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Councilman Greg Stanton's
North Central News Column
July 2006
Strong Community Support Helps Remove Sex Offenders from North Central Complex
Strong, safe neighborhoods are a big part of what makes north central Phoenix such a great community. I am pleased to say that the area is even safer today, thanks to teamwork from community leaders, the Phoenix Police Department and other groups who came together to help remedy an issue of concern.
As of last month, all of the sex offenders who had lived in the Tampico apartment complex on Seventh Street north of Bethany Home Road have moved out.
You probably remember hearing about Tampico. Concerns were raised in the neighborhood in 2004, when news spread that 18 registered sex offenders were living in the one complex.
As your City Council representative and a member of the City Council Public Safety Subcommittee, I have worked on this issue with the community, the apartment complex, Mayor Phil Gordon and his Senior Assistant George Weisz, Phoenix Police, other government agencies and the state legislature:
- The Phoenix City Council took action to mandate public notification of registered sex offenders within one mile of schools, churches, and day care and senior centers.
- We held numerous meetings with neighbors who were rightfully worried about the situation.
- Phoenix Police increased officer presence in the area.
- We worked with Maricopa County Adult Probation and the state Supreme Court on revising administrative procedures regarding where offenders on probation are living.
- We were part of the strong lobbying effort for state legsislation. That law passed last year, limiting the number of registered sex offenders who can live in one complex. Thanks to Representative Steve Tully, Senator Barbara Leff and former representative Deb Gullett for their support and leadership.
I also must thank neighborhood leaders who have worked tirelessly: Kathy Seid from the Rancho
Solano Neighborhood Association, Jackie Rich from the Murphy Trails Neighborhood Association, along with Katie Stooks, Mary Crozier and Julie Nelson, just to name a few. Without their leadership, this significant, positive change would not have been possible.
The progress at Tampico came after the owner of the complex started working with Phoenix Police to become part of the city's Crime Free Multi-Housing program. The program provides resources to residents and property owners and managers. With that commitment, properties can move through different levels of certification. Being free of registered sex offenders or anyone with a serious criminal history is necessary for receiving full certification.
We will keep working on this issue in north central and throughout the city. Visit
www.azsexoffender.org for information on sex offenders living in neighborhoods all around Arizona.
With hard work and cooperation from neighborhoods and businesses, together, we can come up with solutions to even the most difficult problems facing our community.
Phoenix City Councilman Greg Stanton represents north central Phoenix. If you have any questions, please call Councilman Stanton's office at 602-262-7491, e-mail greg.stanton@phoenix.gov or visit phoenix.gov/district6.
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