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COUNTY NEWS ROOM | October 31, 2022
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HEADLINE STORIES |
Rapid Response
Big kudos to the Recorder's Office, Elections Department, and the STAR Call Center for responding to more than 50,000 election-related emails and calls in October! At a press conference on Wednesday, Recorder Richer shared that his team received more than 27,000 emails in October, with an average response time of under one hour during the work day. The STAR Call Center, meanwhile, took in 27,000 calls in October with average wait times under two minutes and 70% of calls getting answered in 30 seconds or less. Great work, team!
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A Long December
A new state law means the Elections Department and Recorder's Office will likely be counting ballots through December. Why? The state legislature expanded the threshold for automatic recounts so that any contest separated by one half of one percent will be recounted. The previous threshold was one tenth of one percent. If this new law had been in effect in November 2020, five contests in Maricopa County would have been subject to a recount. So if you see a county election worker, thank them and tell them to hang in there!
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FEATURED VIDEO
Domestic Violence Awareness Luncheon
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Supervisor Steve Gallardo hosted a lunch for county employees this month to discuss what we can all do to support individuals who are in domestic violence situations. The video above includes all the speakers from that event, including a powerful message from a survivor. You can see that message beginning about 17:30 into the video. Thank to everyone who attended and also to those who contributed to our donation drive!
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AROUND THE COUNTY |
Systems Change
The Assessor's Office just checked one gigantic thing off their "to do" list! This month, they launched a new cloud-based technology system to manage the 1.8 million real estate assessments they process each year. Assessor Eddie Cook introduced the system, AA-GAMA (Assessment Analyst-Geographic Assisted Mass Appraisal) to the Board of Supervisors during a recent informal board meeting. The project was 10 years in the making, and is designed to be more efficient, faster, and easier to use. Congrats!
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First of Many
Maricopa County leaders last week attended the first of many groundbreakings on affordable housing projects funded by the Board of Supervisors. Salt River Flats, in south central Phoenix, will include 192 units for people making 60% of the area's median income. To date, the Board has allocated $143 million in federal recovery dollars to affordable housing.
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Twice is Nice
Congratulations are in order for a couple County teams that don't always get all the headlines :)
First, the County's indigent defense team received the "All In For Women Award" from Arizona Women Lawyers Association (AWLA). Public Defense Services (IR constellation) is in good company; last year AWLA recognized the Maricopa County Judicial Branch.
And our Ryan White Part A team won a Health Education Award from the Arizona Public Health Association for their "Positively You" campaign connecting people to treatment and assistance for HIV.
Cheers all around!
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SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS |
Gimme More
Want books? Take it from this librarian: we got 'em! You can follow the Library District on TikTok for more educational fun.
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CAPTION CONTEST |
Congratulations, Susan!
 Susan Burgess from the Facilities Management Department thinks these two felines live a life of luxury! Spa day anyone?
Thank you, Susan, and everyone who submitted a caption!
Now for this issue's photo...
 Irene Rodriguez from Animal Care and Control sent in this photo of these three siblings: Binki on the left, Gertie the chicken, and Lil Bit on the right.
Send your caption our way using the link above, or email us your favorite pet pic and we may use it in a future issue of Currents.
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IN THE NEWS |
Maricopa County gets $3M grant to help solve cold cases
via yourvalley.net
County animal shelter in Mesa to temporarily close over distemper fears
via KTAR
'Burning the candle at both ends': Inside one of the nation's busiest elections offices
via Arizona Mirror
Running an Election in the Heart of Election Denialism
via "The Daily" podcast from the NY Times
Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone steps up patrols around ballot drop boxes
via Fox 10
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HAPPY HALLOWEEN! |
Be safe out there tonight, and have fun!
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