What Took Everyone So Long

The Phoenix New Times champions itself as an advocate for the oppressed.  It turns out the paper also has a history of oppression, or at least making money from it. At least according to prosecutors in California and a congressional investigation. The story is finally being told.  It just took a while. Until recently, it was an underreported fact that … Read More

US News Ranking: 5 of America's Top 10 Public High Schools in AZ

By Team Ducey Friend – Arizona’s been in the national spotlight for educational excellence this month. This week, five Arizona high schools made the U.S. News & World Report top ten public high schools in the nation — more than any other state. We know how to educate a child in Arizona, and Governor Ducey is working hard to ensure … Read More

Mayor Stanton’s Hypocrisy

So Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton wants to be Arizona Secretary of State.  Or Governor. It sure sounded that way earlier this week during his State of the City address when and where he lambasted all leaders Republican for, in his opinion, abandoning public education. We didn’t hear such tones during less ambitious times last year as he was supporting Governor … Read More

Pepto For The Yeah Butters

BASIS Scottsdale’s recognition by U.S. News & World Reports as the #1 high school in America should be reason for all in Arizona to applaud the achievement.  Instead, we actually hear criticism, especially from the Arizona Republic and liberal special interest groups. An acute observer on Facebook labeled this cartel the “Yeah, But” crowd.  And he’s right.  They have diarrhea … Read More

#ScottsdaleAtItsBest

A hashtag noting the city’s excellence was a hallmark of Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane’s landslide re-election win in November. Lane was right to recognize the community’s best in class from Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, Waste Management Phoenix Open and downtown restaurant and bar scene to teachers, social services and high school athletics. Now, Lane and all of Scottsdale have … Read More

The Worst Public Affairs Campaign Ever

Rotten Tomatoes is a popular television and movie ratings site.  Millions of people participate and rely upon it when considering their entertainment choices.  It’s a good thing it doesn’t rate former Arizona Attorneys General, consultants and public affairs efforts in Maricopa, Arizona.  The review wouldn’t arise a rotten green tomato or tipped over popcorn bucket.  It would most likely transform … Read More

Art Of The Deal

Scottsdale voters wisely increased its tourism tax on hotel rooms in 2010.  The increased revenues have been used to further showcase the city across the world, and also provided money to aid events big and small.  Sometimes those investments have paid off, and sometimes they haven’t.  Funding decisions are an inexact science. But one big one made recently by the … Read More

Corporate Welfare: PHX Politicians Hand Millions to out of State Corporation

By Sal DiCiccio Phoenix City Council Member Councilman Danny Valenzuela calls this a “good deal.” I call it INSANE. This is the same logic some of the same politicians used when they used your money to build the Sheraton losing $145 million of your hard-working taxpayers dollars. Money that could’ve gone for more police on our streets. Please read this … Read More

Who Wants To Be A Scottsdale Mayor?

Since it’s never too early to pontificate and prognosticate about politics, we thought we’d get a jump on a way too early look at possible successors to popular Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane.  Due to the city’s three term limit for mayors Lane, who won in a landslide over Bob Littlefield in November, 2016, is ineligible to run again. The odds … Read More

Lost In The Maricopa Woods

Muhammad Ali was a great boxer.  But like many, he didn’t know when it was time to do something else.  A case in point was his 1980 bout against heavyweight champion Larry Holmes.  It was just sad, so much so that Holmes actually took it easy on Ali, not wanting to further impugn a legend. Former Arizona Attorney General Grant … Read More