Or just come on in and register to vote
The daily’s front page article chronicles a 60-year-old Navy veteran who is out of work and was, until recently, homeless. He is one of the many faces making up the rising caseload of Arizonans requesting food stamp assistance at the state Department of Economic Security (DES). The DES website reports the food stamp program has a new name: The Nutrition Assistance Program. It also promises that “every child, adult and family will be safe and economically secure.” A tall order in these tough times.
The newspaper headline tells us that Arizona’s requests are rising at twice the national rate. But why? Proposition 200 a voter-approved initiative passed in 2004, requires evidence of citizenship in order to obtain public benefits. Is it being followed? Arizona is the busiest illegal entry point on the country’s southern border, yet the article mysteriously lacks any reference to their favored residents: The “undocumented.”
A quick call to the DES offices (602-542-9935) revealed another matter that is front and center. The outgoing message to callers encourages voter registration:
“If you are not registered to vote where you live now, if you have a name change or would like to change party affiliation, you may request a voter registration packet from an agent today. Applying to register or declining to register to vote will not affect the amount of assistance that you will be provided by this agency.”
Food stamps and registration? Now those are certainly hand-in-hand issues.
Seeing Red AZ 
This phone message sounds like a page out of the Napolitano play book. Hope Gov. Brewer gets that taken off that DES line pronto. How many Republicans do you think they register to vote at the DES offices? Hmm?
Somehow I don’t believe the letter of the Prop. 200 law (Protect Arizona Now) is being fulfilled. Is anyone checking to ascertain that only US citizens receive benefits? Since illegals are so adept at obtaining fraudulent and often stolen IDs, this requires diligence. I hope someone is minding the stor.
Chuck and Kelly are very likely right about the abuse(s) of the food stamp program by illegals and their political allies.
However there’s another issue here about the increasing lack of depth of the Arizona economy – as concentrated as it is in real estate and related industries, state administration, and low-wage industries highly vulnerable to economic downturns. All that along with a rapidly growing population and declining assets spelled disaster a decade ago. What was done to try to fix the coming train wreck? Mostly lots of ineffective state spending: partly on pet projects, partly on state institutions, partly on sweetheart deals – all of which did F.A. for the state’s economic health.
I dialed the DES phone number. Unbelievable! Everyone calling the state for financial assistance is invited to register or REregister to vote! Wonder why J-No didn’t make the same offer for voter registration to callers at Game and Fish? hmmm.
Governor Brewer needs to learn about this and order a correction.
Arizona food stamp requests are twice the national average and Arizona leads the country in illegal entry. Doesn’t take a very long leap to see a correleation. This needs investigated.
Remember Terry Goddards assertion that 200 only applied to optometrist service? What a joke!
Illegals are using services everywhere and DES is no exception. Several people have told me that they cannot get help from church food pantries because the illegals all beat them there so the food is gone. Many illegals have left the state, but more are still here or still coming because they can live multiples to a dwelling, drive without insurance, get medical care for nothing, get food for nothing, get assistance with their utilities and use fake IDs when needed. Nobody checks. Meanwhile, many of us who recently lost our jobs are doing everything we can to hold on to what we have worked so hard to get and we are going to be paying for these people.
I called the phone number also. It is listed as a 24- hour open line. The idea that the first words after “welcome” are an invitation to get registered to vote while getting benefits and free food stamps gives a ringside seat to the crafty techniques of Democrat outreach. It’s a cinch they aren’t getting Republican voters standing in line to sign up. If that were the case, this scheme would have been canceled long ago.
One of the quotes in the Republic article was this gem: “Arizona has sought to enroll more recipients. That’s partly because the state pays only some administrative costs and, unlike with some federal programs, everyone who is eligible is entitled to receive aid.”
How did you guys miss this? I want to know more about who the state thinks of as “eligible.”
One of the reasons so many people are signing up for welfare is due to so many welfare offices being opened up by the state and making it easy:
Economic Security Department/DES 4000 N. Central Ave., #3,4,5,6,7,9,21,22,1410,1820 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 2328, 2288, 2290 W. Guadalupe Rd Gilbert
Economic Security Department/DES 3443 N. Central, Floors 2,3,5,6, #710, 1206, 913 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 515 N. 51st Ave., #120 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 3443 N. Central Ave., S#100,400,1500,1600,1611 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 8990 W. Peoria Ave. AKA Lot 2, Bonita Desert Center Peoria
Economic Security Department/DES 6633 W. Camelback Rd. Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 4000 N. Central Ave., #18-20 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 3221 North 16th St. #200, 300, 400 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 290 E. La Canada aka Parcels 500-10-001l and 500-10-001m Avondale
Economic Security Department/DES 6010 N. 57th Dr. AKA Parcel #146-11-001A Glendale
Economic Security Department/DES 1500 E. Thomas Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 1519 W. Gurley St. Prescott
Economic Security Department/DES 3310 W. Flower and 3161 N. 33rd Ave Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 13610 N. Black Canyon Freeway, #106 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 5038 S. Price Rd. S#14 Tempe
Economic Security Department/DES 3000 E. Valencia Rd. Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 11526 W. Bell Rd. AKA NWC 115th Avenue & Bell Road Surprise
Economic Security Department/DES 8910 N. 43rd Ave. (formerly 4425 W. Olive #105) Glendale
Economic Security Department/DES 7202 East Rosewood, #100 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 163 N. Dobson Rd. Mesa
Economic Security Department/DES 316-318-320 W. Fort Lowell Rd Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 1619 E. Main St. Mesa
Economic Security Department/DES 13450 N. Black Canyon, S#170 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 515 N. 51st. Ave., #250 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 4620 N. 16th St., #101, 103, 105, 115, 200-204, 217-219 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 250 S. Toole Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 1075 E. Fort Lowell Rd. Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 6840 E. Broadway Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 3634 W. Thomas Rd. Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 215 E. McDowell Rd. Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 1500 E. Cherry Street Cottonwood
Economic Security Department/DES 2018 N. Arizona Ave., #102-112, D114, D116 Chandler
Economic Security Department/DES 4016 N. 67th Ave. Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 3880 N. 27th Ave. #108-115 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 5441 East 22nd St., #135 (Disability Determination Serv) Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 2601 Highway 95 Bullhead City
Economic Security Department/DES 11225 N. 28th Dr, Ste C207-210 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 397 Malpais Lane Flagstaff
Economic Security Department/DES 13450 N. Black Canyon Highway, #174 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 232 London Bridge Road Lake Havasu City
Economic Security Department/DES 2345 E. University Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 1938 Thatcher Boulevard Safford
Economic Security Department/DES 1140 E. Washington Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 3274 Bob St. Prescott Valley
Economic Security Department/DES 2500 E. Cooley St., #410 Show Low
Economic Security Department/DES 4520 N. Central Ave., #400 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 4520 N. Central, #400, 410 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 4020 N. 20th St, Ste 105, 108 & 200 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 5002 S. Mill Avenue Tempe
Economic Security Department/DES 3150 E. Union Hills Dr Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 1220 S. 4th Avenue Yuma
Economic Security Department/DES 2311 W. Royal Palm, Suites 104-112 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 1522 E. Southern Ave.,Suite 3 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 318 N. Florence St. Casa Grande
Economic Security Department/DES 1700 E. Broadway Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 4323 W. Olive Glendale
Economic Security Department/DES 3780 S. 4th Avenue, Suites C, D Yuma
Economic Security Department/DES 1525 W. Commerce Court Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 1301 E. Washington Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 1155 N. Arizona Ave. Coolidge
Economic Security Department/DES 1200 N. Country Club Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 5441 East 22nd St. (Employment Serv), #101 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 9516 W. Peoria Peoria
Economic Security Department/DES 2200 N. Central, #207, 404, 506 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 820 E. Fr y Blvd. Sierra Vista
Economic Security Department/DES 1951 W. Camelback Rd., FSuite 400, 430 and 465 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 3655 E. 2nd Street Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 1843 N. State Dr. Nogales
Economic Security Department/DES 350 E. Bell Rd., Suite J104 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 5441 E. 22nd St., #115 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 6363 S. Country Club, #101 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 1310 S. 3rd Ave. Yuma
Economic Security Department/DES 4502 W. Indian School Rd., #A13, 15-16, 18 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 430 N. Dobson #100-105 Mesa
Economic Security Department/DES 3939 S. Park Ave. Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 2760 South 4th Ave. Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 2601 E. Roosevelt Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 350 W. 16th St., 200,222,232,300, 305,309,312 Yuma
Economic Security Department/DES 209 Bisbee Rd. Bisbee
Economic Security Department/DES 2750 South 4th Ave, #101-105 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 8128 E. Hwy 69; #101,111, and 211 Prescott Valley
Economic Security Department/DES 3802 N. 53rd Avenue, Suite 235, 250, & 290 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 11518 E. Apache Trail, #107-109 Apache Junction
Economic Security Department/DES 2066 W. Apache Trail, #101 – 109 Apache Junction
Economic Security Department/DES 1057 Vista St. Page
Economic Security Department/DES 333 W. Ft. Lowell Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 663 N. 1st Avenue San Luis
Economic Security Department/DES 100 N. Tonto St., #100 Payson
Economic Security Department/DES 14040 N. Cave Creek Rd., #100 &106 phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 3000 W. Valencia, #218 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 1032 Hopi Ave. Parker
Economic Security Department/DES 4622 W. Indian School Rd., #3-7 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 2705 N. 4th St. #1A-3A, 8A-18A, 1-12 Flagstaff
Economic Security Department/DES 342 W. Main St Somerton
Economic Security Department/DES 122 E. Highway 260, #110 AKA Payson Village Shopping Center Payson
Economic Security Department/DES 1430 E. Indian School,#100&205 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 10640 N. 28th Drive, A202-203 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 599 S. Dragon St. Benson
Economic Security Department/DES 615 Second St. Douglas
Economic Security Department/DES P.O. Box 3323 Page
Economic Security Department/DES 2001 W. Camelback, Suite 170 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 2323 N. Walgreens Flagstaff
Economic Security Department/DES 2602 S. 24th St., #101, 103, 104, 106, 108 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 3839 N. 3rd Street, #303-304 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 543-547-549-551, 557 West 4th St. Benson
Economic Security Department/DES 6401 S. Country Club, #113 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 100 North Stone Ave., Suite 500 b Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 10640 N. 28th Dr. B101, B102, B104, B106 C101 and C103 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 1011 N. Craycroft, #404 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 7225 N. Mona Lisa, #202 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 705 N. 17th Avenue Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 4411 S. 40th St. #12D Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 2510 N. Trekell Rd 1 Casa Grande
Economic Security Department/DES 2717 N. 4th St. #20, 23, 30, 31, 34, 130, 140 & 160 Flagstaff
Economic Security Department/DES 52 B State Highway 264 Window Rock
Economic Security Department/DES 109 N. Sunshine Blvd. Eloy
Economic Security Department/DES 256 S. Curtis Wilcox
Economic Security Department/DES 302 N. 4th St. Buckeye
Economic Security Department/DES 4622 W. Indian School Rd.#D12,13 & 14 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES North Main Street Tuba City
Economic Security Department/DES Peridot Shopping Center, Highway 70 Peridot
Economic Security Department/DES 153 W. Vista Holbrook
Economic Security Department/DES 2701 E. Andy Devine Kingman
Economic Security Department/DES 3802 N. 53rd Ave., #310 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 3476 E. Route 66, Suite A Flagstaff
Economic Security Department/DES 423 N. Florence St. Casa Grande
Economic Security Department/DES 210 W. Fatco Rd., P.O. Box 1180 White Mountain Apache Tribe Whiteriver
Economic Security Department/DES PO Box 684 Kykotsmovi
Economic Security Department/DES PO Box 68 Kayenta
Economic Security Department/DES 4433 E. Broadway Blvd., #101 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 3912 W. Ina Rd., #216, 220, 224 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 7875 E. Florentine Road Prescott Valley
Economic Security Department/DES 1510 Riordan Ranch St., Flagstaff
Economic Security Department/DES 432 S. Williams Blvd. #200 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 7 Bisbee Road Suite C & D Bisbee
Economic Security Department/DES 250 S. Tool, #100 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 3131 N. Country Club, Suite 206 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 3508 N. 7th St., #2 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 110 S. Idaho Rd., #240 Apache Junction
Economic Security Department/DES 395 S. Washington-Loc #326 (CPS) St. Johns
Economic Security Department/DES 325 & 331 Alden Road Kearny
Economic Security Department/DES 300 N. Coronado Blvd. Clifton
Economic Security Department/DES 1990 W. Camelback, #302 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 22719 S. Ellsworth Rd., Bldg. C #101 Queen Creek
Economic Security Department/DES 912 N. Broad St. Globe
Economic Security Department/DES 4150 W. Peoria, S#125 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 115518 E. Apache Trail, #109 Apached Junction
Economic Security Department/DES 77 Calle Portal, #C220 Sierra Vista
Economic Security Department/DES 4221 S. Santa Rita Rd., 101 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 899 N. Wilmot Road #D3-D4 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 1555 N. Ironsprings Rd. Prescott
Economic Security Department/DES 395 S. Washington-Loc #340 (Food Stamps) St. Johns
Economic Security Department/DES 3780 S. 4th Ave., Ste. F Yuma
Economic Security Department/DES 115 e. 1st. Casa Grande
Economic Security Department/DES 4004 N. Romero Rd. Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 2329 E. Ajo Way * 2633
Economic Security Department/DES 1270 E. Broadway, #114A, B, C, & 120 Tempe
Economic Security Department/DES P.O. Box 679 (Whippoorwill Chapter House Compound) Pinon
Economic Security Department/DES 10900 N. Scottsdale Rd., S#401 Scottsdale
Economic Security Department/DES 22 East Mitchell, Suites 103, 104 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 103 E. Highland Ave., #202 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 122 North Cortez #306 Prescott
Economic Security Department/DES 5110 N. 44th St., #l140 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 419 N. san Francisco Flagstaff
Economic Security Department/DES 1000 Ainsworth #C310-320 Prescott
Economic Security Department/DES 1430 E. Indian School Rd. #220 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 38 Plaza Street Ajo
Economic Security Department/DES 430 N. Dobson, #108-109 Mesa
Economic Security Department/DES 4000 N. Central, Suite 1110 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES P.O. Box 100 (Teecnospos Chapter House Compund) Teecnospos
Economic Security Department/DES 13644 N. Sandario Marana
Economic Security Department/DES Dilkon Chapter Tract, HC 63 Box J Dilkon
Economic Security Department/DES 1/4 mile south of I-40, Highway 191 Sanders
Economic Security Department/DES 3839 N 3rd St., #306 Phoenix
Economic Security Department/DES 2222 S. Dobson Rd., S#202 Mesa
Economic Security Department/DES 8128 N. Highway 69, #209 Prescott Vallley
Economic Security Department/DES 6451 S. Country Club, #101 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 227 E. Valencia, #220-225 Tucson
Economic Security Department/DES 590 S. Central Colorado City
Economic Security Department/DES 120 E. 1st Street Casa Grande
Economic Security Department/DES 228 N. Main St., Bldg C Mammoth
Economic Security Department/DES 10 yds. South of Navajo Tribal Authority, P.O. Box 157 Chinle
Economic Security Department/DES 8410 S. Avenida Del Yaque Guadalupe
Economic Security Department/DES 74 N. Main St., #6 Eager
Economic Security Department/DES 843 Miller Valley Road Prescott
Economic Security Department/DES 333 Wilcox Dr., #304 Sierra Vista
Economic Security Department/DES 1950 Juan Sachez Blvd., J San Luis
Mr. Harper.
DES does more than provide foodstamps. Many of the offices listed in your list are administrative offices which provide no services to the public. Also many of the offices above are for CPS staff, for example: Economic Security Department/DES 13610 N. Black Canyon Freeway, #106 Phoenix. Some of the offices provide Job placement services.
Here are the actual DES offices providing assistance in receiving Foodstamps in AZ – I have included zip codes each office serves so folks can see the large areas covered by many of the offices.
ron:
You’ve made your point, as has Sen. Harper. Long lists of office addresses interspersed with numerous zip codes does nothing more than take up space for other commenters. We get your points.
Please refrain from using this place intended for dialogue in this manner in the future. We have removed your list, ron, but left your comment intact.
Everyone needs to contact the Governors office and demand that this outgoing phone message be removed.
You can take my post down.