• Alerts & Activities
• Good Government
• Community Update
• Collaboration

Alerts & Activities

New Website

This week, Maricopa County launched our newly-designed website, Maricopa.gov. This improved functionality of our site focuses on providing easy to find county services to our more than 4-million residents. The launch date of February 14 coincided with the 146th anniversary of the founding of Maricopa County.

New Year

This year our Board welcomed new and returning county elected officials.  The Board chose a new chairman, Denny Barney, and thanked Clint Hickman for his leadership last year.  We also welcomed our newest member, Bill Gates.  I am honored to start another term as your county supervisor. Everything we were able to do the past four years was because of you. I am confident we can accomplish even more together.  I look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure Maricopa County remains one of the best run counties in the nation

Goldwater Air National Guard Base

I joined the men and women of the 161st Air Refueling Wing for the name dedication ceremony of the Goldwater Air National Guard Base. What an amazing ceremony to honor Barry Goldwater, a founding member of Arizona's Air Guard. Congratulations also for winning the Outstanding Unit Award.

Crumb Rubber Manufacturers (CRM) Tour

CRM is North America’s largest crumb rubber manufacturer, specializing in materials for rubberized asphalt, sports fields, landscapes, and playgrounds. I visited their location in Mesa. Thank you to the Regional Manager of CRM, Dawn Helms & Maricopa County Director of Waste Resources and Recycling, Brian Kehoe for a very informative tour. HB 2065 is currently moving through the legislature and would renew the Waste Tire Program in Arizona for another 10 years. The existing Waste Tire Program is a statewide program managed with fees charged at point of purchase. The fees, after an administrative retention by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), are distributed by the state to the counties for management of their waste tire programs. CRM is involved with the recycling of waste tires into beneficial use products. 

Good Government

Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority wins award

Congratulations to the Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority for receiving the Excellence in Development Finance Award from the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). This is quite an honor as the CDFA is comprised of the nation’s leading and most knowledgeable members of the development finance community.

Cradles to Crayons

Maricopa County’s Cradles to Crayons program is aimed at helping children younger than three years old progress through the foster-care system more quickly while focusing greater attention on their developmental needs and the rehabilitation of their parents or if needed, adoption. We just received the results from a five year study monitoring 8,398 infants and toddlers involved in the system. There was a 35% increase in the number of permanencies achieved within 12 months and a decrease in the median time to permanency for reunification and adoption. Last year, Maricopa County finalized 263 adoptions on National Adoption Day in November. This is a collective effort to raise awareness of more than 100,000 children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families. This is one of our most rewarding events of the year. Thank you to all of the families who offered loving homes to these children.

Community Update

Do you have 10 minutes for a Vet?

I was proud to be a part of the Vets' Community Connection (VCC) Launch - Maricopa County. We are pleased to be supporters of 2-1-1 Arizona, a new resource available to all Maricopa County military veterans and their families. Through VCC, a Veteran, active duty service member or spouse can be connected one on one with community members within Maricopa County to answer any questions or connect them with the appropriate resource they may need. Call 2-1-1 or 1-844-VETCONX. Or if you would like to be part of this community based initiative sign up at: www.vetscommunityconnections.org/

Phoenix Rescue Mission – Changing Lives Center

I had the privilege to meet Jay Cory, President and CEO of the Phoenix Rescue Mission. The Phoenix Rescue Mission is involved in the rescue, recovery, and re-entry process for men and women facing homelessness and addiction. We toured their Changing Lives Center along with one of their Board Members, Paul Senseman. Please visit their website to see for yourself what the Changing Lives Center does every day for women and children in need.

The Bridge Forum I was pleased to welcome The Bridge Forum to Scottsdale. Their mission to foster community engagement with police professionalism is admirable. I look forward to continuing to work with them.

Collaboration

Ashbrook Wash Drainage Improvement Project Now Complete  

The Flood Control District of Maricopa County and the Town of Fountain Hills partnered together on this project. The small projects program within the Flood Control District is an example of local government collaboration in the best interest of our shared constituents. I am pleased this improvement will protect property and residents in the area. Learn more about the Ashbrook Wash Drainage Improvement Project.

First Place

Last month, I participated in the First Place AZ - Phoenix groundbreaking. A big thank you to Maricopa County’s IDA and the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community for helping to fund this impressive and important project. First Place offers temporary living arrangements for adults with autism and other special abilities to live integrated and independent lives. It was exciting to see this finally come to fruition and to be a part of this wonderful event. Please watch the video highlighting this special day.

Circle Lofts Scottsdale - new $9 Million Net Zero Energy Condominium Community

I attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a new $9 Million net energy condominium community in Scottsdale, AZ. The new 20-unit, environmentally sustainable condominium project will infuse game-changing technology innovations such as Apple/Google integration, incredible amenities and designer finishes for a residential lifestyle unique in Arizona. Maricopa County is increasingly being recognized as a leader in the nexus of technology, wise energy use and economic growth. This latest project by Caliber Development is an example of how they've become one of the nation's fastest growing companies -- by developing a project which will provide housing in Scottsdale's business corridor using state of the art energy saving technology.

Goodwill of Central Arizona Tour

I had the opportunity to tour the Goodwill of Central Arizona career center and warehouse. It was great to hear the stories of lives that have been transformed by the assistance of Goodwill.  In addition, it was very interesting to hear everything Goodwill offers to our community. Their mission is to empower individuals, strengthen families, and help build stronger communities. Maricopa County looks forward to strengthening our partnership with Goodwill.

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control - Dogs Playing for Life

Last month, Maricopa County Animal Care & Control adopted a new program called Dogs Playing for Life. The program allows dogs to get out of their kennels and play outside in a group setting with other dogs. This allows potential adoptees to watch the dogs play and interact with others and gives dogs the opportunity to get out of their kennel to release energy and play. The adoption play group sessions will be open to observers. Maricopa County is the first shelter in Arizona to go through this program.

Sincerely,

Steve Chucri, District 2
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
www.maricopa.gov/steve
602-506-7431