Hello, Northern Arizona! Well, this is my second-to-last column for you as Flagstaff’s mayor. It has been a joy and an honor to serve my hometown, and I hope to continue to find ways to do so. When I was growing up, this community nurtured my brother and me. This community made sure we had what we needed, and that we had opportunities. Many of you know that I grew up in public housing, the daughter of a single parent on disability. It was this community that made sure I could play hockey and … [Read more...] about Reflecting Back, Looking Ahead, Expressing Gratitude
Mayor
Why Reasonable Governance Benefits the People
Hello, Flagstaff! It’s February, which means we’re solidly into another winter. It’s too early to tell if this one will last until May or if warm days will return sooner than ever. Council is back at work, and in Phoenix, the state legislature has reconvened. As of this writing, the federal government is still partially closed and many federal employees are not being paid. Health care and transportation on our region’s native nations are suffering and preparations for fire season are … [Read more...] about Why Reasonable Governance Benefits the People
Protect Our Forests, Especially During Drought
Hello Flagstaff! Hopefully, by the time you read this, it will have rained. As of its writing, I’m wondering if I plant some tomatoes in the garden can I maybe tempt the weather into snow? It’s dry, really dry, and right now, windy. Large parts of our treasured national forests are closed, and fire restrictions are in effect for Flagstaff and Coconino County. We implement restrictions and close the forest to protect them from the very real threat of a catastrophic fire. There are several … [Read more...] about Protect Our Forests, Especially During Drought
Understanding the Power of Laws that Regulate Cities
Hello Flagstaff! As I write this, we’re getting close to the end of the state legislature session. The big story right now is education funding (which I support 100 percent; my mom was a school teacher and I taught GED/ABE/ESOL through the FUSD for five years), but I want to take a moment to talk about something that I think doesn’t get enough attention and has serious repercussions at the local level. The issue is preemption. In my years of public service, I have noticed a dramatic … [Read more...] about Understanding the Power of Laws that Regulate Cities
How a Local Teacher of the Year Responds to the Idea of Armed Educators
Hello, Flagstaff! In the wake of the Parkland shooting and renewed calls for action and solutions to gun violence in schools, I wanted to promote the voices of those in the schools rather than speak for them. As such, I offered my space this month to a teacher. Thank you to Jeff Taylor for offering us his eloquent and heartfelt thoughts on this issue. In the 19 years since Columbine, nearly 200 school shootings have occurred, including at the high school from which I graduated. But, what … [Read more...] about How a Local Teacher of the Year Responds to the Idea of Armed Educators
Addressing Climate Change Locally
Hello Flagstaff! I do hope you’re all enjoying this lovely autumn as we gear up for the holiday season. As I write this, it is another clear warm day, and I’m trying to remember the last time we had any rain. It’s been a while. I have been following the news of the California wildfires closely. Forty-two are dead, ranging in ages from 14 to 100. Almost 9,000 homes were burned. The economic impact will be in the billions. The effects won’t only be felt in the wine industry. Tourism and … [Read more...] about Addressing Climate Change Locally
Understanding the Importance of Funding Education
As your Mayor and a lifelong Flagstaffian, I know firsthand how important Northern Arizona University is to our community. I attended NAU and my daughter is currently a student there. NAU is quite literally my neighbor. Professors, students and employees are my constituents. I believe we are not doing enough to fund education in this state and that NAU desperately needs more funding. With that said, it is very disappointing that the governor’s proposed budget includes a mechanism that would … [Read more...] about Understanding the Importance of Funding Education
Downtown Parking Meters Resurrected
You may remember that in Cool Hand Luke, Paul Newman was sent to prison for cutting the heads off of parking meters. An indication that parking meters are not popular. You may also remember that Flagstaff had parking meters downtown. Then, the downtown merchants figured the meters were pushing shoppers to the mall and elsewhere. So, the city cut the heads off. Well, we have come full circle because now we are going to reinstall downtown parking meters. They will be state-of-the art kiosks … [Read more...] about Downtown Parking Meters Resurrected
What is the League of Arizona Cities?
There are 91 incorporated cities in Arizona, from giant Phoenix to tiny Tusayan. Flagstaff is 13th in population size. As you can imagine, most cities have common issues. We all have police departments, roads to maintain, utility services, zoning laws and building officials. When mayors get together, they always end up asking each other, "What is your city doing about ..." We are looking for the best ideas to deal with everything from tight funds to economic development. And when there is a … [Read more...] about What is the League of Arizona Cities?
Looking Back at 2015
What happened in the city in 2015? As a city, did we “move forward?” Did the City Council accomplish anything? Roads Thanks to your approval of an increase in sales tax, we saw a lot of road repairs and resurfacing last summer. You will see more this summer. Underground utilities also. Road Congestion We put together a task force that has to come up with a solution for the congestion on Milton (and a few other points). At least we have started serious … [Read more...] about Looking Back at 2015
