[Source: “Points of Pride may be history, group fears,” Eugene Scott, Arizona Republic] — Phoenix’s popular Points of Pride may be a thing of the past, fear members of the Phoenix Pride Commission. Their group, the committee responsible for the Points of Pride and other initiatives aimed at showing the city in the best light, had its last meeting Wednesday. Mayor Phil Gordon decided to change the commission to an ad hoc committee, which will meet as needed, due to the city’s budget crisis.
Commission members expressed doubt that the Phoenix Points of Pride would continue without a Phoenix Pride Commission. City officials say they have no plans to end the Points of Pride Program. Since the commission was formed in 1991, they have designated more than 30 sites as Points of Prides because of their historical significance. More than 40,000 residents voted on the Points of Pride. The commission, which meets bimonthly, requires about 30 hours of staff time each year and city officials decided they couldn’t afford to devote that much staff time to it. “And I think (the city council) also took a look at the mission and the council members felt that that had been happily achieved,” said Ryan Burke, senior assistant to the mayor. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]
Downtown Voices Coalition 