Maricopa’s growth — and its associated growing pains — took center stage over the weekend as the Governor’s Office of African American Affairs brought its outreach efforts to the city.
The town hall, held Saturday at the Maricopa Library & Cultural Center, brought together local leaders to discuss the city’s priorities, initiatives and community needs. It was sponsored by the Black Maricopa Chamber of Commerce and moderated by GOAAA Executive Director Jerry McPherson.
Among the speakers were Police Chief Mark Goodman, Fire Chief Brad Pitassi, Vice Mayor Vincent Manfredi and councilmembers Henry Wade, Amber Liermann and AnnaMarie Knorr. Their discussion touched on a wide range of topics, including public safety, infrastructure and the challenges that come with rapid growth in a city like Maricopa.
“This is a way for us to [not only] engage the community but engage the subject matter experts, and allow us to be as informed as possible,” McPherson said. “We just want to make sure that we remain engaged and not only with those making decisions, but also community members.”
Unsurprisingly, State Route 347 popped up in the conversation several times.
“The 347 came up in a lot of different respects, whether it was about work or economic leakage. I think whatever the budget and allocation of dollars that can help facilitate that would have exponential impact and return,” McPherson said.
For residents like Tortosa’s Deborrah Landry, those discussions were exactly why they attended.
“I think it’s important for the community to be involved in hearing what the police and city council — everyone that’s taking care of us — have to say and what they need from us. Community involvement is important,” she said.
GOAAA was created in 2007 by then-Governor Janet Napolitano, when it was known as the Arizona Commission on African American Affairs.
McPherson said the office serves not only as an advisor to the governor, but also to the state legislature on how laws may affect African American communities. It works with programs and initiatives from state agencies and partners with community organizations.
Hosting events like Saturday’s town hall fits squarely within that mission, McPherson said.
“Just hearing the perspective of those doing the work and the challenges they’re facing, that helped me better understand how much a task this takes. It also better informs me about what I can do in my role to help get the resources the city needs,” he said.
13 Responses
How interesting that the African Americans have the same needs as the Italian, Polish, German, you name it Americans.
When will this country move on from the grift of separating the African Americans from all other Americans.
You’re so woke, TAB, and you’re right: we should have equal game time for all those groups too! You’re so progressive!
(Yes, I’m intentionally misrepresenting what you said and yes! I did actually read the whole comment this time! Progress!)
To answer your question, probably when American culture moves past the grift that the scales are not tipped in favor of rich white men… a statistically small group of Americans… who somehow manage to use poor white men as a meat shield against other groups while galvanizing their support while robbing them blind… maybe then…
My smooth brained friend, try to understand this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBqhSnZE7lA
Oh hey, is this you AI lady friend again? The one that’s actively catfishing you? 🤣
More truth:
https://rumble.com/v29amf6-neither-slaves-nor-immigrants-built-america-heres-who-actually-did.html
Actually, a lot of it was poor white indentured servants sitting in debtors prison in England. They were given a choice: hang now or roll the dice as indentured servants in the New World. Many chose the latter and endured conditions only slightly more humane than slaves… anyway…
By your argument, America was built by…. Wait for it… rich white men. Yes, seeing as rich white men enjoyed absolute power at that time, that is true. Very clever.
And the mythical founding fathers were rich white men who coveted the wealth, status and property of England’s feudal lords (new money rich white men versus old money rich white men) so they gathered an army of poor white men and defeated their enemies and basically claimed all their shit as spoils of war. They did many other wonderful and revolutionary things that we all love, myself included, but let’s not kid ourselves. They wanted the old money’s shit, won the war and took it. Then they refused to pay the poor white men who won the war for them.
So why not say “we all built and continue to build this country, no matter who we are” and leave it at that?
Are you such a Beta that you absolutely MUST serve rich white men like a good little indentured servant? 😉
Tab….you said what I was thinking.Term limits for MUSD,mayor and counsil.We want OUR city back!
There’s Manfredi on his magic phone.Take his phone away and he won’t make it for one hour,pathetic.
We are one nation under God, not many groups under God. As our country has become more secular, we have lost unity and shared values that held it together and made it stand out from the rest of the world.
The USA only had the “under god” added to separate us from the USSR because they were more atheist. It was pretty stupid, but the red scare was a tie full of idiocy.
everybody watchout socroties has spoken.somemore spelling for you to corect,dummy
Who are you talking to?
The stroke left him confused, he’s got us mixed up. 🤣