By Lauren Kuby, Kate Gallego, Eva Putzova and Regina Romero
Council members: Arizona is just one of many states butting into local decisions. The question is why?
(Editor’s note: Opinion pieces are published for discussion purposes only.)
There’s a fight occurring across the nation that threatens the rights of local communities — and Arizona is right in the thick of it.
Arizonans elect local mayors, council members and supervisors to represent their cities and counties. They elect us to represent their values and make thoughtful choices that best represent the ideals of their residents.
But out-of-touch state lawmakers have something else in mind — substituting the voices of citizens with those of shadowy special interests and lobbyists.
It’s called preemption — the process of using state laws to strip away control from local municipalities. And legislative interference in local affairs is happening all over the country.
They can wipe out our laws with a pen.
