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Opinion

Will Paradise Valley do its part for the homeless?

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Paradise Valley is giddy to use the recent court decision to quickly pass an ordinance that prohibits homeless people from camping in the town. But we make minimal effort to actually solve the problem and help the homeless and find shelter.

Our town contributed a meager $250,000 to Maricopa County last year for homeless services. We are one of the richest towns in the country, with an average household income of $150,000, and we can afford only $20 per person? (I read this dollar amount in the PV independent, my calculation is $250,000/12,600 persons.)

Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner said we will contribute based on our town's budget, but our household incomes can clearly afford to double that to $500,000 every year. How about it, new Mayor Stanton? As the richest town in Arizona, will we do our part to solve the homeless crisis?

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