Tempe 1st

10/28/2026

The struggles of low income people to purchase food will now be compounded by cuts at the federal level.

Arizona leads nation in SNAP losses
Food stamps have helped low-income families supplement their grocery budgets since 1939. Today, people receive these extra dollars on debit-like cards they can use at grocery stores and farmers markets. In 2025, more than 42 million Americans were on SNAP, including 16.4 million children.

Last summer, the federal government gutted the program. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill included major changes to SNAP, including new work requirements, and shifted costs to individual states.

https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/food-drink/imapct-of-snap-benefit-cuts-on-arizonans-40709567/?fbclid=IwY2xjawVPaIRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMVpJZEV3WDVyUG9zbnd5MURzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEfpKwKLEKSTe3QRRQhi6rCg1bW2MehEcp0blb6jorURZuHrRAlCCtAAjtVd7M_aem_VI4-nb9NZgNUcAqhX5izCw

The government gutted food assistance last year. The fallout in Arizona is devastating.

10/28/2026

Make everyday a Tuesday
Aris at University Presbyterian Church
Building community by being community

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/EAxd8zpJ3LA

10/27/2026

Tempe’s crisis media specialist, David Leibowitz for $84,000 of taxpayer money a year, makes the news.
““The Better Together PAC failed to: disclose the political action committee making the largest aggregate contribution that exceeds $20,000; disclose the aggregate percentage of out-of-state contributors; to make electronic disclosures readable; and to display the disclosure on the physical signs at a height of at least 10% of the vertical height.”

https://www.scottsdale.org/city_news/better-together-goes-dark-gets-investigated/article_32b8d453-29b0-45fb-b3a0-e9c0edef080c.html

10/26/2026

Those hardest hit by the Prop 424 sales tax. Will be the hardest hit by these financial headwinds.

Americans’ growing frustration over high prices has defined many political campaigns ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Rising costs of healthcare, gas and groceries during President Donald Trump’s second term have put Republicans on defense, not only in Washington, but in statehouse and gubernatorial races across the country.

As the political environment continues to sour for Republicans, a new analysis released by the Urban Institute on Monday underscores just how expensive everyday life has become in America: Gas and electricity prices are rising much faster than paychecks. Housing, childcare and healthcare are becoming a bigger strain for millions of people.

Americans’ growing frustration over high prices has defined many political campaigns ahead of November’s midterm elections. As the political environment continues to sour for Republicans, a new analysis released by the Urban Institute on Monday underscores just how expensive everyday life has be...

10/26/2026

Sales tax. And money on Mill Ave.

In the first six months of 2026, more than 7,500 restaurant locations have closed nationwide. Mark Strassmann reports that rising costs and declining sales are forcing some to make tough decisions.

In the first six months of 2026, more than 7,500 restaurant locatio...

10/25/2026

That tax money thing..

10/23/2026

Arizona Republic hosts debate over Tempe's Proposition 424

This 30-minute discussion is a revealing study in how to analyze the world.

On one side, Mr. Woods asks us to accept a world built from subjective, imagined accounts. He insists the sky is falling, and even specifies where it will land.

On the other, Ms. Epstein brings real numbers and verifiable facts. She shows that legal language has specific consequences for how policies are developed and projected, and that economic data has substance: it reveals how money is allocated and used.

The contrast is stark. One speaker asks us to believe the world exists largely in his imagination. The other insists it has material substance, can be measured, and has a history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QF8J6Dqps0&t=1646s

10/23/2026

Protect Tempe families from unfair taxes.
Friends,
With texts, mailers, and thousands of dollars of spending flowing into our city in support of this proposition, it’s important to know where the money is coming from — and exactly who wants Prop 424 to pass. Tempe residents deserve to know: Who is funding the YES campaign, and what interests do those donors have before the city?

Take a look at our deep dive into campaign finance, and help us spread the word about this deep-pocket interests entering into our city.

Who funds Tempe’s YES campaign?

Follow the money. Disclose the interests.
Alongside public-safety interests, campaign donors include developers and real-estate investors who do business in Tempe. There are three development-related donors that stand out:

The Widewaters Group / Edward G. Shagen: $5,208
Megalos Capital / Dax Howard: $5,000
Urban Development Partners / Todd Marshall: $2,500

Dax Howard is a Phoenix-area real-estate investor and senior-living executive, identified as a principal developer for Megalos Capital and the CEO of Cascades of Tucson.

Partnered under Hardy Rio Development LLC and Mill Creek Residential (a national multifamily development builder), Dax is involved with the Modera Rio Saldo development, an estimated $200 million capital investment into the city's urban core reshaping the urban landscape along the Tempe waterfront and the Salt River corridor.
Note that the Tempe City Council voted unanimously (6-0) to greenlight the major zoning entitlements for this project

Edward Shagen represents Widewaters Group, a developer which reportedly bought Tempe’s Target Financial Center for $20.5 million.
Maricopa County Community College District later bought the buildings and 25.29 acres for $27 million. Widewaters reportedly retained about 12.1 adjacent developable acres.
The company has also been linked to a proposed 376-unit Tempe apartment project.

Todd Marshall leads Urban Development Partners, a firm responsible for Encore, Residences, and Hudson on Farmer in Tempe, along with several Mesa projects.
A 2019 Arizona Republic report linked Marshall to a controversial 2007 Tempe development agreement involving GPLET tax incentives, sales-tax rebates, and a $300,000 HOME grant. The deal, which also involved developer Charles Huellmantel, raised questions about transparency and favoritism.

Link: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2019/06/10/tempe-plans-tax-incentive-gplet-downtown-land-farmer-arts-district/1374763001/

The question for voters: Why are developers and real-estate investors funding a campaign for a tax increase? What interests do they have in Tempe’s future decisions?

These contributions don’t prove donors will benefit from the proposed tax. But they raise questions about transparency and competing interests — and voters deserve answers
Tempe Testimonials

Tempeans have made their voices heard about this unfair, regressive tax on our communities. Take a look at what they have to say, and help spread the word.
Help Us Fight Back

We are Tempe taxpayers, neighbors, and community members standing up against the wealthy opposition, who has already drowned the interests of residents out with tens of thousands of dollars. Request a yard sign. Spread the word. Help us raise the resources necessary to win in November
This is David vs. Goliath. We are David. With your help, we'll win.

https://www.noon424.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUNUAlwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR62v4B-BIBwtk-YTI3TS3tRvxcobN5YelOyYU6uNq36vlUQG6VEjbzxYWgl6w_aem_9rdGFugK1WTSnxsrXZNiOw

10/22/2026

AZ HUGS

Unloading tonight’s dinner fixings for our 62 families at the motel!!
We urgently need community support to help provide dinner for our families here night to night.
If you’d like to sign up to volunteer to bring an entree, side dish, dessert, drinks or serving supplies 1 night, stay tuned!
We will soon have a volunteer sign up form available for folks to get involved with family dinner needs.
For tonight’s remaining needs, we still have 14 families in need of shelter.
Our goal is to raise $890 to effectively shelter our families tonight who still need shelter.
As always any possible crisis support is INCREDIBLY needed and appreciated!!!
Today the City of Tempe’s HOPE Team homeless outreach program began to meet with our families at the Priest motel.
If it’s determined that the City’s resources are unable to adequately meet the shelter needs of the 62 families here — AZ HUGS will call on Mayor Corey Woods and City Council to vote to pass an immediate emergency response.

10/21/2026

Tempe voters weigh half-percent sales tax increase for public safety, transit and child care on Nov. 3 ballot
Supporters say Proposition 424 would raise $50 million for city services, but some argue the tax is regressive.

https://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/tempe/tempe-voters-weigh-half-percent-sales-tax-increase-for-public-safety-transit-and-child-care-on-nov-3-ballot?fbclid=IwY2xjawVGKcBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5MbnYggBLHqc7zvt5JRMlluZRUmV2LisPaS1ybNn94_O2lSAyx0UhueRYg4g_aem_9Id6dj0PRbzPMsu1l5TbLg

Tempe voters have two weeks to decide on a half-percent sales tax increase that would fund police, fire, and other city services — but which some argue is the wrong way to raise the money.