About Us
We are a grassroots coalition of residents, business owners and supporters of South Phoenix. We work together, using our own resources, with one goal: to do what’s right for our community. Join us to make sure Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Valley Metro take responsibility for the harm caused by the never-ending light rail construction.
Protect the heart and soul of South Phoenix.
Issues
The light rail project was originally set to finish in 2023. The project was quietly pushed back to 2024 and now to 2025, with no clear end in sight. Valley Metro has failed to keep South Phoenix informed, leaving our community in confusion and economic distress. Despite being an underserved area, South Phoenix deserves timely updates and transparency, not silence on why the project keeps getting extended.
Small businesses in South Central Phoenix are struggling to survive as ongoing light rail construction cuts their revenue by up to 50%. The ongoing light rail construction blocks customer access and threatens closures. The City of Phoenix and Valley Metro promised financial relief, but grants will end in December 2024, leaving small business owners without the support they were promised.
Valley Metro’s decision to dismantle the Construction Advisory Board (CAB) in March 2025—before the light rail project is even complete—cuts off our community’s only formal voice while the project is still ongoing. Originally formed to provide residents, property owners, and businesses a platform for input, CAB’s dismissal means South Phoenix loses vital representation. This abrupt termination silences the very voices that need to be heard until the project’s end.
Valley Metro’s SCE Arts Grant Program, launched in 2022, has been marred by mismanagement and a lack of transparency. Funds were released to organizations without a final vote from the community review board, and Valley Metro has failed to track how grant money is spent or whether projects are completed. As a result, only 3 of the 15 funded projects have been completed, leaving the community with unmet promises and unanswered questions.
Demands
We need a transit system that serves our community without compromising businesses, residents, or way of life. Stand with us to create a brighter, more accountable future for South Phoenix.
Demand #1
Valley Metro must hold public meetings immediately to explain why the South Central Light Rail Project’s completion date has been delayed from 2023 to 2025 and to ensure transparency about budget overruns. These meetings should clarify if the 2017 addition of the Downtown Hub – named after former Mayor Greg Stanton – impacted South Central Phoenix’s delays. Residents and business owners deserve direct communication, accountability, and the opportunity to ask questions about the $1.35 billion project affecting their community.
Demand #2
South Central Phoenix businesses have been hit hard by years of light rail construction, with many shutting their doors and closing shop forever. Cutting the small business grants program before the project’s completion is irresponsible, and City of Phoenix must extend this support until six months after the project ends, allowing local businesses to recover. It’s time for Valley Metro to provide transparent numbers on their Business Assistance Program and commit to real, accountable assistance for our community’s small businesses.
Demand #3
To ensure accountability, Valley Metro must extend the CABs for at least 12 months past the final completion date, allowing the community oversight to address any lingering construction issues. We demand that the CABs maintain original membership and hold regular meetings to protect South Central Phoenix from any contractor defaults. Furthermore, CAB Chairs and Vice Chairs should act as consultants in future CABs for other communities of color, ensuring Valley Metro brings transparency and inclusivity to communities of color.
Demand #4
We demand a full audit of the SCE Arts Grant Program to ensure transparency and accountability for community funds. Valley Metro distributed grant money without proper panel approval, undermining the community’s voice in deciding which projects to support. Despite repeated requests for updates, Valley Metro has not tracked how these grant dollars were spent, leaving South Phoenix residents in the dark on a project worth $1.35 billion.
Demand #5
Since 2012, Valley Metro has struggled from a lack of meaningful community engagement with South Phoenix. In 2017, local business owners launched “4 Lanes or No Train,” a grassroots effort to halt the project, leading to a City Council-mandated 90-Day Pause to explore alternate designs and later a ballot measure to stop construction, which was ultimately defeated. Now, as delays continue, Valley Metro must adopt diverse, equitable and inclusive communication practices and provide transparent updates to South Central Phoenix. Any further delays should include compensatory measures to address the economic impact on affected residents and businesses.
Take Action
South Phoenix is a culturally rich and diverse community that deserves the same respect, consideration, and investment as any other neighborhood in metro Phoenix. City of Phoenix and Valley Metro must stand for South Phoenix!
Sign this petition to support our demand for a fair, transparent, and accountable process for the people of South Central Phoenix. After your sign, share it with 10 friends via email, text, WhatsApp or social media.
Small businesses along South Central Avenue are struggling under the weight of constant construction, limited access, reduced foot traffic and business assistance grants program that ends in December 2024.
Check out the letter written to Mayor Kate Gallego by Andrew Richwine, a lifelong South Phoenix resident and vice-chair of the Valley Metro CAB South for the Light Rail project. Raised in South Phoenix, Andrew has dedicated his efforts to advocating for the community he calls home, where he also raised his six children.
We ask that our city leaders and Valley Metro step up, take accountability, and work with us to mitigate the harm this project has caused. Contact these public servants today and demand action!
City of Phoenix “Transit Mayor”
Currently in her second and final term as Mayor of Phoenix, Gallego leads one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, but her focus on national ambitions has drawn criticism. Known as a “Transit Mayor,” Gallego has committed to a 35-year plan to expand Phoenix’s public transit system.
Chair, Valley Metro RPTA Board
As the Vice Mayor of Chandler and Chair of Valley Metro’s Board of Directors, Harris brings an impressive background as a U.S. Army veteran, best-selling author, and entrepreneur. As the founder of one of the largest minority-owned accounting firms, which he successfully franchised, Harris understands the dedication, sacrifice, and resilience required to build a business.
Chair, Valley Metro Rail Board
Vice Mayor for the City of Mesa and Chair of the Valley Metro Rail Board of Directors, Heredia has built a diverse career in advocacy, business, and community service. As a former National Field Director for Mi Familia Vota and One Arizona, he has extensive experience in grassroots and public service work.
Past Chair, Valley Metro Rail Board
Pastor, a Phoenix native and fifth-generation Arizonan, serves as the current Vice Chair of the Valley Metro Rail Board of Directors and sits on its Audit and Finance Subcommittee. As the only Valley Metro board member representing City of Phoenix residents, Pastor also holds a role on the City Council for District 4 and is a member of the City’s Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning Subcommittee.
Valley Metro CEO
Mefford-Miller became CEO of Valley Metro in 2022, succeeding Scott Smith, and is responsible for overseeing the operations, maintenance, and expansion of the metro Phoenix public transportation system. Previously, she was executive director of Metro Transit in St. Louis and held positions with the National Park Service, Ohio Department of Transportation, and The Ohio State University.
Here are some conversation starters to help you engage your friends and family:
Donate
To support this movement, you can make a donation to help fuel our grassroots efforts, ensuring our voices are heard loud and clear across Metro Phoenix. Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to our vision for a fairer, safer community.
Volunteer
If you’d like to make an impact in other ways, we are looking for talented individuals who can lend their time, skills, or resources. You can help us with:
Shape our visual voice to resonate with our community.
Strengthen our online presence to reach more supporters.
Capture and share our stories to inspire action.
Spread the word and engage our supporters.
Make our message visible on every street.
Display our cause proudly across South Central.
Be on the front lines of community outreach.
Help us communicate inclusively with all our neighbors.
Amplify our story to the news media.
Provide spaces for our coalition meetings to strategize and connect.
Join us in this critical movement and become a vital part of the change South Central Phoenix deserves!
News
Welcome to the News section of Stand Up for South Phoenix—your go-to resource for the latest developments, press releases, and stories affecting the South Phoenix community.
We’re committed to providing members of the media with accurate, timely information on our advocacy efforts. Check back here for:
For press inquiries, email us at standupforsouthphx@gmail.com
We invite members of the media to explore the following story angles, which highlight key issues facing South Central Phoenix.
#1
Track the original timelines and promises made to South Phoenix residents regarding the light rail project and compare them to the current state of construction. Investigate the causes behind repeated delays, potential budget overruns, and the apparent lack of communication to the community about project setbacks. How has the city addressed—or failed to address—the mounting frustrations of residents who feel sidelined?
#2
Conduct an investigative report on Valley Metro’s Business Assistance Program to assess whether it is meeting its stated goals. How many businesses have really benefited, and are there tangible outcomes for those facing hardship due to construction? A deeper look at how funds are allocated and if the program is truly supporting affected businesses will bring much-needed transparency.
#3
With Valley Metro’s decision to dismantle the CABs before the light rail project’s completion, South Phoenix residents are left without their only formal channel for input and oversight. This story will explore the coalition’s call to extend CAB’s operation by 12 months beyond project completion. Interviews with CAB members will reveal the deep frustration over losing their collective voice and their resolve to ensure other communities of color don’t face the same dismissal.
#4
Valley Metro’s SCE Arts Grant Program is under fire for failing to deliver on promised projects, with only 3 of 15 funded initiatives completed and a lack of transparency on how taxpayer dollars were spent. This story will investigate the coalition’s demand for a full audit to reveal where funds went and why grants were issued without panel approval. Interviews with panelists, community leaders and grantees will shed light on where the money went and what was accomplished with it.
#5
Focus on Valley Metro’s approach to community engagement and transparency regarding the light rail project. Why have regular updates and clear communication seemingly been neglected? This piece could address the role of the Valley Metro Board, including Mayor Gallego, and the responsibility they have to keep the community informed on major changes or delays.
#6
Highlight personal stories from South Phoenix residents who feel overlooked in city planning and development. This feature could include interviews with individuals and families who rely on public transit and were promised a more connected community. It’s an opportunity to elevate the voices of those whose lives have been disrupted by construction delays and broken promises from city leadership.
#7
Dive into Mayor Kate Gallego’s increasing involvement on the national stage, such as her recent appointment to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee. Analyze how her focus on national transportation issues impacts her effectiveness in addressing pressing needs within Phoenix, particularly in South Phoenix. This piece can explore residents’ concerns that local issues are being overshadowed by the mayor’s federal pursuits.
#8
Examine the future of South Phoenix in the context of the delayed transit project and the city’s broader development plans. Will city leaders prioritize the needs of historically underserved communities, or will promises of economic revitalization remain unfulfilled? By consulting urban development experts, community advocates, and residents, this story can explore the future implications of the city’s actions in underserved community, like the planned I-10 West Extension.
For press inquiries, email us at info@standupforsouthphoenix.com
Contact Us
Your questions and comments are very important to us.
If you have any general inquiries, suggestions, or concerns, please reach out to us by filling out this form.
