I'm inviting downtown residents and anyone interested in downtown Phoenix to join me at a Community Coffee this Saturday, May 10, 2008, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Palette, 606 North Fourth Avenue (the corner of Fourth Ave. and Fillmore). This is the first in a series of Saturday morning meetings I'll be hosting quarterly at different locations throughout the downtown area. They are meant to give us all a chance to meet informally to talk about timely topics plus any topic on your mind related to downtown Phoenix. Plus, they are meant to give us a chance to drink coffee! This Saturday, Phil Richards, Chair of the Phoenix Parks and Preserves Board and Initiative campaign, will join me. He’ll provide information about the Initiative, also known as Proposition A, which is on the May 20, 2008 ballot. However, the majority of the hour will be devoted to Q & A. You’re welcome to buy your own breakfast from Palette (check them out at www.downtownbrunch.com) – but the coffee is on me!No RSVPs are required. Hope to see you there!

Well, we did it. On Saturday, March 29, thousands of Phoenix residents showed their commitment to the environment by turning off their lights for Earth Hour. If you saw any of the national TV coverage, it reminded me of the stories we see throughout the day on December 31 each year. Earth Hour happened in each city and country at 8 p.m. local time, so, like New Year’s Eve, people in Sydney, Australia experienced the start of their event 17 hours earlier than we did in Phoenix. And then the 24-hour news channels showed, not as the ball dropped, but as the lights dimmed around the world. Phoenix residents joined millions of people on seven continents, from Albania to Zimbabwe, Bosnia to Uzbekistan, Canada to Uruguay. The city government buildings in Dublin went dark for an hour. So did the Coleseum in Rome.  And the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the Sears Tower in Chicago. In Phoenix, the US Airways Center went dark, as did every other building marquee on the downtown Phoenix skyline.  Although there was an exhibition game at Chase Field and the temperature was perfect to play ball under an open roof, the Diamondbacks were real team players in Earth Hour. As the giant roof began to retract, the PA announcer explained to the fans inside that they were honoring Earth Hour by closing the roof and blocking out the bright stadium lights. For anyone wondering if this all was a waste of energy, the point was to show that each one of us can save energy and make a difference in cutting carbon emissions. I know from being out and about talking to so many people every day, that many feel powerless to do anything meaningful about an issue as huge as climate change. But the message behind Earth Hour was that each of us can do our part – just by taking whatever small, simple steps work for us and our family. Some people used the hour to change out their light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights. Others made a list of appliances they can unplug because they’re not required for 24/7 use. One family told me they invited neighbors over for a patio party lit by LED-candles. Another resident told me how her 13-year-old twins went around the neighborhood, knocking on doors and reminding people to “turn out” (the lights) for Earth Hour. Whether it was Diamondbacks and Chase Field executives agreeing to close the roof during a game, Stoudemire’s and Bar Smith serving “eco-tinis” with glow sticks, or the Arizona Science Center providing telescopes for stargazers during that hour, the cooperation, enthusiasm and creativity of Phoenix businesses and residents never fails to surprise me. But it always makes me so proud.   I happen to believe the science that shows climate change is a threat. But, even if you doubt the “proof” behind global warming, how can you be against doing whatever we can to protect and improve our water, air and land? I know that, for my kids, I want to leave this world better than I found it. I want to thank the World Wildlife Fund for reminding us of this, by organizing the international “Earth Hour.” I especially want to thank all our local partners – APS, SRP, Valley Forward, and all the major corporations, small businesses and individuals who participated. Once again, you all showed that, in Phoenix, we have an attitude of “can do” as well as “we care.”

On Saturday, March 29, you can show your commitment to the environment by participating in an international event called “Earth Hour,” by turning off any non-essential lights between 8 and 9 p.m.  Phoenix residents will join millions of people around the world to show that, by working together, each one of us can make a positive impact on climate change.  By this symbolic act of turning off non-essential lights, we agree to make changes that will curb our carbon dioxide emissions.  In the U.S., Phoenix was chosen as one of four, “lead” cities for Earth Hour, so that one major city is represented in each time zone. So, from West to East, people in San Francisco, Phoenix, Chicago and Atlanta will be turning off non-essential lights. Other towns, cities and individuals around each state are encouraged to follow the lead and also participate. Around the world, cities from Sydney to Tel Aviv to Toronto are participating on six continents. Your participation is completely voluntary – you choose if or to what extent to act. (Please note that the City of Phoenix and power companies are NOT turning off your power!)  The idea is to turn off non-essential lights in your home or business during that hour. Street lights stay on. And any "public safety" lighting stays on in buildings and in parking garages. Those red flashing lights on top of skyscrapers that airline pilots use to help navigate around populated areas stay on. Phoenix Police and Fire are a big part of the planning for this event and public safety will not be affected in any way, shape or form. Sports events, concerts and plays will take place as usual, with individual venues choosing how they can safely participate.  (By dimming lights on large exterior signs during that hour or by simply playing an Earth Hour public service announcement during an intermission, for example). APS and SRP are going to help measure the amount of carbon dioxide emissions we curb during that hour -- for example, in Sydney, Australia last year, they estimated that the 2 million people who participated in Earth Hour reduced enough carbon dioxide

At the City of Phoenix, our commitment to the environment is not new; we have been a leader in environmental programs for the last 20 years. (To read about any of our 70 sustainability programs, visit www.phoenix.gov/sustainability.)

The reason I wanted our city to be one of the lead cities for “Earth Hour” is to help remind every individual that there are small, simple changes each of us can make that will help curb carbon dioxide emissions. That, as I often say, each one of us can make a difference. emissions that were equal to taking 48,000 cars off the road during that hour. The World Wildlife Fund is organizing the event, and in Phoenix the main partners are the City of Phoenix, APS, SRP, Moses Anshell and Valley Forward. However, the Steering Committee for this event includes  Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Downtown Phoenix Partnership, Arizona State University, The Arizona Republic, and many more. If you’d like to participate, here’s how. Sign up at earthhour.org.Then simply turn off your non-essential lights from 8-9 p.m. local time on Saturday, March 29, 2008. Or change out your light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). Or turn off a computer that you usually have on in "hibernation" mode, or unplug appliances that are not always in use. Or commit to recycling your plastic grocery bags or to using reusable, cloth grocery bags when you shop. 

There’s always a lot happening in Phoenix, but this week we have just a few more things going on than usual.  We know them as the Super Bowl and the FBR Open … and they are known around the world.  Besides bringing sports fans here, these events draw thousands of journalists, who will write about Phoenix.  And so many CEOs and corporate executives … who might relocate or expand their business in Phoenix. The Super Bowl alone will bring in $400 million to our state.  So, when you also add the economic impact of the FBR Open – well, we’re having a pretty good week around here. Another reason this week is so rewarding is because of the great cooperation among many cities and organizations. In Arizona, we know that when we all work together, we all benefit. And nowhere is that cooperation more important than in public safety. There are many different municipal police and fire departments working together. And different agencies at all levels of government – public safety professionals from city, county, state and federal agencies. All working to ensure that our residents – and our visitors – can enjoy successful and safe events. That help strengthen our economy. For any of our visitors who might be reading this, I want to personally welcome you to our city.  While you’re here, please consider it YOUR city. For any of you visiting for the first time – or those of you who haven’t been here for a few years … you might not recognize the place. Phoenix is the 5th-largest city in the country. We have one of the 10-busiest airports in the world.  Phoenix covers a lot of ground (literally): 530 square miles … 50 miles north to south.  We add 5,000 new residents every month – and create 45,000 new jobs a year. We lead the nation in job creation. Some have called us the first great city to emerge in the 21st Century. I call Phoenix “A City on the Rise.”  We have so much construction going on – just in our downtown alone – we actually ran out of cranes. We had to bring one in from Ireland.  We’ve opened a University campus AND a biomedical campus. One of our research facilities – called TGen – has narrowed down the cause of Lou Gehrig’s disease to just 50 genes. And they’ve done that in just about 3 years. We’ve got investment everywhere – retail, restaurants, condos, lofts, art galleries – popping up all over. 20 miles of light rail will be open in December – and a new downtown hotel. Our new convention center has tripled in size – which helps us compete for truly SUPER events. I hope our residents enjoy the world spotlight on Phoenix, and I hope the visitors can all come back next year. We can ride the light rail line together – to the 2009 NBA All-Star game at the US Airways Center. Thanks for coming – enjoy your stay in Phoenix. And know that you’re welcome back, anytime.  

On October 30, I delivered my 4^th annual State of Downtown address. I announced proposals for how we can make downtown an even better place to work, live, learn, play and visit, and described how doing so benefits our entire city.  My first announcement received some hearty applause: the most disruptive part of light-rail construction downtown is done. I agree that dodging cones and navigating around construction zones has been “challenging.” But those challenges are also growing pains – bringing with them thousands of good-paying construction jobs that help offset the housing slowdown. No one intends light rail to be the only method of transportation for everyone working downtown – but it’s an important addition to our transportation system. I propose we also expand the DASH (Downtown Area Shuttle) system, with new routes to connect our downtown neighborhoods to the university campus, to the biomedical district and to the city, county and State Capitol. Along with light rail, expanded DASH service would greatly benefit the 50,000 people who work downtown – as well as our environment. In addition to being one of the largest employment districts in the city, downtown is becoming a place where more people want to live. All the new residential projects underway will allow 7,000 more people to live downtown. But I want to make it easier and more affordable for even more people. What Franklin Roosevelt did for the entire nation 75 years ago, we can do today, for firefighters, police officers, teachers, government employees and nurses. If we can build a thousand new hotel rooms downtown, we can surely build a thousand homes that working people can afford.  In the last three years, we’ve made great progress in making downtown Phoenix a center for education – 6,000 students are enrolled at ASU’s downtown campus, which is expanding. The U of A has downtown Phoenix extensions of its College of Pharmacy and College of Medicine up and running. But I’d like to undertake a new private/public capital campaign, in partnership with our law firms, ASU and the city of Phoenix. I have invited Dr. Crow to relocate ASU’s College of Law to downtown Phoenix, where our courts and so many of our law firms are located.   Another reason to come downtown is to play. – Besides great places to play indoors – restaurants, museums, theaters and sports arenas  – a vibrant downtown also needs places that draw everyone to play outside. In December 2008 we’ll have a three-acre grand Civic Space, and by 2009 we’ll have our new Patriots Park. Both will add green space, trees and shade to downtown, reducing the heat island effect. And that benefits the entire Valley. I’d also like to renew our Parks and Preserve Initiative next year – and add a defining component to connect all our downtown open spaces with pathways for pedestrians and bicycles: runners, strollers and students … kids playing catch and dogs chasing Frisbees. Across our entire city, let’s make sure they can all move from one park to another, one building to another, and one event to another – without ever leaving the shade.  In addition to people who work, live, learn and play downtown, every year, millions more come to Phoenix as visitors. While we’ve made great progress in adding new hotel rooms downtown, we still need more. I want to convene a summit of private-sector hotel builders and get them to commit to building the additional rooms. Downtown has been an important catalyst for great new projects across the city, from the CityNorth project under construction in northeast Phoenix, to Legacy Village that opened in 2004 in South Mountain Village. The 50,000 people who work downtown live throughout our community – spending their money where they live, creating an economic avalanche that benefits our entire city. So there is an absolute and direct connection between a healthy downtown and a healthy Ahwatukee, Laveen and Sunnyslope – or for that matter, a healthy Patagonia, Prescott and Page.    

Recently the Arizona Republic had a big feature story on all of the big projects the City has helped bring downtown over the years – from Arizona Center to US Airways Arena to Chase Field to ASU to light rail. The authors correctly surmised that no single project is going to make downtown Phoenix successful.

Friday night I was on Roosevelt Street for the grand opening of my campaign headquarters (222 E. Roosevelt, next to Mon Orchid, for those of you that want to stop by) and was overwhelmed by the amount of activity downtown. There was Art Detour, and sporting events, and theater. People were lined up waiting to be seated at Fate, Carly's, Roosevelt Tavern, and Cibo.