PHOENIX — Maryvale residents are getting ready to ask Phoenix City Council District 4 candidates on May 20 about what they call an ongoing heat crisis in their community.
A town hall meeting is scheduled for Wednesday night at the Wesley Community and Health Center. It’s where neighbors plan to share local research and demand immediate action from the city.
A community group called Rumbo said Maryvale is one of the hottest areas in the Valley. Over the past year, the group surveyed more than 300 Maryvale residents to understand how Arizona’s rising temperatures impact the community.
Their findings highlight major challenges:
- 80%of surveyed neighbors pay expensive utility bills to stay cool.
- 70% of families have seriously considered leaving Phoenix altogether because of the severe heat.
At the town hall, Maryvale residents are taking these statistics directly to potential Phoenix City Council leaders. The community is demanding heat-proof public spaces, shaded playgrounds and solar-canopied parking lots.
Community members also want shaded, walkable pathways designed to connect local schools, transit stops and neighborhood businesses safely.
Every single candidate running for the District 4 Phoenix City Council seat is expected to attend the town hall to answer questions directly from the public.
Read more A Texas girl survived a house fire. Her local McDonald’s just gave her a full ride to college.
Rumbo community organizer Dafne Cortez said seeing hundreds of neighbors step forward shows Maryvale is ready to lead. According to Cortez, the report serves as the community telling Phoenix city leaders they are here and ready for change.
The town hall will run tonight from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Wesley Community and Health Center.
After the meeting, the full report from Rumbo will be made available to the public online at resilientphoenix.org.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
Read more New cat cafe in north Phoenix helps address area’s stray kitty problem