In an ongoing response to citizen concerns, the city of Phoenix is furthering its efforts to securitize local neighborhoods by expanding a program that gates community alleys. According to a report by
FOX 10 Phoenix
, the Gated Alley Program, introduced two years prior, was initiated to curb the issues homeowners faced from homeless encampments and criminal activities in the alleys behind their homes. Issues ranged from public nuisance to safety concerns, prompting many residents to actively support the program. “My son said that one day he was going to school, and he saw people doing ‘adult things,’” one homeowner
told FOX 10 Phoenix
.
The gates, installed upon request and approval, aim to enhance the sense of safety amongst residents. To install a gate, a simple majority of 50% plus one of the property owners on a block need to agree. Once this threshold is met, the city evaluates the request, giving it the nod if it meets its criteria, followed by installation. “We requested it because all the people that were coming in and out and all the problems that we were having,” a resident said in a statement obtained by
FOX 10 Phoenix
.
Despite its popularity, fiscal considerations loom large as the Phoenix city council grapples with funding for the program’s expansion. A recent city council meeting uncovered the financial strain, with Phoenix Neighborhood Services Director, Spencer Self, noting, “By our estimates, we have approximately 5,000 alley segments citywide.” The program, now averaging about 15 requests per month, had over 100 requests last year. To meet this demand, the city has projected a need for an additional $3 million, supplementing an existing $850,000 budget designated for 154 gates, as demand is set to exceed 300 requests this year, according to
FOX 10 Phoenix.
On the legislative front, the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee recently put forward a recommendation for a $3 million funding boost. This significant increase would enable the gating of an additional 240 alleys, as reported by
Your Valley
. “This is something taxpayers have been asking for,” Council member Jim Waring of District 2
told FOX 10 Phoenix
. “Long story short, we tested this out and it definitely helps because people don’t want people camping out right behind their houses.” A decision on the taxpayer-funded cash infusion is expected in the coming weeks, as the city weighs the benefits of alleys secured by gates against the program’s cost to the community coffers.
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