HEADLINES | 6
SPECIAL SECTION | 16
NEW OWNER FOR SUNS AND MERCURY
REAL ESTATE Knowing your debt-to-income ratio is valuable when buying a home.
Jewish billionaire Mat Ishbia is the new owner of the basketball franchises.
1948
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2023
FEBRUARY 17, 2023 | SHEVAT 26, 5783 | VOLUME 75, NUMBER 11
Sophie Stern knows how to stand up for herself. Her new role lets her do the same for others. SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
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ophie Stern planned to be a dancer when she was 8 years old. “The first time I got on stage, I was in a dance ensemble, and I just knew it was right,” she told Jewish News. Now, at 19, nothing’s changed to dim her passion for dance, all kinds of dance — especially modern. She acts, sings and “loves all the performing arts,” but it was dance that captured her heart. When she’s not on stage, Stern is also a passionate advocate for people with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD). That includes herself, given that she has Down syndrome. As the newest member of the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (ADDPC), she will have a pretty big platform to promote self-advocacy and self-determination for those with an IDD. The 23-member council is composed of selfadvocates, family members, professional stakeholders and state agency representatives — all appointed by the Governor. Stern was the last member to be appointed by former Gov. Doug Ducey. The council addresses the critical needs of people in all stages of life, including housing, transportation, employment, “and especially, community inclusion,”
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Jewish freshmen are figuring out the state House SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
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hen Gov. Katie Hobbs was inaugurated in January, it was the first time in more than a decade for a Democrat to have the top job in Arizona. Although the Republicans still have the majority in both legislative chambers, her election reshuffled the political calculus in the state. A lot of the day-to-day in politics, however, doesn’t change that much. For example, fresh-faced freshmen legislators come into office every two years looking to learn the ropes. They have to get a grasp on procedural rules, meet new people and build the kind of relationships they hope will pay off down the line. This year, there are three Jewish State House freshmen, Democrats Rep. Seth Blattman (LD-9) and Rep. Consuelo Hernandez (LD21) and Republican Rep. Alexander Kolodin (LD-3). Their transition into office thus far has gone pretty smoothly, they all told Jewish News. Hernandez had a bit of a head
From left, Rep. Seth Blattman, Rep. Consuelo Hernandez and Rep. Alexander Kolodin. COURTESY OF SETH BLATTMAN, CONSUELO HERNANDEZ AND ALEXANDER KOLODIN
start, given that her sister, Rep. Alma Hernandez (LD-20), has served in the State House since 2018 and her brother, Daniel Hernandez, is a former representative. “I’m grateful to have my siblings who I can lean on,” she told Jewish News. “They’re so busy, though,
and I can’t ask them everything.” She said her father taught his children they have to figure things out on their own, so that’s what she’s doing. One valuable lesson her siblings taught her is the importance of bipartisanship and finding common SEE JEWISH FRESHMEN PAGE 3
What’s trending? From colors to decorations and drinks, find out what’s trending in weddings. See page 17. PHOTO BY TAYLOR GRAY ON UNSPLASH
SEE SOPHIE STERN, PAGE 2
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