In the spotlight
Climate Justice
Would you be willing to let go of your perfectly green lawn for some cash? In good climate news this month, a new bill was introduced in Colorado (House Bill 1151) that would offer money to local governments, homeowners, Native American tribes, and nonprofit organizations to replace irrigated grass with water-wise landscaping. As most western states in the country are experiencing moderate to extreme drought, bills like this one are important to ensure efficient water use. In Arizona, similar turf replacement rebate programs currently exist in Peoria, Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Glendale. Let’s be honest, grass in Arizona does not make sense. It is a waste of resources that do not provide the benefits that native landscapes would. Arizona should follow in Colorado’s footsteps and offer these programs statewide to ensure we are embracing our state’s natural, desert environment and creating something beautiful in our homes.
Rent
Rent continues to spike in Phoenix, Arizona. The Phoenix community struggled with some of the biggest rent increases in the U.S. during 2021.
Currently, 2022 is turning out to be an even worse year as a growing number of landlords raise rents by more than double last year’s increases. People are experiencing rent-burden in Arizona and are having to spend 70% or more of their monthly income on rent itself. Big investors are buying more and more rentals, renewing leases, and raising previous tenants' rent.
Brand new apartment buildings start off with high rent pricing and have no guarantee of lowering rent in the years to come. Metro Phoenix is facing the worst housing shortage in its history. With investors buying existing properties, fewer than half of apartments in Phoenix are vacant and available to those who need housing.
According to the Arizona Housing Department, 270,000 affordable rentals are needed statewide. However, we shouldn’t be tricked into giving handouts to developers. Our state has been doing that from the beginning and if it were a solution, then we wouldn’t be in this mess.
There is a high demand from locals living in the Valley for housing rights. An ideal affordable home for tenants is to spend 30% or less of their monthly income on rent and utilities. Even tenants who are on a fixed monthly income can only afford to pay up to $500 a month for their rent and utilities but that is not realistic in the year 2022.
The median rent for a 1 bedroom apartment in Phoenix, Arizona used to be about $1,221 but now the median is $1,500. Overall residents are paying more than 30% of their monthly income on rent itself and 15% are even spending 50% or more just to live in a secure home.
What can you do to help with rising rent prices? Join us on April 9th at Maryvale Park to learn about resources and the next steps! RSVP here: https://www.mobilize.us/fuerte/event/446816/
Immigration
The United States has long guaranteed the right to seek asylum to individuals who arrive at our southern border and ask for protection. But since March 20, 2020, that fundamental right has been largely suspended due to a little-known section of U.S Health Law called Title 42. Using Title 42, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under the power of the Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has argued that the systematic expulsion of migrants is necessary for curbing the Coronavirus pandemic, allowing any customs officers such as Border Patrol agents to carry out systematic expulsions and denials of entry to individuals attempting to seek asylum at the southern border.
On March 4th, 2022, two different courts issued two very different opinions on Title 42. In Huisha Huisha v. Mayorkas, a panel in the DC District Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that while families can be subjected to Title 42 expulsions, they cannot be expelled back to conditions in which their “life or freedom would be threatened”, or they would be tortured. Since many of the people subject to Title 42 are asylum seekers, this gives hope that Title 42 will be ended. However, hours later, a lower federal court judge in Texas ruled that unaccompanied children – children without a parent or a legal guardian – must be expelled under Title 42.
The continued use of Title 42 is unacceptable, the policy has killed people and put thousands more in grave danger, and disrupted the Asylum system that has been in place since WW2. We must stand with Asylum seekers and say No More Title 42.
Upcoming Events
Parks and Rent
Fuerte is hosting an outdoor hands-on art activity to bring awareness on the whys, hows, and whens of the recent increase of high rent prices, a huge issue for all of our communities in Arizona. RSVP Here
Free Game Art Workshop
We are looking for artists interested in sharing their skills with others and willing to lead a workshop in order to engage folks in artivism. If this sounds like you, Fuerte would love to partner with you. Tell us about yourself by filling out the form here
