The Scottsdale City Council voted Tuesday to accept a $940,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Housing to house homeless people from Phoenix’s “The Zone” encampment and illegal immigrants in a Scottsdale hotel. Five council members and Mayor John Ortega voted yes, with Scottsdale City Councilman Barry Graham the sole no vote on Resolution No. 12888, the Homeless Shelter and Service Funding Agreement.
Graham tweeted his disappointment in the vote. “Last night, council voted to accept nearly $1 million from AZ Department of Housing on condition to house homeless from Phoenix and border migrants—not Scottsdale homeless,” he said. “The city will rent hotel rooms in McCormick Ranch-area. I voted ‘no’ based on responses to my questions about vetting participants and community safety. Scottsdale residents are compassionate—however there are better ways to demonstrate compassion.”
Last night, council voted to accept nearly $1 million from AZ Department of Housing on condition to house homeless from Phoenix and border migrants—not Scottsdale homeless.
The city will rent hotel rooms in McCormick Ranch-area.
I voted 'no' based on responses to my questions… pic.twitter.com/71jpm86EKc
— Barry Graham (@BarrySGraham) June 28, 2023
In contrast, Solange Whitehead, who was endorsed by Arizona List, which seeks to “elect more pro-choice, Democratic women,” stated during the meeting, “I am thrilled; congratulations on the fast turnaround on the grant money.”
Greg Bestgen, Human Services Department Director for the City of Scottsdale, addressed the council members during the meeting about the grant. He said the city applied for it a little over a month ago and was approved two weeks ago. Of the $940,000, $500,000 will be allocated for room rentals, $400,000 for supportive services, and $40,000 for food. He said it will allow the city to serve another 120 adults over the next year. Of the 10 hotel rooms, 33 percent must serve people from The Zone, so three of those rooms will be dedicated to the homeless.
He said assisting illegal immigrants meets the fourth prong of Governor Katie Hobbs’ Title 42 plan; emergency shelter for illegal immigrants while they wait for transportation. He said the plan will also include tenant-based rental assistance vouchers beginning in September.
Bestgen said the hotel is near the resort area of Scottsdale known as McCormick Ranch. Graham asked him for the name of the hotel. Bestgen said it is located near Pima Road and Indian Bend Road. He refused to name the hotel “because of the confidentiality of the people we assist.” That location is near the Talking Stick Resort, and two hotels nearby are Staybridge Suites Scottsdale and Comfort Suites Scottsdale.
Graham asked Bestgen if McCormick Ranch will be “absorbing mismanagement of The Zone,” and asked what he would say to someone concerned about it. Bestgen assured him the plan was fine.
Graham asked him about housing the illegal immigrants, including whether the city would check to see if they had criminal backgrounds. Bestgen said, “We do not,” and said they are “vetted at the border” by other agencies. He said “this is very short term,” and “the nonprofit we work with makes sure they get to parts of the country where they have sponsors. Those churches get funding from ICE to do those services.”
Bestgen said the program has an 84 percent success rate of transitioning the homeless into more permanent housing. Graham shot back, “How long do you track the permanent housing status?” Bestgen said they don’t track it unless they’re case managed at a senior center. “We just don’t have the ability,” he said.
In June 2021, then-Attorney General Mark Brnovich sent a letter to the city demanding they refuse to convert a hotel into an ICE detention center for migrants. Residents stood protesting outside the former Homewood Suites Hotel on Scottsdale Road and Mountain View.
Although Scottsdale leans Republican, the council does not. Ortega, who used to be a Democrat, switched to independent and endorsed Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) for U.S. Senate last year. Caputi also was a Democrat, previously endorsed by NARAL, but switched to independent to run for the council. She frequently pushes for new apartment developments. The council voted 4-3 in March to convert two driving lanes in Scottsdale’s Old Town entertainment district to bicycle lanes.
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Rachel Alexander is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Rachel on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
