The Simpson Stump - April 2018

Afternoon fellow Simpson Residents!

Just a periodic update on some of the issues around Simpson, and what we can do as residents as best we can!

Vacant Properties: As houses go up for sale, foreclosed upon, or continue to sit empty for years at a time, there’s always the possibility of squatters finding a vacant property appealing and unprotected enough to move in. There have been numerous incidents of unsecured properties that we have seen and reported, and some neighbors were observant enough to actually observer people entering these properties and contact the police to arrest the trespassing individual(s). I’m hoping the city then worked with the property owners to (re)secure their properties, but that might be hoping for too much. In short, please keep an eye out for your neighbors and their properties. No one knows better when something looks ‘off’ than the people who live next door, and the more we can help each other, the better our neighborhood can be.

Alley Traffic: One item I wanted to bring up is the resources available to help our neighborhood fight against trespassing, dumping, and property crime. The typical reminder to start with (from COP Police): “All alley's in the City of Phoenix are closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Only residents with property adjacent to an alley may lawfully use the alley for trash disposal, or maintenance, or accessing an RV gate.“ If you see ANYONE you don’t recognize in the alleys, please contact the COP Police Non-Emergency Line: 602-262-6151. That includes on foot, on a bike, or vehicle that doesn’t have recognizable markings (such as Phoenix or Cox branding). There’s an increasing issue with illegal dumping, and the ongoing struggles against graffiti and break-ins from the rear of properties. At a minimum, report the person’s location and the direction they are travelling. The more info you can get (vehicle type, color, clothing, description of the person), the better the odds of the city making contact with that person and informing them of the laws. That has to happen (usually repeatedly) before any other actions can be taken against an individual who isn’t supposed to be in the alleys. So be diligent, be loud, and be obnoxious (to the correct parties) when something seems off. I’ve heard several accounts of COP Non-Emergency Staff pushing back against calls for people in the alleys: Politely remind them that the alleys are not public property, and as a property owner you are responsible for maintaining the space. Inform them that our neighborhood is tired of cleaning up piles of trash left by trespassers, and the graffiti they leave on our walls. Then please let me know, (and if you can provide a name please do so) I can follow up with our Community Action Officers and Precinct Chief.

Transient Camps: I’ll be brief on this one, but it’s probably near the forefront of most people’s concerns. If you see a camp on private property (a business) or in a city right-of-way (medians), the best thing to do is call PHXCares (602-262-6251). The program is pretty constantly slammed with reports, but the more use it gets the more staffing it can get to address issues moving forward (this is still a VERY new program that is getting its footing). PHXCares connects half a dozen or more city departments, so the strength is it’s a single point of contact. The downside is the program doesn’t have dedicated staff, so it takes time to get to certain issues at times. If you see a transient camp in an alley, or along a flood irrigation canal, see above regarding alleys. I understand having compassion for individuals down on their luck, but not in our alleys. Consider those the front lines in our attempts to keep (or make) Simpson into the type of neighborhood we all want to live in.

I’ll follow up later in the week with some additional news regarding two other recent items: Sober Living Homes, and also the proposed Dispensary on Bethany Home.

Thanks for your time!

Steven and Randi (Simpson Co-Chairs)