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Wednesday, February 16, 2022
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Housing crisis threatens us all, economist warns BY CECILIA CHAN AFN Staff Writer
M
esa and the rest of the Phoenix Metro area must build their way out of the current housing deficit or face economic catastrophe down the road, a noted Valley economist is warning local officials. The housing shortage is just not dire in Arizona but throughout the country, economist Elliott Pollack told Gilbert Town Council as
Kyrene ends mask mandate, TU’s remains
part of a presentation he is giving to a wide group of municipal bodies in the Valley, with Mesa scheduled soon. “Affordability is falling but it’s about to plummet,” Pollack said. “There’s virtually no vacancy or available units. Supply has not kept paced with demand and our success as a community in attracting jobs and people has not been matched by a sufficient increase in the housing supply for those new employees and a continued shortage of housing is going
Free wheelin'
to drive up costs and threaten economic development efforts. “Virtually nobody is going to get a free pass on not having to deal with this.” Pollack belongs to Home Arizona, a group comprising former politicians and industry insiders that is trying to get the word out on the supply-demand crisis confronting the region. The group analyzed housing in 11 Valley
see HOUSING page 17
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
K
yrene School District gave students and some parents a Valentine’s Day gift Monday by lifting its mask mandate. Superintendent Laura Toenjes’ announcement last Friday came after her administration signaled to the Governing Board three days earlier that COVID-19 cases were trending downward, as they have been generally throughout Arizona and the nation. Tempe Union High School District retained its mask mandate, though Assistant Superintendent Sean McDonald had told his board two weeks ago that its mandate could be lifted in a few weeks. With spring break beginning March 7, that could mean the mandate will be lifted in time for students’ return March 14. In her announcement, Toenjes cited “improv-
see MASKS page 12
Look at the expression on Camden Pryor and you can imagine what the hundreds of kids who turned out Feb. 5 for Transportation Day at God’s Garden Preschool felt as they got a chance to be up close and personal with dozens of vehicles and other modes of getting around. For a look at some of the others who showed up, see page 27. (Zac BonDurant/AFN Contributor)
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