Rob Schumacher/The Republic
Attorney Ben Crump announces a lawsuit against the state of Arizona outside the Old Maricopa County Courthouse on Jan. 28, 2025, in Phoenix.
PHOENIX — Dozens of sober living providers claim they were improperly targeted and forced to close their doors nearly two years after the state sounded the alarm on a $2 billion sober living crisis.
“The state suspended, terminated, and got rid of people with a knee-jerk reaction. They did not give people due process,” said Pastor Andre Miller, vice president of the Arizona Conference of NAACP.
12News asked local leaders what they hope to see from Congress and the Trump Administration.
PHOENIX — On Monday, a new administration comes to power, bringing with it four years of a new president, at least two years of a new Congress, and the hopes of hundreds of millions of Americans.
Civil rights advocate and Mesa pastor Andre Miller said he hopes for better representation.
"Right now, we have a lot of rich people making decisions for people who are not rich," he said.
Miller also wants some sort of movement on immigration. It's an issue that can't be postponed anymore, he said.
"I think that we've kicked the can of immigration down the road too long," Miller said. "I think there needs to be legislative action to just put that to be it once and for all."
PHOENIX — Outside a house of refuge, the community gathers and works to find hope. But this month, violence is evident in the Valley.
"I'd rather have a conversation with my kids than bury them,” says Andre Miller, a pastor at New Beginnings Christian Church.
He is also a father to five boys ranging from 19 to 27 years old.
"I've always tried to talk to them about conflict resolution and what it looks like and stepping away from a situation versus escalating the situation,” Miller said.
The state crackdown on fraudulent and excessive billing for outpatient behavioral health services has not waivered since its May announcement.
If anything, the Arizona Heath Care Cost Containment System’s actions under the American Indian Health Program has accelerated.
The agency added 64 providers to its list of suspension last month alone – bringing the total number of suspensions since May to 226.
Eight of the latest suspensions are in Mesa.
Rev. Andre Miller, pastor of the New Beginnings Church in Mesa, has been speaking with many providers and clients affected by the crackdown.
The state’s actions are “bleeding out many businesses and that’s not OK,” he said.
Miller has been working with suspended providers to try to find new housing for people facing displacement from sober living homes.
He believes the state was unprepared to handle the surge of people displaced from housing connected with suspended behavioral health clinics.
QUEEN CREEK - Story Highlights:
"That's threatening and it's terrifying," said Andre Miller, a pastor at New Beginnings Christian Church. He said these actions are unacceptable, "You have kids that, you know, if they're in 9th grade, they're 14 years old and maybe have never seen anything like this before. It's traumatizing." He is proposing QCUSD implement ACLU's 'No Place for Hate' program.
"It's a program that says all students should be in an environment where hate is not tolerated and everyone should be accepted for who they actually are," added Miller.
Miller is already setting up meetings to get the ball rolling on this.
"So, the conversation I plan on having with the superintendent as well as the police chief there, is that this is something that we definitely need to bring on board, and then have these hard conversations," he told ABC15.
New demands for accountability following the death of another person at the hands of police officers. Community members are discussing changes in policing.
NerdWallet found in it’s annual credit card study that the average American will pay $1,380 in interest alone this year, if interest rates don’t rise again.
PHOENIX — Higher prices on goods, incomes not rising to meet them and rising interest rates are part of what a new study said is leading to Americans carrying more credit card debt.
NerdWallet found in its annual credit card study that the average American will pay $1,380 in interest alone this year if interest rates don’t rise again.
Tough times
Getting calls for financial help isn’t new for Pastor Andre Miller’s New Beginnings Christian Church in Mesa.
But, lately, it’s the people he’s getting calls from that have changed.
“We’ve got a lot more calls from people who are actually working that need assistance,” Miller said.
Miller said these are people who have families to feed, with both parents working jobs but are still struggling to make ends meet.
“They’re coming up short on groceries; they're coming up short on utilities; they're coming up short on car notes. So people are just not being able to stretch like they used to,” Miller said.
As Miller has seen federal COVID relief funding running out, he’s noticed more people needing help amid inflation and rent increases.
“It's sad because we would love to help everybody. But we're just not able to do that,” Miller said.
Credit card debt rising
NerdWallet’s study found the amount of credit card debt people have in the United States has risen amid inflation and interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.
Michael Sullivan, with Take Charge America, a non-profit that offers financial counseling, said more people are calling lately in need of help.
While January is usually busier for Take Charge America after holiday spending, Sullivan notes, people are blaming high gas prices, as well as rent and food increases.
“We’re seeing folks now routinely having over 20% APR on a credit card,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan said the higher interest rates are affecting how quickly people can address credit card debt.
“It's very difficult to pay down the principal. So people are carrying those balances longer and longer. And everything is costing more and more. And it's more and more difficult for people to catch up,” Sullivan said.
"Sneakier way to get into debt"
However, it’s not just credit card debt Americans are taking on.
NerdWallet found nearly 1 in 5 Americans have used a buy now, pay later option in the last year.
Matt Vian, a financial advisor with Northsight Wealth Management, said it presents the same problem as credit cards.
“It’s still going to cost the price it's going to cost you,” Vian said. “And a lot of times, these places have high-interest rates as well. So it’s a much sneakier way to get into debt.”
Pay high-interest credit cards first
To work on tackling debt, Sullivan recommends paying down high-interest credit cards first.
“You have to make minimum payments on every other bill you have. And try to find a few extra dollars, however many it is, to attack that highest-interest credit card and get it paid off quickly,” Sullivan said.
Vian also recommends writing down all debts owed to figure out what to tackle first.
“What your account balance is, what the amount of debt that you owe is, and then also the minimum payment that you have, and the interest rate,” Vian said.
“Write it all out to really take a look and assess, ‘What is my situation?’”
Hardships continue
Still, Sullivan is anticipating challenges ahead in 2023.
“I am afraid this is going to create another wave like we had during the last crunch back in the 2000s,” Sullivan said. “And I hope not; I hope that people can cut back on their spending and keep it in control.”
Still, Miller will be working to help those he can help in these tough times.
“It's going to take all of us those in the position of need, and those who are not in a position of need to put our heads together and figure out what can we do as a society to make things better for everybody, Miller said.
Colleen Sikora
https://www.12news.com/article/money/americans-are-carrying-more-credit-card-debt-how-financial-experts-suggest-tackling-it/75-dd11d4a8-5640-4779-9391-fa6dc90296da
Arizona responds to Daunte Wright shooting – ABC15 Arizona
Protest planned for Thursday in Phoenix; community members speak with ABC15., including Pastor Andre Miller of New Beginnings Christian Church.
Valley Black community cries for justice as Derek Chauvin trial ramps up – 12news.com KPNX
Team 12’s Niala Charles speaks to some of the community leaders and protesters to find out if they think the country and our state have come any closer to equity.
PHOENIX — Valley activists took to the streets last year demanding change after George Floyd was seen dying on camera. Now, almost a year later, they said not much has changed.
Protestors in the Valley marched in record-breaking heat. In the evenings, frustration sometimes boiled over when looters disrupted the cause.
Throughout it all, protest leaders said their goals remained the same as they called for an end to police brutality and systemic racism.
“When you sit right here as a Black man, do you feel like you’re any less likely to be assaulted by an officer or killed by an officer?” 12 News reporter Niala Charles asked.
“No. I believe the only thing that has really changed is time,” Pastor Andre Miller said.
Jadyn Ferguson protested for the first time last summer.
“Permanent change happens with permanent changes and I think that’s what we need to get to,” said Ferguson.
“Do you feel like anything has changed?”
Nissa Vibe is a core member of Black Lives Matter Phoenix.
“I do not feel like change is happening fast enough,” said Vibe.
Miller said that he doesn’t feel like much has changed either.
“It’s absolutely frustrating but we can’t stop. Small victories are still good although they’re not what we really want,” said Miller.
In the past year, some Valley police departments updated use of force tactics and increased transparency with body-worn cameras. But activists say the real catalyst for change is in the policy.
In a historic move, the city of Phoenix voted to approve its first civilian review board in February 2020.
Separate from the police department, the plan includes a unit dedicated to investigating police complaints. However, it’s not a done deal. The city council would still have to vote to adopt an official ordinance to create the department. Most departments still don’t have a civilian review with that much power.
These activists look to the trial of Derek Chauvin as symbolic for the rest of the nation.
“It’s everyone’s problem because if one person is treated unfairly then anyone can be treated unfairly,” said Vibe.
I’m not very hopeful that the full weight of the law will be applied to this officer [Chauvin],” said Miller.
“What I would hope for is a justified prison sentence for him and his rights taken away to ever become a cop again,” said Vibe.
“We’re still not seeing justice for what we’re seeing on camera,” said Miller.
Their calls for change will continue for however long it takes.
“I found out why I was loud. This is why I’m loud for these things right here,” said Ferguson.
We reached out to police chiefs across the Valley for this story, but all of them declined interviews.
Glendale Police Chief Chris Briggs gave us this statement:
“The Glendale Police Department has continuously evaluated our mission, values and vision for the department. We are committed to making the community feel safe and we strive to maintain the trust and confidence within our community not only through transparency of our actions but by listening to the needs of the community we serve.. We reflect on National and local events and work to ensure that our citizens are represented with not only the most efficient and effective police department but a department that represents the community and the values they hold and want upheld by others.
“As a department we strive to adjust our policies and procedures to not only meet the demands of the current time, but we hope to better educate and train our officers to be sensitive to the community we serve. We strive each day to serve the community without bias and we understand that as a department we must continue to learn and reflect positively on the citizens we represent.
“Our core values are integrity, courage, excellence, respect, dedication and compassion. These are not just words to us, but they are there for us to live by on a daily basis and are there so we can build on the trust and confidence of our community.”
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