Why Citizens for Phoenix?

Citizens for Phoenix was created on February 6, 2010 in response to the city's $240 million budget shortfall announced in January 2010. The City Manager’s response to this fiscal crisis was to propose Draconian budget cuts that would inevitably divide the community by pitting neighbor against neighbor and everyone against Public Safety. The Mayor’s response was to propose a 2% tax on food with a 5 year sunset to help reduce, but not eliminate, the shortfall.

We refused to participate in this divisive process and while accepting $50 million in the City Manager’s cuts, we rejected the $90 million that would put our most vulnerable citizens at risk with no safety net. Reaching out to leaders among the Police and other city unions, Arts and Culture groups, the Disabled, Seniors, Parks Associations, After School Programs (PAC), Block Watches, PNP, Libraries and anti-tax groups, we collectively created a solution that would need sacrifices by all, but one we could all live with.

Through the unifying efforts of Citizens for Phoenix, the significant financial sacrifices contributed by all of our city employees, both sworn and non-sworn, and the Mayor and Council’s passing of the 2% Food Tax, *together* we have been able to preserve from cuts a substantial number of services and programs related to the quality of life of most Phoenicians. Additionally, we have won the right to a Best Practices Audit of all city departments beginning with Public Safety, the largest portion of our city’s budget.

Much has been happening since the budget passed on March 2, and our group continues to participate in the process of holding the city fiscally and socially responsible to her citizens through the ongoing audit process.

It is our desire that this website will keep the Citizens of Phoenix in touch with one another by:

-       Keeping all informed of our initiatives

-       Holding the City accountable by publicly tracking the action of the approved audit

-       Giving Phoenicians a continued voice in improving our city through our Gathering Ideas page

-       Join us now and help us take back our city!