Several Maricopa City Council members flew to the nation’s capital last week to advocate for some of the city’s needs. The council members returned today.
In a news release yesterday, the city leaders touted “big changes don’t happen by waiting — they happen through action.”
The action? Mayor Nancy Smith, Councilmembers Vincent Manfredi and AnnaMarie Knorr spoke with members of Congress in their Washington, D.C., offices and staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation about some key Maricopa projects.
The dignitaries discussed new funding opportunities through grants and bonds for city infrastructure, like State Route 347, the pedestrian bridge and a city-operated ambulance service, as well as promoting local control in these projects.
It’s a similar discussion to the ones city leaders have had for years during their annual trips to Washington, D.C.
Last year, Councilmembers Eric Goettl and Henry Wade accompanied Smith to meet with a laundry list of representatives and senators to discuss SR 347 improvements, as well as flood control measures. And in years past, they discussed federal funding for the pedestrian bridge, an aquifer recharge project and plans to expand waterline infrastructure on the city’s west side.
The group this year visited with U.S. Reps. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), as well as staff for Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.).
Smith said the visits were helpful as a tool to build relationships with federal partners.
“Every conversation we had in Washington reinforced that our federal partners understand Maricopa’s needs and are ready to help,” she said in a statement.
Manfredi added it allows city officials to “get everybody together, and in one day have eight to nine meetings.”
The one-week trip culminated with Councilmember Eric Goettl joining Manfredi and Knorr to attend the National League of Cities conference Monday and Tuesday to meet with other city leaders and federal agencies on topics like transportation and housing.
Vincent Manfredi is an owner of InMaricopa.
