On Tuesday, January 23, Southern Arizona dignitaries from business, education, and politics gathered to hear Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs' state policy briefing.
Mr. Hobbs was greeted with applause and briefly hugged Tucson Mayor Regina Romero before taking the stage at the Tucson Convention Center.
“I think we can all agree that it certainly hasn't been easy. But Arizonans sent us to the Capitol to solve the easy problems and take the easy way out. “I'm not saying that,” Hobbs began his speech with a laugh.
And it certainly wasn't easy for a Democratic governor to consider a bill introduced by the Republican majority in the state Legislature. She has been dubbed the veto governor by the political press because she has vetoed a record 143 bills.
Mr. Hobbs spoke about national politics and the progress of the agenda for the 56th Congress. The event was sponsored by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and other sponsors.
Mr. Hobbs delivered his speech in response to the issues that most impact the people of Southern Arizona and his plans to address them.
Here are three takeaways from his speech in Tucson.
Point 1: Infrastructure
Mr. Hobbs announced $95 million in federal funding for a project Southern Arizona residents have long desired: major improvements to Interstate 10 between Tucson and Phoenix.
“Many of us came together to advocate for this funding,” Hobbs said.
In September, Hobbs traveled to Washington, D.C., with Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis and met with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, expressing the importance of improving Interstate 10 to Arizonans. I made one thing clear.
“By securing this investment, we will not only improve our state's infrastructure, we will advance Arizona's economy and ensure a prosperous future for all,” Hobbs said.
Affordable housing was also a focus area for Hobbs. Arizona's economy is strong, she said, but the housing affordability crisis has eroded many people's sense of affluence.
Arizona had the highest rent increases in the nation, with Tucson rents rising more than 30% since the pandemic began, according to the Pima Council on the Aging.
While addressing this issue, Ms. Hobbs shared a personal story about her own housing experience.
“I have personally felt the fear and anxiety of not knowing what my next mortgage payment will be,” the governor said. “That's why I will always fight as hard for your families as I fought for mine. We will never stop working to find solutions to the housing affordability crisis.”
Last year, Mr. Hobbs worked with Congress to direct $150 million to affordable housing programs.Last week, Congress formally awarded the award to $14 million Tucson organizations supporting this effort include $4 million to the City of Tucson and $7 million to Old Pueblo Community Services.
Hobbs also said the state has allocated funds to support legal assistance to more than 1 million additional Arizonans facing eviction or housing instability. Hobbs said historic investments have been made to build more affordable housing for middle-class families.
“These actions are part of the many actions we will take to ensure that long-time Arizonans, young professionals, and middle-class Arizonans are protected from victimization by the communities and state they love. It should be just the first of many actions,” Hobbs said.
For context, annual count In Pima County, the percentage of people experiencing homelessness was 60% higher in 2023 than in 2018.and last year Eviction filing in Pima County It returned to pre-pandemic levels after the federal government lifted its freeze on new eviction filings.
Point 2: Borders
Hobbs spoke about immigration flows and how they are impacting the state. Hobbs told a room of local leaders that he can't begin without first addressing the federal government's failures on the southern border.
Hobbs called it “a failure that has been decades in the making under both Democratic and Republican administrations.”
Hobbs said he feels fortunate to have partners in Mexico and Sonora to work together on this issue.
One of Mr. Hobbs' first visits was to meet with Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador and Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo to discuss “important border infrastructure projects and to emphasize the value of the Arizona-Mexico relationship.” “I visited Nogales, Sonora, to make it clear that there is, is strong, and will continue to exist.” Thrive for all of us. ”
Hobbs has appointed what she calls “diverse and highly qualified professionals” to the board. Arizona-Mexico Commission that she would preside. She said the commission is already working closely with the state of Sonora and is ready to take this partnership to the next level.
“I know that we will continue to build impactful partnerships with our Mexican partners that promote commerce, trade, tourism, and more,” she said.
Hobbs said in his State of the State address on the opening day of Congress earlier this month that his administration took office late last year. safe operation Established an office specializing in border coordination in conjunction with the Arizona Department of Homeland Security.
Hobbs blamed the Biden administration for the situation in Lukeville in his Phoenix version of the state report, saying the decision to close the Lukeville port of entry “did nothing to actually solve the immigration crisis, but it hurt businesses and families.” “I gave them,” he said.
“My administration has worked tirelessly to reverse this short-sighted action by the federal government and has taken extraordinary steps, including sending the National Guard to the border, to bring safety and common sense to this situation,” she said. continued.
Hobbs said in Congress that he would seek continued funding for the new operation to “better coordinate our border response and continue to combat this humanitarian, economic and enforcement crisis.” .
Hobbs also briefly said the office will help stop the flow of fentanyl into the state. Last October, the Tucson City Council passed a motion declaring fentanyl a public health crisis in Pima County.
by 2022 Annual Report According to the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office, 69% of overdose deaths are caused by opioids, and for the third year in a row, fentanyl is responsible for the most overdose deaths of any single drug in Pima County .
Mr. Hobbes ended his discussion on borders with a promise. “Let me share this message with everyone who calls this state home: We will not shirk our responsibilities and we will not pave the way for our children and future generations to figure it out.”
Point 3: Water
Hobbs said Arizona has been at the forefront of water conservation efforts thanks to the efforts of generations of bipartisan leaders.
Hobbs said: “We are working with farmers and agricultural stakeholders, urban and rural communities, to find the solutions needed to ensure our water future is secure tomorrow and for generations to come. “We will continue to work with everyone, including local and regional organizations.”
Hobbs cited a willingness to work with others on an agreement he negotiated with neighboring states Nevada and California to save at least 3 million acre-feet of water, the equivalent of 9 million homes, by 2026. He shared an example.
Last year, Hobbs founded a bipartisan organization. Water Policy Councilincludes Indigenous leaders with extensive experience and water leaders from across the province to “expand public-private partnerships, strengthen conservation, explore new technologies, and strengthen protections where needed.” Hobbs said in Tucson.
Hobbs said the City Council has crystallized these goals with a series of common-sense recommendations to secure Arizona's water future.
a report The Phoenix area faces a groundwater deficit of 4.9 million acre-feet over the next 100 years, according to a study by the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
According to the Arizona Department of Water Resources, one acre-foot of water is enough to water two to three homes a year.
Hobbs' remarks on water conservation ended with a positive promise to continue efforts in this area.
“We all recognize that our state is growing and must continue to adapt while maintaining our long-standing position as a national leader in water management,” Hobbs said. “Our water standards are key to our strong economy. I refuse to sacrifice them for unchecked growth. But I will protect our state's most precious resource. We look forward to continuing Arizona's bipartisan tradition of growing our economy while growing our economy.”
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