All four Phoenix mayoral candidates participated in a forum Monday night focused on their standpoints regarding the city’s arts, culture, historic preservation and parks.
Moderated by former Arizona Republic Editorial Editor Robert Leger, the panel of candidates answered questions that community members submitted through email or at the discussion.
The end goal appeared to be unanimous as each candidate spoke, with everyone advocating for adequate funding for preserving historic neighborhoods, parks and buildings. But the night’s major topic was the advancement of art and culture throughout the city of Phoenix.
“We have a thriving downtown arts scene that’s been put in place over a number of years. One of the things I’d like to see Phoenix do is put an arts scene in more of the 519 square miles of this city,” mayoral candidate Nicholas Sarwark said.
He discussed the necessity of residents having art in their lives and the difficulty of traveling downtown from other parts of the state just to experience it.
“The most important thing that a city can do is create an environment for the arts community to develop new and creative things,” said Sarwark. “It’s that environment where it’s easy for people to be creative that brings people in.”
Sarwark, as well as the other candidates, spoke about reducing barriers of entry so that more people can experience the community’s art scene.
“You can’t make art happen. You have to let art happen and you have to create spaces where art can happen,” said Sarwark. He said a vibrant arts scene is not something that you can push from city hall.
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Some candidates voiced dissatisfaction with the present city leadership.
Mayoral candidate Moses Sanchez said he is frustrated with what he called the dysfunctional, failed leadership at city hall. His vision is for Phoenix to become a “world-class city,” with arts, public safety, culture, entertainment and thriving communities.
“That’s not the case here in Phoenix. We have one, maybe two diverse, unique and vibrant communities, but we have 15 urban villages,” Sanchez said.
His goal is to upgrade what he calls “quality of life issues” by creating public pools, libraries and parks, along with improving public safety and reducing homelessness.
“We have 182 parks in the city of Phoenix and last year we renovated five,” Sanchez said. “We could do so much better.”
The candidates agreed the arts should be considered at the beginning of any plan for the city’s future, not the end.
“If we do not lead with the arts as we continue to bring the next version of downtown Phoenix in, we will be a soulless city,” Daniel Valenzuela, a mayoral candidate and former city councilman for District 5, said.
Valenzuela feels the city should be connecting business leaders with educators to make it possible for every kid to have access to an arts institution, such as the Phoenix Zoo or Desert Botanical Gardens, at least once a year.
With this vision, the candidates discussed the financing necessary for expanding institutions while maintaining those already in place.
Phoenix spends millions on public art, yet funds are scarce to maintain and preserve these assets, especially since the recession. An added tax was suggested for promoting the arts.
“I would not support a new tax… I (however) would support getting the city budget back in line so that we’re working within our means and we free up the money being spent by the city council,” Sarwark said.
Each candidate highlighted alternative ways to fund growing the cultural scene within the community. The panel agreed unanimously that instead of investing all money into building new institutions, they will set aside funds specifically for maintenance down the road.
“Recently, we’ve been moving away from the traditional funding method, which was that we’d set aside some money in our bond program,” Gallego said. “So I’ve been advocating, as we have public private partnerships, that we ensure those outside partners are as committed to the arts as the city of Phoenix is.”
This idea of enhancing pre-existing historic buildings and cultural land was popular among all candidates.
“There’s always going to be tension between someone who wants to put up a big building that’s going to make a lot of money, and someone who wants to preserve a historic theater or building that has character and vitality in the neighborhood,” Sarwark said.
In order to tackle this issue, Sarwark will follow zoning plans and historic preservation regulations.
Candidate Valenzuela said that a mayor, if nothing else, should be a coalition builder and problem solver.
“Diversity is our strength. We are all going to have to figure out this vision together to move our city forward,” Valenzuela said.
Each candidate shared plans of future forums where community members will not only provide opinions of city projects, but actually impact in the decision-making process.
“We want this city to be where you can come and make a life for yourself, where you can start a family and where you can find your own dream,” Sarwark said.
Contact the reporter at rlstallm@asu.edu.
Correction: Due to an editing error, quotes from candidate Kate Gallego were not included in the final publication. The story has been updated to include all candidate voices.
