Honoring a legacy of local leadership. 👏 @AzCities President and Superior @Mayor_Mila Besich presented @chandlerazmayor with a resolution of appreciation for his service on the League’s Executive Committee and recognized his induction as a Life Member as a Past President. Thank you, Mayor Hartke, for your leadership and dedication to Arizona’s cities and towns!

From housing assistance to a home of his own. 🏡 @GlendaleAZ’s Family Self-Sufficiency program helps residents build credit, advance their careers, and work toward homeownership. See how it helped one resident break a 19-year cycle of housing assistance and open the door to his next chapter. 👇 🎥 @abc15 abc15.com/news/region-west-v…

Election Day is over. Next up #AZLeg session, and short-term rentals are high on the League’s agenda. Short-term rentals accounted for half of the League’s policy goals adopted at its annual conference this summer. This session, the League plans to ask lawmakers to refer a measure to the statewide ballot. If Arizona voters approve it, cities and towns could ask their own residents to vote on whether to adopt additional short-term rental rules in their communities. pro.stateaffairs.com/az/hous…

Happy #ElectionDay, Arizona! How are your cities and towns celebrating local democracy at work? 📍Find your voting location: my.arizona.vote/WhereToVote.…

Small-town roots. A strong voice for every Arizona city and town. 🌵 With six generations of family ties to Superior, @AzCities President and Superior Mayor @Mayor_Mila Besich brings a local perspective to Arizona’s biggest challenges. In @AzCapitolTimes she discusses protecting local decision-making, addressing short-term rentals and housing affordability, and working across party lines to serve residents. 📰 Read the full interview: tinyurl.com/captimesbesich

🚛💧 Clean water at the tap. Safe streets on the drive home. Trash and recycling picked up each week. Behind these everyday essentials are public works teams who keep Arizona’s cities and towns clean, connected, and running smoothly. From maintaining streets and sewer systems to delivering water and managing sanitation and recycling, their work makes a difference every day. This #AZCityWeek, help us celebrate these dedicated crews! Give your local public works team a shoutout and share what their work means to your community. 👇💛

🌵 A strong community gives residents a voice in its future, and @TownofQC is celebrating #AZCityWeek by inviting everyone to get involved! From investing in reliable water supplies and shaping the Town’s General Plan to offering a behind-the-scenes look at local government through its Citizen Leadership Institute, Queen Creek is connecting residents with the decisions and services that shape everyday life. Let's continue celebrating the people, programs, and services that make Arizona’s cities and towns great places to call home. 💛 signalsaz.com/articles/queen…

🌳Parks and recreation help make Arizona’s cities and towns great places to call home! From scenic trails and splash pads to sports leagues and free dance lessons, local teams work hard to offer something fun for everyone. This #AZCityWeek, we’re celebrating the parks, programs, and dedicated people who keep our communities active, connected, and full of life. 💚 What’s your favorite way to play in your city or town? Give a local park, program, or recreation team a shoutout below! 👇

Keeping our communities safe takes courage, dedication, and a team that’s always ready to answer the call. 🚒🚓💛 Today during #AZCityWeek, we’re celebrating the firefighters, police officers, dispatchers, and public safety professionals who protect our neighborhoods and care for our communities every day. 🎉 Congratulations to @cityofchandler, @GilbertYourTown, @scottsdaleazgov, @PeoriaAZ, @CITYOFMESA, @GlendaleAZ and @Tempegov for ranking among @WalletHub’s 100 Safest Cities in America! Thank you to the men and women who help make Arizona a safe place to call home. 🔗 Full list: wallethub.com/edu/safest-cit…

Behind every great community is an all-star team making it happen. 🌟 During #AZCityWeek, we’re celebrating the all-stars who keep our cities and towns running: city managers, town clerks, attorneys, finance and budget teams, and administrative professionals. Their behind-the-scenes leadership helps make our communities exceptional places to call home. 🎉 Congratulations to the nine Arizona cities and towns named among @usnews’ 250 Best Places to Live in the U.S. for 2026–2027! @GilbertYourTown, @cityofchandler, @TownofQC, @townofmarana, @SierraVistaAZ, @visitpeoriaaz, @scottsdaleazgov, @AZSurprise & @GoodyearAZGov 🔗 realestate.usnews.com/places…

The faces and places that make Arizona a great place to call home. 🌵💛 From libraries and museums to public safety and community celebrations, we’re celebrating the people who keep our cities and towns running, keep us safe, and bring us together every day. See your community? Give it a shoutout below! 👇 Celebrate #AZCityWeek with us all week long! Need ideas? 💡🔗 Use our toolkit: tinyurl.com/azcityweek26

🗓️ Arizona Cities & Towns Week kicks off Sunday! 🎉 Join us October 18–24 for the 25th annual #AZCityWeek as we celebrate the services, public works, and dedicated local teams that keep Arizona’s communities running every day. Need inspiration? Our toolkit has sample press releases, social media graphics, event ideas and more to help your city or town celebrate and showcase what makes your community special! 🔗 Explore the toolkit: azleague.org/256/Arizona-Cit…

📍 @GilbertYourTown is taking action to expand affordable housing, working with ARM of Save the Family to purchase and rehabilitate two additional rental homes using federal funding. The town’s 15-year partnership already provides 24 affordable homes for 89 residents. The planned additions would help more families find stability as housing and everyday costs rise. Local partnerships. Practical solutions. More families with a place to call home. Read more from @abc15 abc15.com/news/region-southe… #AZCitySolutions

✨ HERizon: Built for This Moment. Built for You. Join women leaders from across Arizona at the 2026 Arizona Women Leading Government Conference for two days of inspiration, connection, and practical tools to help you lead with confidence. Explore ways to strengthen your influence, navigate change, communicate with impact, and shape your next leadership chapter—all while sustaining your energy and well-being. 📅 October 22–23, 2026 📍 Mesa Convention Center | Mesa, AZ Be part of the conversation about The Power of Women Leading Now. 🔗 Register today: leagueaz.org/e/26azwlg/index…

🏠 @CityofPhoenixAZ City Council is moving forward with a program to help people leaving homelessness find long-term housing, even when past challenges make it hard to rent an apartment. The city plans to begin with at least 50 apartments, working with landlords to open doors for people ready to take that next step. @PHXdistrict8 🔗 Read more from @abc15: abc15.com/news/local-news/ph…

💰 🌆 Small municipalities face unique financial challenges. Proactive planning can make all the difference. Join @AzCities for a virtual training session focused on financial forecasting and strategic budgeting. Participants will learn practical approaches to anticipating financial pressures, making informed policy decisions, and strengthening long-term financial stability. 📅 Wednesday, October 14 ⏰ 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 💻 Zoom 🎙️ Pat Walker, Principal Owner, Pat Walker Consulting 💵 $50 Register 🔜 tinyurl.com/leaguetraining20… Questions? Contact league@azleague.org

🏠 What’s fueling Arizona’s housing crisis? @CityofPhoenixAZ is now the nation’s top build-to-rent market and has served as Wall Street’s testing ground for turning single-family homes into investment assets since 2012. ✅ Arizona’s cities and towns continue approving and building housing, but supply alone won’t restore ownership while investors control tens of thousands. Arizona’s housing debate must confront corporate ownership and preserve local control. 🔗 @kjzzphoenix kjzz.org/the-show/2026-09-15…

Small town, big heart! 🌟 For the first time, @CityofEloy and the Eloy Chamber of Commerce teamed up to represent their community at the #LACT26 City Showcase. Mayor Andy Sutton said the conference gave local leaders valuable opportunities to connect with elected officials, developers, investors, and other partners from across Arizona. “The more deeply we understand the issues facing our city and our state, the better prepared we are to make solid, informed decisions for the people of Eloy.” 🔗 Read more from @PinalCentral: pinalcentral.com/eloy_enterp…

🚨It goes deeper than just buying up existing inventory. 👇 🆕 study found that corporate housing companies and institutional investors have systematically converted @CityofPhoenixAZ starter-home neighborhoods into speculative financial assets.@phoenixnewtimes reports 🔗 phoenixnewtimes.com/news/wal…

🤔 What’s driving Arizona’s housing shortage? Let’s do the math. According to the Maricopa County Assessor's Office: 🏠 Corporate entities owning 100+ homes in Maricopa County = 33,906 units 🏠 Those owning 1,000+ = 28,661 Recent reports show Maricopa County's shortage= ~34,000 homes. ✅ The Reality Check: The number of single-family homes absorbed by large-scale corporate investors almost perfectly mirrors our total housing gap. 🎙️ @KTAR923 @Ponder_N

🎉 Huge congratulations to our very own League Executive Committee member, @MayorHermosillo of @ElMirageArizona! She has been named one of the 2026 Women Achievers of Arizona by @AzCapitolTimes. Selected from over 100 incredible nominees, her contributions to our state are truly inspiring. Congrats to all the phenomenal women honored this year! 🏆👏 Read more 🔗 tinyurl.com/2026waa #WomenAchieversAZ #ArizonaLeadership #LocalGov

🏠 More housing is on the way in @AZSurprise! Nearly 2,400 new homes could be coming to the Sun Valley Parkway corridor after the council approved rezoning for two plots of land. And that’s on top of roughly 14,000 homes already built in Surprise over the past five years. As Arizona grows, cities like Surprise continue doing their part to expand housing options and keep up with demand. #AZcitysolutions @axios 🔗 axios.com/local/phoenix/2026…

💧🏘️⚡️ Water. Housing. Data centers. Three of the biggest issues shaping the future of Arizona’s cities and towns—and three of the most talked-about topics at #LACT26. From protecting Arizona’s water future 💧 to creating more housing while preserving community character 🏘️ to weighing the water, energy, and economic impacts of data centers ⚡️, local leaders are navigating some big decisions. The good news? Communities across Arizona are already finding practical solutions and learning from one another. We pulled together key takeaways and advice from some of #LACT26’s most-attended panels. 👇

The League is thrilled to welcome new officers! "It is an honor to be selected by my colleagues from across Arizona to serve as League President,” said Town of Superior @Mayor_Mila . “This organization is where we bridge the gap between rural and urban communities because we face many of the same challenges, such as water security and affordable housing.” 👏 Join us in also welcoming Mayor Mark Freeman, @CITYOFMESA – League Vice President Mayor Tom Murphy, @Sahuarita_Az , Arizona – League Treasurer

The League is thrilled to welcome new officers! "It is an honor to be selected by my colleagues from across Arizona to serve as League President,” said Superior Mayor @Mayor_Mila. “This organization is where we bridge the gap between rural and urban communities because we face many of the same challenges, such as water security and affordable housing.” 👏 Join us in also welcoming Mayor Mark Freeman, @CITYOFMESA – League Vice President Mayor Tom Murphy, @Sahuarita_Az – League Treasurer

For the first time, Arizona’s three public university presidents joined @AzCities at #LACT26 for a roundtable discussion on how universities can help build thriving communities. The main takeaway: Cities and towns should utilize the talent, research, and cutting-edge technology available through our universities to solve local challenges, attract talent, and drive economic growth. A special thank you to conference sponsor @AZRegents 🔗azregents.edu/news-releases/…

🎉🎓Congratulations to the inaugural cohort of the Civic Craft Leadership Program! This nonpartisan, year-long program equips municipal elected officials with the tools to lead effectively through interactive workshops, expert mentorship, real-world case studies, practical resources, and meaningful connections with leaders from across Arizona. We’re excited to see how these local leaders put their new skills and shared experiences to work in communities across our state! #LACT26

“Local leaders stand on the front lines of our state’s biggest issues, and this conference provides critical knowledge and practical solutions,” said @AZ_Rene. "Bringing people together with a wide range of expertise builds an important platform to help solve problems and leverage opportunities.” #LACT26 azcapitoltimes.com/news/2026…

It is a tremendous honor to know and work alongside public servants like Senator @LelaAlstonAz, whose lifetime of service has helped pave the way for a better Arizona for future generations. It was only fitting that she receive the inaugural Harry Mitchell Award for Public Service, recognizing a legacy of public service shared by two remarkable leaders who have dedicated their lives to their communities. Senator Alston embodies the same integrity, compassion, and commitment to service that defined Harry Mitchell’s legacy, and continues to set an example for generations of Arizona leaders to come. #LACT26

Always a highlight of the conference welcoming @GovernorHobbs! 🌵 Great to come together and celebrate this year’s League Service Award recipients and their dedication to serving Arizona’s cities and towns. 🏆👏 #LACT26

💡 Local officials are exploring creative financing models, materials innovation, and performance contracting to maximize capital improvement budgets! #Infrastructure #MunicipalFinance #LACT26

“I'm an advocate of local control, lot sizing, setbacks, accessory dwelling units. I think the state can have a positive impact by limiting the number of investor owned houses. We've got a problem, and the affordability can be tracked back to the crash in 2008, who purchased those homes out of foreclosure and how they're releasing them back into the wild,”@stacypearson paints a picture of the complex housing challenges facing Arizona and the lasting impact of investor-owned homes on affordability. 🏘️ #LACT26

🛣️ Local officials are gathering to learn how Arizona cities and towns can maximize federal funding and navigate evolving transportation landscape needs! #Transportation #Infrastructure #LACT26 @MayorHermosillo @ElMirageArizona @ArizonaDOT @RepGregStanton @MAGregion

🤝 @TucsonRomero and housing experts are diving into cross-governmental partnerships to align policy and unlock resources for housing affordability! #HousingAZ #LocalGov #AZCities @cityoftucson @AZHousing @AZ_Rene

“68% of voters want local control, especially when it comes to housing in our communities. All problems are solvable,” @CottonwoodAZ Mayor 🏘️ Rural mayors and local leaders are sharing practical solutions for balancing housing growth and infrastructure needs while preserving the unique character and identity of their communities. #LACT26

🗳️ Top pollsters are breaking down current voter sentiment to help municipal leaders better govern and communicate with constituents! #AzPolitics #VoterData #LACT26 @prbentz @azhighground @MikePNoble @NoblePredictive

💻 Municipal leaders are gaining a practical framework to evaluate data center proposals, balancing energy demands and water usage with long-term economic benefits! #SmartCities #GovTech #LACT26 @ASU @MayorGallego @CityofPhoenixAZ @azcommerce @B3Strategies

🎓 A #LACT26 first! The presidents of @ASU, @uarizona, and @NAU are coming together for an exclusive conversation on artificial intelligence, innovation, and the future of Arizona’s economy.

Closing out an incredible Day 2! We are enjoying a fantastic dinner and entertainment while listening to the official President’s Update from League President and Chandler Mayor @chandlerazmayor. #LACT26 @chandlerazmayor

🗣️ An inspiring conference tradition! Trailblazing women leaders shared candid insights, experiences, and strategies for driving meaningful change in local government. @MayorHermosillo highlighted her commitment to advancing inclusive leadership, empowering women, and investing in the next generation of leaders—all key to building stronger, more sustainable communities #LACT26 #WomenInLeadership #PublicService @KateMcGeeAZ @SierraVistaAZ @CityofPage @TXMilitary @maricopacounty @ElMirageArizona

👏 A huge thank you to the incredible partners who help make #LACT26 possible! 🌟 A special shoutout to our Key Sponsor, @AMRRPAZ ! Your continued support and commitment to Arizona’s cities and towns helps make this annual gathering a success. We’re also proud to recognize our outstanding Platinum Sponsors: @AZRegents • @AZFoundation • @apsFYI • @ASU • @cavcoindustries • @EnergyTransfer • @piercecoleman • @RepublicService • @resolutioncu • @uarizona • @Veregy5 🏙️ Your partnership helps bring together nearly 2,000 local government leaders and guests from across Arizona to connect, collaborate and tackle the issues shaping the future of our communities. Thank you for helping power #LACT26, we couldn’t do it without you!