten the city's most vulnerable residents - the elderly, disabled and the working poor. Phoenix faces as much as a 10 percent cut in federal housing funds, which would cripple a program that already lags behind other cities.
It's hard to understand why Phoenix, the fifth-largest city in America, ranks 59th in public housing units and 66th in housing-choice vouchers.
Fewer than 7 percent of Phoenix residents who qualify for federal housing assistance receive help, but smaller cities such as San Antonio and Atlanta are able to provide housing services to approximately 20 percent of their eligible families.
Phoenix's Head Start program, meanwhile, serves only 30 percent of eligible families locally while the national average is 45 percent. What's more, federal funding for the program this year has been slashed by $216,000. It, too, faces more cuts in federal funding.
One champion of Phoenix's fair share is U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, who has continuously fought for increased federal funding.
"The proposed federal funding reductions are not only unfair to Phoenix, they are devastating to the most needy," Pastor said. "I am committed to working with my fellow congressional colleagues to restore these funds. Our residents deserve better."
Indeed, Phoenix does deserve better. That's why we will continue to lead the fight along with Congressman Pastor to make sure we receive our fair share of resources that impact the daily lives of so many.
Greg Stanton and Michael Johnson serve on the Phoenix City Council. Stanton chairs the city's Education and Families subcommittee. Johnson chairs the city's Downtown subcommittee.
