Stanton wants to build partners

Geri Koeppel
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 17, 2006 12:00 AM

From building better relationships with homeowners associations to trying to eliminate homelessness in the Valley, Phoenix Councilman Greg Stanton kicks off a busy four years this month.

He represents District 6, which is Ahwatukee Foothills, Arcadia, the Biltmore area and parts of north and east Phoenix.

Stanton and three other council members were sworn in earlier this month. It's his second term.

Stanton recently discussed his priorities.

Question: What do you hope to do for Ahwatukee this term?

Stanton: First and foremost, my priority is to be an advocate for the people of Ahwatukee Foothills and to provide the best constituent service I can.

A couple of my goals are to build better relationships with the homeowners associations in the neighborhood to make sure we're working together in partnership to protect the neighborhoods.

(I also want) to build a strong relationship built on trust with the new leader of the Gila River Indian Community, Gov. (William) Rhodes. The transportation and economic issues between our communities can and will be worked out, but it needs to be built on trust, and it has to start at the top.

I think as we make decisions in regards to the planned (South Mountain) Freeway, they need to be made with sound planning principles.

(Success for Ahwatukee) includes maintaining strong relationships with all the communities bordering Ahwatukee, including Tempe and Chandler. I really view that Ahwatukee Foothills exists as part of the larger region.

One of the things we have that's unique in our area is ALEX (the Ahwatukee Local Explorer bus). I want to make sure it covers all of Ahwatukee Foothills, including western Ahwatukee Foothills, which it currently doesn't cover.

(Another goal is) successful completion and having the grand opening of the Pecos Community Center, which is going to be an outstanding amenity for our community. And working with the Parks Department to manage our parks in Ahwatukee Foothills to maximize youth sports opportunities.

If the Land Department decides to move forward with the (South Mountain) 620, I'm going to fight for the people of Ahwatukee Foothills to make sure our goals are met in terms of protecting the mountain park and making sure there's not an overcrowding problem in the schools.

Question: What do you hope to accomplish citywide during this term?

Stanton: I chair the subcommittee on education and the knowledge economy. I focus on educational partnerships: improving our after-school programs, improving the high school graduation rate and promoting higher-education opportunities so there's not a "brain drain."

I want to make sure every school in Phoenix has an after-school excellence initiative program. Other programs were athletic-based. The committee I'm on has led it to be more academically based: more tutoring, really extend the school day.

(I'm) leading the tri-city meeting of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe to plan the future of Papago Park, which I think is an underutilized gem in the heart of the Valley. We want to promote it and make sure it has all the amenities it should have.

I chair the regional Continuum of Care. We are the overseers of the plan to end homelessness in the Valley.

Phoenix does not exist in a vacuum. Phoenix is part of a larger region and our success is closely tied to the success of other Valley cities, and vice versa. We're not in competition with Tempe or Mesa or Chandler. We're partners with them as we build a regional economy.