Bombshells in the Legislature: Two Incumbents Won’t Qualify for Ballot

Arizona legislators (and all candidates for those seats) have a few hurdles to qualify for the ballot. One of them is gathering enough signatures from voters in the district. The precise amount depends on a few factors, but is generally in the ballpark of 400 signatures. Considering that voters can sign online in what are essentially pre-qualified signatures, this threshold … Read More

Guest Editorial: Parks and Preserve Ballot Measure

By Councilmember Tom Durham Would you like to see improvements in our Greenbelt parks, increased safety and security in parks and the Preserve, and maintenance of the Preserve to reduce the risk of fire—AND pay less sales taxes?  You will have that opportunity on the November ballot. On Tuesday, April 2nd, the Scottsdale City Council took action to protect and … Read More

Scottsdale Politics: How are the City Council Races Looking?

As we mentioned in yesterday’s piece about the Scottsdale mayoral race, campaign finance reports are our most accurate look into the potential strength of a campaign. And just like the mayoral race, candidates for Scottsdale City Council also recently filed their reports, and it allows us to peer into who is surging and who is floundering. First, we will start … Read More

Guest Editorial: Milhaven Endorsed by Scottsdale Association of Realtors

The Scottsdale Association of Realtors endorses me for Mayor.  I am grateful, honored and inspired by their confidence in me. For many of us, our homes are our most important investment.  Our home values and the vibrancy of the real estate market are directly affected by the quality of our neighborhoods and our community.   As Mayor, I will continue … Read More

Guest Editorial: Phoenix’s Recently Approved Homeless Shelter is an Appropriate Remedy for Phoenix’s Homelessness Crisis, but Should Never Inform Scottsdale’s Approach to Homelessness

By Mason Gates The Phoenix City Council recently approved the construction of a new homeless shelter near 71st Avenue and Buckeye Road, a key step in the Council’s efforts to address the crisis of homelessness wreaking havoc across the city. The approval of this shelter project will help stem the burgeoning homeless population in Phoenix, while ensuring that cities bordering … Read More

Scottsdale Politics: How is the Mayoral Race Looking?

This year’s Scottsdale mayoral race won’t be anywhere near as wild as it was in 2020. Back then there were five competitors, including five current and past city councilmembers, vying for an open seat. This year it is much more tame, with an incumbent running against two former councilmembers. As is often the case in politics, the campaign finance reports … Read More

Guest Editorial: Mason Gates for Scottsdale City Council Campaign Celebrates Milestone: Over 1,300 Signatures Rally Behind Vision for Change

In a resounding testament to the momentum of the Mason Gates campaign, we are proud to announce that we have surpassed the significant milestone of collecting over 1,300 signatures from impassioned supporters across our Scottsdale community. This remarkable achievement underscores the unwavering dedication of individuals who believe in a brighter future for our city and who recognize the transformative leadership … Read More

Axon Wants Density Subsidies as Its Stock Soars to New Heights

Frequent readers and those in tune to the happenings of Scottsdale already know about the Axon saga: the makers of Taser, once reasonably good partners with the city and stakeholders, have napalmed any and all good faith that they had previously built. The story is bad enough of a look as it is, but it only gets worse when considering … Read More

Who is the Heck is Mason Gates?

Scottsdalians who use social media have almost certainly been confronted with Mason Gates; he is a Scottsdale city council candidate who has seemingly come out of nowhere, spraying digital ads throughout the city, highlighting videos of him speaking and what he touts as an army of kids willing to do his bidding. While digital political ads are nothing new, his … Read More