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.
Tag: Mesa Arizona
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.
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.
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
Church Donates A Minivan To Family Of 7; Continues To Help Out Others – Christianity Daily
The pandemic has struck most Americans–unemployment cases on the rise and no money to spare. This has been the case for Fallon LaGuerra and her family, she has lost her job during the pandemic and on top of that she has to take care of her seven children. She thought she was alone in this struggle–but the Church had her back.
Pastor Andre Miller Sr. of New Beginnings Christian Church knew her situation and he wanted to take action and help her out. He and the other members of the Christian Church wanted to help a struggling sister out. At the same time of losing her job, LaGuerra’s family car also broke down. With no money to spare for repairs, she decided to let it go.
However, Pastor Miller decided to help out with her struggles and immediately went on Facebook to post an inquiry. He asked who can help him out in donating a minivan to a deserving and worthy mother, ABC15 reports. In no time, his post was answered by people who were willing to help out.
Jeremy Whitaker, a former council member in Mesa, saw the pastor’s Facebook post and shared it. The nonprofit group, “Helping Hands for Single Moms” and the Neighborhood Auto Repair Professionals (NAPRO), teamed up and repaired a minivan that would be donated to LaGuerra and her family
LaGuerra was still clueless on what was happening. She was just about to have her usual chat with Pastor Miller but little did she know he would surprise her and her family with the minivan.
“It’s amazing. It’s amazing because you don’t see that in too many places. I know the pastor’s heart is in a good place,” LaGuerra happily shared.
She is very much thankful for the people of her community who went out their way to help struggling people just like her. She believes it was divine intervention that helped her receive these gifts from the community.
Pastor Miller already has a history of helping people out during the pandemic. His church community has started a fundraiser to help people out struggling people in need. Kristen Smith, a single mother and a frequent churchgoer from the community, was helped by the community and was given $250 which was enough to cover her expenses.
Pastor Andre Miller Sr. of New Beginnings Christian Church
The New Beginnings Christian Church does not only help the people from their community but they really help those who are in need. Tattoo artist Beau Banks did not attend Pastor Miller’s church, yet it was the same church that helped him. All Banks needed to do was ask and he did receive help.
He was about to be evicted from his home if it were not for the help of Pastor Miller’s church. “I almost came to tears, yet it was pretty moving,” Banks shared.
Pastor Miller’s church is just one of the many churches that have helped thousands of people ever since the pandemic happened. Continuously spreading the good news and the good mission of the Lord.
(Edited to add photos from Pastor Andre Miller Sr.)
Auto repair network donates minivan to mother of 7 with help from church – ABC15 Arizona
It was a special day for Fallon LaGuerra and her family. It’s a day she thought would start with a simple chat with her pastor, Andre Miller of New Beginnings Christian Church.
Pastor Miller and other members of the community in Mesa had other plans.
Fallon lost her job last year due to the pandemic and her car broke down, too. All this while she took care of her seven children.
When Pastor Miller found out about her struggles, he went into action.
He posted on Facebook, asking for anyone who could donate a minivan to the deserving mother.
The post was answered immediately, Miller says.
“A buddy, who used to be a council member in Mesa, Jeremy Whitaker, he saw it, he shared it. The person he shared it with was able to meet the need that we had.”
With the help of the nonprofit “Helping Hands for Single Moms,” and the Neighborhood Auto Repair Professionals, or NARPRO, a donated and repaired minivan would now belong to Fallon and her family.
James Garnand of NARPRO believes a higher calling is what brought everything together.
“Somebody above directed this situation. It wasn’t really done by us or anybody standing here. It’s just the way things happened to come together,” Garnand stated.
Whether it be coincidence, or divine intervention, Fallon is thankful to her East Valley community for helping her and her family.
“It’s amazing. It’s amazing because you don’t see that in too many places. I know the pastor’s heart is in a good place.”
ABC 15 Arizona – MESA – The Mesa Police Department says the officers’ actions were appropriate when they pelted a man, who had his hands up, with a bean bag round, according to their use-of-force policy.
Pastor Andre Miller ofNew Beginnings Christian Church, who is advocating for the Jones family, said the SWAT team’s use of force against Jones was too “heavy-handed.”
Full Article – https://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/mesa/mesa-pd-officers-actions-were-appropriate-in-bean-bag-shooting-of-lorenzo-jones
Fox 10 PHOENIX – MESA – On July 25, friends and family of the late Civil Rights Movement icon and Georgia congressman John Lewis celebrated the man’s life with memorial events in Alabama.
“You could always count on him to be the same John Lewis, no matter the decade, fighting for what’s right,” “I grew up in an era where my grandfather’s cousin was the first black mayor of the city of Detroit, and so I spent time with people like Rosa Parks and other civil rights figures, and so John Lewis was a towering figure, even in the City of Detroit.” – Pastor Andre Miller – New Beginnings Christian Church
Full Article – https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/valley-pastor-remembers-life-legacy-of-late-georgia-rep-john-lewis
Arizona Police Shoot Black Man in Front of Fiancee and Kids (Video) – Blackchronicle
Police officers in Arizona shot three beanbag rounds at a 26-year-old Black construction worker in front of his fiancée and their children late last week, according to ABC15 Arizona.
The incident, which took place in Mesa, Arizona, was captured on video by a neighbor. In the video clip, the man, Lorenzo Jones, can be seen emptying his pockets and giving his keys to his fiancée, Tenisha Gaston, while several young children were standing beside him. Despite putting his hands up and complying with the officer’s orders, Arizona police officers shot bean bags directly at Jones. As the young lady and children are screaming, they continue to shoot him three more times.
A video, caught on a mobile phone by a neighbor, Shampall Williams, was posted on Facebook.
“This is not right, said Gaston. “What’s going on in the world, and now I am dealing with this.“
Gaston witnessed the shooting as she and her children were standing with him as he was being shot.
“He is a good man,” Gaston said, “My kids were scared.”
Gaston met with a local pastor and a lawyer last Friday.
“There was no need for this,” said civil right attorney Benjamin Taylor. “Under the law, he was complying. He had his shirt off, no weapons on him. He wasn’t a threat.“
“In policing, we see a lot of excuses when we talk about force and excessive force and what was justified and what was not,” said Pastor Andre Miller. “Nobody reasonable is saying ‘Yeah, I would have shot this guy.’”
Jones has been charged with aggravated assault on an officer, three counts of aggravated assault on a minor, resisting arrest, marijuana possession, assault causing fear of physical injury.
In a statement, Mesa police chief Ken Cost said, “They [the officers] felt that he was armed and dangerous.” “It would be premature for me to comment on the split-second the officer made the decision.”
He stated that a use-of-force review should take about a week and he is not “going to jump to a conclusion on that until I have all the information.”
“We understand that any time force is used it raises a lot of questions. Less-lethal tools are exactly that, less lethal, and were developed to prevent violent actions, protect the public, save the lives of suspects as well as officers,” Mesa police said in Friday’s statement.
Arizona Republic – MESA – The fiancé of Lorenzo Jones, a man shot by Mesa police using bean bag rounds in front of his children while serving a warrant on Thursday held a news conference alongside an attorney and Pastor Andre Miller of New Beginnings Christian Church to decry what each of them described as the department’s “excessive force.”