The Valley-based Attainable Workforce Housing Provider Also Made Record-Breaking Donations to Community Causes This Year

Greenlight Communities, a leader in high-quality, privately funded affordable rental housing, celebrates a record-breaking 2024. The company constructed 696 new attainable rental units and surpassed its previous benchmarks for community giving, donating over $50,000 to charitable organizations that uplift Arizona communities.

Since its launch in 2016, Greenlight Communities has been a trailblazing developer in addressing Arizona’s affordable housing crisis, delivering nearly 3,500 units of workforce housing on underutilized land across the state. This year’s achievements underscore Greenlight’s unwavering commitment to creating housing solutions that empower Arizona’s workforce, students, and community members to thrive in areas where affordable options have historically been scarce.

In 2016, Greenlight Communities committed to perfecting its Cabana brand of attainable rental housing. In 2024, the company reached a significant milestone with the completion of its first Streamliner community, an even more affordable product designed to cater to individuals earning around $40,000 annually.

This year, Greenlight completed three communities: Villa Cielo Cortaro, Streamliner 67th, and Streamliner 16th. Additionally, construction is well underway on Greenlight’s fourth Streamliner project, Streamliner 87th, which is set to be completed in Summer 2025, along with Cabana Aldea and Streamliner Aldea, slated for completion in January and February 2025, respectively.

Greenlight Communities is also excited to announce its first Tempe project, Cabana Kyrene, which is set to break ground in early 2025 and is expected to welcome its first residents in 2026. This will be the city’s first attainable workforce housing development, providing 229 new units that meet the demand for affordable, high-quality housing in the area. As most recent developments in Tempe have been luxury communities with some government-subsidized options, Cabana Kyrene will fill a critical gap in the market. 

For the first time in Greenlight Communities’ history, the company has broken ground on two adjacent apartment communities—Cabana Aldea, a 257-unit development, and Streamliner Aldea, a 282-unit community—both located just west of the Loop 101 at 99th Ave and Montebello in Glendale. Situated near major employers like Westgate, State Farm Stadium, and Vai Resort, this development offers employees the ideal opportunity to live close to work, reducing commute times and fostering a stronger connection to the community.

Greenlight’s fourth Streamliner community, Streamliner 87th, marks the company’s first workforce housing community in Peoria. The 190-unit complex, which began construction in early 2024, will welcome residents in July 2025, meeting the growing demand for affordable housing in the city. Located less than a mile from major freeways and within 5 miles of over 25,000 employment opportunities, the site is also near key destinations like Banner Boswell Medical Center, Westgate Entertainment District, and Glendale Community College.

Additionally, Streamliner 67th and Streamliner 16th began welcoming residents this summer and fall, respectively, further expanding attainable housing options in the Phoenix area.

Greenlight also near completion of Cabana North Valley, its northernmost development to date, set to welcome residents in January 2025. The 159-unit community is the most boutique and amenitized Cabana to date, offering a unique living experience in the region. Surrounded by several charter schools, it provides an ideal opportunity for teachers, parents, and students to live close to work and school.

Down south, Greenlight opened Villa Cielo Cortaro in Tucson, offering 196 thoughtfully designed apartments. As Greenlight’s second community in Tucson, Villa Cielo is distinguished by its two-story layout, unique design, and incredible mountain views. This community is currently welcoming new residents.

Greenlight’s community impact in 2024 also extended far beyond housing developments. The company’s “Greenlight Gives” campaign donated more than $50,000 to local causes, surpassing its previous donation record while supporting El Grito Phoenix, Central Arizona Shelter Services, Saving Amy and Phoenix Sister Cities, among other non-profits.

“At Greenlight, we’re more than just a provider of affordable and attainable housing – we’re committed to building stronger, better communities,” said Patricia Watts, co-founder of Greenlight Communities. “Whether it’s expanding housing options for Arizona’s workforce or supporting local nonprofits through charitable efforts, our goal is to make a meaningful and lasting impact where our communities’ residents live and work.”

Greenlight’s growing portfolio offers thoughtfully designed residences with everything residents need for comfortable living at an affordable price. These communities are tailored to meet the needs of Arizona’s diverse workforce, providing practical, well-located apartments with rental rates that support those seeking quality housing options. Greenlight currently has communities leasing in Goodyear, Mesa, Phoenix, Glendale and Tucson.

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

SCOTTSDALE! We Present 2 Nights of Elevated Entertainment & Nightlife Experience along with 4 Bowl Game Watch Parties.

On December 31st 

Fiesta Bowl Watch Party at 5pm

+ Bottled Blonde in Old Town Scottsdale

+ Taphouse Kitchen – Eppig Brewing

+ Boondocks Scottsdale

Dinner Parties

+ Cala at 5:30pm

NYE Nightlife Party 

+ Casa Amigos at 8pm

(VIP Cocktail Hours – 8pm – 10pm

On January 1st … Starting at 6am

+ 6am ~ “Morning After” Party @ El Hefe

( The Official Decadence AfterParty )

– 6am – 11am ( After-Hours Party )

+ Industry Appreciation Day @ Putting World

( Free Putting All Day + Bowl Games )

+ ASU v Texas at 11am – Taphouse Kitchen – Eppig Brewing

+ Ohio State v Oregon at 2pm – Bottled Blonde

+ Georgia v Notre Dame at 6:30pm – El Hefe

& The Finale ~ Wednesday Night – 01.01 for a Special Event at El Hefe

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Gem Ray
CEO & Marketing Director
ScottsdaleNights.com
GemRay2014@Gmail.com
(480) 772-7613
IG: @gemraymedia @scottsdalenights
SC: @gemraymedia
FB: Gem Ray / Gem S Ray / Gem SinCity Apple & Scottsdale Nights Fan Page
LinkedIn: Gem Ray
Twitter: @gemraymedia @ScottsdaleNites

The two-day festival will feature over 150 art vendors, local eateries, Arizona wineries, local breweries, dance ensembles, art demonstrations, and live music

Now in its 12^th year, the Phoenix Festival of the Arts will return to Hance Park in downtown Phoenix on Saturday, December 14 – Sunday, December 15, 2024 to celebrate all things local with over 150 art vendors, local eateries, Arizona wineries, local breweries and live music from a variety of Arizona bands. This is in addition to art demonstrations, dance ensembles, spoken word poets, choral groups and activities for the whole family. The best part? A portion of proceeds from the entire festival benefits the Phoenix Center for the Arts, which provides arts and culture opportunities to the entire community through education, programming, and advocacy efforts.

A variety of award-winning Arizona wineries who will be in attendance, include:

• 1764 Vineyards
• Alcantara Vineyard
• Arizona Stronghold Vineyards
• Birds & Barrel Vineyards
• Carlson Creek Vineyard
• Copper Horse Vineyard
• Desert Blossom
• Oak Creek Vineyards
• Old Pueblo
• Salvatore Vineyards
• Soaring Wines
• Su Vino Winery
• Vino Stache

• Two stages of live music throughout each day will feature a variety of local musicians, including:

  Acoustic Stage – Saturday, December 14, 2024

  At 11am – it’s award-winning blues and roots artist, Eric Ramsey

  At 1pm – longtime Valley favorite, Jeordie

  And at 3pm – the brilliant guitar concepts of John Calvert

  Main Stage – Saturday, December 14, 2024

  At 10am, it’s The Nash Jazz DivAZ

  At 11am – Prime Society

  At 1pm – Posterchild

  And at 3pm –The Pickup Lines

  Acoustic Stage – Sunday, December 15, 2024

  At 11 – take a listen to young up & comer, Anthony Damitio

  At 1pm – a festival favorite, Seth Loveless

  And at 3pm – rounding out the day with Arizona legend, Walt Richardson

  Main Stage – Sunday, December 15, 2024

  At 10am – Wes Cichosz (pron. SEE-choze)

  At 11 – Ella Scofield with Michael Powers

  At 1pm – the soulful Lucius Parr & Streetlife

  And at 3pm – rounding out the day with a rocking powerhouse, Ponderosa Grove

  The 12^th Annual Phoenix Festival of the Arts is hosted by Arizona Wine Events, Arizona’s leading producer/promoter of Arizona focused wine festivals, Vermillion Promotions, an award-winning special event production and management group that has been inspiring people of all ages to explore, discover, and indulge in the arts for over 30 years. and Willcox Wine Country, a consortium of Arizona Farm Wineries located in the state’s largest wine growing region.

  Entry is FREE and early bird tickets for wine and beer tasting (ranging from $15 – $35/person) are available for purchase at https://willcoxwinecountry.org/event/phoenix-festival-of-the-arts/. Tickets will also be available at the door, ranging from $25-$45/person. Every wine/beer tasting ticket will include a commemorative glass and tasting tickets. Additional tasting tickets will be available for $10, which includes 5 tickets, and each winery and/or brewery will also be pouring by the glass.

  A portion of proceeds from the festival will also benefit Phoenix Center for the Arts.

  For more information, visit www.willcoxwinecountry.org or www.vermillionpromotions.com.

Premier Music Festival at WestWorld to Welcome Stone Temple Pilots, Five Finger Death Punch & Other Hard Rock Favorites, Highlights Include Stunt Shows, Charity Rides & the Highly Anticipated Return of Flat Track Racing

Motorcycles, music and high-octane thrills await when Arizona Bike Week, the nation’s fastest-growing motorcycle rally, rolls back into WestWorld of Scottsdale this spring. Set for Wednesday, April 2 through Sunday, April 6, 2025, this year’s event will feature a star-studded musical lineup, pulse-pounding stunt shows and more vendors than ever before, promising nonstop excitement for riders, families and first-time attendees alike.

Headlining this year’s RockYard event lineup is Five Finger Death Punch with hard-hitting anthems such as “Wash It All Away” and “Lift Me Up,” and Stone Temple Pilots, the legendary rock band behind hits like “Interstate Love Song,” “Creep” and “Vaseline.” Hard rock favorites MuDvAyNe and Jackyl are also set to take the stage throughout the five days of festivities.

The Southwest’s largest bike event and one of the only women-owned rallies in the nation, Arizona Bike Week drew more than 80,000 attendees last year who came to hear live music, ride alongside other enthusiasts, shop hundreds of onsite vendors, and enjoy an action-packed roster of stunt shows and unique entertainment.

While this year’s rally will feature the return of fan-favorite demonstrations like the FMX Extreme Stunt Show, where FMX-riding adrenaline junkies soar to heights of more than 30’, the TwinStunts Thrill Show, a live-action thrill show featuring identical twin brothers, and the Globe of Death, where riders perform death-defying acts inside a mesh steel sphere, it will also welcome back Flat Track Racing. This exhilarating, 1/8-mile dirt track competition demands serious skills from riders and is experiencing a nationwide resurgence in popularity, making it a must-see highlight of this year’s rally.

“We’re honored to see how much Arizona Bike Week has grown year after year, allowing riding enthusiasts and music lovers to come together and share their passion for motorsports and music in a lively, festive and safe atmosphere,” said Lisa Cyr, who co-owns Arizona Bike Week alongside Kristina Anderson. “This year’s musical and vendor lineups are among the biggest and best to date, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone out to WestWorld this spring.”

While last year’s festivities welcomed more than 230 vendors offering up everything from fine leather goods and “permanent” jewelry to onsite tattoos and IV drips (in addition to the vast array of motorsports parts and accessories), this year’s Bike Week vendor selection is set to surpass even that, with its expanded vendor marketplace offering an even greater variety of high-quality merchandise and services.

Arizona Bike Week has a range of ticketing opportunities available, including Rally passes, starting at just $96, which grant attendees access to the entire five-day event, plus all four headliner concerts, and single-day passes, starting at $24, which offer access on a specific day of a guest’s choosing. Event entry is also free on Sunday, April 6, allowing attendees to check out the Swap Meet and other event draws, including everything but a concert, with no admission fee.

New this year are Early Rider passes, which are available at a deep discount for those who enter the event before 3 p.m. Onsite RV and tent camping opportunities are also available and include two General Admission rally passes, giving guests a chance to stay onsite so they don’t miss a minute of the action. Early bird pricing is currently in effect.

Other 2025 Arizona Bike Week event draws include a used bike corral where sellers can get their wheels in front of thousands of prospective buyers and charity rides that give attendees a chance to give back while enjoying scenic rides and the camaraderie of like-minded enthusiasts.

Stay tuned for more announcements about the activities, special guests and exclusive opportunities coming to Arizona Bike Week, and call 480.644.8191 or visit AZBikeWeek.com for additional information.

Experience over 7 million lights across a 15-acre holiday experience complete with Santa meet-and-greets, a holiday express train ride, a nightly parade, holiday shopping, a giant gingerbread house light show with pyrotechnics and much more

On Friday, November 29th, 2024 through Sunday, December 29th, 2024, the Biggest Christmas Celebration in Arizona is returning to Rawhide Western Town (5700 W. North Loop Rd., Chandler, AZ 85226): Pratt Brothers Christmas. The annual holiday event will feature over 7 million lights with a variety of attractions across the 15-acre Old West town, including a holiday express train ride, a nightly parade, jaw-dropping stunt shows featuring the iconic Arizona Roughriders, holiday shopping, a dazzling gingerbread house light show, live entertainment, meet-and-greets with Santa Claus himself, and much more.

Open Wednesdays through Sundays from 6 – 10 p.m., there will be free parking for all guests and tickets are on sale now (ranging from $29 for general admission to $65 and $80 for VIP admission; free for children ages 3 and under) at www.prattbrotherschristmas.com.

General admission tickets ($29/person) include admission to the entire town, the gingerbread house light show, unlimited Holiday Express train rides, meet-and-greets with Santa, the nightly Very Merry Christmas parade, a snow show, live entertainment, the Western Christmas stunt show, letters to Santa, town characters, Old Town car rides, kids coloring, the “Dare to Dream” walk-through exhibit, Pratt Family Miniature Village, Christmas movies and festive photo opportunities.

The VIP tickets ($65 – $80/person on prime nights) include all general admission options in addition to a fast pass for the Holiday Express train ride, an exclusive VIP lounge, specialty alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic beverages, a s’mores  and cookie decorating kit, exclusive keepsakes including a limited edition 2024 ornament, button pin, laminate, bag and collectable wristband, and even holiday hand warmers.

Pratt Brothers Christmas will also be giving back to the community through the entire holiday season by partnering with a variety of local non-profits, including St. Vincent DePaul,

Phoenix Children’s Hospital, The Foster Alliance – AZ Helping Hands and many others.

For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit www.prattbrotherschristmas.com.

By Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas

Dear Friends,

THANK YOU! It was an honor to be sworn in on Tuesday as your new Scottsdale City Councilwoman!! Scottsdale is an incredible city – the jewel of the American southwest. From our spark of Western spirit, our thriving business and tourism economy, and our beautiful preserve – we are blessed to live here and I am honored to serve YOU. Thank You!!

By Linda Milhaven

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Barry Graham and Adam Kwasman led one of the most disrespectful displays I have witnessed in 30 years of watching City Council meetings. Jan Dubauskas and Kathy Littlefield were complicit.

They stifled discussion by preventing their colleagues from speaking and disputing Graham’s misstatements. They shouted over colleagues taking control of the meeting from the Mayor. They deprived residents at the meeting of the respect of a full discussion of their concerns.

The agenda item was to repeal the Sustainability Plan. The Kiva was full and for 90 minutes over 30 people spoke. All but three urged the Council NOT to repeal the plan. Most, if not all, of the speakers spent hours that night at the meeting and invested hundreds of hours and their expertise over the last three years to develop the plan.

After public comment, the Mayor made brief comments and Graham was the first Councilmember to speak. He made a brief speech repeating many of the lies about the plan that he and others have propagated. Then, he simultaneously made the motion to repeal the plan and the motion to call the question.

A motion to call the question is not debatable and if successful ends all discussion on the agenda item and calls for an immediate vote on the original motion.

Councilwoman Whitehead tried to speak, perhaps to ask a procedural question, but we don’t know because Kwasman and Graham repeatedly shouted her down calling “Out of Order” and “Point of Order”.

The motion to Call the Question passed with Councilwomen Littlefield and Dubauskas agreeing to block their colleagues from speaking,

The motion to repeal the Sustainability Plan passed with Graham, Kwasman, Littlefield and Dubaskas voting to repeal.

After the vote, Whitehead spoke up to thank the residents who showed up to speak and again was shouted down with calls that she was “Out of Order”.

Blocking debate is disrespectful to other Councilmembers and to the residents that invested their time to come to the meeting and to develop the plan.

I believe that as a community we are better than this and can have a full and open discussion even when we disagree. I hope going forward the new City Council will demonstrate more respect and decorum.

Graham propagates and perpetuates misinformation about the plan.

The Plan reads: “The plan is an aspirational document and not a mandate, so there are no penalties if targets are not met.” (p.8)

It also says; “The strategies and actions will encourage – but not require – residents, organizations and businesses to take steps that reduce water and waste costs, cool our City and provide better health outcomes.”(p.4)

And, “A case-by-case comparison of costs to benefits – including the cost of doing nothing ~ will identify projects that make financial sense.” (p.7)

If you would like to see the full plan, you can use the link above.

Despite Graham’s claims about the plan, it

• Does not ration or restrict electrical usage
• Does not ration or restrict water usage
• Does not require reducing trash output
• Does not outsource local control
• Does not redirect tax dollars.  (Any new expenditures require Council approval.)
• Does not subject homes and businesses to monitoring or auditing
• Does not impose financial burdens on residents

If I am wrong, I welcome Councilmember Graham to point out the page numbers that substantiate his claims.

Until then, I hope Graham will accept his responsibility to represent issues honestly, correct inaccurate statements and not perpetuate misinformation.

The Sustainability Plan is the product of three years of work by residents and experts and extensive public outreach and comment. City Council received 325 emails with 258 urging the Council to keep the plan and make modifications if the Council thought they were necessary. Many of the 67 emails in opposition objected to the plan based on the misinformation that Graham and Littlefield proliferate.

Mayor Borowsky in her comments suggested a compromise respecting residents’ contributions to the plan and suggested a process to make modifications to address concerns.

Graham, Kwasman, Dubauskas and Littlefield instead turned a deaf ear to the residents who supported the plan. Perhaps they are only listen to the residents that repeat their lies.

As we move forward, it is my hope that Councilmembers will listen to residents, even when they disagree, and respect the outcome of significant resident efforts and extensive outreach. I hope they work to improve the work rather than to throw out all of their work to start over again.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Renovations or construction of sports stadiums are amongst the stickiest of subjects in all of America. Far too often, hyper-wealthy sports team owners have strong-armed municipalities into unfortunate agreements that load the city with debt in order to capture additional revenue with no risk but all cost to the taxpayer. It creates hard feelings for a fanbase, which then has to pay higher taxes along with high prices, purely for the benefit of one person.

That takes us to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who find themselves in a somewhat precarious situation with Chase Field. Old hats will remember it as Bank One Ballpark, a field that was once on the cutting edge of all sports stadiums in perhaps the world. A combination of both elegant retro aesthetics and technology, with a retractable roof when it was still rare, it was a wonder when it opened in 1998.

That said, over 25 years is relatively ancient in the world of sports stadiums, and Chase Field has been showing its age. Last year it had a rain-out because the roof couldn’t close in time. In fact, the roof is rarely opening and closing out of fear that the cables that control that will snap, potentially causing a tragedy inside. It has serious issues with keeping cool, an obvious problem in the summer in Phoenix. 

In short, Chase Field needs some serious work soon, or the Diamondbacks will have to find a different place to play, perhaps even outside of the state.

Enter Rep. Justin Wilmeth. As a self-professed baseball fanatic, he is taking the lead on a solution that seems to check all of the boxes without ticking off the electorate unnecessarily; he is proposing directing local sales taxes generated from within the stadium and in conjunction with the games into the stadium’s improvement projects.

When you go and watch a game, you would be contributing to the stadium’s improvement. If you don’t care about baseball and couldn’t be bothered, you’re not paying for it. And best yet, in the wonderfully tongue-in-cheek observation from Wilmeth, “when all those idiot (Los Angeles) Dodger fans come into our stadium, they’re paying for this.”

It’s the Arizona sports fan version of making Mexico pay for the border wall, and it’s brilliant.

Will this go through? Obviously we cannot predict the future, and some legislators may balk at the redirection of funds. But with an intelligent, respected, and experienced legislator taking the lead on it, it has more than a good shot. And we are thankful to have leadership that sees a sports team as a partner rather than an enemy combative. 

By Alexander Lomax

Photo Credit: arizonahuntingforums.com

Laurie Roberts is perhaps the local media’s most prominent and prolific crap-talker. Her style is one of consistent bear-poking; you will almost never read her give kudos to politicians, but instead take them to task about some perceived injustice. And there’s a role for that; politicians are good enough at spinning their supposed successes and hiding their own failures, and she does play an important role in cutting through the BS, regardless of whether or not it’s coming from the left or the right.

Sometimes goes after enough people or entities that it’s difficult to keep them straight however, and she ends up contradicting herself with her attacks.

See this missive, amongst other items Roberts takes swings at Governor Hobbs and Arizona Republicans, including former Governor Ducey, for utilizing the Arizona State Land Trust to boost education spending in Arizona. The complaint is that it’s unsustainable by definition, and now another solution has to be conjured up lest there be a significant shortfall in education funding.

And hey, that’s a valid criticism. Proposition 123, Ducey’s brainchild nearly a decade ago, was not meant to be a sustainable source of education funding in Arizona; it is a temporary drawdown. But what about the short-changing of the Arizona State Land Trust, the very source of education funding?

I’d like to remind Laurie about one of the most blatant de facto robberies from the Arizona State Land Trust, from none other than Axon. When it originally bought the plot of land that it now wants to put its massive, unwanted apartment megaplex on, it bought it under the guise of it being used for office or commercial uses. Had it applied for the purchase declaring its real intent, using it for commercial real estate, it would have paid tens of millions of dollars more into the State Land Trust.

It would have been nice if Laurie had been using her megaphone early in often to shine a light on this short-changing. If she had brought that up then, Axon might have realized earlier that it was going at this alone and reversed course.

I like you, Laurie, I really do. But you dropped the ball on this one. Criticize unsustainable education funding all you like, but don’t forget one company’s dishonesty and how it very significantly contributed to this issue as well.

by Ronald Sampson

Photo Credit: City of Scottsdale

Many times history won’t judge you based on how you act after you win, but how you react to a loss. It’s easy to be gracious after a victory, but after a bitter, grueling effort that results in an unfortunate outcome, do you offer best wishes for your opponent or do you claim malfeasance and attempt to undermine a well-earned victory?

Former Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega often got a pugnacious reputation during his time in the mayor’s seat; for a while it seemed as though he was not only happy to attend any argument he was invited to, but to set the table and invite others to new conflicts of his making. Around halfway through his term it seemed as though he started to understand his reputation and cool off of the conflict some, but perhaps his term may best be known by how it ended.

But in the aftermath of Lisa Borowsky’s surprise win, the sheen seemed to wear off of the former mayor’s mood. First, in a world where concession speeches wishing your opponent the best of luck in leading the city you love are the absolute norm, Ortega was in complete radio silence insofar as his campaign outlets were concerned as the outcome became more and more obvious. Only 14 words and a quick thank you on his personal Facebook.

What followed was far more unfortunate however. He has spent the time leading up to Borowsky’s swearing in, crying foul about the nature of her petition signatures to get on the ballot. He had spent time requesting copies of many candidate petition sheets in what appeared to be a witch hunt of some sort, and now we know why.

So where to start here? First there’s the nature of the complaint, calling it a “false” address on the back of the petition sheets, which would be cause for rejection…except that this precise angle of complaint has already been used and failed in court.

That goes to the second problem: Ortega isn’t an election attorney. A quick chat with one would have saved himself some public embarrassment. A criticism of Ortega in the past has been that he knows everything…just ask him. One could see why some had trouble working with him; overly confident in a wrong opinion.

But perhaps the most damning item? If this was true, there is absolutely nothing that can be done about it. The time period for challenging signatures and potentially getting Borowsky off the ballot is long, long gone. Why didn’t he do this when it mattered? What is the point now? The only benefit would ostensibly be sowing doubt in this upcoming administration, but in reality all he did was expose himself.

In one fell swoop, the outgoing mayor validated criticisms of him that otherwise would have been the realm of whispers and hearsay. He put egg on his own face and paraded himself around, bragging about it. He showed that voters were justified in choosing a different route. He put a sour cherry on top of his own four years.

Photo Credit: carvana.com

Carvana has become a bit of a local success story. The Scottsdale-based company had one of the most novel, moonshot ideas of our time: what if we sold cars in a vending machine? An idea that seems crazy on its face has been a wild success, with its car towers facilitating car sales all over the country.

But what if that success was built on a foundation of lies? A prominent “short-seller” research firm recently dropped a bomb accusing it as such.

Hindenburg Research recently came out with a piece named “Carvana: A Father-Son Accounting Grift For The Ages”, accusing the company of massive accounting tricks to prop up its stock price and give appearances of a healthy company.

First off, what is a short-seller? It is a firm or person that aims to profit on the fall of a stock price. They will often borrow shares of a certain stock at what they perceive to be a high price and hope that it will fall, where they will give the stock back and pocket the difference in price. Hindenburg is one of the most famous (or infamous) short-selling research firms; it will take a “short position” in a stock, release research spelling out why it thinks that a company is vastly overpriced, and hope to generate selling momentum in the stock.

Hindenburg Research believes that Carvana’s massive stock rise, vaulting from around $4 a share at the end of 2022 as bankruptcy rumors abounded to a peak of over $260 a share last year, is based on accounting gimmicks and obfuscation.

Since the totality of the charges are a lot to spell out here, we encourage you to read the report. It makes a point of mentioning that the father of the CEO and a key shareholder, Ernest Garcia II, had been found guilty of recording sham transactions in a previous business as a way of boosting the stock price. Something very similar seems to be happening here according to Hindenburg with relation to car loans, the mechanism that keeps Carvana afloat and facilitates sales.

Along with charges of self-dealing in sales to DriveTime, a company owned and operated by the aforementioned father, there are several other issues. Perhaps the most pertinent is an apparent lack of underwriting scrutiny for its car loans. In a time when car repossessions are at decade highs, this should be reflected in sales, but apparently Carvana is doing a good job (albeit potentially illegally) hiding those losses.

Carvana is innocent until proven guilty, but Hindenburg doesn’t simply make things up. This is an unfortunate development for a local darling, and it would behoove Carvana to aggressively combat these charges. Until it does, shareholders should beware.

An unorthodox, savvy move by someone who may be making more surprising announcements soon.

Scottsdale City Council Inauguration Ceremony – Jan 14 Attend the Scottsdale City Council Inauguration Ceremony on Tuesday, July 14, at 3:00 PM at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. This important event marks the beginning of a new term for our city’s leaders. Admission is free, and the public is welcome to attend and witness the swearing-in of elected officials. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of Scottsdale’s civic history!.

City Council to Revisit Budget Review Commission at 1st City Council Meeting of 2025 On January 14, 2025, the Scottsdale City Council will consider re-establishing the Budget Review Commission, last active from 2009 to 2011. Previous budget review efforts include a Council Budget Subcommittee (2003–2006) and a Citizen Budget Review Committee (1993–2002), all aimed at improving transparency and fiscal oversight.

Bill Murphy Appointed Acting City Manager Scottsdale City Council has named Bill Murray as Interim City Manager. Murray brings extensive experience in public administration, having previously served as Scottsdale’s Deputy City Manager and holding leadership roles in finance and community services.

Scottsdale Wins Digital Cities Award for 2nd Year in a Row For the second year, Scottsdale earned the Digital Cities Award, recognized for advancing data governance, creating a Data Council, and expanding regional fiber networks to support 22 municipalities.

Development Review Board Decisions – January 9, 2025 The Development Review Board approved several projects on January 9, 2025. Highlights include Aria @ Silverstone’s 100-townhouse preliminary plat at 22602 N. 74th Street, Papago Village’s 94 one-story units and a two-story clubhouse at 6200-6300 Oak Street, and a new 472-space, four-story garage at Honor Health Shea, located at 9003 E. Shea Boulevard. The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 14

Congratulations to COGS Member Rudy Fischer! COGS proudly congratulates Rudy Fischer on being sworn in as a new director of the Central Arizona Project. Rudy’s dedication to water sustainability and community service makes him an excellent choice for this vital role. Pictured at the ceremony are COGS members Sonnie Kirtley, Ken Lamneck, Rudy Fischer, and Jim Davis, celebrating this milestone achievement.

Senior Safety Series with Scottsdale Fire Dept – Jan. 20 Senior Safety Series with Scottsdale Fire Department When: 10 – 11:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 20 Where: Granite Reef Senior Center, Room 10 Location: 1700 N. Granite Reef Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257 Cost: Free

Immigration is always a hot-button issue in Arizona, and this year it dominated as a national issue in the election as the current administration’s inability to meaningfully stem the tide of migrants from south of the border turned into one of the primary hot-button issues of the year. Even after the election it is continuing as a major issue, as Elon Musk’s statements regarding H-1B visas have sparked a small-scale civil war amongst conservatives.

Lost in the political battles are the success stories of immigration however, and Arizona’s November election provides two of such.

Yassamin Ansari and Abe Hamadeh took their oaths of office last Friday and are now members of Congress representing Arizona, and while they are very, very different, they both have one significant commonality: they are success stories of immigration.

Ansari traces her roots to Iran, where her parents were born. Her father came to the United States for college, but after the Islamic revolution there found himself on the wrong side of the regime and unable to go back home without severe consequences. He built a life for himself as an engineer and then an entrepreneur and became an American success story, paving the way for his daughter to reach impressive political heights at the ripe young age of 32.

Less is known about Hamadeh’s family, but it is known that they immigrated from Syria, presumably in search of a better life like so many. Like Ansari, they set the state for Hamadeh’s success and opportunities that would undoubtedly be impossible in the war-torn country, and Hamadeh is set to join Congress at a similarly young age of 33.

While Ansari’s family lineage wasn’t scrutinized so much, as doing so would be considered highly problematic in Democratic circles, it is worth noting that Hamadeh’s background was the source of many ugly and sometimes racist charges. There was a website made about him with a title mentioning Sharia Law, a charge that is patently absurd fearmongering, and baseless charges of him being in the pocket of extremist Islam dominated the Republican primary. The darkest aspects of Republican politics came to light in a major way and exemplified issues that immigrants have to deal with regularly.

It is easy to throw the baby out with the bathwater and see all immigration through the prism of those who are crossing our southern border to pursue a better life, but often do so through illegal means and with the help of bad actors. But at its best, immigration is a source to bring some of the best and brightest to contribute to the greatness of America.

We have plenty of people who take this country for granted, who are willing to coast with the relative ease that this country provides as a first world nation. Shouldn’t we give a bit more respect to those who are willing to work their tails off to contribute to its greatness?

Photo Credit: Arianna Grainey

The common refrain within the United States in 2024 has been something to the effect of “times are tight”, and when that’s the case often vacations are amongst the first items to be sacrificed. But you wouldn’t know that if you looked at Scottsdale.

According to a recent report from Scottsdale’s Tourism and Events Director, the city will likely see an increase in its collection from the “bed tax” focused specifically on tourists staying in hotel rooms here. While it is projected to be a “slight increase” up to $32 million for the fiscal year starting in July, it also represents a coup of sorts, a statement of resilience.

After all, 2024 was the year where the economy was the number one hot-button subject with the political campaigns that dominated the conversation throughout the country. Interest rates were high, credit card defaults and car repossession were at decade-plus highs, and for much of the country it simply was not a time to be spending on luxury items and experiences. While some of the rhetoric was very likely election year discourse meant to persuade voters, the numbers are the numbers.

One might surmise that this resiliency is a result of one significant factor: even with the year’s economic difficulties, the higher end of the income spectrum is doing quite well. Scottsdale by nature tends to cater to those types. After all, those who enjoy golf and luxury resorts are likely somewhat immune to the more serious issues of economic weakness. It serves as a sort of competitive advantage, so long as the number of 110-degree days per year doesn’t continue to expand.

It’s also worth noting that several of the incoming city councilmembers and our new mayor have talked about reigning in what they perceived as runaway spending. It will be interesting to see if they do take a scalpel (or an ax) to the city budget and reduce spending significantly. When paired with better-than-expected revenues we could have a catalyst for a robust budget surplus, and with it, an impetus to lower taxes. And this would be in addition to our sales tax ticking down by a bit as a result of Proposition 490.

Yet again we find ourselves thankful to be here. While some cities have to find way to raise revenue (typically on the backs of the hard-working and prosperous) we can actually have conversations about lowering taxes while maintaining a lifestyle that is the envy of money. We truly are fortunate.

Fascinating was this recent article in the Phoenix Business Journal about Axon’s comments and challenges to the Scottsdale referendum challenging its hugely unpopular apartment proposal there, you can read the piece here.

Basically, Axon’s beleaguered CEO said that if the new Scottsdale Mayor and City Council taking office January 14th don’t schedule a special election in 2025 rather than hold it in November 2026 as the city charter mandates there is “zero” chance they will wait until 2026 and will instead go elsewhere. Yawn. Oh well. But let’s briefly revisit how outrageous this suggestion is.

First, Axon would be lucky to even have a vote after a record number of referendum signatures were submitted in opposition to what appears to be the largest apartment entitlement in Scottsdale history. The constitutional process allows City Council to rescind the apartment zoning upon verification of signatures, or the Council can refer it to the November 2026 ballot, as would be customary. Let’s also recall that the actual number of valid referendum signatures needed is not the 15,300 the City Clerk asserts – let alone the 27,000 that were submitted – but 6,500; the formulaic number based on the July 2024 primary election in which Councilwoman-Elect Jan Dubauskus was elected.

Second, a special election for Axon in 2025 would cost city taxpayers millions of dollars in election costs rather than if it were to join an existing election in 2026.

Third, Axon knew full well its timing when it sought approval during the 2024 post-election lame duck session. They knew the risk and when a referendum election would take place. It was no secret that a referendum against their 1,900 apartments was in the offing. To now complain that Scottsdale should grant more special favors beyond the stunningly unnecessary apartment entitlement, after it already manipulated the process once, is absurd.

Fourth, a special election would see a turnout one-third to one-half of what it would be in the gubernatorial election of November 2026, disenfranchising tens of thousands of Scottsdale voters from a landmark vote on the largest apartment project not only in city history but apparently the state as well.

Fifth, why should Axon get any additional special favors after its president purportedly threatened the job of a critical Scottsdale Planning Commissioner and still has not outlined how intends to repay the State of Arizona up to $150 million that it would have received if the land Axon now seeks to build a new city of apartments on had been auctioned that way before Axon’s bait and switch?

This issue should be real simple. After the referendum signatures are verified, rescind the previous council’s outrageous apartment zoning for Axon, or refer it to the November 2026 ballot as the charter directs. Anything else would be hypocritical after so many new councilmembers criticized the previous council for building too many apartments and being too cozy with developers.

Hello Friends,

Yesterday, my colleagues elected me as Chairman of the Board. It’s a tremendous honor. My focus is increased prosperity and enhanced safety for all Maricopa County residents. The link to video of my speech is below.

Thank you,

-Tom

Chairman Galvin’s Speech Highlights:

• Aims to bring increased prosperity and safety to Maricopa County.
• Advocates for more support for law enforcement: including efforts to end federal oversight at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and an improved compensation structure for deputies, detention officers, and dispatchers.
• Wants to hire first-ever economic development advocate.
• Seeks to implement a new budgetary ‘performance measurement’ system to reduce waste, align resources with priorities, deliver impactful results to the taxpayer
• Commits to work with housing experts to find ways the county can be helpful and taking a hard look at county policies and regulations that stand in the way of building homes that people can afford, like modernizing the zoning ordinance, updating land use policies, and advocating for local control.
• Wants election results faster.
• Advocates for employee program that will recognize and reward rising stars, those high-performing employees who are going to become future County leaders.
• Work with Diamondbacks to find a taxpayer friendly resolution for Chase Field.
• Forming an advisory panel of local leaders to explore ways of bringing NHL hockey back to the Valley.

My Office Is Here To Assist You We want to ensure our constituents have the information they need. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact my office at 602-506-7431.

Find Maricopa County Contacts Below is a contact list for Maricopa County constituent services. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Visit our County Contacts Webpage. Abandoned Vehicles County Owned Roads 602-876-1011 Private Property 602-506-3301 Animals Adopt-a-Pet, Barking Dogs, Bite Reports, Dog Licenses, Lost & Found 602-506-7387 Assessor’s Office Assessor Website 602-506-3406 Birth & Death Certificates Birth Certificates Death Certificates 602-506-6805 Building/Construction Permits Private Property: Building, Electrical, Fencing/Grading, Mechanical, Plumbing, Pool/Spa, Solar 602-506-3301 County-Owned Right-of-Way 602-506-8600 Building Safety Non-permitted construction 602-506-3301 Clerk of the Board Clerk of the Board Website 602-506-3766 Code Enforcement Code Compliance 602-506-3301 Consumer Complaints AZ Attorney General 602-542-5763 Dust (Air Quality) Complaints 602-506-6010 Permits 602-506-6010  Economic Development Homebuyer Assistance 602-506-7294 Low-interest Loans 602-506-1888 Elections & Voter Registration Elections Department 602-506-1511 Employment Opportunities Search Job Opportunities Learn About Working for Maricopa 602-506-3755 Floodplain Management Floodplain Management Plan 602-506-1501 Food & Restaurants Restaurant & Special Event Permits 602-506-6616 File a Complaint Search a Complaint Garbage Household Hazardous Waste 602-276-7602 Illegal Dumping 602-506-6616 Landfills/Transfer Stations 602-506-4006 Justice Courts (Civic Suits, Civil/Criminal Traffic Violations, Eviction Actions, Small Claims) 602-506-8530 Libraries (Maricopa County) Library District  602-652-3000 Marriage Licenses Clerk of the Superior Court 602-372-5375 Medical Examiner Medical Examiner Website 602-506-3322 Mosquitoes, Rats (Vector Control) Environmental Services 602-506-6616 Parks & Recreation Maricopa County Parks 602-506-2930 Public Health Food-borne Illness 602-506-6900 Immunizations 602-506-6767 Rabies 602-506-6900 Recorder Recorded Legal Documents 602-506-3535 Sheriff’s Office Non-Emergency 602-876-1000 Emergency 911 Signs Illegally Posted Signs Signs Regulations & Permits 602-506-3301 Streets (County-Owned) Flooding (Flood Control) 602-506-2419 Potholes (Transportation) 602-506-8600 Damaged Stop Signs & Traffic Lights (Transportation) 602-506-6063 Superior Courts Administration 602-506-3204 Civil Court 602-506-1497 Family Court 602-506-1561 Juvenile Administration 602-506-4533 Taxes Treasurer 602-506-8511 Weeds  Planning & Development 602-506-3301 Zoning (Rezoning, Variances, Complaints) Planning & Development 602-506-3301

One of the defining features of the Phoenix Suns has many splurging on contracts, as we have written about recently. Rolling out the Brinks truck for Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal should have led to title contention, but instead has led to relative mediocrity matched with expensive tickets. Well it looks as though the Arizona Diamondbacks might be following a similar path.

The D-Backs recently set a franchise record with the biggest signing of their history, giving $210 million over six years to right-handed pitcher Corbin Burnes to lure him from Baltimore.

Is this an overly cynical take? Perhaps. He was widely regarded as the most sought-after free agent pitcher this offseason, and reports state that he actually took less money than expected to play in Arizona, as he already had a home here and likes our little slice of desert heaven.

After all, the Diamondbacks aren’t in a fundamentally bad spot. After all, this was the team that went on a brilliant run all the way to the World Series in 2023. 2024 was looking to head in a similar trajectory, in a strong position with a seven game lead for the playoff wild card spot going into the end of August. What followed was a collapse of epic proportions, ending in being eliminated on the last day of the season. There is a strong case to be made that they were one ace away from being a playoff team, and from there, who knows? Staring up at the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division and conference will make any playoff push tough.

Burnes has been a critical component of a Baltimore Orioles team that rose up from being a regular bottom dweller to a serious contender in the last two years, albeit with questionable playoff performances. He went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA in 32 starts last year. At 30 years old he’s not the youngest but certainly may have some All-Star years left in him.

This strongly mirrors their last free agency splash, the signing of Zach Greinke in 2016. Also a pitcher, Greinke was 32 at the time of the signing, and while playing admirably in his four years with the team and having earned several All Star appearances, it wasn’t enough to push the Diamondbacks into strong contention.

Is it different this time? It certainly may be. But it is difficult to brush off the decades of underperformance and disappointment with Arizona’s professional sports teams. Maybe this time it’s different, but it’s to buy in until we see otherwise.

By Bob Littlefield, Former Scottsdale City Councilman and TAAAZE Chairman

Scottsdale, The Apartment Capitol of Arizona.

Wait, no! That can’t be true. Doesn’t that dubious honor belong to Tempe, or maybe Phoenix?

Sadly, no. If the massive Axon apartment project – nearly 1,900 multi-family units near Hayden and the 101 – is built it would appear to create the largest apartment complex in Arizona history in terms of units built! If Axon gets its way, Scottsdale will have the unfortunate distinction of being home to the TWO largest apartment complexes in Arizona. Optima McDowell Mountain Village tips the scales at more than 1,300 units and would fall to second place. And that doesn’t even count the thousands of apartments approved by the previous City Council majority Scottsdale voters just sent packing!

This is totally contrary to what the residents of Scottsdale want for our city. You, Scottsdale voters, made that clear when you dumped the five apartment-happy Councilmembers in the last election, despite the outrageous amounts of special-interest cash they raised trying to get re-elected. That’s why our group, Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions or TAAAZE, was able to collect nearly 27,000 signatures to place this widely unpopular proposal on the ballot. And this is not a partisan issue – conservatives, liberals, and everyone in between have come together to say enough is enough. Signatures from neighborhoods came in from all over Scottsdale despite Axon’s intimidation efforts which include the use of paid “Petition Blockers” to prevent residents from exercising their rights and signing a petition to put the matter to a public vote.Read More

Cam Skattebo. Image Credit: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

You had to be living in a bubble within the Valley to have not heard of the Cinderella season that Arizona State football has been having (read our coverage here). And it would probably be from the confines of a similar bubble to have not heard of the Sun Devils’ heartbreaking double-overtime loss to the Texas Longhorns in their college football playoff game on January 1st. And while it was truly a devastating loss, we should instead see it as a reason to celebrate.

First, regarding the game itself, it’s not a stretch to call it one of the best college football games of this millennium. It began by looking like Arizona State did not belong, falling behind 17-3 at the half and simply looking overmatched, as if the game would turn into a point of embarrassment. But the Sun Devils roared back on the legs (and hands…and arm) of running back Cam Skattebo, as he did everything in his power to will the team back, even vomiting on the sidelines but pushing through. 

The Sun Devils tied the game in regulation, leading to overtime. They then drew first blood with a touchdown in overtime and forced the Longhorns into a 4th down and long; one stop there and they would have won. But the Longhorns pulled off a miracle of their own to tie the game, scored in 2nd overtime and prevented the Sun Devils from matching, leading to the disappointing loss.

Skattebo ended as both the leading rusher AND receiver for the Sun Devils, with 143 yards through the ground and 99 through the air, and even added a touchdown pass, a brilliant bow on top of a career that will likely continue in the pros.

Yes, it’s hard not to be bitterly disappointed as a result of this game, but it did perfectly encapsulate what this season has been. The Sun Devils were 13.5 point underdogs, yet again disrespected in a season that began with predictions that they would finish last in the conference. But they pushed through a poor start and gained steam, powered by grit and fierce determination. They showed the country who they were.

Skattebo will likely continue his career as a pro, and replacing him will be difficult, if not impossible. But Coach Kenny Dillingham was recently awarded for this year’s stunning success with a five year contract extension, setting him up to replicate this magic for years to come, and it couldn’t happen to someone more deserving. Future recruiting will likely also be much more lucrative as blue chip high school prospects now see a winning program.

Disappointing, yes? But this program’s future is so bright it has to wear shades, and that gives us hope.

By Alexander Lomax

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes

All’s fair in love, war, and politics, but there are typically a few axioms that keep people in line and keep order in what can otherwise be a cutthroat, back-stabbing industry. One of those is that when your party holds a significant seat, you do not give them a tough primary. Sure, you can prevent some fringe candidates from taking a shot at the crown, but often the party apparatus will do whatever it takes to dissuade a strong challenger.

When someone is deeply unpopular, is embroiled in a scandal of sorts, or something of the like, that axiom becomes less entrenched, especially if it seems as though that elected official being on the ballot will be a liability in the general election. But absent of that, it’s a rarity. It’s important for a candidate to not have to spend precious resources to win a primary election.

Imagine our surprise when a certain chatter arose and has gotten louder and louder…based on numerous sources, Attorney General Kris Mayes has her eyes on the 9^th floor and is strongly considering a primary challenge to Governor Katie Hobbs.

Considering it is one thing, and following through with it is another thing. But if it were to happen, this would be a reasonably decent opportunity. The state party is partially reeling from a poor performance in Arizona this past election (save Kari Lake’s gift of being thoroughly unlikeable).

Governor Hobbs has avoided massive scandal, that’s true. Of course, if you ask diehard Republicans, they could probably give you a few supposed scandals, both small issues that are trumped up as well as invented conspiracy. But the impetus for this might have been one that flew somewhat under the radar: the voter roll fiasco where Hobbs suggested disenfranchising a list of nearly 100,000 voters to the disappointment of both Fontes and Mayes. Someone leaked the conversation to the press, and considering that both of them are not fans of the governor, it could be either, but the Mayes camp seems like it has the most to gain from that.

Indeed, Hobbs has made her share of enemies. She has insulted Democratic candidates-turned-elected officials in private, has often come across as selfish and petty, and has long been seen as over her head for a long time, a political animal with a remarkable ability to move up despite shortcomings, a deeply unimpressive person who just happens to be in the right place at the right time. One needs only remember her administration’s leadership choices before Chief of Staff Chad Campbell came on for confirmation of this.

Mayes is accomplished, intelligent, and tough. She probably sees herself as more intelligent and tough than Mayes. She probably sees opportunity.

There is a long way to go, but Hobbs’s term has been a fairly weak one, made only weaker by losing seats in both the House and Senate. There is an opportunity…but will it be pounced upon? For the sake of a couple years of good content, I hope so.

Most of you have likely heard of Zelle; they are a payment processing company on par with CashApp or Venmo, making payments between individuals or small businesses extremely easy and generally at no cost. It boasted over 140 million users as of this year. It’s a giant.

You probably didn’t know that it’s powered by a Scottsdale company however, and that company is now in the crosshairs of the federal government.

Early Warning Systems is the local company that operates Zelle and makes it work. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is now suing early warning systems with the charge of an inability to stop fraud and criminal use of the platform.

As for the specifics of the charge, the CFPB states that Zelle has limited identity verification methods, essentially making for a breeding ground for frauds and scammers, where they can make accounts with little oversight and no mechanism for weeding them out. The suit states that they were slow and ineffective in their attempts to root out malicious usage, allowing them to use the platform for multiple fraudulent schemes.

Zelle is taking the lead in responding to these charges, and of course, Zelle is denying them. It charges that they are politically motivated, and that fraud has actually been decreasing precipitously. Despite playing an operational leadership role in such a prominent company, Early Warning Systems doesn’t seem to have the resources to fight this on its own. As a private company it is difficult to glean much information about it, but it seems to have somewhere between 1,000 and 5,000 employees. That said, if it were to crumble under this lawsuit, that would be a significant hit to the city.

The one major saving grace? A new administration with a new head at the CFPB. The timing of this during a lame duck administration seems odd, and there is a reasonable chance that the federal government will not follow through on it with new, more lassez-faire leadership. At least that’s what Zelle and Early Warning Systems are undoubtedly hoping for.

By Ronald Sampson

Here we are yet again…another trip around the sun, another year of wins and losses, of mistakes and corrections, or joy and regrets. I prefer not to make resolutions, because I don’t want the accountability and expectations put on myself. I don’t need anyone reminding me of what I thought I should be doing months before. I’m probably not going to exercise more, I’m probably not going to drink less, I’m probably going to continue to be a curmudgeonly cynic.

Now that I got that out of the way…I’d like to focus on what I would like to see in 2025. Not from myself, but from everyone else.

We will have a brand-new mayor and new city council in Scottsdale. What would I like to see from that? First of all, a mayor that plays well with others, regardless of their views. David Ortega’s inability to deal with good-faith disagreements partially sank him. Will Lisa Borowsky be able to find points of agreement with councilmembers who have fundamentally different views (and there will be a couple)? To be determined, but we’d all be better off as a result.

Our new city council will have a drastically different makeup. The last one went from being relatively anti-growth at the start to approving the two biggest apartment complexes in the entire state…I’d like to see one that follows up with what they promise instead of paying lip service.

This iteration of city council also comes with three new members that could reasonably be seen as being more political animals, more partisan than their predecessors, more helped by local political machinery than years past. I hope that this doesn’t play out within the council, that political party membership is about as relevant as the sports teams they like.

What about our new makeup of the state capital? In a national trend it lurched towards the right as voters rejected the lack of ideas that Democrats were putting out there. I hope that Republicans use this opportunity not to stoke partisan flames, not to find opportunities to financially capitalize, and not to get involved in the culture wars, but instead to find reasonable solutions to problems (allowing municipalities to better regulate short-term rentals and allowing for new and innovative housing solutions would be a good place to start).

Yes, I expect them to blame Governor Hobbs quite a bit. She is the only person that stands in the way of their mandate, after all. But checks and balances are a positive. The only thing worse than a two-party system is a one-party system. I hope they learn to play well in the sandbox and find points of agreement that benefit all of us.

Those are my wishes for the new year. And like with resolutions to get in better shape, I stand ready to be disappointed.

Photo Credit: PHOENIX Magazine

Scottsdale is defined in part by truly iconic events. Barrett-Jackson, the Waste Management Open, the Scottsdale Polo Championships, the sort of events that many will travel from across the state to see and some from across the country to inject money into the Scottsdale economy. One more event is showing enough promise to insert itself into that conversation.

The Scottsdale Ferrari Art Week is a new event born from the intersection of both supply and demand. Scottsdale has always been a center of talent, as anyone who has perused the shops of Old Town can tell you. The local scene has swelled even further with talent with many artists moving to various parts of Arizona in the last few years, however. Combined with an extremely robust economy full of art collectors and enthusiasts, it has unwittingly turned into the perfect locale for an extended celebration of art.

This four-day art and design fair modeled after The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF), Art Basel and other world-renowned markets brings an added touch of luxury to long-proven concepts of excellence refined from Europe with an Arizona flavor. Co-owned by PHOENIX parent company Cities West Media and presented by Scottsdale Ferrari, it’s the first of its kind.

Unlike other art fairs, it will have a spoke-and-wheel design of sorts, with the main gallery housed in WestWorld with other events happening all across the city and coordination with other Scottsdale staples. Organizers intend to recruit 120 galleries, each averaging five unique artists, to participate with specialties all across the stylistic spectrum. It has already garnered interest from galleries from Istanbul, Japan, Mexico, Europe, Latin America and all over the United States, including several that feature Indigenous art and owners.

It will happen between March 20^th and 23^rd with early bird tickets currently on sale. You can buy yours at scottsdaleartweek.com/tickets. If you’re a potential exhibitor who is interested in participating in the event, you’re encouraged to head to scottsdaleartweek.com/exhibitors and fill out the accompanying form.

It would be a significant bragging right to say that you participated in the first Barrett-Jackson car auction, or that you went VIP for the first Scottsdale Polo Championships before the bandwagon found out about it. This is certain to take its place amongst the most cherished annual Scottsdale events, and you have an opportunity to participate in the first iteration. Don’t miss out.

By Mary Manross, Former Scottsdale Mayor and Chairwoman for Vote YES YES Scottsdale PAC
and Carla, Preserve Pioneer and Campaign Coordinator for Vote YES YES Scottsdale PAC

In most campaigns there are winners and losers. Not when it comes to the passage of Propositions 490 and 491 in Scottsdale which happened on November 5th. We believe everyone in Scottsdale wins.

Proposition 490 will help revitalize and maintain Scottsdale’s parks, beginning with the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt, and will provide ongoing care and protection for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.  It will provide funding to prevent and fight fires in and around the Preserve, and funds for increased police rangers for the parks and the Preserve.

Almost sixty years ago Scottsdale had the wisdom and foresight to create the Greenbelt and, thirty years ago, to create the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. They are two of Scottsdale’s greatest decisions and treasures. That wisdom and foresight are still with us today as evidenced by this vote.

Proposition 490 contains legal safeguards to ensure the money is properly spent. And we think these safeguards, and the benefits of the measure will win over many who voted no and maybe even some critics. Now that the voters of Scottsdale have spoken overwhelmingly in support of Proposition 490, we look forward to working with the new Mayor and Council to see that it is implemented properly and responsibly.Read More

By Carla (Carla), Preserve Pioneer

This year Scottsdale was fortunate when it came to wildfires. Next year we might not be so lucky.

As every summer gets hotter and drier, nature and human caused fires are a fact of life in Scottsdale and our Preserve. Thanks to the quick response and hard work of our Firefighters  – plus a little luck with wind direction  – we have avoided a catastrophic fire this year.

But next year, unless Propositions 490 & 491 pass, we won’t have as many tools to help prevent fires.

Year round our Fire Department does excellent outreach work with developments in Northern Scottsdale to address not planting invasive species and removing fire loads. They also work with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management to get grants which provide for wildfire prevention. Specifically invasive plant removal and preventative measures along our Preserve boundary and major roadways.

But Scottsdale did NOT get a grant to fund this work in 2025!

Proposition 490 would add Fire Department funding to provide quicker response times; increased Fire prevention programs; a second Technical Rescue Team; and additional resources to better protect you and your neighborhoods.

Proposition 491 – which is not a tax increase or budget override  – would allow Scottsdale to spend the money it already collects on programs and services that residents want and need. Without its passage, city services will face cutbacks, including in public safety.

Please join the Firefighters, who dedicate their lives to protecting you,  in voting YES-YES on Props 490 and 491. It’s critical to Scottsdale’s safety and future quality of life.

Carla (Carla), Preserve Pioneer

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.