PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 The City of Phoenix has officially rehired Ed Zuercher as City Manager. In a 5 to 4 vote, the decision to bring him back stirred up controversy with both the council and among the community during the meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe community feels blindsided with the decision to rehire Ed Zuercher as city manager our voice was not consulted or included at all,\u201d said one resident during public comment. \u201cHe\u2019s a leader that knows this organization, he knows this community, and he has already demonstrated the steady hand required to keep phoenix moving forward,\u201d said Dominic Papa, Phoenix Community Alliance senior director, who spoke during public comment.<\/p>\n
Zuercher retired as city manager back in 2021. Some residents had concerns with how quickly his re-hiring process has gone with them arguing there was no discussions with the public. Others during public comment were concerned because his retirement happened during the Department of Justices\u2019 investigation into the Phoenix Police Department. \u201cI reject the idea that Ed\u2019s return is a return to stability his history illustrates the exact opposite,\u201d said one resident.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve always found Ed to be fair and reasonable,\u201d said another resident.<\/p>\n
Some council members felt the same on both issues. Right before the vote, district 7 counsel member Anna Hernandez moved to table the vote until October 15th, because she felt the process was being rushed. <\/p>\n
Her motion was voted down 5 to 4.<\/p>\n
Before the vote, Zuercher was then questioned by council. Council member Hernandez asked him about the DOJ controversy. \u201cThis all happened under your leadership as city manager,\u201d said Hernandez during her questions on Zuercher, \u201cWhat has changed in your approach to policing and how will you use your role to prevent another pandemic of police violence?\u201d<\/p>\n
Zuercher responded, \u201cWe spent a lot of time in those years working on reforms and training and tactics with policy and many of those things were changed along the way by 2020 and 2021 we were in the pandemic. Then you mentioned the gang charges. I was the one who initiated the investigation into those things and hired an out site law firm to give us an investigation and independent view I took the investigation and reports and used those to administer discipline where I thought it was warranted and we used it to begin many of the reforms that we are seeing today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zuercher will earn a salary of $415,542 and will not receive his retirement pension during the time of his employment. <\/p>\n
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