Valley Interfaith Project endorses Prop 409

Metro Creative Connection

Valley Interfaith Project, a broad-based, non-partisan organization of churches, unions and non-profit associations committed to building power for sustainable social and economic development change supports passage of Proposition 409.

If approved, Prop 409 authorizes the Maricopa County Special Health Care District  to issue bonds to fund critical improvements for Valleywise Health in Maricopa County.

For generations, Valleywise Health has served as a beacon of hope and a safety net for our most vulnerable neighbors. It is a place where every person, regardless of their background or circumstance, can find quality medical care. As our population has grown, so has the demand for behavioral and mental health services.

Prop 409 is a compassionate and just response to this urgent need. It will authorize a crucial investment to:

• Replace and expand the aging behavioral health annex with a modern, 200-bed hospital, effectively doubling the capacity for those experiencing serious mental illness.
• Modernize and expand emergency and trauma departments, ensuring victims and first responders receive timely and specialized care.
• Improve access to care in underserved communities by building new outpatient specialty centers and health clinics.

Our faith traditions teach that we are called to care for the sick, comfort the distressed and love our neighbor. Investing in robust health care infrastructure, particularly for mental and behavioral health, is a practical and powerful way to live out these values, creating a safer, healthier and more compassionate community for everyone.

For these reasons, Valley Interfaith Project urges our fellow community members to vote yes on Prop 409, to invest in the well-being of our neighbors and build a stronger, more resilient Maricopa County for future generations.

Editor’s note: The Rev. Deacon Martha Seaman is president of the Valley Interfaith Project, a Phoenix-based nonprofit. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.