In mid-April, I finished my Mayoral Fellowship through the Mayors’ Institute for City Design (MICD) and the Just Cities Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. This fellowship focused on issues of justice, equity, community development and housing. Eight mayors were selected to participate from a diversity of cities facing a variety of issues relating to housing. The program convened a distinguished group of professionals in design, transportation, planning, community development finance … [Read more...] about My Just City Mayoral Fellowship
Mayor Becky Daggett
Flagstaff is the Place To Be in December
At the turn of each season, I tell myself that this new season is my favorite in Flagstaff. I do especially love winter and enjoy the festivities of December. There’s something especially enticing about the gratitude and generosity demonstrated throughout the month. I try to get out and enjoy all the holiday celebrations, support local artists and businesses, and pay special attention to all the wonderful nonprofit organizations who are feeding, comforting and sheltering our neighbors. Three … [Read more...] about Flagstaff is the Place To Be in December
Promoting Problem-Solving, Looking to the Arizona Voters’ Agenda
Before the latest survey from the Center for the Future of Arizona was released, I believed that we agree on important issues more often than not. I base this primarily on conversations I’ve had with people who hold myriad political opinions about candidates and so-called partisan issues, but with whom I’ve found agreement on many of the problems we humans face. The center recently released their Arizona Voters’ Agenda (AVA) based on a statistically relevant survey of Arizona voters – results of … [Read more...] about Promoting Problem-Solving, Looking to the Arizona Voters’ Agenda
Securing Flagstaff and Tribal Water Supplies
On July 17, I joined Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley, Hopi Tribe Vice Chairman Craig Andrews and San Juan Southern Paiute President Robbin Preston Jr., for a ceremonial signing of the recently approved Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement (NAIWRSA or Agreement). Representing two other parties to the agreement at Heard Museum’s Steele Auditorium in Phoenix were Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board President … [Read more...] about Securing Flagstaff and Tribal Water Supplies
Seeking Support, Solutions for Flagstaff’s Challenges
In late April, I joined nearly 50 other mayors and descended on Washington, D.C., on a mission to fight for solutions to address the housing and homelessness crisis affecting U.S. cities. We advocated for changes to voucher income qualifications for veterans, additional funding for housing choice vouchers and increasing or eliminating the cap on the number of project-based vouchers (vouchers that are attached to a rental development rather than an individual or family). On the first day of our … [Read more...] about Seeking Support, Solutions for Flagstaff’s Challenges
MetroPlan Receives Grant to Improve Street Safety through Art
MetroPlan of Greater Flagstaff, in partnership with the City of Flagstaff, Creative Flagstaff and the Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy (FALA), won a $25,000 grant award from Bloomberg Philanthropies for an Asphalt Art project that uses design to improve street safety in the Cheshire neighborhood. The Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art program is geared toward “helping cities use art and community engagement to improve street safety and revitalize public space.” MetroPlan will work … [Read more...] about MetroPlan Receives Grant to Improve Street Safety through Art
Lowell, Scientists, Community Celebrate Pluto
Lowell Observatory, scientists and guests officially dedicated the Tombaugh Telescope during the fourth annual I Heart Pluto Festival, Feb. 18-20. Two pre-festival events – a Cheers to Pluto/Astronomy on Tap program at Mother Road Brewing Company and a Pluto Pub Crawl involving 10 bars and brewhouses – also received strong participation. The keynote Night of Discovery event at the Orpheum Theater featured Astronaut Nicole Stott and a space art display by the International Association of … [Read more...] about Lowell, Scientists, Community Celebrate Pluto
Tracking Legislation that May Impact Flagstaff
Each year, the Flagstaff City Council adopts state and federal legislative priorities that drive our advocacy and the work of the city’s lobbyists. Our state priorities include forest health, transportation, affordable housing, workforce development, early childhood education, clean energy, rural broadband access, regulation of investor-owned short-term rentals, and protecting state-shared revenues. Our federal priorities include funding for completing the Rio de Flag flood control project, … [Read more...] about Tracking Legislation that May Impact Flagstaff
