By Recker McDowell — The Phoenix City Council is scheduled to vote next week on proposed hikes to fees charged for Lyft and Uber rides to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The peril for Phoenix are the messages the higher rideshare fees convey to innovative and creative companies, workers and entrepreneurs. The issue could go well beyond airport … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Papago Plaza in Scottsdale is being demolished. The retro shopping center and its distinctive pink Pueblo architecture are coming down and will be replaced by new apartments, a hotel as well as a planned Aldi store and Starbucks. The redevelopment is at McDowell and Scottsdale roads across from the ASU SkySong development. Both Papago and SkySong … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Scottsdale hosted 1.7 million international tourists last year, according to a new tourism impact study released by the city earlier this month. Those international travelers account for 15.7 percent of the 10.8 million of Scottsdale’s visitors in 2018. This is the first study where Scottsdale tracked international visitors and their $443.9 million spending here. That spending … Read More

By Recker McDowell — The city of Tempe is looking at its long-term growth plans for its downtown area including Mill Avenue and Arizona State University’s main campus. Tempe leaders are examining how to bring more residential development and workforce housing options as well as the height of buildings. The rest of the region should pay close attention to Tempe’s … Read More

(SCOTTSDALE) — It really ultimately is Patients vs. Developers. Health Care vs. High-Rises in Scottsdale — and developers are trying to dupe the public and Scottsdale City Council. A new email shows real estate developers, including out-of-state ones, and some downtown property owners are working covertly to undermine and oppose a needed medical marijuana dispensary in downtown Scottsdale. Developers want … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Scottsdale ranks as one of the top cities in the entire country for people with disabilities. That is according to a new study from financial research firm WalletHub which ranked cities based on accessibility, physicians per capita, in-home health care services and income levels of people with disabilities. Scottsdale ranks number 2 nationally behind only South … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Opendoor, a leading real estate technology firm, is moving from Scottsdale where it has 250 employees to Tempe where it is looking to expand to 1,000 workers. The move is a familiar one for Scottsdale. Opendoor joins McKesson, Harkins Theatres and other companies who have left, are leaving or have not landed in Scottsdale. Often, those … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Vice President Mike Pence and YouTube star and cosmetics influencer Jeffree Star don’t have a lot in common on the surface. But they do have a recent similarity. Both the conservative Pence and the not-so conservative Star were both recently in Scottsdale for events. Pence visited Scottsdale during a recent visit to Arizona and meeting with … Read More

(SCOTTSDALE) — The For The Best Scottsdale Campaign: Vote Yes on Questions 1, 2 and 3 will hold a special, community event on October 5th at the Ice Den Scottsdale, thanks to a donation from the facility. It will take place from Noon to 2 p.m. The event will also feature free food and drinks in the 18 Degrees Neighborhood … Read More

By Barry Graham — As a CPA, I read the fine print. And I have read the fine print and reviewed the details when it comes to Questions 1, 2 and 3 on the November 5th ballot. The $319 million, 58-project bond package gives Scottsdale voters the opportunity to invest in infrastructure repairs and community assets that will enhance recreation, … Read More