Veterans Village Groundbreaking Ceremony
 I had the pleasure of attending the Veterans Village Groundbreaking Ceremony in Glendale on Feb 1, 2025. I am very proud that Maricopa County was able to invest $3 million in a new Veterans Transitional Housing development in Glendale. The Village will have 50-unit transitional housing for veterans and their families experiencing homelessness, as well as wraparound support services and walk-in outreach services to make sure veterans can heal, find community, and plan their transition to permanent housing.
There are approximately 500 homeless veterans in Glendale, and this is unacceptable. We must keep doing everything possible to support our veterans, and I am proud to continue the Board's commitment to veteran support.
To hear more of what I have to say, please click on the following link or video button below.
State, county, city officials to break ground on new transitional housing for veterans in Glendale
Surprise Community and Resource Center Groundbreaking Ceremony
 On January 15th, I attended the Surprise Community and Resource Center Groundbreaking Ceremony. Maricopa County invested $18 million of ARPA funds into the Community and Resource center. The Center will provide resources for families, seniors, veterans and vulnerable populations by expanding programs and services and consolidating several aging buildings- including the Surprise Resource Center, Hollyhock Library, and the Surprise Senior Center.
It is great to know that by consolidating the center it will create a comprehensive community hub, making it easier for residents in our cities and unincorporated Maricopa County to access the support they need to help navigate some of life's biggest challenges.
To hear more, please click on the button below.
Supervisor Lesko meets with Senate President Warren Peterson and Speaker of the House Steve Montenegro.
On day one, I called for a comprehensive audit of the Maricopa County Election system by a reputable firm to determine if any improvements are needed.
I also had the opportunity to join the President of the Arizona Senate Warren Petersen and the Speaker of the House Steve Montenegro in a productive discussion where we compared the methods and processes behind our election systems with Florida. We also focused on ways to accelerate the election results, to ensure timely outcomes.
Additionally, we explored exciting opportunities to expand access to voting by potentially opening voting locations within our schools, making it more convenient for everyone to participate in the democratic process.
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Melendres Compliance Orders
At our Formal BOS meeting, I expressed my frustration regarding the Melendres class action lawsuit that was filed in 2007. Through November 2024, Maricopa County has spent over $300M trying to satisfy the federal judges orders.
As a result, hiring efforts have been negatively affected by the federal oversight. Staffing shortages at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and incremental increases to compliance markers make it difficult to process the required number of pending investigations in the mandated timeframe which could incur fines.
It's time to bring this case to a close and encourage the parties driving it forward to take the necessary steps to resolve the case, as it is ultimately impacting the the taxpayers the most.
To hear more, please click the button below.
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County Supervisors Association
I had the pleasure of attending the County Supervisors Association (CSA) Orientation and Board of Directors meeting on Jan 15 - 16.
CSA provides regional leadership over critical policy areas, including policies necessary to ensure safe communities, protect public health, promote economic development, and plan and manage land use for sustainable development. County supervisors also provide important oversight of county operations, including overseeing strategies to promote sound fiscal management and to develop a high-quality county government workforce.
As a member of the Board of Directors, I look forward to providing input into organizational strategy and the evaluation of operational performance.
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