8 May 4th–May 10th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | music | cafe | film | culTuRe | NighT+Day | feaTuRe | NeWs | OPiNiON | feeDBacK | cONTeNTs | Unlike in prior years, which often saw two- or three-year contracts, this new contract lasts for one year. Dan Wilson, the city’s communications director, said that “a one-year agree- ment provides more flexibility for the city and was deemed to be the best length during this negotiations cycle.” Some other changes were also included in the contract, though there were no major policy revisions. This is a departure from 2021, when the contract included significant changes to discipline and accountability. The only significant change to disciplinary policy in the 2023 contract is stronger language about the information the city must provide to officers who are facing a miscon- duct investigation. The prior contract stated that upon request, the city was required to disclose complaints and other materials in a misconduct investigation to the officer being investigated. Now, the union contract states that the city must proactively inform officers in writing of this information. However, state law already requires that agencies provide these materials to officers under investiga- tion as part of Arizona’s “Officer’s Bill of Rights.” Trista Guzman Glover, a spokes- person for the police union, declined to comment on the draft contract, saying that the union will release a statement after the May 3 vote. Secret Negotiation Process Sparks Protest City code requires that the police union publicly release a draft version of proposals as they are created. This year, unlike prior years, the union followed suit with the other four unions and simply informed the city it was preparing to begin negotiations. This meant that the public was not allowed to comment on the police union’s proposals nor review any version of the contract until both sides had come to an agreement. When the Goldwater Institute, a conservative think tank, requested records of the draft contract, the city refused to release them. Both the Goldwater Institute and local advocacy group Poder in Action sued the city over the secret negotia- tions. Although the Goldwater suit is still ongoing, a judge dismissed Poder in Action’s suit on April 4 after agreeing that PLEA violated city code but saying it was too late to intervene in the negotiations. Pay Hike from p 7 | NEWS | ‘Sanity Versus Chaos’ Arizona’s new governor sums up her first 100 days in six minutes. BY ELIAS WEISS G overnor Katie Hobbs isn’t one for fanfare and showi- ness — a fact she reminded Arizonans of during an April 12 press conference cele- brating her 100th day in office. The governor seemed uneasy, peering through her signature cat-eye frames at a horde of reporters in a dimly lit conference room on the second floor of the Executive Tower in downtown Phoenix. Her brief remarks didn’t stray far from what she told Phoenix New Times in a March interview about the milestone. But she seemed resolute that a bipartisan budget compromise with Republicans was imminent. “This election was not about Democrats versus Republicans. It was about sanity versus chaos,” Hobbs said at the conference. This has become her motto. She said it in her interview with New Times and on countless other occa- sions dating back to Election Day last November. “You’re going to continue to hear me say it because I’ve carried that sentiment with me to the Governor’s Office,” she said. “Every single day, I recommit to putting partisanship aside and governing our state with commonsense, Arizona-first solutions.” Hobbs reaffirmed her commitment to finding solutions in education, border security, the opioid epidemic, reproductive freedom, corrections, infrastructure, and the water shortage. She highlighted a March joint operation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that has already intercepted 100 pounds of cocaine, 700 pounds of meth, and 800 pounds of fentanyl at the Arizona- Mexico border. Hobbs also trumpeted her prolific use of the veto stamp, which she has bran- dished four dozen times already — more than any Arizona governor in their first legislative session and just 10 vetoes away from matching Governor Janet Napolitano’s all-time record. To date, Hobbs has vetoed more bills than she has signed. “I’ve had to use my veto pen a lot already, but part of my promise to bring sanity to our state government means stop- ping the conspiracy theories, the attacks on our freedoms, and the out-of-touch legisla- tion that frankly isn’t doing anything to address serious issues,” Hobbs said. “I’ll continue to veto bills like that.” Although Hobbs packed a lot into her condensed six-minute speech, at times, it was easy to forget that the event was meant to be her 100-day victory lap. She devoted more than half of her time at the podium introducing and thanking the guest speakers she invited. Those hand-picked dignitaries — Gila River Indian Community Lieutenant Governor Monica Antone, Arizona Department of Housing Director Joan Serviss, and Republican Mesa Mayor John Giles — spoke longer than Hobbs did. Simply put, she let her friends do the touting for her. “She is truly a leader who has stepped up for our people,” Antone said. Serviss piled on the praise. “Our governor recognizes that, by building an Arizona for everyone, every Arizonan has the opportunity to succeed,” she said. Proving the veracity of her commit- ment to bipartisanship, Hobbs called on Giles — her longtime poster child of GOP support. Since taking office, Hobbs has cut ribbons at microchip companies, advanced manufacturers, and aerospace outfits in Arizona’s third-largest city, he said. “Katie Hobbs is off to a very great start,” Giles said. “The first mile of the race is just the first mile. To run a great race, you have to set the right pace and stay focused on the job ahead. Katie Hobbs knows this is a marathon, not a sprint. She understands that the state needs to tackle our chal- lenges with sustainable, long-term solu- tions for all Arizonans.” Hobbs fielded a few questions from reporters before concluding the conference. “Looking back on these first 100 days, we’ve already taken action on so many urgent issues,” Hobbs said. “If we truly want to make Arizona the best place to live and raise a family, we have to address these critical issues. The first 100 days are just the beginning. There is so much more to do.” Elias Weiss Governor Katie Hobbs celebrated her first 100 days as governor during a press conference on April 12.
