As the hand wringing continues about Glendale’s investment in sports facilities there is an untold story of how the first domino in the form of a hockey arena might never have come to be.  It’s a fascinating tale and one that would have taken a slice of Valley history through a different sliding door. Following not one but two landslide … Read More

If the City of Scottsdale was a private company it would have, and should have, sued numerous companies and cities for violating its intellectual property. Because “Scottsdale” is a notable brand many others have appropriated it. Consider the concentration of automobile dealers along Scottsdale Road near the Loop 101.  Their edifices even tout “North Scottsdale.”  Yet, that side of the … Read More

Fallen American solider Lori Piestewa was, is, and will always be a hero.  Period. She deserves to have any mountain named after her in Arizona. But about a decade ago renaming Phoenix landmark Squaw Peak wasn’t just about honoring Ms. Piestewa.  It was about eliminating the name “squaw,” a derogatory term to most if not all Native Americans. It became … Read More

The late and legendary former Mayor of Scottsdale Herb Drinkwater decades ago dreamt what has indeed become true:  the WestWorld of Scottsdale area has become an epicenter for Valley activity. Drinkwater lured the Phoenix Open to former boondocker country from comfy country club confines, and then convinced Barrett-Jackson to go north too. Now, the country’s largest golf tournament, car auction … Read More

The business story of Chandler, Arizona over the past couple of decades is a compelling one.  Big jobs at big (and small) technology companies. There are many explanations for the city’s success.  But there is one not often discussed. It’s spelled A-P-S, as in Arizona Public Service. The company’s avaricious attitude toward rooftop solar over the past year has been … Read More