Tempe Mayor Testifies Before U.S. Senate Committee

Press release from the City of Tempe:

June 21, 2021

Tempe Mayor Corey Woods testified June 15 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs to highlight the city's vital infrastructure strategies, including innovative affordable housing and public transit initiatives.

The hearing, 21st Century Communities: Local Leaders on the Infrastructure Needs Facing America's States, Cities, and Towns, included elected officials from across the country. Woods was introduced by Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, who spotlighted Tempe's Streetcar project as an example of "taking good locally-driven ideas and bringing them to life."

Woods' testimony was wide ranging, touching on the city's need for affordable housing, efforts to address homelessness, public transit initiatives, sustainable growth strategies, vital public-private partnerships and more. Woods also noted the city's proactive financial response to the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery plans.

In addition, Woods spoke to the critical need for Congress to send more of Tempe’s federal tax dollars back to Tempe to fund expanded affordable housing, public transit and other infrastructure initiatives.

"We need continued and increased federal dollars to supplement our local investments in affordable housing, public transit, infrastructure and programs to provide relief to the homeless, those at risk of eviction and other at-risk groups as our economy recovers and local revenues get back on track," Woods said.

Read the Mayor's Senate address.

This press release was produced by the City of Tempe. The views expressed here are the author's own.