A message from the Scottsdale Police Department and Crime Prevention Unit: In preparation for protests that may occur over the weekend, numerous traffic restrictions will be in place through the weekend. We have heard of possible protests scheduled for Friday evening at Fashion Square and Sunday evening in Old Town Scottsdale. We have no other information at this time and will … Read More

Did Scottsdale PD do a good job or a bad job dealing with looters and criminals on Saturday night?  It’s all anyone in town is talking about, including Governor Ducey.  Notably, he is encouraging cities to handle any future situations like Phoenix, not Scottsdale.  PD has made up some public opinion ground with spin and goal post moving after the … Read More

Councilman Guy Phillips has often surprised the Scottsdale electorate with plucky campaigns.  His re-election campaign this year is no exception. Scottsdale restaurants, in particular, have been devastated financially by the pandemic.  They lost the months most critical to their annual survival. But even when allowed by Governor Doug Ducey to re-open on May 11th, a combination of strict rules and … Read More

By Recker McDowell — The city of Mesa is allowing restaurants to expand into outdoor spaces as they deal with social distancing and COVID-19 protocols. Mesa joins other cities, including Tempe, in easing codes and lifting permit fees to allow for outdoor expansions. Social distancing makes it difficult if not impossible for some restaurants and shops to have enough existing … Read More

There is only one word for this: heartbreaking. Photos taken this morning. 

The movie White House Down came out in 2013.  It focused on terrorists seizing control of the most famous residence in the world.  Fortunately, it was fictitious.  What happened in Scottsdale last night as its house collapsed was anything but. Why has it unnerved and angered so many in the city? Because government failed, so obviously, at its most important … Read More

Scottsdale’s first mayoral debate earlier this week was a mundane affair.  But it did reinforce a central tenant in the race:  there are two lanes to the November run-off. Gaining an outright win in August is highly improbable for any candidate.  That means two will move on to an election in November. How is this likely to take shape? Think … Read More

By James Derouin — The Scottsdale City Council did the wrong thing when it accepted the Independent Ethics Panel report in the Guy Phillips’ matter.  That is because the report created two immense loopholes in the City’s Ethics Code, thereby creating new vehicles for “dark money” for Councilmembers and Council candidates as well. The Panel was applying an ordinance that … Read More

The just concluded Scottsdale mayoral debate, the campaign’s first, was hosted by the community’s Chuck Todd, Independent Newspapers’ Terrance Thornton. Here are the highlights: *Former City Councilman David Ortega’s “State of the Union” backdrop gets best Zoom look.  Bob Littlefield gets the worst for looking like he was playing a DJ in a dorm room. *Ortega’s parroting of Littlefield’s anti-City … Read More

While on the Scottsdale City Council Bob Littlefield and David Ortega voted for the Scottsdale Waterfront and two buildings there with 150’ heights. Scottsdale City Councilman Guy Phillips voted for the same heights at Scottsdale Fashion Square and the proposed Museum Square. Scottsdale City Councilwomen Kathy Littlefield and Solange Whitehead also supported 150’ heights for Museum Square. We think all … Read More