AltWeeklies Wire
Andrew Thomas and Joe Arpaio's Court Tower "Cover-Up" is Pure Fictionnew
Andrew Thomas would surely tell you that he and his closest ally, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, had become convinced that a project had fallen prey to misspending, graft, even outright corruption. Grand jury time!
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
02-23-2010 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: Andrew Thomas, Joe Arpaio
Nepotism, Cronyism and Turmoil at the Housing Authority of Maricopa Countynew

It started with the boss' brother. Doug Lingner had been executive director of the Housing Authority of Maricopa County for just two months when he hired his brother to repair a carport at the agency's Seventh Street complex. Total cost: $2,000.
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
02-16-2010 |
Politics
A Statewide Sales Tax Hike For the Arts, In This Economy?new
One hundred million dollars. That's how much money the Metro Phoenix Partnership for Arts and Culture hopes to generate from a new tax hike proposal quietly being prepared for voters. One hundred million freakin' dollars, each year.
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
01-26-2010 |
Economy
Strip Searches at Maricopa County Jails Are Under Firenew

The United States Supreme Court has never officially weighed in on whether it's permissible to strip-search arrestees charged with minor crimes, like Michelle Miguel. But plenty of lower courts have — and they agree that the practice is unconstitutional.
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
01-12-2010 |
Crime & Justice
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon Is Paying His Girlfriend, Elissa Mullany, Big Bucksnew

Since his re-election campaign wrapped up in December 2007, Gordon has paid Mullany's two-person limited liability company a total of $140,000. He's paid her through his campaign finance committee, even though she hasn't raised any money for it since the election.
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
12-22-2009 |
Politics
Downtown Phoenix is Full of Gleaming Progress Surrounded by Vacant Lots -- Now What?new

With boring old suburban McMansions commanding a half-million dollars, you can see why developers decided that downtown Phoenix would be the next big thing. And then the bottom dropped out.
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
10-20-2009 |
Housing & Development
Joe Arpaio and Andrew Thomas: They're All About the Perp Walknew
Two weeks after the chaos of the Don Stapley arrest, the situation is clear: Maricopa County is captive to the whims of a police force all too eager to use its powers to harass its enemies and distract us from its manifold failures.
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
10-13-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Things Get Nasty in the Phoenix Police Department's Homicide Bureaunew
A recently unsealed 26-page affidavit makes it clear that the homicide bureau is rife with backstabbing and gossip. Are these homicide detectives, or high school girls?
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
07-14-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Phoenix Police Raid a Local Pastor’s Home For Holding Church Servicesnew
Did the City of Phoenix overreach when it sent a swarm of police officers to local pastor Michael Salman's home to investigate an alleged zoning violation?
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
06-23-2009 |
Religion
Behind BadPhoenixCops.comnew
Meet the blogger who took on the Phoenix PD -- and the homicide detective who might be his best source.
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
06-16-2009 |
Tech
Don't Even Think About Fighting Phoenix City Hall Unless You're a Good Old Boynew
Miriam Hayenga thought that she had a simple project, one that required no special favors from the city of Phoenix. Instead, she found herself in a nine-year nightmare.
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
05-26-2009 |
Housing & Development
Phoenix Light Rail Operators Are Not Happynew
Phoenix Metro Light Rail operators don't have a contract — just grueling schedules and smelly passengers.
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
04-28-2009 |
Transportation
Tags: Phoenix Metro Light Rail, unions
The Dirty Truth About 'Clean' Electionsnew
It turns out that even during these tough economic times, you and I are footing the bill for politicians to purchase home-office supplies, sushi dinners, even the occasional GPS system. And our candidates for office get to keep that stuff when the campaign is over — the expenses in question are, apparently, perfectly legal.
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
04-08-2009 |
Politics
Why Doesn't US Airways Have its Vindicated Employees' Back?new
The three flight attendants who reported a pilot reluctant to de-ice an aircraft's wings were hit with a defamation lawsuit in 2006. Although the lawsuit was dismissed, it looks unlikely that their employer will assist them with their legal bills.
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
03-17-2009 |
Business & Labor
Tags: US Airways, whistleblowing
Meet a Man Who's Offered a $1,000 Finder’s Fee for True Lovenew
Fueled by dreams of an easy payday, I scheduled lunch with Scott, which, I should disclose, is not our bachelor's real name. I don't want any of you sneaky types figuring out who he is and taking the $1,000 for yourselves.
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
02-17-2009 |
Culture