Phoenix City Council, Mayor Gallego butt heads over emergency declaration
Mar 19, 2020, 1:16 PM
(Screenshot/City Of Phoenix TV)
(Screenshot/City Of Phoenix TV)
PHOENIX – The Phoenix City Council plans to meet Friday to debate and vote on Mayor Kate Gallego’s state of emergency declaration meant to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Half of the council members – Vice Mayor Betty Guardado, Carlos Garcia, Laura Pastor and Michael Nowakowsi – said in a press release that declaring “‘A Great Emergency’ is to put one person solely in charge of all decision, specifically, the mayor. A ‘Great Emergency’ does not give a voice to those that truly need it.”
While the four Phoenix council members agreed bars should remain closed and restaurants offer only takeout service and drive-thru, not dine-in, as the declaration stated, they said a “local emergency” would allow the council to help manage the crisis response.
The council has to affirm the emergency.
Gallego declared a state of emergency Tuesday, closing bars and banning dine-service at restaurants. Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans was the first in the service to do so Monday.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero also declared state of emergency for her city and Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell issued a proclamation ordering bars closed and banning dine-in restaurant service.
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The Phoenix City Council chose not to support me [yesterday],” Gallego told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Thursday.
“They could have sent a message this is a serious situation and that it is the top priority of the city of Phoenix.
“And they chose not to.”
The group of four pointed out their districts represented a large number of the city’s minority population and low-income residents.
“It’s irresponsible to not consider the consequences to working people and the inability of our current political systems to adequately address a health crisis and its impacts at the same time,” the statement read.
Another council member, Sal Diciccio, told KTAR News’ The Gaydos and Chad show on Wednesday a great emergency “gives unlimited power, unrestricted power to the mayor.
“Doesn’t need to have a council vote, no public anything.”
He said a local emergency would put the city on a path to apply for federal funds.
Gallego said, “I want to do my part as mayor of Phoenix to stem the spread of COVID-19.
“I have the authority … to put in protections to keep our community safe.”
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Peter Samore contributed to this report.
