Priorities
Compassion in Action:
Addressing homelessness:
Recent data shows the number of people experiencing homelessness in Tempe has dropped significantly, due in large part to the efforts of Councilmember Garlid. Doreen is a true servant leader with a lifelong passion for helping the less fortunate. Long before she was on Council, she participated in the annual Point in Time homeless count to gather data and interact face-to-face with the people living on the streets of Tempe. Since taking office, she has spearheaded Tempe’s Accelerated Homeless Response, prompting effective, substantial investments in housing and services over the past two years. This includes establishing the CARE and HOPE call lines, online reporting tools, and a Homeless Solutions dashboard to keep residents informed of progress being made. Thanks to these proactive solutions, the city’s two most recent Point In Time homeless counts show a 31% decrease in homelessness. Other data points validate this, showing a 32% decrease in unsheltered people and 39% decrease in chronically homeless people being served by the city. The results are clear: The city of Tempe can count on Councilmember Garlid to care for our city’s most vulnerable residents and find solutions that work.
Protecting Our Most Vulnerable From Fraud
Sober living homes play a crucial role in supporting Tempe’s most vulnerable residents. Councilmember Garlid is leading a valley wide effort to crack down on bad actors taking advantage of people at their most vulnerable moment. She’s bringing other leaders together to put an end to fraudulent sober living homes and find a solution that puts effective safeguards in place to protect people who are just trying to put their lives back together.
Addressing the affordable housing crisis:
By backing Mayor Woods’ nationally recognized Hometown for All initiative, Councilmember Garlid set the city up for more affordable housing options and solutions. This includes raising the money and purchasing properties which will be redeveloped to provide hundreds of permanently affordable housing units.
Making Tempe a National Leader in Being Dementia Friendly:
When Councilmember Garlid helped care for her aging father who suffered from dementia, working to make Tempe a dementia friendly city became personal. She became a Tempe certified Dementia Friendly Champion in 2018 and has helped further the programs initiated by former Mayor Mark Mitchell.
A City Where All Residents Can Get Help:
Councilmember Garlid supported additional funding to expand victim services to help our most vulnerable residents. This includes funding to open the new Family Advocacy Center, expand the Care 7 Crisis Response, and establish the HOPE hotline and supporting Councilmember Keating’s Tempe Works program to connect homeless residents to services and employment.
Putting Tax Dollars to Work:
Increasing Traffic Safety:
Doreen was a vocal leader in the 2021 relaunch of Vision Zero for Tempe with a goal of eliminating traffic deaths and injuries for all drivers, riders, cyclists and pedestrians. This includes the establishment of pilot program safety corridors throughout Tempe to increase awareness and encourage traffic safety.
Reinvesting in parks, streets and more with Refresh Tempe:
Did you notice recent renovations in your neighborhood park? A newly repaved street? Councilmember Garlid worked with her colleagues on Council to make that happen by approving Refresh Tempe, a series of capital improvement projects designed to increase your quality of life by adding and reinvesting in Tempe parks, streets, paths, golf courses and more.
Raising the age to purchase tobacco products to 21:
As a mother and grandmother, Councilmember Garlid has prioritized supporting Tempe families in their efforts to keep our children healthy. That’s why Councilmember Garlid worked hard over the past two years to build a coalition to raise the tobacco purchasing age by listening to Tempe citizens, local businesses and enforcement personnel to build a community-authored solution that protects our young people and holds violators accountable. The new ordinance passed unanimously in October 2023.
Protecting Tempe’s Heritage:
Establishing Tempe’s official Land Acknowledgement:
Councilmember Garlid, who is a member of the Navajo Nation, brought the idea to the Mayor and city manager, and subsequently, city staff and tribal partners worked to develop the concept and draft of a land acknowledgement. As of January 14, 2023, Tempe now recognizes its 40 square miles of land as culturally affiliated with the O’odham and Piipaash people and their ancestors.
Honoring Indigenous People’s Day:
For the first time in 2023, Tempe celebrated Indigenous People’s Day instead of Columbus Day, a change spearheaded by Councilmember Garlid. It was a meaningful change to demonstrate Tempe’s commitment to being an inclusive, welcoming and culturally diverse city that embraces the full history and legacy of the land it was built on.