One common theme in many of these races that we’ve covered and will cover on The Breakdown is the fact that most of these races are open seats, making them more interesting to cover. The first Breakdown of a more top-ticket race, the race for Attorney General, is no different since incumbent Mark Brnovich is vacating the seat for what … Read More
The Fur is Starting to Fly for the Paradise Valley Town Council – Christine Labelle Punches Back at Paul Dembow
The Paradise Valley Town Council race is not too far away now, with just over a month before ballots are mailed out, and predictably things are starting to get a little feisty. To the surprise of few, an incumbent with a questionable history got it started, but a political newcomer is showing that she won’t take it sitting down. Yes, … Read More
As If Paul Dembow In Paradise Valley Could Get Any Weirder
Why does it seem that most things involving embattled Paradise Valley Town Councilman Paul Dembow circulate around unethic and sleaze? Wrongly, even comically, Dembow is seeking a FOURTH term on the Town Council. That’s a man with an identity crisis. How else to explain someone wanting a 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th year on an unpaid dais in a community that has a … Read More
Mesa is Getting the Nice Things that Scottsdale Normally Would; What is Wrong with this Picture?
You probably know that we haven’t been shy about talking about how NIMBY politics have partly dominated Scottsdale city politics, and how it has a significant impact on the cost of living in these areas. But there is also the concept of opportunity costs; how making a decision and going down one direction has a cost, not just in the … Read More
Apartments, Development, Homelessness, Crime. Scottsdale Forum Defines Issues And Council Candidates
By Lincoln Shea Issues such as attainable housing, building density, and crime not only divide Scottsdale residents, they also divide the candidates for Scottsdale City Council. Growth and related topics dominated a Scottsdale candidates forum held June 14th at United Methodist Church. Seven candidates are running for three seats on the seven-member council. Incumbents Kathy Littlefield and Solange Whitehead and … Read More
The Breakdown – A Post-Covid Litmus Test: AZ Superintendent of Public Instruction
In this week’s Breakdown, we are going to take a look at the race to be the head of Arizona schools. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction. This race was one of the biggest surprises of the 2018 election cycle, as 31 year old teacher Kathy Hoffman, someone with no political experience before her run, knocked off former State Senate … Read More
The Super Bowl Will Likely Cost Scottsdale Taxpayers $2.3 Million? Should Scottsdale Be Subsidizing the NFL?
You may know that State Farm Stadium in Glendale will be hosting the Super Bowl in 2023. You probably didn’t know that Scottsdale will be on the hook to the tune of $2.3 million in taxpayer funds for it. When we saw this, we had questions, as you likely will to. First and foremost is the question: are we subsidizing … Read More
The Breakdown – The Shifting Nature of the Hallowed Fourth Estate: The Corporation Commission
As a co-equal branch of government, the Arizona Corporation Commission is an odd, idiosyncratic piece of Arizona governance; like Mine Inspector, but less interesting. That said, their impact on the everyday lives of Arizonans has been traditionally somewhat outsized. The reason is that while most of us who have ever started a business typically know the ACC as the dreary … Read More
WalletHub Tells Us What We All Knew – Scottsdale Is a Great Place to Raise a Family
You must know by now that we love Scottsdale, as we are constantly shouting from the rooftops how great our city is, even if we don’t always agree with its leadership. Along with myriad options for recreation, beautiful scenery and a high standard of living, it’s also a great place to have a family. This is why we love it … Read More
The Greatest Tribute
It is undoubtedly one of the English language’s finest speeches and thank you, as today we remember the bravery that freed a continent and saved the soul of liberty. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2019/06/06/the_boys_of_pointe_du_hoc_140500.html