Glendale’s Community Newspaper
Vol. 76 No. 17
INSIDE
This Week
www.glendalestar.com
Specialists fly to fight COVID-19 BY TOM SCANLON
Glendale Star Managing Editor
NEWS...............5 Michelle Robertson is a candidate for mayor
April 23, 2020
Respiratory therapists are fast becoming the elite heroes of the COVID-19 crisis, as the disease can impact the most critical function of the body: breathing. Enter the likes of Glendale’s Jessica Stingle. Respiratory therapists use measures like intubation and ventilation to stabilize critically ill COVID-19 patients struggling for oxygen. Stingle’s already heroic path rose to a higher level last week, when she and three other Banner Health respiratory therapists deployed to help fellow Banner Health team members in northern Colorado, a COVID-19 “hot spot.” A meat-packing facility in Greeley, 60 miles north of Denver, closed after a coronavirus outbreak killed several workers.
“Things are going well,” she said from Colorado. “I have been able to successfully extubate four patients. I have learned so much and am happy to be here.” Hospital staff around the country have caught COVID-19, with some dying from the disease. “I am not worried about Jessica Stingle of Glendale and other Banner Health respiratory thera- it,” Stingle said. “I always pists arrive in Greeley, Colorado, to assist an area that has been hit hard have the risk of catching by COVID-19. (Photo courtesy Banner Health) something. I always wear Greeley’s city manager called the number proper PPE (personal protective equipof cases in his city “shocking.” ment) and feel protected,” Stingle said. The Glendale Star reached out to StinShe added deploying was an easy decigle, who said she helped in the recovery of sion. “I had zero hesitations. I was excited several previously intubated patients. SEE BANNER PAGE 3
City budget cuts loom as retail sales drop NEWS...............5 Police search for suspect in crimes against children
OPINION..................... 10 BUSINESS.................. 12 FEATURES.................. 14 RELIGION ................... 18 YOUTH........................ 20 CLASSIFIEDS ............. 22
BY TOM SCANLON
Glendale Star Managing Editor
The financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is already being seen in state unemployment—more than 100,000 Arizona residents have filed for unemployment assistance. Though Gov. Doug Ducey’s order allowed restaurants, grocery stores and other “essential businesses” to remain open, most local businesses were ordered to close March 31. The resulting plummeting sales are like-
ly to put a major dent in the city of Glendale’s revenue stream. The 2019-20 Glendale budget projects $117 million in sales tax, just over half of the city’s total projected revenue of $230 million (all revenues except property tax). Glendale general fund expense projections totaled $222 million. “We are continuing to evaluate the fiscal impact to the city budget brought on by the current COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mat Droge, a Glendale spokesman. He said Kevin Phelps, the Glendale city
manager, has instituted a temporary hiring freeze (“except for critical positions”). “And we have also suspended any noncritical spending until further notice. The city is monitoring the situation closely to determine if additional financial measures may need to be taken in the future,” Droge said. He noted there is a two-month “lag” in receiving portions of sales tax. “Glendale won’t be able to see the full impact of the closures on March reve-
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SEE BUDGET PAGE 2