Arizona needs affordable housing. But these lawmakers conspired to kill any fixes
This opinion piece by an Arizona housing advocate calls out by name several legislators on both sides of the aisle who allegedly put partisan politics over finding solid solutions to the housing crisis. It mentions Sens. Mitzi Epstein and Juan Mendez, the Democratic minority leader and deputy leader, whom the author says “undermined” the work of Democratic Sen. Anna Hernandez to deny a win to Republican Sen. Steve Kaiser. Also, he calls out Sen. John Kavanagh and Rep. Jacqueline Parker, both Republicans who defended local control and regulations over free-market principles. The harshest criticism was levied at the League of Cities and Towns, which the writer called the “biggest villain of the session” for not negotiating in good faith with Kaiser, who promptly resigned once it was clear no bills were going to pass.
