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This reads like a reporter asked the mayor about her PR talking points and then listed them. We have maybe one cooling center that operates 24 hours. The "cool

This reads like a reporter asked the mayor about her PR talking points and then listed them. We have maybe one cooling center that operates 24 hours. The "cool pavement" project has been a bit of a mess [0] and actually reflects more heat into its immediate vicinity. Arizona DOT refused to comment on its traction attributes, meaning vehicles (and especially motorcycles) might be at an increased risk. Meanwhile the city continues to hobble its trail system by shutting down drinking fountains during the summer, erecting chain-link fences blocking access crossing highways for anyone not in a car, and closing trailheads in all but the hottest hours of the day. People dying on trails (mostly visitors from out of town) is not uncommon here, but the city does nothing. Bike paths kind of exist, but are generally fenced off so as to not go anywhere, and are otherwise disconnected from one another. It's as if someone is actively trying to prevent people from moving around the city unless they're in a car. The zoning situation is such that developers continue to build further and further into the desert, which leads the city to continue to pour ever more concrete and asphalt into wider roads that exacerbate the heat island effect. Corner stores are not a thing here. Everything is based around driving from "where people are supposed to live" to "where people are supposed to shop" or "where people are supposed to work." The second that rigid structure breaks down, you find people in crisis. And even when it "works", it creates a patchwork of hellish seas of asphalt checked by vacant lots [1]. Unchecked development is not our problem; shortsighted leadership and policies encouraging or mandating sprawl are. [0] https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/phoenix-neighborhood-given-options-after-cool-pavement-coating-mess https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoe... [1] https://www.google.com/maps/@33.6402244,-112.0987611,784m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu https://www.google.com/maps/@33.6402244,-112.0987611,784m/da...

ultrarunner 3y ago
The article touts the "Heat Relief Network" with "more than 200" Cooling and Hydration centers. The list is here: https://azmag.gov/Programs/Heat-Relief-Network/Heat-Relief-Network-Directories https://azmag.gov/Programs/Heat-Relief-Network/Heat-Relief-N... in case that's the easiest format for you while you're dying of heat exhaustion, but there is an apparently incomplete map here: http://hrn.azmag.gov/#/map http://hrn.azmag.gov/#/map The ones that I am familiar with turn out to be places one can find a drinking fountain. All of the ones I know about are outside (unshaded) and many of them are refrigerated, but in my many many miles on foot around the city I have yet to find with the chiller actually running in the summer. As such, the water coming out can be initially hot enough to burn you, if the water comes out at all. The "cooling centers" appear to be mainly libraries. We routinely take our kids to several libraries that are listed, but I can't recall ever seeing anything set up for helping someone in heat distress. Perhaps they have a hidden area? To me, this again seems like they've simply compiled a list without actually doing anything and declared the problem complete. Those of us who keep bottled water in the car to give out to people seem to be doing more than the city of Phoenix ever has.

ultrarunner 3y ago

The article touts the "Heat Relief Network" with "more than 200" Cooling and Hydration centers. The list is here: https://azmag.gov/Programs/Heat-Relief-Network/Heat-Relief-Network-Directories https://azmag.gov/Programs/Heat-Relief-Network/Heat-Relief-N... in case that's the easiest format for you while you're dying of heat exhaustion, but there is an apparently incomplete map here: http://hrn.azmag.gov/#/map http://hrn.azmag.gov/#/map The ones that I am familiar with turn out to be places one can find a drinking fountain. All of the ones I know about are outside (unshaded) and many of them are refrigerated, but in my many many miles on foot around the city I have yet to find with the chiller actually running in the summer. As such, the water coming out can be initially hot enough to burn you, if the water comes out at all. The "cooling centers" appear to be mainly libraries. We routinely take our kids to several libraries that are listed, but I can't recall ever seeing anything set up for helping someone in heat distress. Perhaps they have a hidden area? To me, this again seems like they've simply compiled a list without actually doing anything and declared the problem complete. Those of us who keep bottled water in the car to give out to people seem to be doing more than the city of Phoenix ever has.