Sign our letter to endorse Prop 478:

Dear Neighbors,

We write today asking you to join us in voting YES on Prop 478 to update Tempe’s General Plan. Every 10 years Tempe is required to update our general plan; the 2050 plan uses the previous plan as a model and moves us forward. This community-authored plan was written over two years with extensive input from hundreds of residents and reflects our collective vision for a forward-thinking, vibrant, inclusive and sustainable Tempe. 

At its core, Prop 478 is designed to safeguard the quality of life for every Tempe resident, prioritizing responsible growth and long-term planning. It does not propose any changes to existing single-family neighborhoods and does not raise taxes in any way. Instead, it will help pave the way for more affordable and accessible housing opportunities throughout Tempe, allowing our city to easily embrace emerging national trends such as micro-mobility and remote working. This means Tempe residents can rent or buy their first home close to where they work. Moreover, it prioritizes community safety by enhancing Tempe’s roads, bridges, and transportation networks while also committing to modernizing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure to create safer and more accessible pathways throughout the city. Additionally, Prop 478 incorporates climate resiliency and environmental stewardship, ensuring Tempe remains a regional leader in sustainability. 

As general plans affect the entirety of a city and its residents, some of us may not agree on every single aspect. However this is a plan that balances the needs of affordable and accessible housing, doubling down on sustainability, and addressing our growing city without impacting our single-family homes or beautiful green space… making it clear that we have common threads of agreement. This was a compromise reached without vitriol, divisive rhetoric, or ugly personal attacks. The General Plan 2050 had input from hundreds of Tempe residents and is a product of compromise, collaboration, transparency, civility, and, above all else, a shared commitment to making Tempe the best city it can be — both now and in future generations to come. 

Together, let’s turn the page on this divisive chapter and get back to being the city and the community that we all love, starting with voting YES on Prop 478.

Sincerely,