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Councilman Greg Stanton
Republic My Turn Column


June 2006
Sex Offenders Gone from Phoenix Apartment Complex

Ensuring safety for our families is the first step to a strong quality of life in our neighborhoods. As a member of the City Council Public Safety Subcommittee, I have worked with Mayor Phil Gordon, Councilman Claude Mattox and my other colleagues on the issue of registered sex offender-housing, to help make our community safer.
Hard work from Phoenix Police and other city staff, great cooperation from the Arizona legislature and the governor and strong involvement from neighbors have all contributed to a recent, major accomplishment with this issue in north central Phoenix. The last registered sex offender living at the Tampico Apartment complex on north Seventh Street moved out last month.
You may have heard of Tampico. More than two years ago, neighbors became very concerned when they learned that 18 registered sex offenders were living there.
When my office became aware of this situation, we quickly developed and implemented a muti-faceted strategy:
  • City Council action to mandate notification of registered sex offenders within one mile of schools, churches, and day care and senior centers. This goes beyond the state law requirements.
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  • Increased police presence in neighborhoods with identified sex offender clusters.
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  • Collaboration with Maricopa County Adult Probation and the state Supreme Court on revising administrative procedures for where offenders on probation are living.
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  • Outreach to neighbors concerned about sex offenders in their neighborhoods.
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  • Strong support for state legislation.

One great victory came with the passage of the new law last year, limiting the number of registered sex offenders who can cluster at one apartment complex or multi-family home.
And now, we have another victory, with the last registered sex offender leaving Tampico. That progress came after the owner of Tampico started working closely with our Police Department and other city staff on the city's Crime Free Multi-Housing Program. Two neighboring complexes also have signed up for the strong program.
Crime Free Multi-Housing provides tools and training for residents, property owners and managers to keep illegal activity off of their property. Police present a full-day seminar and then the property moves through different levels of certification. The program started in Phoenix in 1993 and has since spread to more than 2,000 U.S. cities and 10 other countries. More than 1,100 Phoenix properties are participating, representing 129,000 units. Being free of registered sex offenders and anyone with a serious criminal history is one of the steps toward certification.
The program, along with diligence from residents and cooperation from the apartment owners and managers, is making this neighborhood safer.

Visit www.azsexoffender.org to learn more about sex offenders living in neighborhoods around Arizona.
An area that once was of great concern now stands as an example of positive change. Working with neighborhoods on these kinds of safety issues is a priority. It's also a great demonstration of how residents' efforts can help improve the quality of life in our community.
Phoenix City Councilman Greg Stanton represents north central Phoenix, the Biltmore area, Arcadia and Ahwatukee Foothills. Contact Councilman Stanton's office at 602-262-7491, e-mail greg.stanton@phoenix.gov or visit phoenix.gov/district6.

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