Page 8 June 2013 DiCiccio Continued from page 6 If the council repeals the food tax it will be added to a long list of reforms we accomplished. There were three signi fi cant reforms toward the goal of getting us ready to compete in this new world market and getting government to operate more like your household. Reform 1: No water/sewer increase two years in a row, no property tax rate increase in more than three years and no fee increases in more than three years. But it’s more than just saying no. Government by its nature is, and operates as, a monopoly with very little concern for price of service and cost of goods resulting in lower productivity and ef fi ciency. Those accomplishments changed our culture and the way we view the world. We are now more ef fi cient, have increased productivity and are more sensitive to the cost of goods we purchase. We have accepted we can’t continue to raise the price of our services (tax and fee increases). These reforms forced us to look internally for ef fi ciencies that in turn raised our productivity. If the food-tax repeal passes, Phoenix will see well over $100 million in savings through innovations and ef fi ciencies in three years. Reform 2: Phoenix streamlined and deregulated signi fi cant parts of business operations making us the best place in the nation to start and expand a business – all businesses get treated the same. We are the fi rst in the nation to adopt policies that provide permits in a day or less, require a 24-hour turn around for inspections and have site plans approved in one, fi ve and 21 days depending on the complexity. We adopted a structure that gets jobs started in days or weeks, not a year or longer as in other places. What does this mean to our economy? Money gets circulated in the economy faster and more people are less dependent on government for survival. But the picture again is much bigger. It is the realization that to thrive in this global economy and compete in this global market we have to be faster, smarter and better than our competitors around the world. Reform 3: Zero-based budgeting. The great recession taught us we must be better prepared for future crisis. Preparation means you must have the best budgeting structure allowing for the most transparency. Phoenix is the fi rst in the nation to adopt a budgeting process able to better predict future economic problems. We have made signi fi cant strides preparing us for the world we now live in, but we still need to be better. Every time we pick up the phone and every operation we perform has to be completed with the goal of being the best. Councilman DiCiccio represents District 6. He can be reached at 602-262-7491. Justice Steven Sarkis Landlord-tenant disputes large part of court’s time By Steven Sarkis During the past year or so, certain aspects of the Valley’s housing market appear to have stabilized. This is a great sign to see on the road to economic recovery. Yet one aspect has not changed: Many people continue to struggle in paying their monthly rent. Consequently, these individuals often end up in court. Cases involving landlord and tenant disputes, referred to as eviction actions, likely are the most prevalent type of case in the Maricopa County Justice Courts. In a single week it is not unusual to have 100 or more of these cases in my court. Eviction actions generally arise when a tenant does not pay rent. The majority of the time, fi nancial hardship is the culprit. Other times there may be a more complex defense to a person’s nonpayment of rent. This is why, for both landlords and tenants, knowing and understanding the law is imperative. Failure to do so can have dire consequences, especially for a tenant. In Arizona, the eviction process moves quickly. In some states, after a court grants judgment and possession back to the landlord or owner in an eviction action, a tenant still has 30 days or more to pack up, fi nd a new place and move out. In Arizona, a tenant has fi ve days. As evidenced by the sheer volume of these eviction actions continually passing through the courts, though the path ahead looks brighter for many, the road is still bumpy for some. Continued on page 10 602.882.1332 kellyknapphomes@gmail.com KELLY KNAPP Whether it’s buying, selling or renovating homes, I love helping my clients achieve their idea of the Arcadia Dream. And I would love to do the same for you ! Arcadia Dream official realtor of the Kelly Knapp Farewell, Bailey Family! Arcadia won’t be the same without you!! 3816 North 53rd way