Pastor Warren Stewart

Tuesday night, Warren Stewart's campaign says it logged a first in Phoenix politics -- a town hall where participants called in and asked questions, listened to a few stump speeches, and voted on a few questions asked by the moderators.

Stewart is seeking a seat on the Phoenix City Council, and he's running against Lawrence Robinson, a law professor and member of the Roosevelt School Board, and Kate Widland Gallego, a business liaison for SRP (who has taken a leave of absence from her job) and wife of Arizona lawmaker Ruben Gallego.

See also: Black Leaders in Phoenix Struggle to Retain Power in a District They've Historically Controlled

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Phoenix is getting serious about a proposal for a 420-foot observation tower in the downtown area.

The city of Phoenix is taking a step toward the possibility of having a 420-foot observation tower built with private funds in the downtown district, issuing a call for detailed plans for the project.

Last week, the online news site www.theatlanticcities.com wrote about Phoenix's recent issuance of an "RFP" -- for non-wonks, that's a request for proposal -- for "development and operation of entertainment and tourism attractions." Los-Angles-based writer Guy Horton speculated that the RFP meant that Phoenix was getting serious about the tower, nicknamed "the Pin" by its designers. Eric Johnson, the economic development program manager for Phoenix, agrees with that assessment.

See also: Guggenheim-Inspired Observation Tower Proposed for Downtown Phoenix

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Phoenix voters overwhelmingly approved a proposal to reform the city's pension plan -- a plan city officials say will save taxpayers about $600 million over the next 23 years.

According to unofficial results, 71,086 voters, or 79.54 percent, said yes to Proposition 201, compared to 18,284 voters, or 20.46 percent, who opposed the measure.

A related pension-reform measure that changes how the city invests pension funds also was approved with 68,029 yes votes (77.17 percent) and 20,130 no votes (22.83 percent).

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Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton

An anonymous donor has pledged $100,000 to Arizonans for Gun Safety, a nonprofit organization, to host in May a gun buyback in Phoenix and destroy the firearms.

The Mayor's Office and the Phoenix Police Department are working with a nonprofit agency to take guns out of circulation.

"I think this is a great program to save people's lives," Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia said during press conference on Thursday after Mayor Greg Stanton announced the program in his State of the City address. "We'll never be able to measure that. But I can attest to the fact that . . . one weapon can change a person's life, or end a life, immediately."

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After hours of debate, the Phoenix City Council voted 5 to 3 to approve a measure that expands the city's anti-discrimination measure to include members of the LGBT and disabled community.

Councilmen Sal DiCiccio, Jim Waring and Bill Gates voted against the hotly contested measure.

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Mayor Greg Stanton

Testimony for and against a measure to protect members of the LGBT and disabled communities has been going on for more than two hours.

An audience packed with members of the LGBT community, religious leaders, Phoenix residents, and business owners are trying with both logical and emotional pleas to persuade the Phoenix City Council to agree with their views.

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Phoenix Councilman Sal DiCiccio is trying to rally his ultra-right-wing conservative troops to oppose a policy proposal that aims protect individuals from discrimination because of their "sexual orientation," "gender identity or expression," and "disability."

DiCiccio calls the proposal a "radical left turn for Phoenix."

He attacks Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton for his support of the measure and for trying to "fast track" it.

The City Council is considering the proposal at 2:30 p.m. today at the Orpheum Theater (they're expecting a big crowd), 203 W. Adams Street.

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Political alliances continue to take shape in City Council District 8 with State Senator Anna Tovar being the latest to declare her support for Kate Gallego, one of several candidates in the race.

Gallego, along with Lawrence Robinson and Pastor Warren Stewart, are vying to replace Councilman Michael Johnson, a representative who has reached his term limit in office.

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Lawrence Robinson

Paul Penzone, former candidate for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, is supporting Lawrence Robinson for Phoenix City Council's District 8 seat.

The race promises to be interesting, if not contentious.

Robinson is vying to represent South Phoenix against Kate Gallego and Pastor Warren Stewart -- all candidates with impressive resumes.

See also: Stewart Endorsed by Black-Brown Coalition
See also: Robinson Joins Race for Phoenix District 8 City Council Seat, Drama Follows
See also: Maupin: White Candidate for City Council Is Attempted "Political Lynching"

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Pastor Warren Stewart

Although we heard a couple weeks ago that Pastor Warren Stewart was going to run for Phoenix City Council, he's made it official today.

Stewart is now one of two African-Americans who are running for the Phoenix City Council seat in District 8 -- which is currently held by Vice Mayor Michael Johnson -- a seat that has been held by an African-American for the last 46 years.

See also:
-Stewart Endorsed by Black-Brown Coalition
-Robinson Joins Race for Phoenix District 8 City Council Seat, Drama Follows
-Maupin: White Candidate for City Council Is Attempted "Political Lynching"
-Pastor Warren Stewart to Run for Phoenix City Council's 8th District Seat

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