Home Run Derby, Celebrity-Owned Teams and Championship Competition Headline Big League Wiffle Ball’s Signature Event

Scottsdale Stadium will once again host the biggest event on the Big League Wiffle Ball calendar when the seventh annual Western Wiffle Ball Classic returns Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. The tournament draws the country’s top wiffle ball talent, uniting elite pitchers, serious power hitters and teams willing to travel hundreds of miles for a chance to leave with a championship trophy. The league has taken off in recent months, drawing sold-out crowds and hosting games on ESPN, Fubo and other broadcast networks.

The Western Wiffle Ball Classic is the best-attended event on the Big League Wiffle Ball calendar and features Recreational and Competitive divisions, with teams of three to five players competing throughout the day for championship honors. All ages can enter for a day of fun.

Differences in strike zone dimensions, pitching distances and equipment define each division, helping produce a wide range of playing styles and strategies.

The tournament will also include a Home Run Derby, giving players an opportunity to compete for a separate trophy and prove who has the most power at the plate.

“This event has developed a reputation as one of the toughest tournaments we host all year,” said Big League Wiffle Ball Founder Logan Rose. “The level of competition is incredibly high, so if you want to see some of the best pitchers and hitters in the country compete against one another, this is one you don’t want to miss.”

Big League Wiffle Ball’s ownership group includes a growing roster of well-known athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs and business leaders. Former NFL star Julio Jones and Grammy-winning hip-hop artist Nelly joined the league earlier this year as owners of the Atlanta Ballers, while other teams count Kevin Costner, Dude Perfect, Gary and AJ Vaynerchuk, Marc Lasry, David Blitzer, David Adelman, Ron Biscardi, Molly Bloom and Howard Warren Buffett among their ownership ranks.

Celebrity ownership may draw attention to the league, but the Western Wiffle Ball Classic has built its reputation on competition and fun. All 10 of BLW’s professional teams will be in attendance and participating in the pro division.

For more about Big League Wiffle Ball or to purchase tickets, check out BLWiffleBall.com or follow developments on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.

For sponsorship inquiries or general questions, email LRose@blwwiffleball.com.

Highline Autos, Garaza Design and Compass Luxury Real Estate Veteran Frank Aazami Bring Collectors, Homeowners and Industry Professionals Together for a One-of-a-Kind Valley Experience

Some garages hold a couple of cars and a workbench. Others hold custom sports cars, meticulously restored classics and extensive collections that were decades in the making. Compass luxury real estate veteran Frank Aazami, Highline Autos and Garaza Design are giving Arizona’s automotive enthusiasts a chance to see some of the state’s most impressive garage homes firsthand during the Great Garage Homes Bus Tour, an exclusive, 50-person event highlighting a side of Arizona’s luxury real estate market few buyers ever get to see. Please RSVP here or by calling or emailing Frank Aazami at 480-266-0240 or frank.aazami@compass.com.

Set for 3 p.m. (please arrive at 2:30 p.m.) through 6 p.m. Friday, June 26, and departing from Garaza Design’s showroom (14201 N Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260), the Great Garage Homes Bus Tour gives attendees a peek inside high-end homes featuring exceptional architecture, upscale features and expansive garage amenities that reflect the lifestyles and preferences of serious collectors.

Aazami has seen automotive elements become a bigger part of the conversation in recent years, with many buyers increasingly seeking out homes with amenities of interest to auto enthusiasts, like car lifts, climate-controlled storage and showroom or auto shop space.

The state has long attracted car collectors, with the internationally known Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction taking place annually in Scottsdale and Arizona’s dry climate helping it appeal to those looking to preserve and drive classic and exotic and specialty vehicles year-round.

“Twenty years ago, a lot of luxury buyers wanted a three-car garage and called it a day,” Aazami said. “Today, I work with clients who design entire homes around their collections. The garage has become a destination space, and this tour gives others with similar interests a chance to see what’s possible when passion plays a role in the design process.”

While tour guests will get to see the homes and automotive amenities they feature, they’ll also get to network with fellow collectors, homeowners and automotive professionals while getting an inside look at a distinct and exclusive part of Arizona’s luxury market.

Space is limited to 50 guests, so interested parties should RSVP as soon as possible by registering here, calling 480-266-0240 or emailing frank.aazami@compass.com. For more about Compass in Arizona, visit AZHomes.com.

(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) – International polo rivalries, a new Arizona wine tasting event, new rugby and sports bar elements, Burning Man-style nightlife, a Nashville-infused “Cowgirl Couture” fashion show and a full day of luxury experiences will converge on the polo field at WestWorld of Scottsdale this fall when the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships returns for its 15th Anniversary.

On Saturday, November 7, 2026, the nation’s most-attended polo event will deliver its biggest and most entertainment-packed edition yet, with three polo matches, two fashion shows, luxury lounges, an on-site sports bar where guests can catch college football, and an array of new experiences set to draw one of its biggest crowds to date.

Tickets start at just $45 and are on sale now at www.ThePoloParty.com.

Polo that day will begin with the Arizona Polo Club facing the New Orleans Polo Club, while Army vs. Navy will renew their rivalry just days before Veterans Day. In the event’s featured match, England’s Select will square off against France’s Select, the first time one of the world’s greatest rivalries will be playing in Scottsdale.

New this year, a rugby match will kick off the day’s festivities, with the nationally ranked Scottsdale Blues Rugby Team facing the San Diego Old Aztecs, a club that includes former national champions.
“We wanted to go bigger than ever for our 15th anniversary,” said Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships founder Jason Rose. “It’s been an extraordinary journey, and we have so many people to thank for it as we pack maximum luxury and fun into this milestone year.”

In addition to highlighting Arizona-made wines in a new tasting experience, organizers will also debut a new special-edition polo wine created exclusively for the occasion.

“For 15 years, the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships has brought together international competition, luxury experiences and some of the best entertainment Scottsdale has to offer,” said Beli Merdovic, the general manager of Bentley Scottsdale, the event’s title sponsor. “We’ve been proud to support the event as it’s grown into one of Scottsdale’s most anticipated annual traditions, and we look forward to celebrating this notable year with the community, our clients and polo fans from across the country.”

While the big day takes place on Saturday, the festivities begin Thursday and Friday, November 5th and 6th with welcome parties and VIP receptions for sponsors, players and ticket holders. More details to be announced in the coming weeks.

During halftime at one of Saturday’s matches, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show will host a Western Pleasure Competition – an event first. The special event will give spectators a look at one of the equestrian circuit’s most popular classes, with judges evaluating beautiful horses based on manners, movement and ride quality for prize money.

Moo Country, a Franklin, Tennessee-based Western glam apparel and statement hat retailer founded by model, actor and designer Dawn Ann Ritter, will also host a “Cowgirl Couture” on-field fashion show amid Saturday’s festivities. It will join a fan favorite – “The World’s Longest Catwalk” fashion show by Phoenix Fashion Week.

Million Dollar Mingle, founded by entrepreneur, philanthropist and former Oakland Raiders wide receiver AC Caswell. This event within the event will also return this year as a standalone experience, uniting entrepreneurs, community leaders and influencers for one of The Polo Party’s most anticipated elements.

The 15th annual Scottsdale Polo Party will also feature a series of returning fan-favorites, including the Barrett-Jackson Champagne & Jazz Lounge, which will again have open-air seating with umbrellas and unobstructed views of the polo field.

Throughout the day all the attendees can enjoy the fieldside Riot House DayClub, unique to Arizona polo. Following the matches, Walter Productions will host the Polo Party’s official Sunset After-Party. The festivities will feature Kalliope, Walter Productions’ massive mobile sound stage and one of Burning Man’s most recognizable art cars, creating a dramatic backdrop for dancing and photos.

Early Bird tickets start at $45 for general admission before increasing to $50. General admission tickets are also available at the gate for $60.

Guests looking for a more exclusive experience can choose from several premium table and ticket options. Admission to Prime, a Luxury Tent Experience by Bentley Scottsdale, Neiman Marcus, Barrett-Jackson and Maple & Ash, starts at $380, while access to The Scottsdale Maserati Drivers & Players VIP Lounge starts at $240. The Barrett-Jackson Champagne & Jazz Lounge returns with tickets starting at $105, and All Access passes start at $515. Sideline Parking packages are also available and start at $295.

VIP Tickets, tables, sponsorships and more information are available at www.ThePoloParty.com.

America’s First Professional Wiffle Ball League Launches 2026 Season With Celebrity Owners, Select Games on ESPN+ and Expanded TV Coverage; Tickets On Sale Now 

Big League Wiffle Ball heads to Atlanta next weekend with celebrity owners, nationally streamed games and a new hometown franchise led by two names sports and music fans know well: Julio Jones and Nelly.

Fans can attend Opening Day festivities Sunday, June 7, at Assembly Studios, when the professional wiffle ball league opens its 2026 season and the new Atlanta Ballers franchise makes its debut at 1 p.m. against the Los Angeles Naturals, the league’s top team.

Jones, one of the most accomplished players in Atlanta Falcons history, co-owns the new franchise alongside Grammy-winning hip-hop artist Nelly. The pair plans to attend Opening Day and stop by games throughout the season, giving fans opportunities to spot the celebrity owners around the ballpark.

During his 10 seasons in Atlanta, Jones earned seven Pro Bowl selections, two First Team All-Pro honors and three Second Team All-Pro honors. He also set multiple NFL records, including the most receptions and receiving yards through a player’s first 90 games, and became the fastest player in league history to reach 9,000, 10,000, 11,000, 12,000 and 13,000 career receiving yards.

Nelly was one of the best-selling artists of the 2000s thanks to hits like “Hot in Herre,” “Ride Wit Me” and “Dilemma,” securing three Grammys and nine Billboard Music Awards while making multiple appearances on TV and in films.

“Atlanta already has strong sports and entertainment scenes, and Big League Wiffle Ball brings both together in one place,” said Big League Wiffle Ball Founder Logan Rose. “Fans are going to walk into Assembly Studios and see fierce competition, famous faces and some of the best wiffle ball players in the country taking the field. There’s nothing else in sports quite like it.”

The Atlanta Ballers join a growing list of celebrity-backed Big League Wiffle Ball teams, including Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Costner’s Los Angeles Naturals, Dude Perfect’s Dallas Pandas, Gary and AJ Vaynerchuk’s New York Green Apples, Marc Lasry and David Blitzer’s Las Vegas Scorpions, David Adelman and Ron Biscardi’s Philadelphia Wiffle Club and Molly Bloom and Howard Warren Buffett’s Boston Harbor Hawks.

Big League Wiffle Ball’s 2026 season also leans heavily into the live experience. Each game day has two sessions – one from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and one from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – with four games scheduled for each session.

League organizers also plan to incorporate fan-focused entertainment throughout the summer, including hot dog eating contests, talent competitions and interactive moments involving players and on-field personalities.

The league uses a “medium-pitch” format designed to create more contact and faster gameplay, leading to fewer walks and strikeouts and more on-field action.

In addition to national partnerships with ESPN and Fubo Sports Network, Big League Wiffle Ball has inked local TV deals with Gray Media, which covers Georgia, Arizona, Minnesota, Ohio, Hawaii, Alaska and other markets; NESN/SportsNet Pittsburgh, covering New England and western Pennsylvania; Chicago Sports Network; Angels Baseball TV in the Los Angeles region; and NBC Sports Bay Area.

Following the season opener, additional games will take place at Assembly Studios June 14, June 28, July 12 and July 26 — all Sundays.

For more about Big League Wiffle Ball or to purchase tickets, check out BLWiffleBall.com or follow developments on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.

For sponsorship inquiries or general questions, email LRose@blwwiffleball.com.

Compass Arizona, Sleep In Heavenly Peace To Deliver Beds to Local Youths May 30

Children across the Valley who’ve long slept on couches or carpets will soon have beds of their own thanks to a collaboration between Compass and Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that delivers beds and bedding to local youths.
After learning that more than 300 Valley children were on a years-long waiting list for new beds, Compass agents across the region stepped up, delivering hundreds of beds to families in just five months while slashing the waiting period for kids seeking a safe, comfortable place to sleep.

Now, Compass agents and Sleep in Heavenly Peace volunteers are prepping for another major community bed delivery set for Saturday, May 30 starting at 8am at Christ Lutheran Church at 3901 E Indian School.
About 25 Compass agents from across the region will help deliver 65 new beds as well as bedding and stuffed animals to kids throughout the community.

Due to financial constraints, many of the families served through the effort rely on couches, lawn furniture or crowded, shared sleeping arrangements before receiving their bed deliveries.

“It came to our attention that the Phoenix Chapter was years behind with more than 300 kids on a waitlist to simply sleep in a bed,” said Sean Zimmerman. “That’s something no child should have to experience. Once our agents saw the need firsthand, they jumped in immediately.”

“At Christ Church Lutheran’s Sleep in Heavenly Peace Hub, we’ve seen firsthand how much something as simple as a bed can impact a child’s confidence and well-being. For these children, it represents stability, comfort and being seen,” said Sarah Dever, a member of Christ Church Lutheran and a volunteer with Sleep in Heavenly Peace. “There is so much beauty in this ministry. I will never forget praying over a family after watching their 15-year-old receive his very first bed.

These children’s smiles mean the world to parents who are struggling to provide for their families. It has been an honor to

Screenshot

work alongside Compass over the past few months, as they have provided all the bedding necessary to help put 185 children into beds. They care deeply about making a difference in the lives of children in their community.”

This issue wasn’t a lack of beds so much as a lack of manpower to deliver and assemble them, and that’s where Compass came in, encouraging its agents to volunteer and participate in the bed builds and deliveries. U-Haul also stepped up, supplying the trucks used to deliver the beds across the Valley.

Over five months, Compass agents delivered hundreds of beds, helping reduce a waitlist that once stretched for years down to about 30 days.

As the largest residential real estate brokerage in the United States by sales volume, Compass continues expanding throughout Arizona, including in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, two of the country’s fastest-growing luxury housing markets. Compass leaders say community involvement remains a big part of the company’s culture.

“We have a really fantastic crew of agents here in Arizona,” said Compass Arizona Vice President of Operations Cassandra Vanitas. “When they’re asked to step up, they do so without hesitation – they really want to help and improve their communities and impact local families in a way that really matters. Watching these deliveries take place and seeing the reactions from these kids and families puts everything into perspective very quickly.”

Media interested in attending the May 30 delivery event or learning more about Compass may contact Jennifer Parks-Sturgeon at jparks-sturgeon@roseallynpr.com or (480) 495-3806.

For more about Sleep in Heavenly Peace, visit SHPBeds.org. For more about Compass in Arizona, visit AZHomes.com.

By Vanessa Rogers

A Public Company Playing a Very Expensive Local Game

Axon Enterprise is no stranger to big bets. But its latest wager may be the riskiest one yet: pouring money into Scottsdale city council races through a political action committee, while the company’s stock sits roughly 27 percent below where it started the year.

That is not a great time to be making political enemies.

Axon and CEO Rick Smith each contributed $500,000 to a PAC called Arizonans for a Better Future, with Axon president Josh Isner adding another $100,000. That PAC has already spent $582,000, including funds directed at TV ads attacking Councilman Barry Graham. As the East Valley Tribune reported, Graham alleges Axon “wants to destroy my resident-friendly reputation.”

This is the definition of dark money politics: a corporate-funded PAC targeting local candidates who oppose a rezoning deal that benefits the company. It is aggressive. It is expensive. And history suggests it may not work.

The Stock Is Already Under Pressure

Axon shareholders have had a rough year. AXON shares currently trade around $471, down 38.6 percent over the past year. The stock hit a 52-week low of $339 in April, including a 10 percent single-day drop. Against that backdrop, Axon president Isner sold over $6 million in company stock in early June. Investors paying attention to insider transactions rarely find comfort in that kind of activity.

Axon’s own 10-K filing flags that litigation, government inquiries, and regulatory actions may result in significant costs and divert management attention. The company wrote that disclosure about its core business. The political spending in Scottsdale adds an entirely new layer of reputational and regulatory exposure on top of it.

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

What Investigation Risk Looks Like

The Arizonans for a Better Future PAC has been aggressive in its spending and its attacks. If that spending attracts scrutiny from Arizona campaign finance authorities or triggers a complaint to the FEC, Axon could face exactly the kind of government inquiry its own SEC filings warn investors about.

We have written previously about how big-money campaigns in Scottsdale elections have backfired. Forceful outside spending has a spotty record here. Voters who feel they are being pushed around often push back. The July 28 primary will test that thesis again.

The Apartment Angle Makes This Worse

The entire point of Axon’s political operation is to protect its residential development plan. A city council compromise brokered by Mayor Lisa Borowsky cut the original proposal of nearly 1,900 units down to 1,200 apartment and condo units. That deal is still under legal challenge, with TAAAZE arguing the city’s MOU with Axon bypassed required public hearings and granted Axon new exemptions, including relief from water storage requirements.

Critics have also noted there are already roughly 10,000 apartments under construction or approved within five miles of the Axon site, raising real questions about whether those units ever generate the returns Axon is counting on. If the apartments never get built, or get tied up in litigation for years, Axon will have spent over a million dollars in local political campaigns for nothing. The reputational cost of being seen as a corporation trying to buy a city council could follow the brand long after the ballots are counted.

Axon Rendering

The Math Does Not Favor This Strategy

A stock down nearly 30 percent. A president selling millions in shares. Ongoing litigation over the very development the political spending is meant to protect. Legal exposure from aggressive PAC activity. And a track record in Scottsdale that shows outside money often backfires.

Axon makes exceptional products. But its leaders appear to be making a poor bet: that attempting to dominate a local council race is worth the scrutiny, the spending, and the shareholder risk that comes with it. Scottsdale voters have long memories. So do institutional investors.

By Dr. Chad Wilson, EVIT Superintendent

Compromise and sacrifice for the greater good. That was the thinking behind the East Valley Institute of Technology’s (EVIT) decision to offer $4 million to the nine member districts suing EVIT for the entire cost of transportation, to help ensure high school students can continue accessing our central campuses next school year.

We made this offer because the stakes are too high to do otherwise. EVIT provides students with hands-on, high-quality career and technical education that prepares them for college, careers, and the workforce. For many students, these programs are not available anywhere else. Without reliable transportation, access to these opportunities is at risk. EVIT has stepped forward with a meaningful commitment to take on this expense. We hope our district partners will do the same. Students come first. The bus stops here—hopefully.

EVIT did not create the current transportation crisis. Several school districts involved in litigation against , a service they had provided for years. Those notifications arrived just as students were preparing for final exams, creating understandable anxiety and uncertainty for families who had already committed to attending EVIT next school year.

Last year, nine member districts sued EVIT after negotiations over a new intergovernmental agreement (IGA) reached an impasse. The districts are seeking a larger share of EVIT funding and greater discretion over how voter-approved career and technical education dollars are spent.

The impact falls hardest on families with limited financial resources, many of whom rely on district transportation to access educational opportunities. Without reliable transportation, students may lose access to career and technical education programs that prepare them for high-demand careers as electricians, construction professionals, medical assistants and other skilled trades.

To help provide transportation, EVIT will Admittedly, that money would have better served ALL the students within the EVIT Career Training Education District. But we feel making the sacrifice is worth ensuring all who want to attend EVIT can do so. We hope the East Valley school districts will respond in kind.

Unlike many school districts, EVIT has not asked voters to approve a bond or budget override, nor do we receive state funding for transportation. EVIT cannot solve this problem alone. To keep buses rolling and students learning, our member districts must be willing to do their part to resolve the crisis their decisions created. It is time to put learning ahead of litigation.

The districts suing EVIT have approximately $50 million provided by taxpayers within the EVIT Career Technical Education District and authorized by the EVIT Governing Board for transportation purposes. (The $50 million is based on their most recent Annual Financial Report from June 2025.)Read More

June has been a good month to be in Scottsdale. Between new storefronts, a long-awaited dining announcement, and a couple of summer events worth circling on the calendar, there’s a lot to like about what’s been happening around town. Here are four highlights worth knowing about.

New Faces at Fashion Square

Scottsdale Fashion Square added three new tenants this month, including Arizona’s first stand-alone BALMAIN boutique, a new ZENGA location, and an Athleta store. The mall continues to lean into first-to-market retail, and BALMAIN’s arrival in the luxury wing is a notable get for the Valley.

A Japanese Food Hall Worth the Wait

Restaurateur Huy Truong announced Atashi Yokocho, a 14,000-square-foot Japanese food hall headed for The Sydney development near Loop 101 and Pima Road. Truong, the force behind Mensho Ramen’s Valley locations, plans to fill 15 to 20 stalls with authentic Japanese concepts spanning yakitori, kaiseki, and more. The opening is still a few years out, but the announcement alone has Valley food fans paying attention.

Little Edge Gallery Opens Its Doors

Little Edge Gallery celebrated its grand opening on June 18 in Old Town, adding another stop to the neighborhood’s growing gallery scene. The space follows up the same week with an exhibit from emerging artist David Hyman, giving art lovers two reasons to wander Old Town’s galleries this June.

Sip and Shop in Old Town

Hotel Valley Ho’s Sip + Shop Summer Market Series returned June 19 and 20, pairing a Friday celebrity chef dinner with a free Saturday market featuring local purveyors, live music, and tastings of wine, beer, and spirits. It’s become one of the more reliable summer traditions in Old Town, and this weekend kicked off the 2026 run.

None of these are headline-grabbing in the way a council vote or a budget fight tends to be, and that’s sort of the point. A new gallery opening its doors, a mall landing a first-to-market brand, an ambitious restaurant concept taking shape, and a hotel bringing back a beloved summer tradition: these are the small signs of a city that keeps building on itself.

Scottsdale’s bigger stories will keep coming, and AP&G will keep covering them. But every so often it’s worth taking stock of the smaller wins too. June delivered a handful.

Statement from Axon Apartment Opposition Group, Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions, About Current and Future Scottsdale City Council Elections

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) Amid all the other rancor in Scottsdale, we had not intended to spend money to influence the outcome of the Scottsdale City Council elections in 2026. Unfortunately, Axon has ruthlessly decided to do the opposite. It is spending lavishly to oppose the three people in the race who opposed its plans to build the largest apartment complex in city and state history—an obscene and horribly designed request that has nothing to do with a multibillion-dollar company being able to finance its previously approved corporate headquarters.

Axon Rendering

The candidates who stood with the vast majority of Scottsdale residents opposing the massive apartment scheme were and are Bob Littlefield, Michelle Ugenti-Rita, and Barry Graham. They also opposed Axon’s bait-and-switch with the Arizona State Land Department to make the apartment scheme possible, shortchanging Arizona public schools—the beneficiaries of state land sales—by more than $100 million.

Now, Axon is attempting to purchase a Scottsdale City Council that will be beholden to its massive apartment ambitions. In the past, other corporations and developers have attempted similar tactics to build more and more in the city. Voters have rejected such efforts.

As long as Bob Littlefield remained chairman of our political action committee, which was formed to put Axon’s massive apartments to a public vote and has subsequently sued to stop the plan on multiple levels, our committee could not engage in the City Council races because doing so would violate campaign laws governing independence and coordination. This is why noted Valley attorney and former chief of staff to a Scottsdale mayor Tim La Sota will be replacing Bob Littlefield as chairman of TAAAZE, effective today.Read More

By Betty Janik

At the June 23 Council meeting, Scottsdale is poised to purchase 15,000 acre-feet of long-term water storage credits for $8.25 M ($550/acre-ft) from the Vidler Water Company.  This equates to approximately 1 year’s worth of water for about 45,000 families (less than half our population) at a cost of $182 per family. The Harquahala Basin is the source of this water.  It is located about 60 miles west of Phoenix.  The Arizona Department of Water Resources recently made the water available for purchase.  The price of the water is very favorable.  However, there is a major issue that must be addressed before the water can be used – transport to the destination. There are two options.  The water must be treated to remove toxic arsenic and nitrates before it is allowed to enter CAP canal enroute to Scottsdale Water.  Or construction of a separate cross-valley pipe line for deliver to Scottsdale for treatment and distribution.  Both options are expensive and financing difficult.  The process would take about 3-5 years before actual water delivery to end point.

Previous stakeholders include two private Scottsdale golf courses (water rights purchased in 2013 @ $10m) and City of Scottsdale (water rights purchased in 2015 @ $3M). Recently Buckeye and Queen Creek have made purchases and now Scottsdale will be adding to the list.

While this purchase will help round out our water portfolio, it is NOT a replacement for Advanced Water Purification “PURE WATER” which could be available in less than 3 years as outlined and passed in the 2025-2030 CIP, and abruptly removed from the 2026-2027 budget.  Of significance, Pure Water is a renewable resource that keeps on giving, unlike Harquahala, a one and done resource.  WE ARE THE STATE LEADERS IN PURE WATER TECHNOLOGY!  Let’s proceed as originally approved.  PURE WATER is foundational for Scottsdale water resilience.

Betty Janik

Sonoran Sage

By Alexander Lomax

via A Department of Water Resources

The Numbers Are Not Subtle

Scottsdale gets roughly 70 to 75 percent of its tap water from the Colorado River via the Central Arizona Project canal. The current agreement governing CAP allocations expires at the end of 2026. Negotiations among the seven Colorado River Basin states have stalled. The federal government may impose cuts when that agreement lapses. Water experts have warned that cities like Scottsdale need to be prepared for a potentially 100 percent cut in CAP supplies in the years to come.

One hundred percent. Not a rounding error. It may be a worst-case footnote but it’s also a plausible scenario that water policy professionals are saying out loud, in public, at city meetings.

So naturally, Scottsdale just defunded its water recycling program.

What the City Had and What It Chose

In 2024, the Scottsdale City Council adopted a six-year strategic water plan. It included a program called Advanced Purified Recycled Water, known as APRW, which would have made Scottsdale the first city in Arizona to implement direct potable reuse: purifying wastewater and sending it back into the taps. Experts described it as cost-effective, shovel-ready relative to other options, and the most logical near-term replacement for diminishing CAP water.

Photo Credit: Utah State University

Last week, the council unanimously passed a $2.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-27. The budget excluded $233 million for various water projects, both active and planned. In its place: a $100 million line item for “water source and supply,” a phrase flexible enough to mean almost anything.

Council member Solange Whitehead, to her credit, raised the alarm directly. She told the council that the budget had defunded two of the four critical water projects the city needs, and that city manager Greg Caton, by omitting them, had effectively changed city policy without a policy vote. The city’s response was that the “source and supply” funding could potentially include APRW. Could. Potentially.

Politeness Has Its Limits

The public comment session at the budget meeting included Bruce Hallin, the former director of water supply for the Salt River Project. His assessment: Scottsdale is not yet in a crisis. The implication of the word “yet” deserves more attention than it apparently received.

Part of what drove the defunding was misinformation. The APRW program, sometimes called “toilets to taps” by its critics, became a target for the kind of social-media-driven panic that treats water recycling as somehow less acceptable than running out of water entirely. It is worth noting that Phoenix, Mesa, and Glendale are all pressing forward with purified water reuse programs. They seem to have done the math.

The Question That Needs an Answer

Scottsdale’s leaders are not indifferent people. Several have shown genuine concern about the city’s long-term water position. But concern and action are different things. Defunding the program the city’s own strategic plan identified as the priority solution, in the same budget cycle that water experts are warning of potential catastrophic CAP cuts, requires an explanation more substantive than a flexible line item.

The current agreement expires in months. The clock does not care about budget cycles or talking points. The question is whether Scottsdale’s leadership understands the urgency with the same clarity the experts do.

Scottsdale City Council is set to vote on next year’s property tax rates at its June 23 meeting. If you own a home here, now is a good time to understand what that means for your bill.

How Scottsdale’s Property Tax Works

Your annual property tax bill doesn’t come from one place. Scottsdale homeowners pay property tax to multiple overlapping jurisdictions: Maricopa County, the city of Scottsdale itself, school districts, and other special-purpose districts. The Maricopa County Treasurer combines those rates into a single bill. The median effective property tax rate in Scottsdale is around 0.47%, well below the national average of 0.91%.

What’s Happening on June 23

The city held a public hearing on its proposed tax levies at the June 9 Council meeting. The Council meets again at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, at Scottsdale City Hall’s Kiva Forum, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., where members are expected to formally adopt the new tax rates and levies by ordinance. If adopted, the rates would take effect for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.

What the Proposed Changes Include

The city’s proposed primary property tax rate of $0.4891 per $100 of assessed valuation may actually decrease to as low as $0.4801, largely because net assessed property values have risen across the city. In other words, the levy itself may grow modestly under state statute, but the rate per dollar of value could drop. These are related but distinct numbers, and the difference matters for what you actually owe.

The city also proposes adjustments to the Municipal Streetlight Improvement Districts levies, which vary by neighborhood.

How to Review the Details

Detailed rate schedules and supporting reports were posted on the city’s website in April and remain available at ScottsdaleAZ.gov. The June 23 meeting will be broadcast on Cox Cable Channel 11 and streamed live at ScottsdaleAZ.gov. Residents can find agenda details and instructions for submitting public comments under “Agendas & Minutes.”

Know Your Assessment

Before the vote, it’s also worth understanding how your bill is calculated. The Maricopa County Assessor estimates your property’s value and handles classifications, exemptions, and informal reviews, while the Treasurer sends the actual bill and collects payments. Seniors, veterans, and those with disabilities may qualify for exemptions that reduce the taxable value of their home. Check the Assessor’s website for current eligibility requirements.

The June 23 vote is routine, but it’s your tax bill. Knowing how the numbers work puts you in a better position to ask questions.

Lastly, it’s a well-built system that manages to lower your taxes without a massive fight. Many places around the country it’s the expectation is the opposite: your taxes will increase until you put up a fight. We should consider ourselves fortunate to live where we do.

By Bob Littlefield

Dear Friends,

For 25 years, overdevelopment has been the dominant issue in Scottsdale elections — and the biggest threat to our city’s character and quality of life. Clogged roads, blocked views, higher taxes, and strained infrastructure are its lasting legacy. In 2024, voters delivered a clear message by rejecting every pro-overdevelopment candidate: Ortega, Durham, and Caputi were defeated, and Janik didn’t even run.

Yet incumbent Councilmember Solange Whitehead, along with 2026 challengers Raoul Zubia and Ethan Knowlden, continues to support more overdevelopment — especially the controversial Axon apartments. Whitehead has voted for the project eight times!

Unable to win honestly on their real platform (more apartments), Whitehead, Knowldon and Zubia are now depending on their patron Axon to defeat Barry Graham, Michelle Ugenti-Rita and I – the only Scottsdale City Council candidates in this election who stood up for you to oppose Axon’s massive apartment complexes – by spending literally hundreds of thousands of special interest dollars to run attack ads against the three of us.

Since Axon got all they asked for (and more) from Whitehead, Ortega, Durham, Caputi and Janik, you might wonder why they are working so hard to literally buy our City Council? Because they want more! Bottom line, if Axon defeats the candidates who told them “no,” Axon will NEVER hear “no” from the Scottsdale City Council again! If Axon manages to defeat us their current approval for 1200 units will magically revert to what they originally requested, 2500 units. Or even more – the sky will become the limit on how much they will be allowed to build!

The big lesson here is it matters more than ever who you elect to City Council! The whole reason we are in this mess is because in 2024 five Councilmembers (Whitehead and lame ducks Janik, Durham, Caputi and Ortega) went back on their campaign promises to be resident-friendly and approved the largest apartment complex ever proposed in the entire state, despite massive opposition from Scottsdale residents!

That’s why, if you want to preserve Scottsdale’s special character and high quality of life, I ask for your support me in the upcoming city election. For twelve years I served on the City Council and have a documented record of fighting overdevelopment. In the last ten years as a private citizen, I have been involved in every major resident-driven battle to keep Scottsdale special. Bottom line, I am the proven commodity you can trust to stay true to my resident-friendly promises once I get in office!

Learn how you can help at: https://www.boblittlefield.com/help.html

Former Councilman Bob Littlefield

By Councilmember Barry Graham

Justin Heap

Justin Heap campaigned for Maricopa County Recorder on a simple promise: he would restore trust in elections that he and his allies claimed had been mishandled. It was a message built on suspicion of process, chain of custody, and procedural integrity. Eighteen months into the job, those very concerns are now being raised about his own office.

A Scanner, a Pickup Truck, and Fifty Minutes

In March, during ballot tabulation for a Tempe local election, security cameras at the county’s election center recorded two Recorder’s Office employees removing a ballot scanner and loading it into a personal pickup truck. The equipment was gone for roughly an hour before being returned. County officials say the scanner was compromised by the unexplained removal and had to be replaced, at a cost of $70,000 to taxpayers.

Helen Purcell, who ran the Recorder’s Office for 28 years, said she had never heard of anything like it. Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee called it “hideous” and described the chain-of-custody problem as deeply disturbing.

The Irony Writes Itself

Heap rose to office warning voters that election officials couldn’t be trusted with the basic mechanics of vote counting. Now his own staff is under criminal investigation for taking equipment out of a secured facility during an active count, and Heap has responded not with an explanation but with a lawsuit against the county supervisors, accusing them of retaliating against his employees.

It is hard not to think back to Stephen Richer and Adrian Fontes, the recorders who spent years patiently explaining, often to hostile audiences, that Maricopa County’s elections were secure and well run. Both told the truth about an office that, whatever its imperfections, was not engaged in the kind of chaos now unfolding. Both lost politically for their trouble.

Maybe the Job Is Just Hard

There’s a version of this story where Heap is the victim of a politically hostile Board of Supervisors. There’s another version, increasingly well-documented, where Heap’s office has struggled with the basic operational discipline the job requires, and where the response to every problem has been litigation and blame rather than accountability.

Running a county election office turns out to be a serious administrative undertaking, not a campaign talking point. The people who told voters that, plainly and without spin, are no longer in office. The people who promised something different are now explaining unmarked trucks and missing scanners weeks before a primary. Whatever else is true, the irony is not subtle.

By Mike Vreeland

I’m grateful that in Scottsdale the distance between you and your elected leaders is small. You can ask — and expect — an answer from the City Council to your questions. Most Councilmembers can address the issues and opportunities we face, but the sign of a strong leader is someone willing to ask back, “What do you think?” Time and again, I’ve seen Councilwoman Solange Whitehead listen to residents, hear their concerns, and then ask for their thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

From Councilmember Solange Whitehead

Councilmember Solange Whitehead

The City Manager’s new budget reverses Scottsdale’s tradition of conservative financial stewardship: planning ahead, investing in infrastructure, and maintaining strong reserves.

Operating spending is up. The budget also reflects the consequences of four Councilmembers forfeiting $31 million in federal transportation grants, resulting in higher project costs, traffic congestion, and the diversion of local road funds away from street maintenance.

In the budget, most of Scottsdale’s funding for public safety, parks, and infrastructure were secured through years of my collaboration with residents and former Council colleagues — measures opposed by all current Councilmembers except Councilwoman Maryann McAllen.

Rather than confronting known costs, the budget hides them. Critical infrastructure projects are eliminated, project reserves are inadequate, and future obligations remain unfunded. The result is not true savings, but higher costs, deferred maintenance, and greater pressure on future budgets.

Most concerning are the steep cuts to Scottsdale Water conservation programs and infrastructure projects. The timing could not be worse as Scottsdale faces imminent reductions in Colorado River supplies. The budget effectively overturns the Council-approved Water Strategic Plan by eliminating its funding. No public outreach, no Council discussion, no vote, no alternative plan—no transparency.

These actions, combined with inflammatory rhetoric from some on the Council, have drawn sharp scrutiny from KTAR, 12News’ Sunday Square Off, and other media outlets. Reporter Brahm Resnik warned that they may impede “Scottsdale saving itself from a water crisis.”

Water infrastructure takes time. Scottsdale is well positioned to secure a future with safe, reliable, and affordable water. We cannot squander this opportunity—the downside risk is too great. Watch Sunday Square Off HERE.

Scottsdale’s prosperity was built by making prudent investments before they became emergencies. This budget moves in the opposite direction.

For more information on water, read this week’s newsletter HERE.

By Vanessa Rogers

Tempe voters delivered a clear verdict on May 19. The runoff election reshaped the city council in ways that will echo for years. For a full breakdown of the unofficial results, Maricopa County Elections has the numbers. Here is a look at who came out ahead and who didn’t survive the night.

Rising: Arlene Chin

Chin never had to sweat the runoff. She secured a majority of votes in the March 10 primary and was declared re-elected outright. That kind of first-round dominance is rare. It signals a broad base of support that crosses ideological lines. Chin arrives at the new council with a clear mandate and political capital to match.

Rising: Brooke St. George

St. George finished first in the runoff, running on a platform of transparency, community-centered leadership, and a more humane approach to homelessness policy. A former City Council assistant, she spent two years inside Tempe City Hall supporting policy research and constituent services. That insider knowledge gave her credibility that insurgent candidates often lack. Voters trusted her because she knew the institution.

Rising: Bobby Nichols

Nichols, a public interest lawyer and ASU alumnus endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, unseated an incumbent in Tempe’s most contentious council race in recent memory. He had previously helped organize the effort to overturn a controversial Tempe ordinance that many residents felt targeted mutual aid groups. That organizing experience translated directly into votes. He ran on affordability, housing, and a bolder approach to the city’s unhoused population.

Departing: Jennifer Adams

Adams finished last in a four-person field, defeated in part by her own former council assistant. Her support for the special events ordinance, which sparked a citizen repeal effort, made her a target from the start. She never successfully reframed the race around her broader record, and reports of late night misstatements and insults of a fellow councilmember sealed her fate.

Departing: Berdetta Hodge

Hodge, also an incumbent, fell to Nichols. Like Adams, her vote on the special events ordinance defined how many residents saw her tenure. The ordinance energized a voter coalition that proved durable through both the primary and the runoff. Hodge was unable to separate herself from that association.

The Beneficiary: Randy Keating

And then there is Randy Keating. He was not on the ballot this cycle. He didn’t need to be. The election came to him.

Keating has served on the Tempe council since 2016. His record reflects a consistent focus on the issues that matter most to progressives: affordable housing, homelessness, youth welfare, and protecting the vulnerable. He pioneered Tempe Works, a first-in-the-nation program connecting unsheltered residents with jobs, housing, and resources. He championed a historic drink spiking initiative. He passed prevailing wage after a years long fight. He passed the most robust heat safety ordinance in the state. He has been a steady, effective voice for progress on a council that hasn’t always made that easy.

For years, Keating has been quietly running up the score. That work is about to get considerably easier. St. George and Nichols arrive as natural allies on the issues he has spent a decade prioritizing. With two new colleagues focused on homelessness, affordability, and community investment, Keating now has the coalition he has needed. The votes are there in ways they weren’t before.

Tempe has always leaned forward. Now its council reflects that more fully.

By Thyra Ryden-Diaz, PE, MPA
Interim Senior Director – Scottsdale Water

Interim Senior Director of Water Resources

Good water management is not about predicting the future. It is about preparing for it.

The future of water in the Southwest will be influenced by many factors. Some are within our control. Others are not.

Scottsdale cannot determine how much snow falls in the Rocky Mountains. We cannot control temperatures across the Southwest. We cannot predict every decision that will be made about the Colorado River in the years ahead.

What we can control is how we prepare.

And preparation is not something Scottsdale has recently begun. It is something we have been actively pursuing for years.

Recognizing that future water supplies may look different than they do today, Scottsdale has taken a portfolio approach to water reliability. We are diversifying supplies, expanding local water resource opportunities, strengthening our ability to recover and store groundwater, investing in conservation and efficiency technologies, and improving the infrastructure that allows water to move where it is needed most.

That work takes many forms. It includes acquiring additional groundwater rights to strengthen long-term supply reliability, expanding well and aquifer storage and recovery infrastructure to increase drought resilience, and deploying technologies that help customers identify leaks and use water more efficiently.

These investments are designed to create flexibility. No single project or strategy will determine Scottsdale’s water future. Resilience comes from having multiple tools available, multiple sources of supply, and multiple pathways for adapting to changing conditions.

That is the essence of preparation: building options before you need them.

Some of these investments are highly visible. Others occur behind the scenes and may never attract public attention. Yet all serve the same purpose: reducing risk, increasing reliability, and ensuring Scottsdale remains well-positioned to navigate an uncertain future.

These efforts are guided by Scottsdale’s five-spoke approach to reducing reliance on the Colorado River. Together, these strategies create multiple pathways to strengthen water reliability while reducing exposure to any single source of supply. In future editorials, I will explore each of these spokes in greater detail and highlight the investments and initiatives underway within each area.

The Valley we know today was not built on certainty. It was built on preparation. Previous generations invested in reservoirs, canals, groundwater storage, conservation programs, and water infrastructure long before they were urgently needed. Those investments created options. Today’s responsibility is to do the same.

The future of the Colorado River remains uncertain. Important decisions about water management are still being made, and conditions will continue to evolve. But uncertainty is not a reason to stand still.

Communities that succeed in the decades ahead will not be those that ignore challenges or become consumed by them. They will be the communities that focus on what they can control, invest wisely, adapt when necessary, and remain committed to practical solutions.

That is the path Scottsdale has chosen.

The challenges ahead are real. So is our capacity to meet them.

Preparing is how Scottsdale will continue to secure a reliable water future.

Thyra Ryden-Diaz is Scottsdale’s interim senior director of Water Resources and has spent more than two decades helping deliver critical water infrastructure projects for the Scottsdale community.

By Councilmember Barry Graham

Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky voted against a proposed property tax levy increase Tuesday, June 9, citing concerns about rising costs for residents.

Scottsdale City Council held Truth in Taxation and public hearings yesterday on the proposed fiscal year 2026-27 property tax levy prior to a scheduled final vote on June 23.

The proposed combined property tax rate is projected to decrease from $0.9124 to $0.9068 per $100 of assessed valuation, while the total combined property tax levy is expected to increase from approximately $75.12 million to $77.99 million, according to a city staff report.

Mayor Borowsky says the distinction matters for taxpayers who ultimately pay the bill.

“While the proposed tax rate suggested a decrease, the actual tax collected was set to increase due to the annual increase in assessed property values. Given the strong financial health of the past year’s revenues, along with the overall budgetary cuts and positive revenues forecasted in the upcoming year, we had the opportunity to provide some relief to our taxpayers which I am proud to support.” “Scottsdale has been disciplined in managing its finances, and we should continue looking for ways to prioritize services without asking more from taxpayers.”

The proposed primary property tax rate, which supports general city services such as police and fire protection, parks and libraries, is expected to decrease from $0.4891 to $0.4801 per $100 of assessed valuation. However, the total primary levy is projected to increase to $41.29 million due to statutory adjustments and new construction growth.

Of Note: At the same time, the secondary property tax levy, which funds voter-approved bond debt, is expected to increase from $34.85 million to $36.70 million, with the rate rising slightly from $0.4233 to $0.4267 per $100 of assessed valuation.

Mayor Borowsky says she supports maintaining core city services while remaining mindful of affordability.

“Our responsibility is to deliver excellent services to our residents, which includes public safety, parks and infrastructure — while protecting taxpayers, she said. “I believe we can do both without increasing the overall tax burden.”

For a typical homeowner, the combined city tax rate will result in about $90.68 in city property taxes per $100,000 of assessed property value. The majority of property taxes paid by Scottsdale residents go to other jurisdictions, including schools, Maricopa County and special districts, with approximately 15 cents of every dollar allocated to the city.

City officials note that the Maricopa County Assessor determines property values, which play a key role in individual tax bills.

The proposed levy requires final adoption by ordinance following a mandatory waiting period, with City Council scheduled to take action June 23.

By Raoul Zubia

You deserve better.

Too many residents feel like Scottsdale City Hall is no longer listening to them. Restoring trust starts with electing adults in the room who understand the importance of long-term planning, transparency, and respect for constituents.

Scottsdale is one of the best cities in America to live, work, and raise a family. But the jewel of Arizona is currently in the news for all the wrong reasons. As a lifelong Scottsdale resident, I take this personally.

I’ve spent years attending council meetings, listening to residents, and paying attention to where our city is succeeding and where it’s falling short. Scottsdale doesn’t need a political circus. It needs steady leadership, responsible decision-making, and a renewed focus on the people who live here.

That’s the kind of leadership I’ll bring to City Council. With just a few days left until ballots drop, I want to share with you why you shouldn’t just vote for me as one of your three options this July, but why voting for me will help restore some decorum and forethought to City Hall and, by extension, will give you the leadership you deserve.

I’m running for City Council because I believe we’ve lost focus on the issues that matter most to residents. Instead of political fights and headline-driven decisions, Scottsdale needs leadership focused on the basics: public safety, water security, responsible budgeting, and protecting the quality of life that made people want to live here in the first place.

My professional background is in banking and finance, and I believe that experience matters. Managing a city budget requires discipline, long-term thinking, and accountability. Taxpayers are entitled to leaders who understand how to balance priorities without wasting money or kicking major problems down the road.

Water is one of those issues we can’t afford to punt on. Protecting our water future should be one of the city’s top priorities. I strongly support expanding advanced water purification and recycled water projects so Scottsdale becomes less dependent on the Colorado River over time. Cutting or delaying major water investments may help balance a budget in the short term, but it creates bigger problems for the next generation. People I grew up with in Scottsdale thrived because the generations before us planned ahead; they were thinking years down the road for the sake of their children and grandchildren. That’s what we need now.

I also believe Scottsdale can continue to grow economically without losing its identity. Companies like Axon bring jobs and opportunities to the city, and that’s important. At the same time, residents deserve to have a voice in major decisions that affect their neighborhoods and their future. As a staunch advocate for local control, I was frustrated when the city took away the public’s ability to provide input, which opened the door for one-size-fits-all policymaking from the state legislature. We should never treat public input as an obstacle.

Furthermore, instead of taking potshots at a job creator, like Axon, our leaders should be looking for solutions when there is friction with large companies that are trying to invest in our city. Councilmembers who have spent months ranting about this issue to try to make headlines have done so at taxpayers’ expense and to our collective detriment, as other important issues have fallen by the wayside. I believe we can have local control, community input, and company investment right here in our city; it doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game. Most importantly, we can have responsible development.

That’s one reason I’ve opposed the proposed Old Town parking garage. Spending tens of millions of dollars on a project backed by outdated parking studies doesn’t make sense, especially when construction could hurt local businesses and change the character of Old Town. We should be looking at flexible, practical solutions instead of rushing into expensive projects that may not solve tomorrow’s needs and seem to only benefit special interests.

The same approach applies to development across Scottsdale, especially in North Scottsdale. Growth is inevitable, but unchecked growth without infrastructure planning creates problems for the people already living here: more traffic, greater water demand, and more strain on city services. Every project should be evaluated based on whether our infrastructure can support it and whether it actually improves Scottsdale for current residents. If those two boxes aren’t checked, the project isn’t worth it.

Improving our community is paramount. Public service was ingrained in me as a child, and it’s why I have always tried to give back to our city. I have had the honor of leading as the chair of the Human Services Commission, vice chair of the Protect and Preserve Scottsdale Task Force, and president of Partners for Paiute. I also serve on the EVIT Foundation, the Charro Foundation, the SUSD Foundation, and the Parada del Sol Committee, where I lend my voice each year as an announcer. In 2021, I was honored to receive Scottsdale Leadership’s Hodges Award and to be inducted into the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame in 2024. Each of these roles has strengthened my belief in what makes Scottsdale everlasting: strong neighborhoods, safe communities, and a commitment to working together for the common good.

I’m proudly endorsed by bipartisan leaders from our city and across the state. That support includes leaders in law enforcement, current and former City Council members, former mayors and county assessors, and former advisors to governors and U.S. senators, along with organizations like the Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS. And, most importantly, because of my commitment to protecting the nature preserve, I have the full support of my two dogs, Jett and Moose.

Look, I care deeply about this city and the generations of leadership and community spirit that made it what it is today. That’s why I’m in this fight offering steady, responsible, nonpartisan leadership.

The truth is, you deserve better than what you’re getting. So vote for better this July. Vote for Raoul Zubia. For more information, please visit zubiaforscottsdale.com

Raoul Zubia is a lifelong South Scottsdale resident, Coronado High School graduate, and community leader running for Scottsdale City Council to protect neighborhoods, secure Scottsdale’s water, manage growth responsibly, and preserve the character of Scottsdale for future generations.

By Michelle Ugenti-Rita

Dear Scottsdale Neighbors,

Councilwoman Solange Whitehead wants to pump recycled toilet water directly into your tap.

While Scottsdale’s billion dollar tourism industry thrives on our image as a clean, luxurious desert paradise, Councilwoman Solange Whitehead is aggressively pushing one of the most controversial and risky water experiments in Arizona history: “Toilet to Tap.”

This isn’t science fiction folks. Solange has been the leading advocate for taking sewage water, “purifying” it and then piping it directly into our tap without it first being dispersed in a larger body of water, like an aquifer or river, which is what Scottsdale and cities all over the county do now. Less than a handful of places in the world, like Namibia and South Africa, currently utilize direct Toilet to Tap, and currently, no city in Arizona does “toilet to tap.” Solange doesn’t care that if something goes wrong with this unproven technology, sewage would be piped directly into your tap. Why? Because her focus is tied to making sure Scottsdale has enough water so she can continue to rubber-stamp high density apartment developments, like Axon’s 1,200 unit apartment complex.

Why This Should Concern Every Scottsdale Resident:

Health Risks: Until recently, there was a statewide prohibition against direct human consumption of recycled wastewater. As of now, ADEQ (Arizona Department of Environmental Quality), the state agency tasked with establishing the rules, certifications, and regulations around toilet to tap, hasn’t finalized them even after years of work. Scottsdale would be the guinea pigs. Despite claims of “advanced purification”, many residents remain deeply skeptical about long-term health impacts from pharmaceuticals, forever chemicals, and contaminants that may not fully be eliminated. Do you want your family, especially children, those with medical conditions, and elderly residents, as the test subjects?

Massive Taxpayer Cost: Estimates for moving forward with this project run over $200+ million, money that could go toward roads, public safety, or preserving our neighborhoods instead of this unproven experiment. Additionally, this will no doubt result in water rates going up again for Scottsdale residents.

Tourism Killer: Visitors come here to enjoy the McDowell Mountain Preserve, our golf, resorts, dining, spas, and Scottsdale’s pristine reputation. Imagine the PR nightmare when word spreads that Scottsdale is forcing residents and tourists to drink treated sewage water pumped directly into our drinking supply. This could seriously damage our $3.7+ billion tourism industry.

This is part of a larger Progressive agenda. California Governor Gavin Newsom has been a vocal champion of “toilet to tap” policies, pushing aggressive statewide goals to recycle wastewater into drinking water. Colorado is also working overtime to implement toilet to tap.

Scottsdale deserves better.

We already have sophisticated water recycling for irrigation and aquifer recharge. We should focus on conservation, securing reliable external sources, and thoughtful growth — not rushing an expensive, controversial, and potentially dangerous direct potable reuse system (Toilet-to-Tap) that could jeopardize public trust and health.

Photo Credit: paradisevalley.gov

Paradise Valley’s Town Council has unanimously approved a final $68.7 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, a notable turnaround from April’s contentious 5-2 tentative vote. The final budget was adopted at the May 14 meeting. It covers a fiscal year that begins in July.

It’s a Significant Jump

The approved budget is 12.1% higher than the current fiscal year’s $61.3 million. The expenditure limit comes in at $48.2 million, up from this year’s $46.9 million. Excluded expenditures, including grants, investment earnings, and debt service, total more than $20.7 million: a notable jump from $14.4 million this year. The contingency fund also grows, from $3.6 million to $5.5 million.

What Broke the Logjam

The April vote was 5-2, with Council Members Scott Moore and Anna Thomasson dissenting. Their objection centered on a single administrative position, a holdover from the era when the town employed an in-house attorney, that had been reassigned without a fully defined job description. Council Member Julie Pace resolved it at the May 14 meeting by motioning to eliminate the position entirely. She noted she had tried to do the same in April but was cut off during a remote connection. The position carried a salary and benefits cost of roughly $97,000.

Roads and Drainage Are Getting Major Investment

The biggest capital project is the long-planned Mockingbird Lane corridor improvement between 56th Street and Invergordon Road. Total project cost exceeds $17.5 million. The town covers more than $3.5 million in road work and $5.8 million in drainage costs. The Flood Control District of Maricopa County picks up nearly $8 million of the drainage tab. Overall, capital spending climbs to $15.9 million, up from $10.1 million this year.

Employees Are Getting Raises, With a Delayed Component

The budget includes an 8% total compensation adjustment: a 3% cost-of-living increase plus 5% in merit and market pay. The 3% adjustment and 2% of the merit pay take effect when the new fiscal year begins. The remaining 3% of merit pay is deferred six months. That phased schedule trimmed nearly $226,000 from the final budget. Council Member Ellen Andeen-Keller, who is not seeking reelection, suggested future merit increases be tied to customer satisfaction surveys.

All in all, most issues were resolved and critiques incorporated before the final vote. Most notable would be the relative lack of contention and squabbles, something that can’t be said about its neighbor to the east, Scottsdale.

By Alexander Lomax

Some stereotypes are true as are some reputations. For instance, Scottsdale has a reputation of having an outsized number of retirees and has leaned conservative. Unfortunately in the mind of some those bring with it a reputation as an inhospitable place for people who don’t fit a narrow demographic mold. Councilwoman Solange Whitehead has spent her tenure making that reputation harder to sustain. This Pride Month, her record speaks clearly. Whitehead has been a consistent and vocal ally for Scottsdale’s LGBTQ community at a time when that position requires genuine courage at the council dais.

A Vote That Mattered

In February 2025, the Scottsdale City Council voted 5-2 to eliminate the city’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The office had been part of city operations since 1998. Whitehead voted no. She spoke out against the measure publicly, criticizing the process as one that bypassed normal public input, public discussion, and any defined justification. She then wrote an opinion piece bluntly titled “Scottsdale Did Not Shine With DEI Vote.”

That was not a politically convenient position. It was the right one.

Why It Matters During Pride Month

June is a meaningful time to take stock of which leaders show up and which ones don’t. Across the country, Pride celebrations are navigating a difficult environment. Corporate sponsorships are shrinking. Federal policy has grown hostile. Some events have been cancelled entirely. In that context, elected officials willing to publicly affirm the dignity of LGBTQ residents carry real weight.

Whitehead has been that kind of ally. She appeared on the ONE Community podcast alongside the organization’s president to discuss the consequences of the DEI vote and what comes next. She has advocated for a Scottsdale that is inclusive by design, not just by reputation.

The City Whitehead Is Defending

Scottsdale is, in fact, a city with a vibrant LGBTQ community. Old Town hosts a Pride Crawl. The city markets itself as an LGBTQ-welcoming travel destination. Visitors and residents from the community have long made Scottsdale home and contributed to the culture, economy, and civic life that makes it exceptional, and in a moment where international tourism is down significantly, that matters quite a bit.

That Scottsdale deserves a seat at the table. Whitehead has made sure it has one.

She is currently running for re-election. Whatever the political outcome, her willingness to stand for inclusion during a period of sustained institutional pressure is worth recognizing. It reflects the Scottsdale that actually exists: diverse, open, and far more interesting than its critics give it credit for.

By Alexander Lomax

David Schweikert is gone. The longtime Republican congressman vacated Arizona’s 1st Congressional District to run for governor, and the seat he held since 2011 is now a free-for-all. It has favored Democrats in seven of the last nine statewide or presidential contests since 2020. Both primaries reflect that uncertainty: crowded, competitive, and unresolved.

The Republican Primary: Trump’s Kicker and the Field

Jay Feely, a former Arizona Cardinals kicker backed by Trump, leads the Republican field in fundraising with more than $1.2 million in cash on hand. He raised nearly $750,000 in the most recent quarterly period. The endorsement came after former Arizona GOP Chair Gina Swoboda entered the race with an initial Trump nod, then pivoted to a secretary of state run after the president issued a second endorsement for Feely.

Jay Feely. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Feely’s political resume is thin. His campaign website leans heavily on athletic accomplishments and lists no endorsements beyond the president’s. He also committed an early stumble, originally announcing a run in a different district before pivoting to CD1.

Former state Rep. John Trobough holds just under $400,000 in cash on hand, while former state Rep. Joe Chaplik has cleared $265,000. Chaplik, a six-year legislative veteran, has argued he has both district familiarity and conservative credibility to win without a celebrity endorsement. 

Chaplik has ingratiated himself to much of the district by being a conservative stalwart in the state capitol, and will likely have the most legitimate grassroots support. This is reflected in polling, most of which show him as the frontrunner. That said, it would generally be difficult to see a way that the highest fundraiser by a long shot who also holds the coveted Trump endorsement would lose a Republican primary, but perhaps this is a watershed moment where Trump’s endorsement doesn’t equal victory in a Republican primary.

The Democratic Primary: Two Familiar Faces and Institutional Muscle

The Democratic side is similarly unsettled. Marlene Galán-Woods, a former TV journalist, had raised $1.13 million through year-end and held $557,000 in cash. Amish Shah, a physician and former state lawmaker who lost to Schweikert by about 16,500 votes in 2024, had raised roughly $1 million with $644,000 on hand, though he loaned himself $185,000 of that total.

The DCCC has added Galán-Woods to its “Red to Blue” program, designating her as a top-tier candidate and providing organizational and fundraising support. That is a significant institutional advantage, though Shah has argued his near-miss in 2024 and name recognition give him a durable base.

Jonathan Treble has caused some waves by plowing in a ton of his own money into this race and with a Super PAC supporting him that is taking shots at Shah. Rick McCartney made some waves with an AI-enhanced commercial. They are fighting for 3rd place in this race though.

Due to his notoriety for knocking on every door, Shah is the presumed front-runner until shown otherwise.  But Galán-Woods’s performance will be a good test of if 1) Democrats want a fresh shot, and 2) if the national Democrats hold any sway. Recent results imply that Democratic primary voters aren’t convinced by the national party.

The Bottom Line

CD1 is genuinely open. The district leans slightly blue in presidential years but has rewarded Republicans in midterm cycles. That said, this election is likely to be a reaction to Trump and relatively poor economic conditions. This may be the Democrats’ best opportunity to win this district, so the Democratic primary is even more important than normal. 

By Linda Milhaven

Hi, Friends!

If you are as embarrassed as I am with the chaos, infighting, deaf ears and poor decision making of the current City Council then we need to be sure that none of these candidates get elected. They promise more of the same, and if it’s possible, maybe something worse.

Here is how I see them.

(I apologize for the length of this email, but they just give me so much fodder that I am challenged to keep it short.)

Barry Graham

In over 30 years of watching and participating in City politics, Barry Graham is the most corrupt and/or incompetent Councilmember I have ever observed.

Despite his claims to the contrary, he wasted taxpayer dollars, turns a deaf ear to resident concerns, makes it difficult for residents to provide input, and makes decisions that compromise our safety and security. Here are some details.

• Wasted money and compromised our safety by forfeiting $31million in federal grants to change the Scottsdale Rd and Dynamite intersection from a roundabout to a signalized intersection, all while making the intersection less safe. Graham claims he swapped the federal grant for a regional grant, which is true, but he fails to acknowledge that other road projects that would have been funded by regional grants were either cancelled or delayed (which increased their costs). Additionally, the changes increased total costs by $6million. Yes, it was in the budget because they used contingency funds. It still cost us more to make the change.
• Gambles with our water security by defunding hundreds of millions of dollars in water infrastructure improvements that were planned to fill the gaps created by cuts in our Colorado River allocation.
• Approved water rates that do not keep up with increasing operating costs using reserves to keep water rates artificially low. In future, we will be paying more to play catchup.
• Wasted $20million ($30million with interest) on a parking garage in historic old town, across from the Old Mission church, despite the fact that every parking study says there is adequate parking in this area, and while ignoring the pleas of thousands of residents concerned the garage will destroy the character of Old Town and who requested a new parking study to inform the decision whether or not to build the garage.
• Created obstacles for residents to provide input at City Council meetings by putting public comment at the end of meetings and censoring residents by interrupting them with “points of order”. He doesn’t want to hear from folks who disagree with him.
• Refused to schedule a vote on the Axon project motivating the state to usurp the city’s authority over the project and nullify all previous agreements, including the requirement to bring water to the project. Then, he blames others for denying the vote and eroding the deal.
• Threatened our public safety by voting no for a fire training academy. If he had been successful stopping the training facility, it would have led to a firefighter shortage and compromised our safety.
• Found guilty of an ethics violation.
• Collaborated with Councilmembers Dubaskas and Kwasman to file a false felony complaint against the Mayor with the County Attorney.

I could go on but I think that should be enough. We need Barry Graham to go away.

Bob Littlefield

Twenty-four years of Littlefields should be enough. After Bob served 12 years on City Council, Kathy, his wife, served another 12 years or, should I say, Kathy served as Bob’s proxy on City Council.

Kathy is a lovely woman and, I believe, wants to do the right thing, but few people believe that she is her own woman. Bob tells her what to do and how to vote.

Her speeches and motions at City Council meetings are written out ahead of time. During briefings before Council meetings, she will agree to support an item and then come back and change her mind. When she got home, Bob “set her straight” on the issue and changed her mind. It is commonly known that Bob answers Kathy’s emails.

Bob is using out-of-state dark money to sue the city over the Axon referendum. The city is wasting taxpayer money defending itself against his groundless claim.

Bob previously lost his bid for a seat in the state legislature and his run for Mayor.

He is a one issue candidate who believes that if we stop all development and don’t build anything else that all of our problems are solved.

During his time on Council, he voted no rather than work to try to make projects better. He’d rather be against something than for something. He is constantly looking for the bogey man that he can save us from him.

Bob is more interested in being relevant than he is in keeping Scottsdale special.

God save us from Bob Littlefield. Enough is enough.

Michelle Ugenti-Rita

Michelle is running for City Council after her service in the state legislature, a failed run for Secretary of State and a failed run for County Supervisor.

Michelle brings a lot of baggage with her but . . .

. . . all we really need to do is understand her hyperbolic politicization of our water policy and listen to a recent discussion she participated in on KTAR about water. She spews misinformation, raises her voice, talks over others and distracts from discussing solutions.

Here is a link to the discussion.

Judge for yourself if you think she is fit to work for you in cooperation with others to find solutions to protect Scottsdale. I don’t think she is.

Eric Sloan

Eric is a newcomer to the Scottsdale political scene. Previously, he failed in a run for the Corporation Commission and was fired from the state Department of Gaming for inappropriate workplace conduct.

His friend, sitting Councilmember Adam Kwasman, urged him to run. That’s enough for me. Adam is one of the architects of the chaos, infighting and sabotage that is going on with City Council. Electing Eric promises more of the same. NO, THANK YOU!

The upcoming primary is our chance to change things and restore civility and common sense to City Council.

Early voting begins and early ballots will be mailed on Wednesday, the 24th.

In the last three elections, Councilmembers were elected outright in the primary, so your vote in the primary matters.

Independent voters represent approximately a third of the registered voters in Scottsdale. Independents make a difference.

Independents can vote in person or request a mail ballot. Get more details on voting HERE.

Thanks for listening.
Linda Milhaven

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