PHOENIX — Attorney General Kris Mayes announced today that the Arizona Attorney General’s Office has issued a demand letter to Buenas Communities LLC, requiring immediate action to address the lack of proper air conditioning at the Buenas on 32nd apartment complex in Phoenix. This action follows media reports that up to 400 units are without adequate air conditioning during one of the hottest summers on record, posing serious health risks to residents.

 

“The extreme heat poses a serious health risk, and it’s unacceptable for tenants to be without proper air conditioning,” said Attorney General Mayes. “Buenas Communities LLC must take immediate action to ensure residents have safe and habitable living conditions in accordance with the law.”

 

The cease and desist letter details potential violations of the Arizona Landlord Tenant Act, Phoenix City Code, and the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. The Attorney General’s Office expects Buenas Communities LLC to repair the air conditioning system for all affected units by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 26, 2024, and provide written confirmation of compliance by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 29, 2024.

 

“Every Arizona resident should feel safe and comfortable in their home – regardless of their income bracket,” continued Attorney General Mayes. “When I said I would be a lawyer for the people – I meant it.”

 

The Attorney General’s Office will continue to investigate the matter and is prepared to take further legal action if necessary to protect the rights and well-being of Arizona residents.

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) spoke in support of the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement and ​​ Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement at a Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee legislative hearing. TRANSCRIPT Rep. Gallego Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon, and thank you to our witnesses for joining us today. A special thanks to those who traveled from my home state of Arizona to be here: President Nygren, Chairwoman Lewis, and Vice Chairman Andrews. It’s great to have you here leading on issues of such high importance to our state. Arizona has been a leader in water policy for decades, and tribes are critical partners in responsible, equitable water usage. As we develop new approaches to water conservation and management in the coming years, tribes’ senior water rights must be represented, respected, and maintained. The settlements we are discussing today are an important step in making that happen. The products of years of conversation, these water sediments are historic. I am honored to be a co-sponsor of both the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement and the Yavapai Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act. These types of productive, forward-thinking policies are exactly why I joined the Natural Resources Committee in the first place. And why I’m proud to serve on both the Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee and the Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee. I’ve been proud to lead congressional efforts to keep Arizona’s water in Arizona, including pushing for cutting-edge technologies, promoting clean water on tribal land, fighting exploitation of water resources, and more. The bills in this hearing will work towards many of those same goals, and I’m proud to support them. To highlight these important bills, I do have questions. President Nygren, you mentioned in your testimony that approximately 30% of homes on the Navajo Nation do not have running water. Can you tell us a bit more about the water supply challenges on the Navajo Nation, including the economic and health burden it places on the Navajo people? Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren Thank you, Congressman Gallego, and I want to say thank you so much for everything that you do. When it comes to the 30% of our people that live without running water, they travel miles and miles on a day in day, and some of them are on monthly fixed incomes. But they really are stewards of the land, so they continue to be there so that they can be proud of where they come from. But at the same time, one of the things that I’ve been trying to strive for, for the Navajo people, is self-sufficiency, building a strong economy so that we can continue to have our own jobs, have our own employment, and really boost the economy of the Navajo Nation. But in order to have more hotels, more retail, to increase tourism on the Navajo Nation, we need that water supply so that people can continue to be proud to live on the Navajo Nation. And that’s one of the things, when this water settlement does get passed by Congress, that not only is Navajo Nation going to benefit economically, but the state of Arizona will continue to push some of those things forward so that we can uplift ourselves as a Nation, as the State of Arizona, and tribal nations. As mentioned earlier, all the communities have signed on to this Northeastern Arizona Water Rights Settlement. Flagstaff, Show Low, the ranchers, the Nation, the Southern Paiute, the Hopi, we’re unified behind this because we really want to make sure that we’re unified so that we can build a better future for all of us because we share that area together. Thank you. Gallego Thank you, Mr. President, and you certainly are correct… You cannot get a better essence of pride until you visit the Navajo Nation. And since I’ve been going there for 19 years, I’m glad that we’re going to be able to finally get this done. And then, Chairwoman Lewis, thank you again also for allowing me to visit your nation and really taking me actually down to the river that is your sacred river a couple of weeks ago and showing me, you know, in person, why this matters. Can you explain how the construction of the Cragin-Verde pipeline would impact the water security and economic well-being of the Yavapai-Apache Nation? Yavapai-Apache Nation Chairwoman Tanya Lewis Thank you. Thank you, Congressman Gallego, for your question. And thank you for your leadership and your service. I appreciate that. Yes, it will benefit the Yavapai-Apache Nation in multiple ways. The main, as shared previously, is we would like to ensure that the Verde River continues to flow. We do not want it to dry up. That is our life, that is our culture, that is our religion, and that is what takes care of all of us. Gallego And chairwoman, can you explain, when you and I were there, you shared some of the cultural events that happened at that river. Can you give us a couple examples for people to understand what actually happens there that is important to the life of an everyday person from your tribal nation? Lewis Yes, absolutely. So when, our young women become…our young ladies become women, I should state, is we do a ceremony, Na’ii’ees, which is an Apache ceremony that our young maidens participate in, conduct. It is a way in which we are grown, and we do this along the river. It tests us in every possible way. The family, the young gal. And it shows her and teaches her to become a strong young woman. Along the river, the importance of the river is, specifically, because we use baskets, we use the foods, we use the medicines, we use the trees, and the natural habitat that grow and live along the river. That is what provides for the people of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, that we use in these ceremonies that are conducted by our young women and their families. So it is important that we continue to feed it and it provide life. Which it provides life to the young maiden and brings her up into a young woman to provide for her family and teaches her discipline, teaches her to be strong, and teaches her in every possible way as she continues to grow, should you choose to have a family. Gallego Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.

July 23, 2024 (Phoenix, Arizona) – Election Day is Tuesday, July 30, 2024, and early voting is underway for Arizona’s Primary Election. County officials briefed the community today on projected turnout, how voters may cast a ballot, and where to find trusted information about Maricopa County Elections.   County representatives had several messages for voters:

• Today is the last day to mail in an early ballot.
• Early ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day and after today may be dropped off at any Vote Center or County Ballot Drop Box.
• All registered voters are eligible to vote, including Independent and Party Not Declared voters.
• Per new legislation, the period for voters to cure their signature or provisional ballot is five calendar days, which provides a deadline of Sunday, Aug. 4.

  The county expects at least:

• 623,000 early ballots to be cast via mail, drop box, in-person early voting
• 94,000 Election Day voters

  Total turn-out is expected to be between 718,000 and 894,000 or around 30%.   As of close of business on Monday, July 22:

• More than 395,000 ballots have been received
• More than 211,000 ballots have been tabulated

  County leaders also reassured voters that elections staff are trained and prepared to handle unexpected events that could include severe weather impacting Vote Centers, technology challenges, security incidents, and inaccurate information that might be spread to undermine the election process.   “The Valley is home to many large-scale events, like the Super Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Waste Management Open and we are fortunate that these events have allowed local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to create protocols for communicating seamlessly with each other and community leaders,” stated Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates. “These agencies are our partners in administering elections and we are lucky to have experienced and tested police agencies working to secure democracy.”   “Good people ran lawful elections in Maricopa County in 2020 and 2022 and are doing so in 2024.Our full-time election staff, supplemented by thousands of members of this community, are trained to ensure we are following the law,” said Assistant County Manager Zach Schira. “Over the past year, the Board of Supervisors has invested heavily in Elections: more than $15 million in new money towards resources and equipment that directly impact the efficiency and security of our operations. Bottom line: we are well resourced, well planned, well trained for next Tuesday’s Primary and the entire 2024 cycle.”     Websites:

• General Election Information: Maricopa.Vote
• Voter Dashboard: BeBallotReady.Vote
• In-person Voting: Locations.Maricopa.Vote
• Election Results: Results.Maricopa.Vote

 

In Case You Missed It –  Following reports that Protect Progress is spending over $1 million in Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District,  CHC BOLD PAC released a statement condemning this blatant attempt to buy a seat and silence over half a million Latinos in a majority Latino seat. Raquel Terán is the only Latina candidate running for Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District. In a district where the population is 65% Hispanic , CHC BOLD PAC is committed to maintaining the strong legacy of Latino representation in this district and electing Arizona’s first Latina to Congress.

PIMA COUNTY, July 24, 2024 – The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) is issuing a ground-level Ozone Action Day for the Tucson metropolitan area today. Individuals who are especially sensitive to ozone air pollution may experience shortness of breath, coughing, throat irritation, wheezing, and breathing discomfort.  If you are especially sensitive to ozone, you may want to limit your level of exertion outside between noon and sunset when elevated levels of ozone pollution are more likely to occur. Intense physical outdoor activity causes heavier breathing, which allows ozone to penetrate deeper in the lungs. Those who are most likely to be sensitive to ozone include children, adults who are active outdoors, people with respiratory diseases, and certain individuals who have an unusual sensitivity to this particular pollutant. Those people who are feeling symptoms should seek medical attention, if necessary. There are many types of emissions that generate ground-level ozone. Motor vehicle exhaust, industrial and power plant emissions, gasoline vapors, chemical solvents, as well as natural sources, emit oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) that form ozone in the presence of intense sunlight and heat.  Actions to reduce the production of ground level ozone:

• Reduce driving – combine errands into one trip.
• Ride the bus, walk, bike, or share a ride with friends and family.
• Avoid idling your vehicle’s engine.
• Re-fuel your car after dark or during cooler evening hours when vapors are less likely to form ozone.
• While re-fueling, always stop at the click.
• Make sure your gas cap is tightly sealed after re-fueling.
• Avoid using gas-powered lawn and gardening equipment.
• Check your tire pressure monthly and keep tires properly inflated for peak performance.
• Conserve electricity to reduce emissions from power plants.
• Use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes, and paint strippers and ensure that they are sealed properly.

PDEQ’s Clean Air Program educates Pima County residents about the potential health effects associated with elevated levels of air pollution and promotes actions to reduce air pollution. PDEQ monitors air pollution in our region at 16 air quality monitoring sites. Real-time air pollution levels are available online at the PDEQ website . To receive Air Pollution Action Day advisories, sign up here .