PHX Reporter

Phoenix grassroots activist Merissa Hamilton told CBS 5 News reporter Dennis Welch that Maricopa County “lied” to him over the reasons for ordering refrigerated coolers.

“Every summer they order refrigerated coolers as standard practice,” tweeted Hamilton. “This is still normal. The County lied to you, Dennis Welch.”

Hamilton was responding to a tweet by Welch that linked to a new article in which Welch writes, “Maricopa County ordered 10 refrigerated coolers as the medical examiner's office anticipates more bodies during a record heat wave.”

The Arizona Republic featured a July 10, 2022 story in which Fields Moseley, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Medical Examiner said, “the county has to expand the morgue to the 200-body capacity nearly every summer because of a surge of heat-related deaths.” 

There have actually been less heat-associated deaths in 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, according to the Maricopa County Morbidity Report for the week ending July 15. 

This year, there have been 18 confirmed deaths with 69 currently under investigation, while during the same time in 2022 there were 29 confirmed deaths with 193 under investigation.

Hamilton has worked as chairwoman of Strong Communities Action since April 2021, according to her LinkedIn profile. She worked as the national grassroots director for FreedomWorks from 2022 to 2023 was defeated in the the 2020 election for Phoenix Mayor by current Mayor Kate Gallego. Hamilton previously worked as the director of constituent services and strategic projects for the City of Phoenix.