News - Valley Interfaith Project

AIN Clergy Denounce the Flat Tax Proposal

Update: The Flat Tax was passed as part of the FY2022 budget bills. AIN is part of the InvestInAZ Referendum petition drive to overturn the Flat Tax. Find a petition signing site here.

The rate change may be advertised as a tax cut to people at all income levels, but our lowest income earners, many of whom are essential workers, will receive what you would put in a tip jar, $1.

In an Arizona Republic Op-Ed and gathering at the state capitol, Arizona Interfaith Network Clergy denounced the proposed 2.5% Flat Tax that Arizona legislative leaders are pursuing.

AIN brought into sharper focus just how the most vulnerable in Arizona would fare if the flat tax budget is adopted. In light of the harrowing year that we have come through, AIN clergy noted that the essential workers, who have sacrificed the most during the pandemic, would receive the least. “[The budget proposal] would bring no meaningful relief to these families, but instead, will write checks to Arizona’s wealthiest families on the back of our poor, middle-class, and minority families.

Click Here to Sign the Referendum at an AIN Petition Site

posted by | 25sc
June 03, 2021

Block-Walking for the COVID-19 Vaccine

On Saturday VIP leaders took to the streets in the Maryvale zip code 85031, the poorest zip code in Maricopa county. At 25% vaccinated, 85031 has the 3rd lowest vaccination rate in Maricopa County (compare that to the Carefree/Scottsdale zip code that has a vaccination rate of over 75%).

To help close the vaccination and public health gap in this area, VIP is partnering with St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, the Daughters of Charity and the Maricopa County Public Health Department to bring over 1,600 new vaccines into the community.

posted by | 25sc
April 28, 2021

AIN Op-Ed: "Lawmakers resort to tricks, bullying to undo Prop 208"

In a Capitol Times Op-Ed, Arizona Interfaith Network and Stand for Children Arizona call out shameful behavior by legislators when Fr. Hunter Ruffin attempted to respectfully participate in a public committee hearing.

posted by | 25sc
April 13, 2021

Valley Interfaith Project Statement on Inauguration Day 2021

January 20, 2021

Today, as our country has just inaugurated Joe Biden as our 46^thpresident, we will shortly receive a number of new legislative proposals and executive orders that will reflect the immediate priorities of the Biden Administration. This will include a sweeping plan for immigration reform. Other proposals will provide for pandemic and economic relief, with a further extension of an eviction moratorium. We expect to see many of these announcements this afternoon.

posted by | 25sc
January 20, 2021

Eviction Stories Are Brought to Light at VIP House Meetings

The eviction crisis is a stark reality in the stories coming out of VIP House Meetings with immigrant families. A recent Catholic News Service article features the story of Maria Arreola, an emerging Valley Interfaith Project (VIP) leader who has struggled to provide housing for her family since falling ill with COVID-19.

posted by | 25sc
January 20, 2021