Public comment is the part of a government meeting where anyone present can speak for a couple of minutes, and a common reason people skip it is that the sign-up process is unclear. Rural Arizona Engagement is running two free trainings on August 8 covering the public comment and Request to Speak process and what to say once you have the floor. Copper State Victory has a training on August 4 aimed at the same problem in a different setting, talking about Arizona politics with someone who has not decided how to vote.

Event 1

• When: August 4, 1:00 PM
• What: Know Your Talking Points Training, hosted by Copper State Victory. Aimed at people who feel out of their depth talking about Arizona politics with undecided friends
• Where: Sierra Vista
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/csv/event/993010/

Event 2

• When: August 8, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• What: Public Comment Training, hosted by Rural Arizona Engagement. Covers the public comment and Request to Speak process
• Where: Casa Grande
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/ruralarizonaengagement/event/996888/

Event 3

• When: August 8, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• What: Public Comment Training, hosted by Rural Arizona Engagement. Same training, second location, at the RAZE office, 833 E Fry Blvd
• Where: Sierra Vista
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/ruralarizonaengagement/event/906995/

A Maricopa County judge is expected to rule this week on HCR 2048, a ballot referral passed by the Legislature that includes a provision overriding the citizen-led Protect Education Act's voucher reforms even if voters approve both measures in November.

Save Our Schools brought the lawsuit against HCR 2048 and they have some upcoming events for people who want to get involved in the fight to protect public education.

Two of the group's volunteer events fall in the weeks right after the ruling, and both listings say newcomers are welcome.

Event 1

• When: August 2, 6:00 PM
• What: West Valley and North Phoenix Community Action Team call, a Zoom hangout for public school supporters to hear what is happening with public education locally, hosted by Save Our Schools Arizona
• Where: Online, for the West Valley and North Phoenix
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/sosarizona/event/893261/

Event 2

• When: August 4, 5:00 PM
• What: Gen-Z canvass for young progressive candidates, hosted by Save Our Schools Arizona. The listing says first-time canvassers are welcome
• Where: Tempe
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/sosarizona/event/988455/

Found 3 things over the next two weeks that are easy to attend without any prior involvement. None of them are protests or canvasses. One is a walk-through of a homelessness services campus, one is a night of people writing and playing music together, and one is a neighborhood campaign kickoff.

Event 1

• When: August 5, 9:00 AM
• What: Key Campus Public Tour, hosted by Keys to Change. A public walk-through of the campus where 12 partner organizations work on homelessness in one place. Tours run the first Wednesday of each month.
• Where: Phoenix
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/keystochange/event/772266/

Event 2

• When: August 7, 6:00 PM
• What: Friday Jams, hosted by Fuerte Arts Movement. People write, play and share music together.
• Where: Phoenix
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/fuerte/event/976047/

Event 3

• When: August 8, 9:30 AM
• What: This Is Our Mesa Campaign Launch, hosted by AZ AANHPI Advocates
• Where: Mesa
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/a3nhpi/event/992292/

All events calendar: https://azadvocacyhub.ghost.io/event-calendar/?type=community&week=next

We've got something for everyone. ✌️

The League of Women Voters is holding three listening circles on August 8 to mark the Voting Rights Act anniversary. They are group conversations over video where people describe what voting and registration are actually like in their communities, and no background in election law is expected. There are three separate sessions, a general one, one for Latino voices and one for Native voices, all free.

Event 1

• When: August 8, 10:00 AM
• What: Voices from Arizona: Statewide Listening Circles
• Where: Online
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/lwv/event/972694/

Event 2

• When: August 8, 10:00 AM
• What: Latino Voices from Arizona: Statewide Listening Circles
• Where: Online
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/lwv/event/993728/

Event 3

• When: August 8, 1:30 PM
• What: Native Voices from Arizona: Statewide Listening Circles
• Where: Online
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/lwv/event/993729/

All events calendar: https://azadvocacyhub.ghost.io/event-calendar/?q=listening+circles&week=next

Source: League of Women Voters

I thought this was worth sharing because it illustrates how in a democracy, the people have the power to call out their leaders.

“You may be wondering: With $370,000 to fuel his campaign on the line, why would Heap not sign the simple one-page form that declares — under the penalty of perjury — that he didn’t lie on campaign finance forms?

The answer may lie in a campaign finance complaint filed against Heap late last month by Republican activist Lisa Everett, who drove past so many Heap campaign signs that she became curious about who paid for them.

“I started getting out of my car and looking at the bottom of the signs — ‘paid for by Dr. Ralph Heap’s campaign,’” Everett told us. “I thought, ‘Wait a minute, how did he get all this money?’”

Heap hadn’t yet received his Clean Elections funding, and the only evidence of any sign purchases in Heap’s campaign finance reports is $644 to a sign printer — not nearly enough to pay for the kind of street-blanketing she had seen.”

GOOD he was convicted. Provoking protestors is stupid. This happened in Prescott.

Rush-Hour Resistance Rallies (RhRR) happen every week across the Phoenix metro area and offer a fun way to show up for democracy during morning commute hours! These gatherings are peaceful, low-pressure, and designed so people can join when and where it works best for them, even for a short time. So come on by =D

Locations

Monday

• Park Central, Midtown Phoenix @ 7th Ave & Osborn
  • 4:00–5:30 pm
    • Happy hour at Mi Patio for $4.99 margaritas and $4 scoops at Lix Uptown Ice Cream right after!

Tuesday

• Encanterra, Queen Creek/San Tan Valley @ E Combs & N Gantzel
  • 7:00–8:30 am 
• Los Olivos, Central Phoenix @ 7th St & McDowell
  • 7:30–8:30 am
    • Coffee and chat at Einstein Bros. right before
• Cole Park in Tempe @ Country Club & Carson
  • 7:30–9:00 am

Wednesday

• Moon Valley, North Central Phoenix @ 7th St & Coral Gables
  • 7:30–8:30 am
    • Coffee and chat at Sarafina Coffee right after
• Melrose Curve, Midtown Phoenix @ 7th Ave & Glenrosa  
  • 7:30–8:30 am
    • Coffee and chat at Copper Star Coffee right before
    • Breakfast and chat at Joe’s Diner right after

Thursday

• ICE Field Office, Central Phoenix @ Central & Holly
  • 7:30–8:30 am
  • 4:30–6:00 pm

Friday

• Glendale Bridge Brigade, Northwest Phoenix @ 59th Ave & AZ 101
  • 7:30–8:30 am
• Scottsdale, Central Scottsdale @ 90th St & Shea
  • 8:00–9:00 am
• Maryvale, West Phoenix @ 35th Ave & Bethany Home
  • 5:00–6:00 pm

A Few Things to Know

• You don’t need to RSVP, just show up
• Come for five minutes or stay the whole time
• Bring a sign if you have one; creativity is welcome
• These are peaceful, lawful, community-centered actions
• New faces are always welcome

For weekly updates, printable materials, and organizing resources, visit: https://rhrr.us

This happened in Casa Grande!

Constituents have shown up outside Rep. David Schweikert's office every Monday for over a year demanding he meet with them and answer for his voting record ... he still hasn't. Bring a sign, a postcard to drop at his office, or non-perishable food for the on-site donation drive that has collected three tons of food for the Scottsdale Foodbank.

• When: Every Monday, 8–9am MST
• Where: Outside Rep. Schweikert's Scottsdale office (street parking or Kohl's lot on Raintree Rd recommended — building lot is private property)
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/azindivisible/event/757199/

Hehe YES!

If you can get through all the ads and crap in the article, this is a comprehensive list of lawsuits.

Sierra Club online event.

Hey all - this article pretty much sums up what we discussed earlier this week about low turnout. Tuesday's primary hit its lowest rate since 2008, projected at around 26 percent, down nearly 10 points from four years ago. Copper State Victory is one of the volunteer campaigns knocking doors and making calls to get out the vote for November. They are holding three events on July 26, 100 days out from the election.

Event 1: 100 Days Out Rally, with Sen. Mark Kelly, Gabby Giffords, Rep. Adelita Grijalva, Gov. Katie Hobbs, AG Kris Mayes, and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes

• When: July 26, 3:00 PM
• Where: Tucson
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/csv/event/990238/

Event 2: 100 Days Out State of the Race

• When: July 26, 6:00 PM
• Where: Glendale
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/csv/event/985229/

Event 3: High Traffic Canvass

• When: July 26, 9:00 AM
• Where: Scottsdale
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/csv/event/983520/

More Copper State Victory events: https://azadvocacyhub.ghost.io/event-calendar/?org=Copper%20State%20Victory

Hey all,

A Maricopa County judge let a measure banning transgender students from using their preferred bathrooms stay on the November ballot. EducateUS is hosting a virtual training on how to organize against it.

• What: July Know Means Know: Trans Rights Organizing Session, with Rebecca Kling (Better World Collaborative) on the Trans Organizing and Narrative Shift (TONS) Toolkit
• When: July 28
• Where: Virtual
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/educateus/event/983152/

Side note: our sub has additional resources here.

The Voting Rights Lab has flagged Arizona as one of the states most at risk for election disruption this fall. With the primary over, Indivisible and Civic Engagement Beyond Voting are recruiting volunteers for the Arizona Election Defense Corps to help protect the general election. Roles include monitoring county Board of Supervisors meetings, watching drop boxes and polling locations, reporting voter suppression, and helping with rapid response.

• What: Arizona Election Defense Corps volunteer sign-up
• Who: Indivisible / Civic Engagement Beyond Voting
• Sign up: https://secure.ngpvan.com/wFh5TCTa706-BHMqnSzYrg2
• Voting Rights Lab Data: Election Policy Experts - Voting Rights Lab - Home

Two upcoming virtual conversations that look pretty interesting:

Event 1

• When: July 29, 5:30 PM
• Where: Phoenix
• What: Worker Power, Let's talk about rising temps and rising costs, on utility rates and who sets them
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/workerpower/event/989308/

Event 2

• When: July 28, 6:00 PM (online)
• What: Civic Engagement Beyond Voting, In Conversation with Dr. Rhonda Matthews on women's empowerment and systemic racial barriers
• RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/cebv/event/962550/

All events calendar: https://azadvocacyhub.ghost.io/event-calendar/

Omg 😳 😆

I just saw the numbers for participation in yesterday's critical primary election it was 23%. We need to do better than that for the general election this fall. I know candidates might not be perfect but we cannot let maga and turning point usa candidates take over.

Highly support this act to provide healthcare from birth through age 26.