By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

Chandler’s mayor and City Council chose to highlight a particular blight at its Feb. 3 meeting.

Chandler City Council member Matt Orlando read a proclamation declaring February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

Accompanied by Mayor Kevin Hartke, members of the city of Chandler’s Domestic Violence Commission and Vice Mayor Christine Ellis, Orlando read a proclamation that cited grim statistics. These included dating violence being the most common form of American violence against teens, with 1 in 3 teens suffering from physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner.

The proclamation applauds the minimizing of stereotypes and its support of teen victims.

One member of the commission thanked the city — especially the Chandler Police Department’s Victim Services Unit — for supporting its initiatives.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.   Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org.

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.