Councilman Claude Mattox's
Arizona Republic My Turn Column

August 2006

Community Moving Forward with West Phoenix Revitalization

Revitalizing a large area of the city is not an easy job.

It takes a lot of work and dedication from community members and city staff. And that's exactly what's happening with the city's West Phoenix Revitalization Program.

We're moving ahead with the progressive plan to improve the life of residents in all sorts of ways.

First, a little background.

City Council kicked off the program in late 2004, devoting more money and staff to the targeted area from Dunlap Avenue on the north to Van Buren Street on the south, 19^th Avenue to the east and 91^st Avenue to the west. This large area has been through ups and downs over the past half-century and is a place that needs attention and care now to rebound.

All of our neighborhoods in Phoenix should be places where people are proud and confident to raise their families and locate their businesses.

And all of our neighborhoods should have the resources and infrastructure from the city to make that possible.

That's the goal of West Phoenix Revitalization. The long-term project will fix up parks, cut down on crime, improve streets and traffic flow, address illegal construction, clean up blight, boost housing opportunities and much more.

I am very pleased and proud that the community now has a defined role in planning our improvements, with the formation of the new West Phoenix Revitalization Community Advisory Board.

Banner Estrella Medical Center CEO Tom Dickson is chairing the committee. Tom grew up in West Phoenix and now plays an important role as a business leader. He's the perfect person for the job. Our thanks go to him and the 16 others in the group for volunteering their time and expertise.

Their work will guide the effort, adding to some of the early West Phoenix Revitalization successes:

The progress is long-term and we'll keep seeing its payoff one step at a time.

It's worth it - for our elderly who depend on help from government and neighbors; our children who need great parks and schools; our businesspeople, who want to give back to the community and make a living; and our families, who desire neighborhoods where they can safely and prosperously live, work and play.

With help from the city, the new Community Advisory Board and all of you who are working in your community, we will succeed and make west Phoenix an even better place for generations to come.

Councilman Claude Mattox represents Phoenix's District 5, which includes much of west Phoenix. You can reach his office at 602-262-7446 or council.district.5@phoenix.gov.