Arizonans have long thrived in our extended, hot summers. We know, however, that temperatures have been rising steadily from decade to decade, and each year brings an increase in heat-caused and heat-related deaths and illnesses from the year before. That’s why we must take proactive steps to build a sustainable and resilient state.
The summer of 2023 was the hottest summer in Arizona ever recorded, and every day people in our state were put in harm’s way because of it. What I heard time and again, from seniors, service providers, agricultural and construction workers, and the unhoused, was that our state’s old approach was not enough. It was clear there was a disconnect between people’s needs and the systems in place to serve them. We were facing a new and complex problem, and we needed new tools to solve it. As a social worker who has dedicated my life to protecting everyday people, I knew we had to take action.
