The Ombudsman Program at the Arizona State Legislature

While attending the Arizona State Legislature Career Fair at Tempe campus I had the opportunity learn about many interesting departments/agencies. In particular, the Arizona Ombudsman agency stood out for me. I instantly connected with the agency representative from the department. Learning about the Ombudsman was definitely the highlight of my visit to the career fair.  

According to the Arizona Ombudsman website, the agency helps people who are having a problem with an Arizona state government agency or a public access dispute with a state or local governmental agency. The assistance is provided to citizens by discussing their rights, options and procedures that may already be in place to resolve the problem. Further, the Ombudsman works with agencies on a citizen’s behalf to find a solution that is fair and appropriate. Thus, the Ombudsman is a liaison between citizens and state agencies providing checks for state conduct and ensuring an amiable and trusting relationship between public and state.    

Arizona State Legislature Internship Career Fair

This summer I attended a career fair organized in Tempe by the School of Public Affairs. The event brought together different departments from the Arizona State Legislature under one roof. This event gave me an excellent opportunity to learn about the multi-faceted nature of the Arizona State Legislature.

According to its website, The Arizona State Legislature is a bicameral body with 30 members in the Senate and 60 members in the House of Representatives. Each district is served by one Senator and two House members. The career event was a great opportunity to meet representatives from different agencies under the umbrella of AZ Legislature. Some of the agencies present at the event were the Ombudsman’s Office, Auditor General, etc. I enjoyed my interaction with all representatives that I had the privilege of speaking with. I made some good contacts at the event from AZ Legislature and well as student body. This event certainly ignited my interest in pursuing a potential internship at the Arizona State Legislature.     

Public Transportation in Arizona

Being from New York City and not owning a car for the longest time I cannot help but compare the public transportation infrastructure between New York City and Phoenix. Many of you would think that comparing transportation set up in the two cities is like comparing apples and oranges. I agree with you on that however, I would simply like to juxtapose the two infrastructural set ups and take a note of their similarities as well as differences.

First of all, I’ll acknowledge the obvious that the massive, widely connected subway system simply cannot be applied to the spread out landscape of Phoenix. Due to widely dispersed dense population pockets it is not economically viable to set up a light rail or subway infrastructure throughout the valley. Setting up bus routes is not very cost effective for the same reason but cheaper compared to building subways. The question of public transportation development in Phoenix and Arizona continues to confound politicians and leaders alike. There is no straight answer to this problem but continuous evaluation of options in necessary to make progress in this area.      

Faculty at the School of Public Affairs

I want to utilize this blog post to share my experience and thoughts about the MPA faculty at the School of Public Affairs. After two semesters in the Program, I can only speak for the faculty members that I took classes with. My opinion should not be generalized and is purely a reflection of my experience so far.

Without naming any faculty member in particular, one thing that I observed was that the faculty is extremely helpful in assisting students in reaching their academic goals. Being from an investment banking background I had serious concerns about my performance in a graduate level public administration discipline. However, every single one of my professors worked with me in and outside class during office hours to help me make a successful transition to the field of public administration. Another thing that stood out for me is the passion that professors brought to the class. Besides being masters of their respective disciplines, all my professors brought this energy and passion about the subject that is contagious. As a student I feel significantly engaged in the learning process and inspired to learn more and make a difference in the society.          

Cosmo Dog Park

I am a proud pet parent of a water crazy two year old Labrador retriever. One of his favorite activities to do, besides eating, is going the Cosmo Dog Park in Gilbert. The park boasts of a manmade lake for dogs along with a canine obstacle training course and about four acres of fenced playing areas. The park was named after local K9 hero Cosmo, who was Gilbert’s first police dog. According to Gilbert’s website, “the park’s entire design is inspired by the free-spirited, devoted character that is the canine: lights are decorated with bright and colorful paw-print decor reminiscent of dog toys, and which use the sun to reflect the silhouette of paw prints surrounded by reds, greens and blues on the walk ways”.

I believe that the Cosmo Dog Park is a great example of local government innovation and passion. The park provides a platform for the community to come together and celebrate the bond with its furry friends. A place like Cosmo Dog Park is a great way to enhance social capital and develop stronger ties among residents.      

My 502 Research Methods Class

One of my most demanding classes this semester is the PAF 502 Research Methods Class. The class primarily focuses on utilizing regression analysis for social research and the use of the Stata software.

Regression, by virtue of its nature is not an easy topic to master. I have to often reread chapters just to get a basic understanding of the material. As if the readings are not enough time consuming we also have weekly quizzes. However, I have to admit that at the end of the semester I am happy that I got the opportunity to learn regression in the context of social issues. As an MPA student I believe that the PAF 502 class has not only improved by analytical skills but also broadened my understanding of social dynamics.    

The Aging Workforce of the Local Government

As I look around at my workplace I notice a lot of employees that are close to retiring. I wonder how the City would replace such a big percentage of workforce. After subtly asking around I found out that when an individual retires and leaves a certain position, often departments put a hiring freeze on the position and the work is absorbed by the rest of the team. Apparently, this is a common practice among local governments especially in light of the dwindling departmental budgets.

As a MPA student who will be graduating soon this knowledge alarms me. If local governments continue to engage in the practice of hiring freeze where would the graduating students work? Another issue is that the declining number of employees with increasing workload would severely affect the quality of service. Lastly, increased work related stress would cause exhaustion and burnout among employees. I sincerely hope that there is more stimulation in government’s hiring practice.