The residents of our neighborhoods worked hard and sacrificed not to have their hopes and dreams crushed. Want our children and families to grow up in an area free of crime, drugs, and illegal activities. No one should be afraid of allowing their child to ride their bike up and down the street, to have their home broken into and their safety violated. Over the past months I have been contacted by many residents from all corners of Surprise asking for help.

Sober Living Houses, Residential Treatment Centers, and Transitional Living Centers have been opening and invading our neighborhoods. Why does this affect residents? Not only are the homes appearing in our neighborhoods unlicensed, unregulated, and illegal, but these type of environments are places to detox off of illegal substances such as Methamphetamines, Heroin, street Benzodiazepines, Fentanyl, and in some cases Alcohol. In other cases to abstain from the substance after leaving a detox center prior to moving home after completing a 30, 60, or 90 day program. For example, there are two within one block of each other with no medical over sight or house manager in the Asante Discovery Section. Now, residents have to stand up and say no! Together we can force the HOA and the City of Surprise to act. In speaking with our newly elected city councilman Nick Haney, Detective Chris Tovar, and Debbie Peters from the city of Surprise Code Enforcement, many of these businesses are causing havoc. Reports of domestic violence, drug use, burglary, gangs, rape, and children witnessing things they should never see.

Most of the neighborhoods in this area are new or finishing the building process. Some have yet to break ground. It is important to act now so these businesses get stopped, and forced to close before they become established. Once one is successful, that opens the door for more to move in. This is a place to see children riding their bikes, and families walking to the parks without fear. Not being told to take cover by S.W.A.T. Just yesterday morning at 5:30am the sound of bullets rang out across the area. Just South of Asante Blvd near 165th, people were woken up to a gun fight, and then by a S.W.A.T team moving in. Don’t let this become the norm. Together in numbers we can say no, not my neighborhood!