Phoenix Councilman Valenzuela to address International Association of Fire Fighters

One of Phoenix ’s city councilmen is in Washington, D.C. for the second time in as many weeks. As KJZZ’s Nick Blumberg reports, he’s calling attention to how Phoenix and other U.S. cities will suffer after federal budget cuts. 

District 5 councilman Daniel Valenzuela is also a Glendale firefighter. Monday morning, he’ll address a meeting of the International Association of Fire Fighters in Washington .

The group’s advocating for federal funding to help cities pay for equipment and to hire and train fire fighters and paramedics.

Valenzuela said federal grants are key to improving public safety in the Valley.

“When we learn that the sequestration will affect those grants, obviously, that’s going to affect not only the city of Phoenix , but also Glendale and every other city in the state of Arizona and frankly, every city in the country,” Valenzuela said.

Valenzuela was also in D.C. last week with Mayor Greg Stanton, meeting with lawmakers and cabinet secretaries, and advocating for Phoenix and the region.

But he said it’s also important for Phoenicians to advocate for themselves by reaching out to members of Congress.