Arizona Among First States in the Nation to See Celebrity-Endorsed Special Edition of Best-Selling Luxury SUV

Serena Williams and Matthew McConaughey are among the celebrities singing the praises of the new 2025 Lincoln Navigator Black Label, and now, members of Arizona’s automotive elite will get their own look at the latest edition of the best-selling luxury SUV when it debuts at Barrett-Jackson, the World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions®, this week.

The new, state-of-the-art luxury SUV isn’t just any Navigator – it’s an ultra-luxe update on the traditional model that merges elegance, comfort and performance into the same pretty package.

While the Navigator Black Label will be available with two new body styles: “Enlighten” and “Atmospheric,” the model making its way to Barrett-Jackson will feature the “Enlighten” theme, inspired by the beauty of a sunrise and the dawn of a new day.

“The Lincoln Navigator has tens of thousands of owners across Arizona, and there’s no better place than Barrett-Jackson to introduce the latest luxury edition to the celebrities, existing Lincoln owners and luxury auto enthusiasts in attendance,” said Sanderson Lincoln Brand Manager Patrick Heigl. “This is Arizona’s exclusive opportunity to see the Navigator Black Label in person before it’s available or viewable anywhere else.”

In addition to its head-turning exterior design, the Lincoln Navigator Black Label’s “Enlighten” edition also features a luxe interior cabin characterized by Warm Horizon leather seats and soft beige accents with gray piping and stitching.

Laser-etched birch wood accents add natural elegance to the interior, while Espresso carpeting, an Ebony headliner, premium craftsmanship and high-tech amenities further enhance the ownership experience. 

While auto enthusiasts can get their first look at the Lincoln Navigator Black Label at Barrett-Jackson Thursday, Oct. 10th through Sunday, Oct. 13th, the vehicle will also be viewable during a post-auction celebration in the showroom of Sanderson Lincoln’s Boutique in the Scottsdale Quarter from Monday, Oct. 14th through Wednesday, Oct. 16th.

Once it becomes available to the public, Navigator Black Label buyers will have an opportunity to choose between the Black Label’s traditional “Invitation” theme as well as the two new “Enlighten” and “Atmospheric” body styles. Buyers can also take advantage of several additional upgrade options to personalize  their vehicles to their liking, adding optional 24” high-gloss aluminum wheels, among other customizable features.

For more about the Sanderson Lincoln’s Scottsdale Boutique, visit SandersonLincoln.net/Scottsdale-boutique.htm. For more about Barrett-Jackson or to purchase tickets, visit Barrett-Jackson.com

Construction Set to Begin on 229-Unit Multi-Family Housing Community at Guadalupe & Kyrene Roads

Greenlight Communities, the Scottsdale-based developer dedicated exclusively to building attainable and affordable rental housing without relying on government subsidies, is proud to announce the closing of its first community in South Tempe.

Situated at the southwest corner of Guadalupe and Kyrene Roads, at 515 West Guadalupe Road in Tempe, Cabana Kyrene represents a vital solution to the city’s housing shortage. This development will offer the local workforce much-needed attainable rental housing, the first of its kind in Tempe.

With convenient access to major highways and many of the area’s top employers, Cabana Kyrene will offer 229 residences spread across six three-story buildings.

“Tempe desperately needs housing developments like Cabana Kyrene to accommodate the needs of our community members and keep more of them living, working and recreating right here in the city,” said Tempe Mayor Corey Woods. “Cabana Kyrene’s 229 new residences will not only support our local workforce, but also provide much-needed relief for families and renters who’ve long been priced out of local markets.” 

Cabana Kyrene will feature 90 studios, 93 one-bedroom, and 46 two-bedroom units, along with a range of sought-after amenities aimed at enhancing the living experience. Highlights include a pool, a fully equipped fitness center, and Wi-Fi-enabled co-working spaces for residents.

The new multi-family community, conveniently located near Tempe Union High School, South Mountain Park and Preserve, and Arizona State University, will also feature two beautifully landscaped courtyards equipped with exercise stations and hammocks, offering residents a convenient place to relax or work out within the community they live.

“Cabana Kyrene is more than just a great place to live—it’s a community thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of today’s modern families and local workforce,” said Patricia Watts, co-founder of Greenlight Communities. “Our vision was to create a community that not only elevates the quality of life for its residents but also keeps rents attainable. With Cabana Kyrene, we’ve successfully achieved that balance.”

Greenlight Communities was established seven years ago with the mission of increasing attainable and workforce housing options in Arizona. As rising rents and limited availability of affordable living spaces continue to create challenges, affordable housing has become a top concern for residents and voters in the state, particularly impacting the workforce and families.

Since 2010, developers have only constructed five new apartment communities in south Tempe, all of which offered either luxury or government-subsidized housing. Cabana Kyrene will represent the area’s first attainable, workforce-focused development in almost 15 years.

For more about Greenlight Communities, visit LiveGreenlight.com or call (480) 609-6779.

The Night of Celebration Celebrated the Firefighter of the Year and Commemorated the Accomplishments of Four Arizonans

The 25^th Annual Behind the Flames Scottsdale Firefighter Charities Dinner was held on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, and set a record for the most amount of money raised at the event with nearly $104,755 in charitable contributions.

The non-profit organization is staffed by firefighters from local 5050, and all of the donations goes towards local programs and people in need. Held at STK in Scottsdale, the evening was emceed by Jim Sharpe, host of KTAR’s Arizona’s Morning News. The fundraising dollars and the overall event would not have been possible without assistance from the various sponsors beginning first with Brandon Dawson, CEO and Co-Founder of Cardone Ventures who organized and contributed the single largest donation in the event’s history of $25,000 to mark the 25-years the event has been in existence.

That was followed by Title Sponsor Honor Health, which donated $10,000 to the Firefighter’s Association. Its CEO Todd LaPorte, spoke about how Scottsdale Firefighters serve hospitals and the local community.

“This was truly one of the best years on record,” said Fire Captain Sasha Weller. “Not only did we surpass all fundraising goals, and had a record year of donations, but we had an incredible line-up of speakers and a huge turnout of guests for the evening. It was a very special evening.”

The evening honored Fire Captain Marty Armstrong as its FireFighter of Year for his work and for embodying the “We Care For You” attitude of the Scottsdale Fire Department.

The evening also honored four Valley residents for Contributing to Achievement and Redefining Excellence in the Valley. The recipients of the C.A.R.E. award were Lorraine Tallman, Robert Anglen, Elena Santa Cruz and Kenny Dillingham. Each recipient had the opportunity to tell their personal story, describing their inspirational journeys and how they are making a difference in the community.

Lorraine Tallman, who is the President and Founder of Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels, described her journey of helping other families and children navigate through the battle with cancer. Tallman started Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels after losing her own daughter to childhood cancer.

Arizona Republic Investigative Reporter Robert Anglen and Criminal Justice Reporter Elena Santa Cruz, also shared their stories about being on the frontlines of unearthing the tragedy of Preston Lord, and the violent actions caused by the ‘Gilbert Goons.’ Their commitment to transparency and hard work is sought after across the state.

Finally, as the youngest head coach in college football, ASU Alum and Scottsdale native Kenny Dillingham was recognized for his passion in connecting the Valley’s culture to the team. Dillingham has made it his goal to bring a new level of community to the Sun Devils and his passion for the betterment of life and culture through sports inspires celebration.

As the Bestselling Author of Teamwork, Dawson Shows the Next Steps to Break Free from the Grind and Start Building Your Business 

Passionate about helping entrepreneurs achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals through specific scaling strategies, President and Co-Founder Natalie Dawson of Scottsdale-based Cardone Ventures is proud to release her second book titled Start the Work this month.

Dawson’s guide to making time in business to ensure growth and meeting your goals contains the toolset she uses to step away from the day-to-day issues of running a business to start focusing on long-term development.

Dawson co-founded Cardone Ventures alongside husband Brandon Dawson, Grant Cardone and Elena Cardone in 2019. In 60 months, the company has generated in excess of $500 million in revenue with no start-up capital or outside funding and has $1 billion in businesses under management. An Amazon Best Seller, Dawson’s first book Teamwork: How to Build a High-Performance Team has sold 100,000 copies. 

Her tactics for growth start with stopping. “There are things that as a business owner you do not need to be doing,” said Dawson. “Deciding what to stop, what to delegate and what to continue doing as an owner will help you define your role. This definition needs to be growth-oriented. If something you’re doing isn’t driving your business forward seriously consider offloading it onto a team member or stopping it entirely.”

Start The Work is broken into four sections, Time, You, Your Culture and Your Team. Each section contains systems and strategies that can be implemented to ‘duplicate yourself’ in your business. Falling into the trap of management is the enemy of growth when other tasks need to be done. Duplicating yourself by delegating tasks onto team members and making time to drive your business forward will inevitably lead to improvement.

Not only should business owners delegate, but they should duplicate themselves into every team member by making each one concerned with growth. Company culture should ensure that every team member is bringing in revenue, being a salesperson and pushing for growth. Making incentives that guide the team toward growth metrics will get every team member involved in growing the business.

“This is the playbook for taking your business and making it grow,” said Dawson. “Ask yourself, what are my one, three and five-year goals? If you’re not on track to make them it’s time to stop floundering and start the work on yourself, your team and your business that will let you achieve those goals.”

Other tips Dawson gives business owners in the book include things like scheduling a meeting with yourself once a week, using technology to document your processes ahead of time to allow for later duplication and committing yourself to improving your calendar.

Being honest with your goals and what you are and aren’t willing to sacrifice to accomplish them brings clarity to the next steps you need to take.

Dawson’s expertise in building scalable teams has led her most recently to become President and Founding Partner at Cardone Ventures. Her first book, Teamwork, lays the groundwork that is further developed in this book based on her years of expertise in increasing business revenue, employee production, effectiveness and efficiency.

“Start the Work functions hand in hand with the toolset learned in my first book,” said Dawson. “Once you’ve set up your team and verified their abilities, you need to trust that team to do their jobs, then you can begin to put the systems in place this book teaches you to start achieving your growth goals.”

To purchase Start the Work visit https://www.amazon.com/Start-Work-Natalie-Dawson/dp/B0D65TRRN5. For more information on Natalie Dawson and Start the Work visit thenataliedawson.com.

After Receiving the Historic Donation of $25,000 From Cardone Ventures, Scottsdale Fire Fighters Gather to Celebrate the Accomplishments of Four Arizonans

The 25^th Annual Behind the Flames Scottsdale Firefighter Charities Dinner returns Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, at 5 p.m. to honor and celebrate the work of firefighters and others to improve and protect the community.

This year’s honorees and recipients of the C.A.R.E. award are Lorraine Tallman, Robert Anglen, Elena Santa Cruz and Kenny Dillingham. Recognizing these individuals for Contributing to Achievement and Redefining Excellence in the Valley, each recipient will tell their personal story, describing inspirational journeys.

Held at the STK Steakhouse in Scottsdale at 7134 E. Stetson Drive in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, this can’t miss event is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a night of great food for an amazing cause, all while listening to inspiring stories from firefighters and the honorees.

The first honoree, Lorraine Tallman, is the President and Founder of Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels and recently was named an Outstanding Woman in Business by the Phoenix Business Journal in 2023. After losing her daughter to childhood cancer, Tallman founded Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels to bring dignity and comfort into the harsh world of childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Their Comfycozy Care line of clothing for children undergoing chemotherapy and efforts to assist families navigate their battle with cancer have been celebrated by both patients and medical providers. Tallman is an inspiration for her compassion and empathy for Arizona families.

Since October of last year, Robert Anglen & Elena Santa Cruz have been at the forefront of uncovering the tragedy of Preston Lord and the violence of the ‘Gilbert Goons’. Anglen has worked as an Investigative Reporter at the Arizona Republic since 2003 and taught as an Adjunct Professor at ASU since 2009. Santa Cruz joined the Arizona Republic as a Criminal Justice Reporter shortly before the Preston Lord case broke last year. Together they have served the public by providing constant updates on the truth behind violence in the East Valley, holding the perpetrators and city officials accountable. Their hard work and commitment to transparency is lauded across the state.

ASU Alum and Scottsdale native Kenny Dillingham is passionate about ASU football and connecting the Valley’s cultural and business community to the team. As the youngest head coach in college football, and with a winning 3-and-0 start to the 2024 season, Dillingham has made it his goal to bring a new level of community collaboration to the Sun Devils. From coordinating games with Pat’s Run Charity to organizing a 5000% increase in name, image and likeness (NIL) deals between players and local businesses, Dillingham has brought a renewed energy to ASU football and the connections between the team and community. His passion for the enrichment of life and culture through the connecting power of sports inspires celebration.

Also being recognized is Brandon Dawson, CEO and Co-founder of Scottsdale-based company Cardone Ventures. Marking the historic milestone of 25 years of charitable dinners, Cardone Ventures has organized the largest singular donation in the event’s history, $25,000.

Single tickets are available to purchase for $150. There are several sponsorship levels and there is also the opportunity to sponsor the attendance of a Firefighter for $500.

To donate and reserve your spot please contact Brian Shedlock at (520) 275-4056 or BShedlock@Scottsdalefirefighters.org. It is recommended to secure your spot as soon as possible as seats always sell out every year.

Send checks payable to United Scottsdale Firefighters Charities, P.O. Box 14935, Scottsdale, AZ 85267.

Photo Credit: Scottsdale Police Department

As you certainly know, one of Scottsdale’s most well-known aspects is its nightlife; it has become a primary destination for bachelorette parties and has plenty of well-attended nightclubs and bars along with a thriving entertainment district. With that occasionally comes problems in the form of fights, rowdiness, and people driving when they shouldn’t.

The latter has long been an issue when those who enjoy the nightlife a bit too much decide to risk it and drive home, and for some reason it seems to be a particular issue for athletes and former athletes. The latest example of this came about last week as former Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy was arrested for an extreme DUI (i.e. having a blood alcohol level over 0.20) along with having an open alcohol container in his car.

It almost seems as if it’s a right of passage, with Mike Tyson, Charles Barkley, former Cardinals general manager Steve Keim and former Coyotes player Alex Galchenyuk having similar issues. While these particular incidents were victimless crimes, that’s not always the case; former Arizona State football player Stanley Lambert killed a pedestrian in Scottsdale while driving under the influence.

The universal question always seems to be…why? These athletes (or former athletes) can certainly afford an Uber or Lyft; even Eddie Lacy, who’s once dynamic career was shortened due to a lack of personal control (he was widely known as an overeater who had trouble staying in game shape) made $7.6 million during his career, leaving aside endorsement deals. Certainly he can afford an Uber.

Of course, decision-making is impaired along with inhibitions when drinking, so perhaps best intentions are overwritten when caught in the moment. But when there is such a long history of this issue, and an issue that will put you in the press for all the wrong reasons, one would assume that athletes would err on the side of caution.

So why? With the emergence of CTE as a known by-product of playing football (especially at the running back position), perhaps that could be blamed. Perhaps years of being lauded and praised offers a degree of self-assuredness, a sense of invincibility.

Perhaps it’s time for Scottsdale’s nightlife to take a more proactive approach towards this. While we are never in favor of heavy-handed regulation, nightclubs and drinking establishments should consider better partnering with rideshare and cab companies to cater to their VIPs, for the sake of everyone involved.

By Lincoln Shea

Axon’s request to rezone part of its 76-acre Scottsdale campus, near Hayden and the 101, to make way for 1,975 apartments could ground any hopes of expanding Scottsdale’s airport.

The Scottsdale Airport is a significant contributor to the local economy, providing an upscale option for tourists flying into the Valley. It facilitates convenient freight service for the growing businesses at the Scottsdale Airpark.  Scottsdale is updating its Airport Master Plan to make sure the airport “stays ahead of industry changes and meets future demand.” Preparing for growth figures prominently in the update.

Meanwhile, Axon wants to upsize its Scottsdale proposed campus, located a short distance from the airport, from a corporate hub to one inclusive of nearly 2,000 apartments too.

But Axon’s profit would be the Scottsdale Airport’s loss.

Existing noise issues were a primary reason for the Scottsdale Airport Advisory Commission unanimously voting to oppose Axon’s apartment request at its January meeting.  Thousands of new residents living so close to the airport would generate a tidal wave of complaints. And that could ground any hopes of expanding the airport.Read More

Photo Source: City of Scottsdale

In a city with generally very few significant issues, sometimes relatively banal topics can turn into small firestorms, flashpoints of controversy and argument. Terminally online Scottsdalians can likely attest that there are a few such cases that are blowing up now, and of course they involve traffic.

One example is a revamp of Scottsdale Road near Jomax in North Scottsdale which has been planned out for years now, but is currently projected to end up at three times the cost as originally planned. The other is a roundabout also on Scottsdale Road in North Scottsdale, also coming in at about 3x original estimates. 

While some of the criticisms related to roundabouts come off as a bit silly, the typical “This is so difficult! How can we learn this?” silliness that accompanies anything that is remotely new, such significant overruns on several projects should be concerning, especially for a fiscally responsible city such as Scottsdale.

Inflation in the wake of the pandemic could certainly explain some of this; after all, the cost of essentially everything is far higher than it was five years ago. A 50% cost overrun could easily be explained by this; but triple the projections? You can’t simply pin it on inflation, especially now that it has effectively normalized.

So how does the city fix this? Obviously billing overruns can’t generally be fixed in arrears, mistakes are mistakes. The number of bids on these contracts were minimal, which might head us off to a different problem. But as far as those bids go, hopefully this should be a lesson in incentivization insofar as city contracts are concerned. Perhaps this is a teachable moment for city managers, a lesson that benchmarks and incentives should be in place to reward staying within budget. For instance, a 20% award for staying in budget is always preferable to being 200% over budget.

While sometimes complaints are general unhappiness looking for an outlet, it is a positive that there are eyes on these sorts of fiscal concerns, and it is our hope that it offers lessons for the future.

Axon CEO Rick Smith. Photo Credit: Jim Poulin, Phoenix Business Journal

A movie phrase made famous by Poltergeist apparently is the long rumored reality as Axon is purportedly readying to return its immensely unpopular apartment plan to Scottsdale decision-making dais.

And in the “you can’t make this up” category, they are apparently targeting Planning Commission and City Council hearings immediately after the election on November 13^th and November 19^th.  Too cute by half, but more on that later.

Readers will recall the extreme controversy earlier this year when Axon reneged on its pledge to build a new corporate campus near Hayden and the 101 previously approved by the Scottsdale City Council and with what many would call a financial subsidy, unless it received an additional subsidy in the form of some 2,000 new apartments to adjoin its new corporate office.  This apartment project would be the largest in city history, dwarfing the 1,300 units approved just down the 101 for Optima a couple of years ago.

The stunning and unnecessary number of apartments, in a submarket that already has thousands under construction or already approved, stirred a resident outcry from the adjoining Stonebrook HOA.

The plan’s proximity to Scottsdale Airport led its commission to unanimously reject Axon’s plan. Also, let’s not forget Axon’s bumbling and ethically challenged efforts to possibly intimidate Planning Commissioner Christian Serena, according to media reports and Serena’s own account.  Axon denied the claims.

Others have questioned not just Axon’s bait and switch with Scottsdale, now asking for apartments to accompany its headquarters, but one with the Arizona State Land Department, from whom it purchased the land.  Sales of State Trust Land benefit Arizona public schools, but in selling the land to Axon, the State never contemplated apartments there, an addition that would have meant another approximately $150 million for Arizona school children.

The Governor’s Office, Scottsdale and even Axon are now saying there will be an “equalization payment” were their apartment zoning approval be granted, but who is going to make sure?  Some arcane commission?  Who?  Do any politicians really want to be engaged in a scandal that will be seen as ripping off Arizona’s schoolchildren?

More recently, Axon has not been so subtle in private meetings with councilmembers that alternate uses could be far worse.  Specious threats at best when other uses would have to go through new zoning too, and there just aren’t a lot of things worse than 2,000 apartments.

In addition to all of this, consider that Axon’s stock price has skyrocketed, calling into further question why a multi-billion dollar corporation needs an apartment subsidy.

The stink around all of this compelled Scottsdale City Councilwoman-Elect Jan Dubauskas to publicly oppose the Axon plan. She won outright in July, partially a result of her principled stance. Scottsdale City Council candidate Adam Kwasman has committed to residents that he too is opposed.   The only council candidate to support Axon was Justin Laos.  He finished last in the primary.

This all helps explain why Axon’s plans – opposed by nearly 80% of Scottsdale voters according to the only publicly released poll on the issue – now seek refuge in a lame duck city council session.

So many questions remain with significant political fallout and reputations at play.

Who with City of Scottsdale staff approved this timing, especially the conspicuous allowance of but 6 days between Planning Commission and City Council?

Due to the highly complicated development agreements in place, will 4 or 5 votes be required for approval?  Is this litigable?

Will there be a referendum to stay any Axon approval, should they get one, and place the matter on Scottsdale’s 2026 ballot?

Will Councilwoman and current candidate Tammy Caputi abide by her private assurances to many that she opposes Axon’s plan flip her position after the election?

Will Betty Janik, who fought Shawn Yari’s significant entitlement approvals at Scottsdale and Camelback during a December, 2020 lame duck session while a Councilwoman-elect, stand by her ethic on lame duck sessions now that she is a Councilwoman?

Will Councilwoman Solange Whitehead, who has also given assurances to residents of opposition, maintain this position as she enters re-election mode for 2026?

What will Mayor Ortega do, win or lose, over the next month as this issue comes to the forefront during his competitive race with former Councilwoman Lisa Borowsky, an opponent of the Axon plan?

And what about Tom Durham?  Many write him off as a Yes Man for any apartment proposal, but his is a far more fair and nuanced mind than that, especially when he too has told residents he is not a Yes vote for Axon.

Axon is to blame for this saga.  It is not for Mayor Ortega and the Scottsdale City Council to literally bail them out. Would it be nice to have Axon’s headquarters in the city? Of course, but not like this. City leaders just proudly announced ASM’s relocation here. In many ways the city is on a roll, on many fronts. With or without Axon Scottsdale will still be the envy of the Valley and one of the better cities in America.  In many ways justifiably saying no to Axon reinforces the Scottsdale brand much more so than prostituting itself.

Poltergeist indeed.  A movie and zoning sequel Scottsdale can do without.

Short-term rentals (STRs) have been a hot political talking point in Scottsdale for years now, as Mayor David Ortega and various city councilmembers have battled onerous restrictions at the state level to better regulate “party houses” and their related nuisances with mixed results. Additionally, the cost of housing has been a massive issue across the entire Valley, as renters have dealt with massive rent increases and prospective homeowners are largely finding themselves priced out of home ownership.

But what if both issues could be alleviated at once? What if we could kill two birds with one stone. A new idea might do just that, and it seems to come from a surprising source.

Councilman Tom Durham, who notably told voters not to vote for him in this upcoming election but instead give his vote to Tammy Caputi and Mary McAllen, seems to have prompted the possibility of merging a solution for these two issues into one potentially elegant, potentially messy solution: what if we used STRs for legitimate (read: long term) housing?

On its face, it’s an intriguing concept, but certainly not as simple as it might seem at first glance.

First off, Durham’s concerns originally came from the very valid observation that many of our city’s first responders and law enforcement can’t afford to live in the city they serve, yet the potential proposal is related to efforts within the Scottsdale Housing Authority and related to affordable housing for lower-income residents, which those employees would make too much money to qualify for.

That segues to the next issues: the potential uproar over “low income housing” near Old Town. While much of that would likely be typically NIMBY-ism, it would regardless be a tough sell to push through low income housing in a city like Scottsdale, for reasons we shouldn’t need to spell out.

Lastly…how much taxpayer money would go to subsidize this? A legitimate question…after all, STR owners wouldn’t be doing this out of the kindness of their heart, obviously the financial incentives must be worth it.

Perhaps this semblance of a plan doesn’t pencil out, but it does raise a solid point: more STRs, along with being a nuisance, means less long-term housing, and if there are reasonable mechanisms to shift that balance, they should be explored.

Repost from news.asu.edu

Arizona State University and HonorHealth, a locally owned nonprofit health system, announced today that they have finalized an agreement for HonorHealth to serve as the primary clinical affiliate for ASU’s School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering, a central component of ASU Health.

Driven by a mutual desire to advance health care through technology and humanity, this agreement will help train future leaders in medicine and medical engineering and improve health outcomes through collaborative and community-focused care.

The move marks a significant step forward in the development of ASU Health and represents a collaborative effort to create the clinical education programs needed for ASU’s new School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering. The agreement will help develop a unique, nationally recognized medical education program to attract and retain outstanding students, residents and faculty.

“We are pleased to join with HonorHealth in this important and fundamental step,” ASU President Michael Crow said. “HonorHealth is equipped to be an important component and contributor to ASU Health in creating a unique medical school that is transformative in delivering better health outcomes for the people of Arizona, and beyond.”

The clinical affiliation between ASU and HonorHealth will further develop graduate medical education (GME) programs and will bring to the medical school the educational benefits of GME programs for undergraduate medical education. In addition, it ensures the availability of HonorHealth facilities for clinical and research experiences for ASU students.

“HonorHealth is thrilled to collaborate with ASU, America’s most innovative university, in a partnership that is breaking new ground in professional education and clinical experience for tomorrow’s medical professionals,” HonorHealth Chief Executive Officer Todd LaPorte said. “As a market-leading, community-focused health system with nearly 100 years of expertise in Arizona, we believe we are the right partner for this new kind of medical school.”

Medical education involves hands-on experience and hospital-based learning, frequently in a university hospital. Medical students spend several years rotating through various units within a hospital to gain real-life clinical experience, always under the guidance of a physician or other faculty. In the ASU Health model, the School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering’s affiliation with HonorHealth ensures that students have access to high-quality local hospital facilities to advance their education and careers.

HonorHealth will be the health system that houses the majority of the training experiences for the medical school’s undergraduate students with rotations in hospitals throughout Phoenix, Scottsdale and surrounding communities. A process will be developed for ASU faculty appointments for HonorHealth clinicians and other health professionals who participate in the leadership or educational activities of the new medical school.

The agreement between ASU and HonorHealth also will cover other academic, research and innovation programs within ASU Health. One of the goals is to strengthen the HonorHealth Research Institute and its translational and clinical research programs through active collaboration with ASU’s Knowledge Enterprise and research connected to ASU Health. Correspondingly, the goal includes expanding research opportunities for ASU Health.

“HonorHealth is on the leading edge of translating clinical research into life-changing, patient-centered treatments, and our partnership with ASU will assist us in recruiting the best and brightest clinicians who are dedicated to this shared vision,” LaPorte said.

With regard to physical infrastructure, HonorHealth will make its inpatient hospitals and outpatient/ambulatory facilities available to provide robust clinical experiences for medical students. The partnership also provides that all HonorHealth hospitals where medical student rotations occur will be designated as the school’s official teaching hospitals.

While this agreement is an important step in launching the new medical school, leaders emphasized that this is only the beginning.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us, and with HonorHealth’s help, we can develop new ways of teaching and learning, and serving Arizona,” Crow said. “The measurement of our success in the future will be, is our community healthier? It’s our responsibility to make it happen.”

LaPorte said, “We are excited to work with ASU, to learn from each other, to provide the expertise that we bring from years of experience, and to create a unique academic medical enterprise that will benefit the local communities we serve and the entire state of Arizona for many years to come.”

ASU will continue its work to obtain accreditation for the medical school education program through the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the accrediting body for medical education programs in the United States. Subject to LCME action and any required regulatory approvals, ASU’s School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering expects to admit its first class of approximately 35 students in the 2026–27 academic year.

ASU’s ongoing relationships with other affiliates in research, training and other areas remain unchanged by this announcement. The university’s work with Phoenix Children’s, Barrow Neurological Institute, Mayo Clinic, VA Phoenix Health Care and other health care institutions will continue.

Coach Kenny Dillingham

It’s been a rough few years for Arizona State football; the promise of a big-name coach in Herm Edwards injected optimism into fans of the Sun Devils for a few years, until 2022 brought in a nine-loss season followed by scandal in the way of recruiting violations. The subsequent probation, ineligibility for a 2023 bowl game, and forfeited scholarships led to a new low for Sun Devils fans.

Enter new coach Kenny Dillingham, a highly bold move as he was to be the youngest head coach out of any team in a major conference. 2023, his first year as coach, looked to be more of the same: another nine-loss season and cries of the same old Sun Devils.

But 2024 is a new day, and what a change it has been for the Sun Devils. In its first year back in bowl eligibility, Arizona State has already positioned itself well with a 4-1 record, including a big win against Kansas last Saturday. It was a sold out game, and clearly the mood and sentiment regarding this team has shifted radically, led by an extremely efficient Sam Leavitt at quarterback and running back Cameron Skattebo absolutely tearing up the Jayhawks defense.

While turnaround stories tend to be slow, plodding affairs, Arizona State has exited its sanctions running at full sprint, and credit must be given to not just Coach Dillingham, but also the athletic department for taking a significant risk. His youth has turned from a potential vulnerability into a positive, as he is clearly more relatable than Herm Edwards and has his players playing hard. His energy is infectious, and much of the Valley is now infected.

It couldn’t happen at a better time too. Arizona’s professional sports teams have had a rough go at it recently. After opening the season with promise, the Cardinals got shellacked by the Washington Commanders (the second-worst team in the NFL last year) last Sunday, opening up criticism about the “same old Cardinals” yet again (EDIT: this was written during the Sunday afternoon game, whose ending did elevate our moods some). A big name Phoenix Suns team poised to win now fell in heartbreaking fashion in the Western Conference finals last year. And a painstakingly average season for the Diamondbacks bore no postseason fruits.

Arizona sports fans needed something to cheer about after a year (well, actually, decades) of underperformance. We never would have anticipated that it would come from the Sun Devils, but props must be given to Coach Dillingham and the entire athletic department for constructing a program built to rise from the ashes. We’re all better off as a result.

By the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce

The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce urges you to please vote YES on Proposition 490, the “To Protect and To Preserve Scottsdale” ballot measure. This measure will take the place of an expiring city sales tax at a lower rate to fund improvements and increased maintenance for parks citywide, beginning in the aging Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt. Prop 490 will also fund ongoing care for our McDowell Sonoran Preserve, including wildlife habitat protection. It will give police officers and firefighters the additional resources needed to keep us safe. The benefits to our city are immeasurable.

A safe Scottsdale with quality amenities is also good for business.  These investments help attract employers, generate tourism and bring more customers to existing city businesses. This economic activity keeps our quality of life high and our property taxes low. Everyone wins.

Prop 490 has unprecedented legal protections to ensure that the money must be spent solely on the described purposes in the ballot language. It has an accompanying Ordinance which outlines exactly what percentage of the tax revenue will be apportioned to each project. Any future needed changes will require a super majority vote of Council. Even then all that can change are the yearly percentages the parks , Preserve and public safety departments receive. The money cannot be shifted to another department like transportation or the Arts. An additional control measure is the Ordinance requires that the charters of the residents’ Parks and Recreation Commission and Preserve Commission be amended to make them the citizen oversight body for their portion of the monies. It requires an annual public report to Council as well.

The Chamber also asks you to vote YES on Proposition 491, the “Permanent Base Adjustment”. This measure adjusts state spending limits that are nearly two decades old so Scottsdale’s elected leaders can sensibly spend money the city already has. Prop 491 doesn’t increase taxes or override budgets. But it does make sure the city has the financial freedom to provide necessary resources for public safety and services residents deserve.

These two measures make good business sense and together are the smartest way to fund critical city services. Please join us in voting YES-YES on Props 490 and 491.

Michelle Pabis

Chair, Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce

Eric Luoma

Vice Chair, Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce

By Councilwoman Betty Janik

I urge you to re-elect Mayor Dave Ortega for a second term on Scottsdale City Council. Much has been accomplished in his first term.  He was instrumental in passing the General Plan, he has been the regional leader in controlling short term rentals, he has kept city finances in the black while increasing reserves and reducing the property tax rate, he has improved downtown parking, approved only the highest quality developments, and supported our first responders.  The list goes on.

Of all his accomplishments, there is one that stands out to me as an example of his tenacity and commitment to our city.  Back in August, 2021, at the urging of Mayor Dave, City Council Initiated an update to the Old Town Scottsdale Character Area Plan (OTSCAP).  I felt that staff was somewhat resistant to this action, which is a daunting process with hundreds of pages of documents needing review and possible revision.  Our Mayor persisted in his efforts to improve the OTSCAP.  His goal was to make Old Town Scottsdale a reflection of our past while ushering it into the future.  On February 20, 2024, after over 30 months of work, the document was in final form.  The Mayor championed better defined development types, strict regulations on transition areas going from lower to higher structures, a renewed focus on shaded interconnected pedestrian walkways, increased setback at intersections for safety, and reduced base height and bonus height maximums for future new construction.  With these improvements, the resident and visitor experience will be enhanced and welcoming. Our downtown area will continue to thrive for years to come thanks to the vision of Mayor Dave.

Tammy Caputi was an active participant in all of these accomplishments.  She promotes the economic vitality of Scottsdale. Of note is her dedicated to education, she served as a founding member of our education subcommittee. She is seeking a second term on Council and she will continue to promote the winning formula that keeps Scottsdale as the Gold Standard of the valley. Let’s keep her on Council.

Finally, Maryann McAllen may be considered by some as a newbie, but she has lived in Scottsdale 60 years.  She has been active in the community for decades offering her time to youth activities, charities, and Scottsdale Boards, usually in a leadership position. Actions speak louder than words! I ask you to support her as my replacement on Council.

PLEASE VOTE!

With gratitude,

Betty

Scottsdale Councilwoman Betty Janik

By Adam Kwasman

I am Adam Kwasman, and I am running for City Council to bring reason and thoughtful, solutionbased leadership to Scottsdale.

Over the last few weeks, we have seen nothing but baseless attacks and desperation from
other, and now former candidates, in the race for Scottsdale City Council.

I entered this race because I, like so many others, have seen a rise in homelessness, crime,
and cost of living in our city. Scottsdale, once gorgeous and safe, is simply no longer the same
city it was a decade ago. It is now a regular sight to see the homeless community on a street
corner in Scottsdale, and just recently, the Council considered moving forward with a program
that would put the homeless in our hotels and build the largest homeless shelter in this city’s
history. Representative Matt Gress stood up and brought this broken program to light, and I am
honored that he has endorsed my campaign to find commonsense solutions to our growing
homeless problem.

This past spring, Scottsdale was also in the news, as we saw an uptick in dinnertime burglaries
from illegal street gangs.

And now, as the cost of living is rising, and our residents must decide how to manage their
incomes, the council has asked us to raise our taxes. This tax increase was so deceptive, it was
initially rendered illegal by the Arizona Court of Appeals.

Something has to change. It’s time for new, sober leadership for our incredible city.
Since I started running, I have focused on these very issues. I am prepared to address them
head-on, bringing my experience from my service in the Legislature, as an attorney and
business owner, and as a husband and father to the Council. Fiscal responsibility, and
thoughtful, competent solutions to create a safe community are not extreme. Reasonable
measures that focus on residents and families are exactly what voters are demanding from their
City Council.

Tom Durham and others are attacking me because I want to deal with these issues based on
facts, and they don’t like being called out for their failures. I have built a broad-based bipartisan
coalition of support of the region’s mayors, state legislators and Gov. Doug Ducey. This support
is highlighted by my endorsement from the Scottsdale Police and Fire Associations, along with
Councilmembers Graham, Littlefield and Councilmember-elect Dubauskas. Our growing
momentum comes from knocking thousands of doors, hosting a multitude of public meet-andgreets, and truly listening to the residents’ concerns for our amazing city. I hope to earn the
support of all voters, and it’s clear that Scottsdale citizens want change.

We all deserve better leadership from every level of government. This November, I pledge to
bring quality, sensible, thoughtfulness to the city of Scottsdale.

By Councilmember Tom Durham

Does Adam Kwasman plan to slash your services from the City of Scottsdale by over 50%?

Well, he says he does.  He told AZCentral, “I know there are hundreds of millions of dollars in wasteful spending” in the General Fund.

The General Fund is the primary operating fund of the City.  It is used to pay for services traditionally associated with city government, such as police, fire, parks, streets, etc.

But the General Fund operating fund expenditures are $376 million per year.  Assuming “hundreds of millions of dollars” are “only” $200 million, that means Kwasman thinks more than half of Scottsdale’s operating expenditures are “wasteful.”  Eliminating $200 of so-called “wasteful spending” would bring the General Fund down to $176 Million.  Fire and police protection alone require about $209 million per year, so cutting $200 million of “wasteful spending” would defund police and fire to the tune of over $25 million—with nothing left for public works, parks, streets, or other services.

Does Kwasman really intend to cut our budget by over one-half?  I don’t know.  I have challenged him to reveal his plans, but his reference to $200 million in “wasteful spending” is his first public comment.  He has yet to identify a penny of so-called “wasteful spending” and has refused to attend public forums to defend his ideas.  And he failed to attend any City Council meetings on the City’s budget.  Information on the General Fund can easily be found in minutes on the City’s website, but he has obviously failed to examine the details of the General Fund.  As the Arizona Progress & Gazette noted earlier this year, he simply refuses to do his homework.

Along with his other weird ideas of firing all of our charter officers, supporting the Goldwater Institute in trying (but failing) to take away your right to vote, ignoring the citizen-approved General Plan, and claiming that Scottsdale’s tax rates—among the lowest in the Valley—are “fiscally irresponsible,” Adam has shown  that he is not prepared to lead Scottsdale.

By Ronald Sampson

We’ve all seen this movie before in Scottsdale: when any sort of tax is mentioned in any capacity, so-called conservatives come out of the woodwork and tell you about how the money will be wasted, how it’s unnecessary, etc. Time and time again, regardless of the merits of the tax, lobbyists set the messaging and political candidates, usually outsiders not currently in office, circle the wagons and parrot the messaging.

It’s a common theme throughout the years, and this year it’s with Proposition 490, Scottsdale’s parks maintenance and upkeep ballot initiative. And again, it’s primarily outsiders who want to win public office (save one councilman) who are the loudest.

Well I’ve got a dirty little secret for you…just between us.

These “conservatives” want Prop 490 to pass. Their opposition is nothing but phony kabuki theater.

Why? Because if it doesn’t, the needs won’t magically disappear. If it doesn’t, then they will need to make very, very difficult decisions if they get in office. Either they let the parks deteriorate and take the blame for their opposition, they cut from some other budget to prevent that and take the blame, or they raise taxes and take the blame. Because opposing something is far easier than solving a problem.

Even more absurd is the fact that Scottsdale has amongst the lowest taxes in the Valley, which won’t change at all if Prop 490 passes. Additionally, it was not one but two large tax hikes that made possible the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, one of the city’s great achievements, but unlike that Prop 490’s has preserve, parks and public safety benefits that will reap benefits across the city.

And let’s be clear: when you’re an outsider that wants to beat an incumbent and win elected office, you have to make the case that things are going in the wrong direction. Being happy with the current direction of a jurisdiction means that you’re unlikely to vote for change, so a politician’s job is to convince you that the jurisdiction is going to hell in a handbasket, regardless of whether or not it is. Their job is to convince you that the sky is green.

Scottsdale isn’t perfect, no city is. But it’s telling that many Republicans think that the city is going in the wrong direction; it’s hard to find any hard metrics that imply as such unless you were highly selective, but it doesn’t matter. The sky is obviously green. The politicians are telling you as such.

And were said politicians get elected, the sky will magically be blue again in 2025, and Scottsdale will magically be the best city in America again. Just like if Proposition 490 were to pass by a wide margin, their opposition will magically disappear, and they will breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that the city is better off and their life will be much easier. The sky was always blue, silly!

So when politicians tell you that an actual decrease in taxes is a tax raise, they hope you don’t actually believe it, just that they’re able to tap into enough misplaced anger to get elected. The sky is blue, Scottsdale is in a very good place, and Proposition 490 will be a significant net positive for the city.

We don’t talk about religion on this blog too much; politics are generally contentious enough. But when religion intersects with community and personal influence, it is worth talking about. And one of the most important and influential church leaders provides the right moment to give kudos and honor to a special career.

Dr. Warren H. Stewart Sr. recently announced that after 47 years at the helm of the First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix, he will be stepping down as Senior Pastor and entering the next chapter of his life: retirement.

Dr. Stewart has been a shining example of lifelong learning, earning two Master’s degrees and a Doctorate in various theological fields, as well as an honorary Doctorate. He has also been a prolific writer, having had five books published throughout his career. But while he is intellect in a field not always known for it, it has been his impact on Arizona society that has turned him into a near household name.

Perhaps the most shameful part of Arizona’s past was its dogged resistance to accepting Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday, a stance that cost it the chance to host a Super Bowl, a stance that alienated it from much of the rest of the country. Dr. Stewart served as the Chairperson for the group that pushed for the legislative passage of MLK Jr. Day as a state holiday, and then organized the coalition that led to a successful statewide vote which codified it and helped reverse that stain.

His church had long been a must-stop for Phoenix politicians to stop in, his support a gold standard for South Phoenix’s African-American community. Dr. Stewart tried his own hand at politics in 2013, running for City Council in District 8; he ran into the buzzsaw that was Kate Gallego and as such finished a strong second place. That said, his affable nature and his disdain for negative campaigning meant that he did not alienate others and maintained a prominent role in the community; he never sold his soul for the brass ring, and his flock recognized that and appreciated it.

His contributions did not go unnoticed by the political class; the intersection near his church, 12th Street and Jefferson, was renamed as “Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr. Way”, as a way of honoring his contributions to Phoenix and the entire state. It was an honor bestowed onto him by none other than Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego.

Dr. Stewart has absolutely earned a restful retirement, but for the sake of South Phoenix and the rest of the state, it is our hope that he remains present in the community and continues carrying a mantle of leadership and fellowship, albeit with fewer obligations. We are all better off as a result of his leadership.

By Linda Milhaven

Hello again,

I got several emails asking about the Scottsdale City Council race so I am reaching out again.

I am voting for Tammy Caputi and Maryann McAllen for City Council.

Tammy is finishing her first term on City Council and has served with distinction.  She is a smart and thoughtful businessperson.  She listens, researches the issues, understands complex issues and makes decisions that are in the best interests of all of Scottsdale.

Her accomplishments are many and you can learn more on her website TammyCaputi.com.

Maryann has a long history of service to Scottsdale including as a Member of the Parks and Recreation Commission and as a city employee.  She understands the City, our challenges and knows how to get things done.

You can learn more on her website. MaryannMcAllenForScottsdale.com

You might have missed it.  Tom Durham left the race and threw his support to Tammy and Maryann.  Tom has been an effective Councilmember who makes decisions for the greatest good.  I am sorry to see him leave the race but I respect that, again, he is doing what is best for our City.

I also included a link to the Arizona Republic article that explains Tom’s reasoning. Scottsdale’sDurham drops out of council race during a debate. Why? (azcentral.com)

City Council races are non-partisan.  It is important that we elect people who have demonstrated positive leadership in our community.  Both of Tammy and Maryann have contributed to making Scottsdale a special place.   I hope you will support Tammy Caputi and Maryann McAllen.

Linda Milhaven

It has been a frequent sign of the times: the dominance of e-commerce, led by Amazon, has led to the decline of other methods of shopping. Main Street shops have shuttered, and perhaps worst of all, shopping malls have borne the brunt of this shift. For many brick-and-mortar stores, the pandemic delivered the death blow that Amazon started, as malls around the country shuttered,

In the Valley, one of the more prominent shopping malls, the Paradise Valley Mall, once an extremely popular meeting place for teenagers and working professionals alike to meet up, window shop, actually shop, and grab some food in the food court, was an early casualty of this confluence of events. It closed in the spring of 2021, its future uncertain. But sometimes in both the natural world and the business world, death leads to rebirth, and that is precisely what is happening at the burial ground of the former Paradise Valley Mall.

The old mall is now being reimagined and rebranded as PV, and will serve as the site for 10 confirmed restaurants and shops. The first of those, a health-conscious fast-casual creation from legendary restaurateur Sam Fox named Flower Child, will be the first to open in the old spot.

The newly-imagined spot seems to be learning the lesson that the JC Penny’s and Hot Topics of the business world didn’t seem to; that it couldn’t compete with e-commerce, so it’s best to fill a void that can’t be properly filled by the internet. The denizens of the reimagined mall will so far be specifically related to food and drink, including restaurants ranging from high-end to casual, a brewery, a Whole Foods, and a liquor store that also features a full-service bar, pizzeria, golf simulator, and cigar lounge.

Perhaps this is an indicator that one type of societal death is certain. The shopping mall was once a gathering place, where teenagers would come together with friends and window shop while talking about school, their crushes, and their parents. It would seem as though that is no longer a sustainable business model and probably never was, as their lack of income was supplemented by professionals who actually spent significant money at the mall shopping. The loss of an actual gathering spot is an unfortunate one, as teenagers and young adults widely report having fewer friends and spending less time with them, switching to phone screens as a proxy.

But a more heartening lesson is the reimagining of that which no longer worked. That even though one concept can destroy an entire industry as it stood, there will always be ingenuitive people who will look at what can’t be replaced by a few clicks on your phone. That especially in the wake of Covid, the need for coming together with your fellow man can’t be replaced, and that when one door closes another will certainly be opened by ingenuity and drive. So instead of mourning a loss, we can celebrate a rebirth.

By Councilwoman Betty Janik

Our beloved McDowell Sonoran Preserve turns 30 years old on October 3, 2024.  I applaud the vision of our city leaders who recognized the value of the McDowells and preserved it for posterity.  I applaud the wisdom of our citizenry who supported the land acquisition with their vote and dollars.  The Preserve has grown to over 30,000 acres over the years.  It is a treasure for the residents, an outdoor desert adventure for our many visitors, and a refuge for wildlife.  Notably, it was a respite for many of us during Covid.  Along with the Indian Bend Wash with over 40 parks, our respect for open space defines us as an environmentally conscious city.

I urge you to assume the role of your predecessors and look into the future over the next 30 years.  Our parks along the southern part of the Indian Bend Greenbelt Wash are over 50 years old and in need of some tender, loving care.  Moving north, this pattern will repeat itself.  Our Preserve requires continuing care including wildlife protection.  Society has changed and our open space needs addition police protections.  With the longer warmer summers, the fire department will be doing more rescues and fighting more fires.  Prop 490 will provide funding to preserve and protect our greatest achievements, the Indian Bend Greenbelt and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

With the expiration of the land acquisition tax, Prop 490 replaces it with a new lower tax.  It also has unprecedented protections to guarantee the funds are used SOLELY for the items indicated on the ballot.

Prop 491 will lift our spending limits so we can provide needed city services for which we have funding that we cannot spend. This is the first time in 18 years that we are asking you to raise the limit as allowed by the state.  It does not raise taxes.  It is is not a bond override.

For these reasons, I ask you to support Props 490 and 491 with your Yes Yes vote.

For more information, go to VoteYesYesScottsdale.com

Happy Birthday Dear Friend,

Betty

Scottsdale Councilwoman Betty Janik

It was the sort of notification or call that every parent and many student fears as an unfortunate downside to living in America; a threat on our schools. With enough legitimate acts of violence happening in American schools, every threat must be taken seriously, as was a recent one at Chaparral High School.

Thankfully this particular threat of terror was deemed to not be a credible threat and students were soon released early to go home. But it also follows a spate of different threats around the Valley in the recent past. Is this a case of recency bias, where a cluster of near-term events warp our view of the bigger picture and make a particular set of occurrences seem more frequent than they truly are?

The data on actual school shootings in the United States is alarming to say the least. According to the FBI, between 2020 and 2024, the number of active shooter incidents in K-12 schools averaged 244 incidents annually. In the 50 years before that, the average was 31 incidents per year. That represents a stunning 687%, with more than enough data in the years previous at least to make it statistically significant of a comparison point. 

Perhaps the most notable point was when this jump in school shootings began (or at the very least, the beginning of that five-year time period): 2020. The pandemic. Schools were closed and impressionable youths went further down digital rabbit holes that would feed every impulse they might have had, some of them dark and negative. People on each side of the political and ideological spectrum will certainly try to use this data to reinforce their points, but both the magnitude of change and the timing of it are stark and telling.

So is it just a matter of time before an actual incident happens? If one were to extrapolate those numbers and cross-reference them against the population of the area, it’s far from unreasonable to believe that it is only a matter of time, if not in Scottsdale than in the rest of the Valley. And while we are not in the business of alarmism, it’s difficult not to take pause and be somewhat concerned. 

But even if you are concerned…is there anything you can do? Because fear without preparation or a plan is simply useless fear.

False alarm as it was, this incident should serve as a reminder to bring up the possibility to your kids, not for the sake of useless fear but for preparation. They should understand the possibility and know what they should do if a real situation arises. While having the possibility in the back of their mind certainly isn’t positive for learning, until shown otherwise this possibility is our new reality. 

For more resources on preparedness for a situation like this, please head to the FBI’s website for more information.

Dear Vice Mayor Stanton,

On behalf of the United Phoenix Firefighters Association, Local 493, I am pleased to formally endorse your candidacy for mayor of Paradise Valley.

Your qualifications and leadership in public safety make you exceptionally suited to guide Paradise Valley. Throughout your public service, you have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the well-being of residents, earning the trust and respect of the community. As members of Local 493 serve Paradise Valley, we are deeply invested in ensuring the town’s future remains safe and secure under your leadership.

When selecting candidates to endorse, the Firefighters Association considers key factors, including experience, integrity, knowledge of community issues, and a proven record of supporting first responders. You have excelled in each of these areas and set a commendable example of leadership.

We look forward to continuing our partnership with you as Mayor to address the needs and concerns of the residents of Paradise Valley.

Sincerely,

Bryan Willingham
President, Local 493
United Phoenix Firefighters Association

We had heard rumors, we had heard speculation, but it’s all just that until confirmed. When we had heard that Scottsdale Councilmember Tom Durham was going to “quiet quit” his race for re-election, we took it with a grain of salt. Now we can confirm that our sources were indeed correct.

In a recent City Council candidate forum, Durham took away any uncertainty as to the veracity of that rumor, when he told Scottsdale voters very bluntly “to not vote for me in November. And I would ask that you vote for the two ladies to my sides here.” He was referring to candidate Mary McAllen and Councilwoman Tammy Caputi.

The full frontal assault on Kwasman shouldn’t be a major surprise, as Durham issued this scathing op-ed about Kwasman, questioning why he wouldn’t show up to forums and excoriating him for views that Durham deemed as ignorant and extreme. Durham seems to believe that Kwasman is an ideologue who isn’t concerned with the typically boring ins-and-outs of city governance and is more concerned about weaponizing a tenuous grasp of the truth in order to win public office.

It represents an interesting career arc from Durham; after all, a salient question would be wondering why he would even announce for re-election if he was going to bow out anyway. Often that would be after a scandal surfaces, the old “going to spend more time with my family” canard. There is no indication that this is the case; moreover, extremely tepid and essentially non-existent fundraising told the tale of someone whose heart didn’t seem to be in it. One would tend to think that after announcing, he realized that he just didn’t want to go through with the arduous process of being a good candidate.

So will this move truly benefit them? Well one doesn’t need the help; Councilwoman Tammy Caputi is a stalwart fundraiser and was close to moving forward in the August election. It is difficult to see any permutations where she does not finish in the top two in November and thus secure re-election. McAllen’s fate is much less optimistic however; with only about $4,000 cash on hand after the last campaign finance filing all the way back in July, one must hope that she’s found a way to raise substantial funds and at least put a zero at the end of that number in the months since.

Additionally, the party lines are now drawn; the local and legislative parties will likely get involved, with McAllen being supported by local Dem groups and Kwasman local Republican groups. While turnout for Democrats is likely to improve over the August election, the question of whether they can overcome a natural Republican advantage is much murkier.

Photo Credit: Sivan Veazie

There will be a number of very important races in this year’s election, ranging from the obvious (President and the US Senate) to local legislative races that may determine the partisan fate of the state of Arizona. One local race may have very significant ramifications but threatens to be lost in the pile of bigger ticket races however.

Scottsdale voters will vote to fill three seats in the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board, and as such will help craft the future of the district. In a surprising indicator of turnover, three incumbents (Julie Cieniawski, Zach Lindsay, and Libby Hart Wells) will not be pursuing re-election, leaving three open seats. Cieniawski is running for the County Board of Supervisors, but there has been precious little information as to why the other two are not running for re-election; perhaps the politicization of a non-political seat has grown tiresome.

While these elections are non-partisan in nature, battle lines have been drawn around familiar political leanings and slates of candidates have been formed on each side.

Mike Sharkey, Donna Lewis, and Matt Pittinsky are the candidates running as what could be considered a Democrat-adjacent slate, while Gretchen Jacobs, Jeanne Beasley, and Drew Hassler are running as what would be considered the Republican-adjacent slate.

Jacobs, Beasley and Hassler are running under the theme of “Just Be Honest”, pushing for education over activism and better engagement with parents.  Sharkey, Lewis and Pittinsky’s theme is a bit more nebulous, in what seems to be a general satisfaction with the current status quo and to keep heading in the same direction.

And the status quo seems to be fairly popular in this case; that slate has some endorsements that bridge the partisan divide, including Paradise Valley Mayor Jerry Bien-Willmer and former Councilwoman Virginia Korte. The Just Be Honest slate doesn’t seem to bridge that divide with its endorsements.

In reality, this election seems to be lining up like the other city races: the Republican-adjacent candidates are devoted to convincing you that the city is going in the wrong direction, while the Democrat-adjacent candidates are fine with the general direction of the city. So the question for you, the voter, is which direction you think the city is going in. That alone may be enough to guide your choices.

Data Orbital, in conjunction with AZ Free News, is pleased to announce the results of its latest statewide, live caller survey of likely General Election Voters. The survey was conducted from September 7th 2024 – September 9th 2024. The survey measured support for candidates in Arizona’s Presidential contest. This survey was sponsored by AZ Free News.

For President, the Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris trails Republican former President Donald Trump by a slim 46.0% to 46.2% margin. 7.7% reported as being undecided or refused the question.

Speaking with AZ Free News about the Presidential race, George Khalaf, President of Data Orbital, stated “That 7.7% undecided number, I would say, is going to be one of two things: 1.) Either individuals that are saying that they are likely to vote but don’t end up voting or 2.) People that really are truly undecided. But I would be shocked if the true undecided number is in the high single digits”. Khalaf goes on to explain, “I would guess that right now, the true percentage of people that are undecided is maybe one or two percent, if that. This is a high-profile race and so most people have made up their minds. But I think a portion of people that are undecided likely will not end up making a decision on November 5th”.

By Jeanne Beasley
Candidate for Scottsdale School Board

As students return to school this week, let’s consider what we can do to help support and strengthen our local public schools. I am running for a seat on the Scottsdale Unified School Board on November 5, alongside Gretchen Jacobs and Drew Hassler, to serve our community positively.

We are parents, professionals, and community leaders who have had students in our Scottsdale schools and believe that strong communities should have strong public schools. Families shouldn’t have to look elsewhere for the excellent academic opportunities and well-rounded extracurricular experiences they desire for their children.

Our campaign, “Just Be Honest,” will bring a new era of transparency, accountability, and integrity to SUSD. Our mission is to ensure that every decision made is in the best interest of our students, families, and teachers.Read More

With just five days remaining until Arizona’s 2024 primary election, let’s take a closer look at how Republicans and Democrats are performing across the state.

Focusing first on the Republicans, a total of 1,156,580 GOP ballots have been requested. Of these, 1,089,498 are from registered Republicans and 67,082 from Independents. These numbers surpass the total requests from both 2020 and 2022, which were 1,035,288 and 1,059,348, respectively. Currently, Republicans have a 32.7% ballot return rate, while Independents have a 49.2% return rate, resulting in an overall return rate of 33.7%.

At this stage in the election, GOP ballot returns across the state are ahead of 2022 but are behind 2020. In 2020, returns at this time were 426,571, compared to 375,714 in 2022. So far in 2024, a total of 389,458 GOP ballots have been returned.

Now looking at the Democratic side, total ballot requests stand at 1,063,267, with 1,008,909 from Democrats and 54,358 from Independents. This exceeds the totals from both 2020, which had 1,044,288 requests, and 2022, which had 1,041,271 requests. Democrats are returning their ballots at a 29.4% rate, while Independents are returning at a 48.9% rate, resulting in an overall return rate of 30.4%

At this stage in the cycle, Democratic returns are lagging behind both 2020 and 2022. In 2020, Democratic returns were 439,383, and in 2022 they were 368,745. Both figures are notably higher than the current returns in 2024, which stand at 322,984.

By Scottsdale City Councilmember Tom Durham

What’s the truth about “road diets?” It’s really pretty simple. The current City Council has approved one – and only one – road diet. The residents asked for something to be done about the dangerous conditions on 68th Street. 68th Street is mostly two lanes, but it expanded to four as it went north. This transition created problems as cars sped up and switched lanes. This section of 68th Street had three times the number of accidents as an average Scottsdale street and ranked in the top 7% for accidents per mile. Tragically, there were two pedestrian fatalities in recent years. To address the issue, City staff held neighborhood outreach where neighbors agreed to the plan.

The work on the road included dedicated turn lanes and protected pedestrian crossings, all of which made the street safer. There was plenty of room because 68th Street was below 40% capacity. Police and fire personnel confirmed that narrowing the road would not present access issues.Read More

With six months to go until Election Day 2024, Democrats hold a slight edge over Republicans in the State.For President, the Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden leads Republican former president Donald Trump by a slim 38.8% to 38.1% margin. Independent Robert F Kennedy Jr. has 13.5% support. 8.1% reported as being undecided.

In the US Senate race, presumptive Republican nominee Kari Lake trails Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego, the presumptive Democratic nominee, 48.1% to 43.9%. 6.3% of voters are undecided.

Pollster George Khalaf had this to say about the latest results, “With Election Day 2024 a little under 6 months away, the races for President and US Senate in Arizona are a toss-up. As we get closer to Election Day, it will be interesting to note what happens to the support currently given to Robert F Kennedy Jr and if President Biden or Former President Donald Trump pick up more of his current supporters. One thing remains clear, all eyes will be on Arizona and the outsized role our state will play in shaping the direction of the Nation.”

This poll of 550 likely general election voters was conducted by live phone survey that collected 46.0% of the results from live caller landlines and 54.0% from live caller cell phones. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.26% with a 95% confidence interval. Respondents were weighted on a number of different demographic figures based on prior general election voter turnout figures. The poll was conducted from April 27th – April 29th, 2024. The questions released are verbatim from the survey provided to respondents. Toplines and demographic data can be found here. Crosstabs for this survey can be found here.