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

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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.

Scottsdale and Paradise Valley’s Premier Luxury Custom Builder Expands Renovations Division as More High-End Homeowners Choose to Revamp Existing Estates

High-end homeowners across the Valley are rethinking their next move and, in many cases, deciding not to make one at all. Between limited inventory in desirable neighborhoods and the complexities that come with relocating, more luxury homeowners are choosing to renovate, rather than relocate.

Arizona’s leading luxury custom home builder, Cullum Homes, has seen this play out firsthand since launching its Renovations Division in 2010, with more clients opting to reinvest in their existing homes rather than starting from scratch.

Known for building residences in some of the Valley’s most desirable neighborhoods of Scottdale and Paradise Valley, family-owned Cullum Homes is seeing a sharp uptick in interest from homeowners looking for full-scale home transformations that go far beyond cosmetic updates.

A far cry from cabinet swaps or quick refreshes, Cullum Homes’ Renovations Division has the ability to completely renovate and reconfigure existing homes, whether that means opening up floor plans, reimagining layouts or rebuilding them from the ground up with new architecture, features and finishes.

What initially launched as a small subset of the Cullum Homes brand has since grown into a major part of the business, driven in part by repeat clients who trust the team and want to reinvest in the homes and neighborhoods where they already reside.

“A lot of our clients truly love where they live and just want their homes to work better for them now than they did 10 or 15 years ago,” said Cullum Homes Co-President Lindsay Cullum-Colwell. “With land becoming scarcer in Paradise Valley and Scottsdale, renovating is often the best way for homeowners to get everything they want.”

Cullum-Colwell noted that while, occasionally, the Renovations Division handles smaller projects, like an upgraded kitchen or bath, most of its business comes from clients looking to completely overhaul their existing homes, including their kitchens, bathrooms, flooring and paint. The average project the division handles runs from about $1.5 – $3 million.

Cullum’s Renovations Division recently completed three such projects, with each major renovation reworking the home from the ground up to better fit modern living.

The Playground Estate Renovation

The Playground Estate Renovation brought a highly detailed vision to life in one of Paradise Valley’s most sought-after settings. Situated in a desirable neighborhood with sweeping views of Camelback Mountain, the home featured complex architectural elements that demanded careful attention and coordination throughout construction.

Designed for a young family, the newly renovated home has a guitar lounge, yoga space, fully equipped exercise room and a guest house for visitors. An indoor rock-climbing wall and an outdoor playground complete with a track for ride-on cars round out the home set to keep pace with an active, growing family.

The Family Circle Renovation

The Family Circle Renovation highlighted the Renovations Division’s ability to adapt and deliver as plans evolve. Started in 2022 for homeowners seeking a company that could handle design, construction and furnishings together, Cullum opened up the structure to find that its existing framing would force too many compromises, transforming something that started as a remodel into a full ground-up rebuild.

The homeowners considered partnering with several other builders before choosing Cullum Homes, entrusting the Cullum team to carry the project from conception through completion.

The Heirloom Renovation

The Heirloom Renovation breathed new life into a home that had stayed in the same family since the 1980s. Cullum’s Renovations Division spent about six months planning the extensive renovation before reworking the layout while making a point to preserve the character that drew the residents to the home in the first place.

The updates involved virtually every part of the house. The great room and guest bath gained more space, the back patio now drains properly (solving a 40-year problem) and the kitchen has plenty of space to accommodate large family gatherings with ease. The Renovations team also reworked the home’s primary suite, trading an underutilized sitting area for a larger closet and more functional bath.

Even with added scope, this project stayed on schedule, giving the residents a comfortable and well-organized home without extending their time outside of it.

The owners of each home had specific ideas in mind for their renovations, but all three shared a common goal: Make an older home feel current without sacrificing its location.

“Each of these three projects looked different on paper. Different scopes, different collaborators, different starting points. What they shared was a client who loved their home, their street, their proximity to the people and places that shape their daily life, and wanted the home itself to finally match the way they live in it,” said Cullum Homes’ Vice President of Renovations Derrick Willett.

“Our job was to make that happen with the level of craft and coordination our team brings to every renovation, whether we are leading the full design or working alongside a designer the client already trusts. That combination of lifestyle understanding and execution flexibility is why this side of the business continues to grow. Clients know they can come to Cullum Homes with whatever they have, and we will meet them there to deliver the home they want to live in for the next chapter.”

The success of Cullum’s growing Renovations Division stems from the same degree of attention and knowledge the company devotes to its new builds. The company relies on long-standing relationships with local industry partners to deliver exceptional craftsmanship and luxury-caliber renovations. It also maintains a comprehensive project management system that keeps timelines and client communications clear and on track.

The end result is an upscale, well-appointed and expertly designed residence that feels entirely new – but doesn’t involve leaving the neighborhood residents selected in the first place.

For more about Cullum Homes and its Renovation Division, visit CullumHomes.com.

Compass Agent Closes Nearly $50M in Transactions as NFL Draft Season Spotlights Athletes Who Succeed Beyond the Game

Former NFL player Jon Condo closed just under $50 million in Arizona real estate transactions last year, proving how preparation, discipline and dedication can drive success both on the field and long after the lights go down. And with the NFL Draft putting the lives of players past and present back in focus, Condo’s transition from the league to Compass offers a timely look at what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Condo, a current resident of Arcadia, spent his early days in a small Pennsylvania town near Penn State University before launching his NFL career, with sports playing a huge part in his childhood and his father often stepping up as a coach. The youngest of four children, Condo continued his athletic pursuits in college, where he started playing football as a linebacker before learning to snap and carving out a niche as a specialist. 

It was a shift that proved pivotal, with Condo’s college coach telling him he thought he could make a career out of his talents and recruiters coming out to watch him snap. While football played a big part of his college experience, Condo’s main priority was earning a degree. He’d grown up in a family of educators, and at one point considered becoming a biology teacher. 

Yet, before he could do so, he got the break of a lifetime, with the Dallas Cowboys signing him straight out of college and launching his professional football career. Yet, alongside the opportunity came a reality check, with the team releasing him after three games.

“I knew it was a cutthroat business,” Condo said. “Any slip-up I had could get me released.”

After the Cowboys’ release, Condo relocated to Maryland and found work as a substitute teacher. He continued to train and play football on the side and had been spending three days a week working out at the University of Maryland when the New England Patriots reached out with an offer. 

“When an opportunity arises, you have to be prepared for it,” Condo said. “You never know when those opportunities are going to come around.” While Condo’s time with the Patriots proved valuable, it was also brief, with the Patriots releasing him during training camp. Another call soon came, though, and this time, it was the Oakland Raiders looking to add him to their practice squad as a linebacker. He then signed on as a snapper during then-head coach Lane Kiffin’s first season, leading to a lengthy and successful career with the team.

During Condo’s tenure with the Raiders, the NFL began encouraging players to explore internship and professional development opportunities to help them prepare for life after football. Condo had developed an interest in real estate after purchasing his own home. As he married and started a family, that interest only deepened, with Condo devoting more and more time to investing in real estate and buying, selling and flipping homes. 

When his NFL career concluded, Condo’s wife, Jaclyn, suggested he start meeting people for coffee regularly to help him stay on a schedule. He did just that, and he soon realized that the conversations over coffee constantly circled back to real estate. Soon, Condo and his family relocated to Arizona, where he joined Compass and began building his career in a new market.

Condo quickly became well-versed in some of Arizona’s most sought-after real estate markets and communities, including Arcadia, Paradise Valley and Scottsdale. These days, Condo continues to keep his finger firmly on the pulse of Arizona’s thriving real estate scene, drawing from his own experiences to better serve affluent clients who value comfort and discretion. He has firsthand knowledge of what athletes, in particular, want in a home, with one such listing, located at 4838 E Palomino Road in Phoenix, recently going under contract. A former professional baseball player’s home, the listing spans more than 11,000 square feet spread across 1.5 acres. Previously owned by Howard “Howie” Kendrick, it features seven beds, eight baths and a 10-car garage.

With the NFL Draft highlighting the league’s incoming talent and the evolution of player careers, Condo’s path offers a clear reminder that success doesn’t have to end when the season does. The habits that led to success in the NFL continue to shape his career in Arizona real estate, proving that preparation, consistency and a willingness to keep showing up pay off.

Scottsdale-born-and-raised trial attorney Tom Ajamie—a former student body president at Arizona State University and nationally recognized for his work prosecuting complex white-collar crime—is turning courtroom success into meaningful community impact, announcing a significant charitable contribution to Hospice of the Valley while continuing to transform lives through his growing scholarship fund.

Ajamie, whose parents and family still live in Scottsdale, now splits his time between New York City and Houston but remains deeply connected to Arizona. Over the course of his career, he has built a national reputation for holding powerful institutions accountable—while quietly creating opportunity for others to rise.

Through the Ajamie Scholarship Fund, established in partnership with the Arizona State University Foundation, Ajamie has already helped put 23 students through college—many of whom otherwise would not have had the financial means to pursue higher education. The fund focuses on empowering driven students with an interest in law, business, and public service, removing barriers and opening doors to futures once out of reach.

“I was student body president at ASU, and I know firsthand how transformative that experience—and access to education—can be,” said Ajamie. “If you can change one student’s trajectory, you can change an entire family’s future. Being able to help 23 students earn a college education is something I’m incredibly proud of, and it’s just the beginning.”

In addition to his commitment to education, Ajamie is making a significant investment in compassionate care through a major $25,000 gift to Hospice of the Valley. His contribution will support the nonprofit’s mission of providing end-of-life care, grief counseling, and vital services to patients and families across Arizona—regardless of their ability to pay.

The donation comes as Hospice of the Valley prepares for an upcoming signature fundraising event, bringing together community leaders and supporters to advance its mission. Ajamie’s gift is expected to help expand access to care and strengthen programs that serve some of the Valley’s most vulnerable individuals.

“Organizations like Hospice of the Valley provide dignity, compassion, and humanity at life’s most critical moments,” Ajamie added. “Supporting their work is not just important—it’s essential.”

By investing in both education and end-of-life care, Ajamie is shaping impact at both ends of life’s journey—helping young people build futures while ensuring others are met with dignity and compassion in their final chapter.

The upcoming Hospice of the Valley event is expected to draw strong community support, highlighting the growing role of philanthropic leaders like Ajamie in strengthening Arizona’s nonprofit landscape.

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About Tom Ajamie

Tom Ajamie is a nationally recognized trial attorney known for his work in complex litigation and white-collar crime. A Scottsdale native and former student body president at Arizona State University, he now splits his time between New York City and Houston while maintaining deep ties to Arizona. In addition to his legal practice, Ajamie is a dedicated philanthropist focused on education, healthcare, and community impact.

Photo Credit: Arianna Grainey

The numbers looked fine last year. More than 11 million visitors came to Scottsdale in 2024, generating a record $3.7 billion in economic impact and supporting over 36,000 local jobs. City officials were justifiably proud. That baseline matters now, because what is happening in 2025 and 2026 cuts directly against it.

The United States recorded roughly 4 million fewer international visitors in 2025: a 5.5 percent drop that wiped out over $8 billion in foreign visitor spending nationally. The cause is not a global travel slowdown. Worldwide, international tourism grew by roughly 80 million trips last year. America is simply losing the competition.

The Canadian Problem Is Arizona’s Problem

Preliminary numbers show Canadian visitation to Arizona down roughly 19 percent in 2025. That is not a rounding error. Canadians are not just staying home: they are actively rerouting to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe. An ASU supply chain expert noted the decline stems in part from animosity toward the Trump administration and frayed relations between the two countries.

For Scottsdale, this is pointed. Canadian snowbirds and resort visitors are among the city’s most reliable and highest-spending guests. They arrive in winter and spring, when Scottsdale’s hospitality economy peaks. Local businesses that depend on long-term international visits are already navigating more uncertainty than they have seen since the pandemic.

The Jobs and Revenue Are Already Moving

The damage is not theoretical. A CEPR research paper found that by mid-2025, businesses in areas with the highest share of Canadian visitors employed roughly 6 percent fewer workers than comparable less-exposed markets. That translates directly to restaurants, retail shops, spas, and tour operators in Old Town and along Scottsdale Road.

The city’s fiscal exposure runs deeper than most residents realize. Nearly 94 percent of Scottsdale’s bed tax collections come directly from tourists. That revenue funds parks, public facilities, and destination marketing. Nationally, lodging tax revenue growth is expected to slow significantly and may stagnate through 2026. Scottsdale is not exempt from that trend.

What the City Can Do

Experience Scottsdale anticipates hotel occupancy of 64 percent in 2026, down slightly from 65 percent in 2025: modest declines that mask growing pressure on smaller operators who cannot absorb softening demand the way large resorts can. The city’s best near-term lever is doubling down on domestic feeder markets: Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and the Mountain West. Arizona’s diversified tourism portfolio: outdoor adventure, luxury resort travel, golf, and cultural heritage: is a genuine asset right now, and one worth marketing aggressively.

The Bottom Line

Scottsdale built a $3.7 billion tourism economy by being extraordinary at attracting visitors. The international retreat is real, it is already affecting employment and tax revenue, and it is not going to reverse quickly. The city that markets itself most aggressively to domestic travelers in the next 18 months will be best positioned when international tourism eventually normalizes. Scottsdale should be at the front of that line.

TAAAZE To Defend Voters’ Rights

Opposition Will Appeal Superior Court Ruling That Upheld Controversial “Axon Law” That Enabled Wildly Unpopular Apartment Megaplex 

(Scottsdale, Ariz.)  An appeal will be filed that challenges Arizona’s controversial Axon Law, Senate Bill 1543, which shields unpopular zoning decisions from the ballot box.

The appeal will be filed on or before June 15^th.

SB 1543 prevents voters from challenging certain rezoning decisions, including a rezoning in Scottsdale that gave Axon permission to build nearly 1,900 apartments near Hayden and the 101 despite massive public opposition.

TAAAZE (Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions) leads the opposition to the apartment complex and to the legislation that prevents a public vote.

In 2024 TAAAZE submitted nearly 27 thousand signatures to challenge a previous lame duck council decision to green light Axon’s plans to build nearly 1,900 apartments near Hayden and the 101 in north Scottsdale. Soon after Axon employed a legion of lobbyists and lawyers to get a bill passed that steps on voters’ rights by preventing some zoning issues, such as Axon’s, from going to the ballot box.

Before the lame duck council decision, Axon already had approval to build its new world headquarters at the site. Its subsequent request to build one of the largest apartment projects in state history was unnecessary and represents a greedy profit grab by a multi-billion-dollar corporation.

On May 14^th a Maricopa County Superior Court Judge raised questions about the Axon Law but ultimately ruled Arizona’s ban on so-called “special legislation,” does not apply to the Axon Bill. TAAAZE will appeal that decision.Read More

By Ronald Sampson

A Facebook exchange has been circulating in Scottsdale political circles this week. Crystal Carroll, the Old Town business owner running for City Council, was challenged publicly over having voted only once in the past decade. She responded with candor: four kids, multiple businesses, a cancer hospitalization in 2024. The critics pounced. But here is the question worth asking: does any of this actually matter to voters anymore?

It used to. A thin voting record was once considered a genuine disqualifier. So was marijuana use. So was a DUI from thirty years ago. Political culture has shifted considerably on all of those fronts.

The Context That Makes Her Case Somewhat Sympathetic

Carroll’s explanations are not nothing. A serious illness in 2024 is a legitimate reason to miss an election. Running multiple businesses while raising four children is a legitimate reason to be distracted. These are the kinds of circumstances that resonate with ordinary people who are not political hobbyists and who do not organize their lives around election calendars.

By her own account, she began educating herself politically around 2020. That is five or six years of growing civic awareness before she decided to run. It is not a lifetime of engagement, but it is not nothing either.

Where the Sympathy Has Limits

The more durable concern is not the voting record itself. It is what the voting record represents: a candidate who, by her own admission, was largely checked out of civic life until recently. Scottsdale’s policy debates: water, development, overdevelopment, the Axon campus question, the preserve: reward institutional familiarity. Those are not issues someone picks up quickly.

Carroll filed her candidacy statement in February. Her first prominent public appearance was at Mayor Borowsky’s January summit. That is a compressed timeline for a council seat with real consequences.

The Marijuana Test

The useful analogy here may be the one voters have quietly been applying for years: past marijuana use, once a campaign-ender, is now largely irrelevant. Voters have collectively decided that youthful or even sustained personal choices do not automatically disqualify someone from public service.

Minimal voting history may be trending in the same direction. What voters are increasingly focused on is whether a candidate understands the job and has coherent positions on the issues that matter.

The Real Question

Carroll may clear that bar. She may not. But the Facebook pile-on over her voting record is probably not the decisive test most of her critics believe it to be. Scottsdale voters in 2026 are going to make their call based on water policy, development pressure, and fiscal priorities: not on whether someone skipped a midterm in 2016.

By Bedouin Bourdain

Some destinations earn their reputation. Spain’s Costa del Sol is one of them.

Marbella greeted us the way it greets everyone who comes properly recommended: with perfect weather, blooming jacarandas, and the quiet confidence of a place that has never needed to try too hard. The Marbella Club set the tone immediately. Think Beverly Hills Hotel transplanted to the Mediterranean, with grounds and a crowd to match. Nearby, the Puente Romano operates as something else entirely: a culinary compound surrounding two hotels with roughly twenty high-energy restaurants. Not a typo. Twenty. The people-watching alone is worth the visit. Coya and Le Petite Maison are non-negotiable stops for dinner.

Old Town delivers the continent’s classic charm without apology. Lunch in a small sun-drenched square, pink flowers spilling across the garden beds, a fish menu that would embarrass most seafood capitals. The kind of afternoon that resets your internal clock to something slower and better. Then the beach clubs along the Golden Mile reminded you exactly where you were. Beautiful. Alive. Very alive.

The jacarandas were everywhere in Marbella. Purple and insistent. The best single metaphor for the place.

One hour south, Gibraltar recalibrates everything. This is the Mouth of the Mediterranean: one of the most strategically consequential pieces of real estate in recorded history, still flying the Union Jack, staring across at Africa with an almost casual indifference to the centuries of conquest it has witnessed. The Barbary macaques own the Rock now, clambering across guardrails and stealing glances with the practiced entitlement of long-tenured landlords. St. Michael’s Cave cuts deep into the limestone, its chambers lit in blues and golds, stalactites hanging like frozen time. The effect is genuinely otherworldly.

Gibraltar surprises you. It shouldn’t, given the history. But it does. Symbolic and resonant in ways that take a day or two to fully process. Those moments don’t announce themselves in advance. They just arrive, and you recognize them for what they are.

Spain has a way of doing that. Arriving without announcement. Lingering long after you’ve left.

Worth every effort. Worth going back.

By Steve Coluccio

I have known Solange Whitehead since 2017, when we worked together to defeat the proposed Desert Discovery Center in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. We worked together again in 2024 on Prop 490, which voters approved to fund maintenance and public safety in the parks and Preserve. As a supporter of the Preserve, I value Solange’s steadfast, long-term commitment to protecting Scottsdale’s open spaces.

What impresses me about Solange is not only her support for the Preserve, but also the way she serves as a city councilmember. She listens to a wide range of residents and uses their input to shape positions that benefit all of Scottsdale. City government should be nonpartisan and focused on practical solutions for the community as a whole.  Solange reflects that approach.

Many issues facing Scottsdale are complex, including Axon, the North Scottsdale roundabout, the Old Town parking garage, and the city’s long-term water supply. On each of these matters, Solange has shown the ability to weigh the facts, listen to constituents, and lead thoughtfully, even while serving in the council minority.

On Axon, she supported preserving a major economic asset for Scottsdale while significantly reducing the number of apartments and adding community benefits in the project.

On the roundabout, she fought to protect $31 million in federal funding.

On the Old Town parking garage, she called for an updated parking study to determine whether the project was truly needed before the City committed $20 million.

She has also emphasized the importance of securing Scottsdale’s water supply for as long as I can remember.

In all these matters, Solange’s positions have been reasonable and aligned with the needs of Scottsdale residents.

For these reasons, Solange will receive one of my three votes in the city council election, and I will encourage my friends to support her as well.

A Recap of the Allegations

In late April, the Arizona Progress & Gazette reported on allegations that the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee had quietly routed money to benefit one candidate over another in a contested primary: specifically, that $15,000 moved from the Navajo County Democratic Committee to Arizona List, which then paid $10,000 to a consulting firm whose services appeared as an in-kind contribution to Dr. Amelia Gallitano-Mendel’s campaign for the LD2 State Senate seat. The money allegedly funded signature collection, helping Gallitano-Mendel secure ballot access. Arizona law prohibits party contributions to a candidate before that candidate becomes a nominee.

Dan Toporek, the competing candidate in that primary, called the arrangement a campaign finance violation and demanded an investigation.

Dan Toporek

The Firing

Now there are consequences. Scott McNeil, Executive Director of the ADLCC and considered by sources close to the party to be a central figure in the conduct Toporek alleged, has been fired. APG has confirmed this through sources with direct knowledge of the situation.

Scott McNeil

How one interprets that firing depends somewhat on disposition. It could be read as a party cutting loose someone who created significant legal exposure. It could be read as one person falling on a sword to insulate others. It could even be read as an implicit acknowledgment that something went wrong: that the allegations had enough substance to require a personnel response.

An Olive Branch, If Not an Absolution

What it is not, quite yet, is a full accounting. The underlying campaign finance questions raised by the Toporek campaign remain unresolved. The money trail documented in public filings does not disappear because the executive director does. And voters in LD2 are still heading into a primary that Toporek has argued was shaped before a single ballot was cast.

That said, the firing is not nothing. Institutions that genuinely believe they did nothing wrong do not typically remove the person most associated with the conduct in question. The ADLCC’s action here is at minimum a signal that internal pressure exists; at most, it is the first step toward a more honest reckoning with what the party apparatus actually did.

Democrats have had this conversation before. The 2016 DNC primary controversy didn’t produce consequences quickly enough to prevent lasting damage. If Arizona Democrats are reading that history correctly, the McNeil departure is the beginning of a process: not the end of one.

By Alexander Lomax

The corporate playbook for buying local influence is not new. Scottsdale has seen it before. But the scale and audacity of what appears to be unfolding ahead of the July 21st primary deserves the full attention of every resident who cares about who actually governs this city.

Several sources say Axon Enterprise is conducting active polling in Scottsdale ahead of the city council races. The survey instrument is telling: it tests favorability and unfavorability ratings on the candidates, with negative message testing focused squarely on the three conservatives in the field: Bob Littlefield, Michelle Ugenti-Rita, and Barry Graham. The apparent preferred slate emerging from Axon’s polling architecture is Ethan Knowlden, Solange Whitehead, and Crystal Carroll.

As is typically the case with polling, it isn’t an exercise in civic engagement: this is a targeting operation. They want a favorable council so they can change their pledge of 600 condos and 600 apartments to 1,200 apartments. Why? Because apartments are more lucrative.

Axon’s Apartment Plans

A $1.1 Million Head Start

Axon executives are not newcomers to this game. As reported earlier this spring, company executives funded a political action committee called Arizonans for a Better Future with more than $1.1 million, then directed contributions to the Arizona lawmakers who pushed through legislation effectively nullifying the citizen referendum against Axon’s mega-development in north Scottsdale. The state legislature was one target. The Scottsdale City Council is apparently next.

Scottsdale Has Seen This Movie Before

The corporate council-purchasing effort has a poor track record in this city. Nearly 20 years ago now Rural Metro, the private ambulance and fire services provider with a long-standing Scottsdale contract, poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into a city council election cycle to elect favorable candidates and protect its business position. It failed badly; Scottsdale voters rejected the purchased slate and the stench of the effort lingered for years. A decade ago, Arizona Public Service attempted similar maneuvers in Arizona Corporation Commission races, funding favorable candidates through dark money channels. The strategy produced short-term wins before a public backlash eroded its gains and triggered investigations that drew national attention.

The pattern is consistent: corporations with major financial stakes in regulatory outcomes attempt to install friendly decision-makers. Voters, once they understand what is happening, tend to push back hard.

The Deeper Question for Scottsdale Residents

The Axon campus debate has always been about more than apartments and density ratios. It has been about whether a single corporation can use its financial leverage to override the expressed preferences of a community. If Axon succeeds in electing a council majority aligned with its interests, the current 1,200-unit residential plan may not be the ceiling. It may be the floor.

A company willing to spend seven figures at the state level and fund active polling operations at the municipal level is a company that expects a return on that investment. Scottsdale residents should ask themselves a direct question before July 21st: do they want a weapons manufacturer dictating the character of their city’s development for the next decade? The corporation that already pulled a bait-and-switch in the zoning rules to shortchange Arizona’s public schools of tens of millions of dollars by misrepresenting its plans for the land?

Do we really want to return to the days of when developers controlled the city council rather than residents? The attempt is here. The polling is already in the field. The clock is running.

Photo Credit: Arizona PBS

Mayor Lisa Borowsky welcomes US Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler to Scottsdale for an exclusive tour of the recently unveiled Barrett-Jackson custom automotive headquarters and manufacturing facility, where world class custom cars are born and built.

Administrator Loeffler will experience, firsthand, the amazing work and determination of one of Scottsdale’s most admired “start-ups.” Barrett-Jackson HQ operates an all-inclusive manufacturing facility, offering every “bell & whistle” for the custom auto enthusiast, including fabrication, metal, engine and a paint shop on site.

Administrator Loeffler will view unique, recently completed custom autos, including a 1939 Bugatti Type57.

Facility Tour details:

The visit will include a guided walking tour and media availability which highlight Scottsdale’s dedication to advancing small business engagement and economic development efforts.

The event will take place at 15555 N. 79th Place in Scottsdale.

A brief schedule of the visit is as follows:

• 2 p.m. — Arrival and introductions
• 2:05 p.m. — Walking tour and discussion
• 2:25 p.m. — Media availability
• 2:40 p.m. — Event concludes
• 2:45 p.m. — Departure

Media are encouraged to arrive early. Members of the press who plan to attend should arrive by 1:50 p.m. to allow time for check-in and positioning.

Administrator Loeffler, Mayor Borowsky, and Mr. Jackson will be available for brief remarks and questions during the media availability portion of the event.

May has been a good month to be a Scottsdalian. From a high school diamond to the global dining stage, the city collected some headlines worth celebrating.

Sabercats Clinch Another 4A Baseball Crown

Saguaro High School’s baseball program claimed the 4A state championship on May 18 at Tempe Diablo Stadium, defeating ALA-Gilbert North 11-4 to seal the title. Under head coach Gerald Laird, the Sabercats have built one of Arizona’s most decorated prep programs; the 2026 crown adds another chapter to a tradition that includes multiple state titles across multiple sports. For a school rooted in the Scottsdale Unified District, the run reinforces what the city’s athletic culture can produce when community and program invest in each other.

COURSE Earns a Spot Among the World’s Best Cocktail Programs

Photo Credit: Experience Scottsdale

COURSE restaurant was awarded an Excellent PIN from The Pinnacle Guide, a global recognition system for the world’s finest cocktail bars, placing it among just 30 venues worldwide alongside celebrated names in Paris, London, Hong Kong, Rome, Chicago, and New York City. What makes the recognition especially notable is that COURSE is not a cocktail bar; it is a fine dining restaurant whose beverage program has evolved into one of the most inventive in the country. The distinction is a reminder that Scottsdale’s culinary identity now competes on a genuinely global stage.

HonorHealth: A Best Place to Work in Arizona

AZ Big Media’s annual ranking named HonorHealth among Arizona’s 100 Best Places to Work and Live for 2026, determined strictly through public voting. More than that, it ranked first amongst the state’s health care facilities in this poll. The Scottsdale-based nonprofit healthcare system encompasses nine affiliated hospitals, more than 30 primary care offices, and 24 urgent care locations across the greater Phoenix area. Landing on that list signals the kind of workplace culture that retains clinical talent in a competitive labor market: a win for HonorHealth employees and for the broader community they serve.

Camelot Homes Takes Top Honors at the 2026 MAME Awards

The Edge at Joy Ranch, a gated North Scottsdale community by Camelot Homes, was named both Community of the Year and Home of the Year at the 2026 MAME Awards, presented by the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona. The dual victory marked back-to-back wins in both categories for 2025 and 2026, an achievement rarely seen in the industry. Set against the Sonoran Desert north of Pinnacle Peak, the 52-homesite enclave blends contemporary architecture with expansive lots and indoor-outdoor living aimed at the luxury market.

Month after month, Scottsdale demonstrates that it is not merely a place to live: it is a city that leads; in athletics, in hospitality, in healthcare, and in the quality of the homes it builds.

Photo Credit: Brad Penner, Imagn Images

Cam Skattebo has never been shy about what he expects from himself. The former Arizona State standout was an absolute phenom as a Sun Devil, elevating the team to truly unexpected heights and helping propel Coach Kenny Dillingham into the leader of one of the biggest turnaround stories in all of college football. Now in his second season with the New York Giants, Skattebo recently told a room full of fans exactly what he plans to do in 2026: rush for 2,000 yards. Not 1,200. Not 1,500. Two thousand.

The prediction drew immediate attention, and honestly, the skepticism is fair. Skattebo averaged 4.1 yards per carry as a rookie. At that rate, 300 carries gets you to roughly 1,230 yards; not 2,000. The math requires a significant leap in efficiency from a player still working his way back from a broken fibula and dislocated ankle that ended his season in Week 8.

So yes, temper expectations accordingly.

But here is the thing about Cam Skattebo: he has earned the right to dream out loud. In eight games last season, before his season was brutally and abruptly ended by the aforementioned injury, he rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns and looked like exactly the kind of punishing, fearless back the NFL desperately needs more of. He did not just run between the tackles; he ran through people. Giants fans, starved for something to believe in, found it quickly.

Photo Credit: Brad Penner, Imagn Images

The supporting cast around him is better this year. New head coach John Harbaugh spent 18 seasons in Baltimore building offenses around power running. He brought offensive coordinator Greg Roman with him; a coach whose entire philosophy centers on creating running lanes and wearing defenses down. All-Pro fullback Patrick Ricard also made the trip from Baltimore; the same blocker who helped Derrick Henry average 1,758 rushing yards over the past two seasons.

That infrastructure matters in this case. Skattebo does not need to average 6.6 yards per carry to have a monster season. He needs to stay healthy, stay aggressive, and trust the system around him. Much like Arizona State where he was under the leadership of Coach Dillingham, he now also has a strong head coach to right the ship.

Two thousand yards would be one of the most historic individual seasons in NFL history. Only nine players have ever done it. The Giants’ franchise record is 1,860, set by Tiki Barber in 2005. So manage expectations accordingly.

What is beyond debate: the NFL is a better product when Cam Skattebo is on the field. Arizona State built something special in him. It would be something to watch New York be the place where he fully arrives.

Photo Credit: Arizona Republic

There is a moment at every graduation that belongs entirely to the graduate. Not to the administration. Not to the institution’s brand. The moment when someone says your name out loud and you walk across that stage.

At Glendale Community College’s May 15 commencement, held at Desert Diamond Arena, the school decided that moment was too much trouble to get right. GCC deployed an AI system to read graduate names; the technology mixed up or skipped hundreds of them. Students crossed the stage to silence or the wrong name entirely.

College President Tiffany Hernandez eventually took the stage to explain. “We’re using a new AI system as our reader,” she told the crowd. “That is a lesson learned for us.” The crowd booed. Hernandez initially told affected graduates they would not be permitted to walk again; the backlash changed that, and a human announcer was brought in to finish the job.

A human announcer. Imagine that.

Grace Reimer, who earned an associate degree in fine arts, said the administration’s apparent amusement while explaining the situation made it worse. “They did just ruin one of the biggest moments in my life,” she said. Mariah Chavez, 30, had balanced coursework, nursing prerequisites, and caring for a newborn to reach that stage. She brought her 5-year-old son to watch her graduate. “He wasn’t able to point me out until I was walking back to sit down,” she said. “That breaks my heart.”

Photo Credit: Cybernews

The school’s written apology afterward had the texture of a press release. One graduate ran it through AI detectors and said results suggested it was machine-generated. The school denies that. Whether true or not, that suspicion captures something real: GCC has now burned through its credibility on two fronts in a single week.

Here is the core of it: someone decided that hiring a human to pronounce names for two hours was less important than piloting new technology on people who had no say in the matter. These students were warned throughout their academic careers not to take shortcuts with AI. Students can be expelled or failed for doing exactly what their institution did to them on graduation day.

Is that a lesson learned, or a lesson the administration still needs to take?

In the name of helping our readers make more informed decisions and better understand the people who want to lead our city, we sent out questionnaires to all Scottsdale City Council candidates. All of the questions were the same for each except for two questions that were customized for each candidate. Mr. Littlefield declined to answer two of the questions. Here are his submissions.

Do you support the Axon development as originally proposed, including up to 1,900 residential units, or the compromise proposal of around 600 units. If not, what conditions would you require before lending your support?

No, no, there are thousands of apartments already approved nearby to Axon, they don’t need to build any more apartments.

In your opinion has the amount of apartment approvals and construction in recent years has been too little, too much or just about right?

Way too much.

In your view, is development in Scottsdale currently proceeding at the right pace, too quickly, or too slowly, and what principles would guide your votes on major development proposals?

According to our city Planning Department there are upwards of 10K apartments (depending on how you count them) approved by previous Councils that have yet to be built. No more are necessary for the foreseeable future.

The Colorado River faces a deepening crisis, with Lake Powell at historically low levels. What specific policies should Scottsdale pursue to protect its long-term water security?

If Scottsdale faces a water crisis it is because of overdevelopment. Our water department – the best in AZ – does a fine job of providing water for current businesses and residents. But even they cannot find enough new water sources to support unlimited future development. The most obvious example of what not to do is the recent action by the City Council majority to approve 1200 apartments for Axon. Even worse, that City Council majority waived Axon’s water requirements—enough for 12,000 single family homes—which will leave less water for every other Scottsdale resident.

What is your position on the boundaries of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and under what circumstances, if any, would you support changes to land currently designated as preserve? 

The voter-approved boundaries should not be tampered with. Scottsdale voters made it clear with Prop 420 they want politicians to leave the Preserve alone!

How would you approach funding police and fire services, and are there areas of the current public safety budget you would change?

We should continue funding public safety out of the general fund, The only thing I would change would be to increase pay for some PD officers to keep them competitive with other cities.

Old Town is always a centerpiece of the conversation regarding Scottsdale. What (if anything) would you do to improve it?

Marketing of Old Town has not been as effective as it should be, but over the last year pressure from merchants has forced some improvements, which give me hope for the future.

Scottsdale faces competing demands on its budget. What are your priorities for city spending, and are there areas where you would cut or redirect resources?

The only change I would make to the internal city spending would be to increase pay for some PD officers to keep them competitive with other cities. Externally, I do think we spend too much on outside contractors and that spending needs to be closely scrutinized.

What is your approach to addressing homelessness in Scottsdale, and what role should the city play in expanding access to affordable housing?

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled we can’t just remove the homeless. But cities are allowed to limit activities such as panhandling and urban camping and we should do that as much as the law allows. We should also support treatment options for those homeless with substance abuse issues.

If elected, what is the single most important thing you want to accomplish during your term, and how would you measure success?

Rein in overdevelopment.

You served three terms on the council between 2003 and 2014 and are now seeking a fourth. Scottsdale has changed considerably in the intervening decade. What have you observed about how the city has evolved since you left office, and what do you think went wrong during your absence that motivated your return? 

For years overdevelopment has taken a heavy toll on Scottsdale’s special character and high quality of life. Clogged roads, blocked views, higher taxes and overburdened infrastructure have been the legacy of the overdevelopment previous City Council majorities have approved. That is what motivates my return, reining in overdevelopment.

You founded the Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions PAC and have long been one of the most prominent voices against large-scale residential development. Given the region’s housing affordability challenges, how do you respond to those who argue that opposition to density is making the Valley less livable for working families? 

This is a completely BS argument designed by developer PR people to justify more overdevelopment.. None of the thousands of tall, dense ugly apartments built or proposed over the last 15 years has been affordable. If you really want affordable housing outlaw STRs!

Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky is hosting her next town hall from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, at the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road.

Mayor Borowsky is offering residents the opportunity to hear directly from a leading water law expert as potential cuts to the Central Arizona Project — a significant provider of the municipal water supply from the Colorado River — raise critical questions about Scottsdale’s long-term water future.

Mayor Borowsky represents the community of Scottsdale as a member of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association Board of Directors (AMWUA) and serves as a member of the Coalition for Protecting Arizona’s Lifeline, which is a nonpartisan alliance of Arizona leaders focused on educating, advocating and elevating the importance of long-term water security.

The town hall will be emceed by KTAR Radio Host Mike Broomhead and will feature a presentation by Rhett Larson, who serves as the Richard Morrison Professor of Water Law at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.

Mr. Larson also serves as general counsel for AMWUA and will provide an in-depth overview of the Colorado River and the potential impacts of looming cuts to CAP’s allocation in Scottsdale.

Residents attending the event will have the opportunity to learn about water challenges facing Scottsdale, ask questions and share feedback directly with Mayor Lisa Borowsky in an open, community-focused setting.

Of Note: Do you have any questions you would like to address? Email the mayor directly at lborowsky@scottsdaleaz.gov.

“Water is one of the most important issues facing our city and our region,” Mayor Borowsky said. “This town hall is an opportunity for residents to hear directly from an expert, ask questions and engage in a meaningful conversation about how we plan for Scottsdale’s long-term water future.”

The Granite Reef Senior Center serves as a hub for civic engagement and community programming, providing an accessible setting for residents to gather and participate in city discussions.

Photo by Arianna Grainey

Old Town Scottsdale markets itself as a premier desert destination: upscale dining, luxury resorts, high-end retail. So a 2 a.m. gunfight spilling across two locations, resulting in five arrests and an officer-involved shooting, is not exactly the brand.

On the morning of May 7, Scottsdale police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired at a Circle K near Camelback Road and Miller Road. Officers found evidence that multiple rounds had been fired, many of which struck the building. About 30 minutes into the investigation, more gunfire erupted near the Maya Condominium complex east of the Circle K. One suspect, 20-year-old Christian Santiago Grant, was found hiding inside a clothes dryer at a nearby home on Miller Road. By May 9, five men had been booked on felony charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, misconduct involving weapons, and resisting arrest.

The STR Connection

Here’s where it gets complicated for the city. Neighbors at the Maya Condominiums told reporters they believe the party connected to the shooting was taking place at a short-term rental unit. That’s not a surprising conclusion given the complex’s makeup. Real estate listings for Maya openly advertise it as an Airbnb and VRBO approved complex with no restrictions on short-term rentals. According to Scottsdale political activist group Protect Scottsdale, a review of the STR density map shows the Maya complex is overwhelmingly comprised of short-term rental units: essentially a de facto hotel operating without the oversight that actual hotels face.

One visitor staying at the condos acknowledged the challenge: “I don’t know if there is something Airbnb can do or the host can do to screen the people they rent to. But it’s hard to control who is coming into an Airbnb when they rent.”

A Pattern the City Can’t Ignore

This is not an isolated incident. Old Town’s nightlife corridor has seen a series of violent incidents in recent years, and the concentration of unregulated short-term rentals in the immediate area is increasingly part of the conversation. STRs with no residency accountability, rotating guests, and party-friendly proximity to bars create conditions that permanent residents and long-term tenants don’t. Arizona state law significantly limits what cities can do to regulate STRs: Scottsdale has pushed for more authority at the legislature with limited success.

The Maya shooting gives that debate new urgency. Five felony arrests and a man shot by police is not a rounding error. It is a public safety argument with a very specific address.

 

By Bob Littlefield

Dear Friends: As you may have heard a Superior Court Judge has ruled against TAAAZE in our lawsuit against the controversial “Axon Law.” While this result is disappointing, we are considering our options for appealing this bad decision. Plenty of issues over the years have been approved in Superior Court only to have them overturned later at the Court of Appeals and the Arizona Supreme Court. A second lawsuit, challenging Scottsdale’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Axon to proceed with its massive apartment complex, is still pending and will be heard in Superior Court June 5th. Among other things, the MOU sidesteps traditional water supply requirements during a time of drought and grants Axon unprecedented rights to police its own construction rather than have city staff do so as has been the case for every other development in the city’s history since inception. One major lesson this controversy has taught us is it matters more than ever who you elect to City Council! The whole reason we are in this mess is because in 2024 four Councilmembers (Whitehead and lame ducks Janik, Durham 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! Whitehead (who is running for re-election in the upcoming city election) has actually voted for the Axon apartments twice and has become their chief cheerleader and lobbyist at City Hall. No wonder she received a $5,000 contribution from an Axon executive early in the campaign! That’s why, if you want to preserve Scottsdale’s special character and high quality of life you should 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 preserve Scottsdale’s special character and high quality of life. Bottom line, I am the proven commodity you can trust to stay true to my resident-friendly promises once I get in office!You can find out more about how you can help me stop overdevelopment in Scottsdale on my web page at https://www.boblittlefield.com/help.html. Thank you for your support. Former Councilman Bob Littlefield

 

Photo Credit: BBC

It’s easy to think that terrorism is some far-away problem that will never come home to roost locally. But a recent development shows that that is not the case, and is a good reminder that many of our friends locally are also under a cloud of threat and potential danger.

Federal prosecutors last week unsealed charges against Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a 32-year-old Iraqi national and alleged commander of Kata’ib Hizballah, an Iran-backed terrorist organization. He was arrested in Turkey and extradited to New York to face felony terrorism charges. Scottsdale was on his target list.

Al-Saadi allegedly sought to coordinate attacks on Jewish institutions in New York, Los Angeles, and Scottsdale this spring. He provided an undercover FBI agent with photos and maps of the targeted locations and asked whether it was possible to set all three on fire simultaneously, agreeing on a $10,000 cryptocurrency payment with $3,000 already sent as a down payment. The FBI arrested him before any attack was carried out. That is not a reason to move on quickly.

What Was Being Targeted

Scottsdale’s Jewish community is not a footnote. It is a foundational part of this city’s civic identity. The Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus opened in 2002 on 30 acres at Sweetwater and Scottsdale Roads, built through private philanthropy and community vision. The Valley of the Sun JCC anchors that campus. It serves as an athletic, social, and cultural hub open to all visitors, regardless of faith or background. That openness is precisely the point. This is not a closed enclave. It is a gathering place.

A Community With Deep Roots

Arizona’s Jewish community has contributed civic leadership disproportionate to its size since at least the early 1940s. Congregation Beth Israel, incorporated in 1920, built the Valley’s first Jewish synagogue, a structure now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is not a community that arrived recently. It built this region alongside everyone else.

What This Moment Requires

FBI Director Kash Patel described Al-Saadi as a “high-value target responsible for mass global terrorism.” Scottsdale should understand what that means locally: a senior figure in a foreign terrorist apparatus chose this city as a target. Antisemitism is not an abstraction in 2026. It has a mailing address, and last week that address was here. Scottsdale’s Jewish community deserves more than relief that the plot failed. It deserves a city that says, loudly, that it stands with them.

By Betty Janik

It is common knowledge that Colorado River water supply has been shrinking for over two decades and there will be significant cuts to Scottsdale’s water in the near future.  Fortunately, over the years, we have accumulated a reserve supply by banking unused CAP water. This will guide us through the next few years depending on the depth of the cuts and the success of conservation. However, now is the time to look beyond the next few years and into the future water supply for Scottsdale. Scottsdale Water has been forward looking for years. We are the regional leader in Advanced Purified Recycled Water (APRW), also known as Pure Water.  The path forward was outlined in 2024 in our Water Strategic Plan and the 5-year CIP 2025-2030.  This holds a key to replacing the diminishing supply of CAP water.  It is cost effective, it is our water, and will be it available sooner than other major projects (Rudy Fischer CAP Board Maricopa and Sarah Porter, Director Kyl Center for Water Policy). It should be our first priority. However, all projects need to be considered and a robust water portfolio is essential.

In a surprise move, the line item for APRW was removed from proposed CIP 2026 along with a reduction in spending for other water projects and a significant staff reduction in the water department.  We are at an inflection point for a secure water future.  Scottsdale should be making water policy a priority and not diminishing it with delays and lack of funding.  Scottsdale’s success has been to keep politics out of our water policy.  This feels like we have crossed a line.  Several Council members have made disparaging, emotionally charged remarks about the pure water program in order to sway public opinion against it.  I suggest they study some water chemistry and speak from a position of knowledge, not emotion.

Scottsdale’s APRW is among the most sophisticated water facilities in the world. Return the needed funding now and keep building on this resilient source of water.

Betty Janik

Former Scottsdale Councilwoman

Sonoran Sage

By Betty Janik

It is common knowledge that Colorado River water supply has been shrinking for over two decades and there will be significant cuts to Scottsdale’s water in the near future.  Fortunately, over the years, we have accumulated a reserve supply by banking unused CAP water. This will guide us through the next few years depending on the depth of the cuts and the success of conservation. However, now is the time to look beyond the next few years and into the future water supply for Scottsdale. Scottsdale Water has been forward looking for years. We are the regional leader in Advanced Purified Recycled Water (APRW), also known as Pure Water.  The path forward was outlined in 2024 in our Water Strategic Plan and the 5-year CIP 2025-2030.  This holds a key to replacing the diminishing supply of CAP water.  It is cost effective, it is our water, and will be it available sooner than other major projects (Rudy Fischer CAP Board Maricopa and Sarah Porter, Director Kyl Center for Water Policy). It should be our first priority. However, all projects need to be considered and a robust water portfolio is essential.

In a surprise move, the line item for APRW was removed from proposed CIP 2026 along with a reduction in spending for other water projects and a significant staff reduction in the water department.  We are at an inflection point for a secure water future.  Scottsdale should be making water policy a priority and not diminishing it with delays and lack of funding.  Scottsdale’s success has been to keep politics out of our water policy.  This feels like we have crossed a line.  Several Council members have made disparaging, emotionally charged remarks about the pure water program in order to sway public opinion against it.  I suggest they study some water chemistry and speak from a position of knowledge, not emotion.

Scottsdale’s APRW is among the most sophisticated water facilities in the world. Return the needed funding now and keep building on this resilient source of water.

Betty Janik

Former Scottsdale Councilwoman

Sonoran Sage

By Thyra Ryden-Diaz, Scottsdale Water Interim Senior Director

Interim Senior Director of Water Resources

If you follow water news in the Southwest, you’ve likely noticed a shift in tone in recent months. While the headlines remain serious, the conversation is becoming more balanced. Alongside concerns about drought and Colorado River reductions, there is growing recognition of the planning, investments, and regional cooperation helping stabilize the system.

That broader context matters.

For Scottsdale residents, the key message remains unchanged: Scottsdale’s water supply is reliable, secure, and actively managed.

The Southwest still faces significant long-term water challenges. The Colorado River remains under stress, negotiations over future operating rules continue, and communities across the region must adapt to hotter and drier conditions. Those realities are not going away.

But Arizona—and Scottsdale specifically—have not stood still.

Scottsdale’s water system was designed around diversification, long-range planning, and drought preparedness. Water delivered to homes and businesses comes from multiple sources, including the Colorado River through the Central Arizona Project, the Salt and Verde River system, groundwater reserves, and recycled water used for irrigation, non-potable demands, and groundwater replenishment.

That diversified portfolio is one of the reasons Scottsdale remains resilient during periods of regional shortage.

Regional discussions are also increasingly focused on collaboration and adaptation rather than solely emergency response. States across the Lower Basin continue working toward agreements that address long-term imbalances on the Colorado River while protecting essential municipal supplies. At the same time, Arizona communities are expanding conservation efforts, investing in infrastructure improvements, and identifying additional storage opportunities.

Scottsdale is part of that effort.

The city continues investing in infrastructure, conservation, advanced water treatment, aquifer replenishment, and long-term planning initiatives designed to strengthen reliability for future generations. These investments are not reactions to a single drought year—they reflect decades of proactive planning.

Residents may still hear terms like “shortage declarations” or “Tier reductions.” These are important regional management tools, but they do not mean Scottsdale is running out of water or that residential service is at risk. Arizona’s water management framework was intentionally designed to protect municipal reliability while promoting conservation and responsible resource management.

That distinction is often lost in the headlines.

Water management in the Southwest remains complex, involving multiple states, tribal nations, Mexico, federal agencies, and local providers working toward long-term sustainability. Difficult conversations and important decisions will continue.

But uncertainty does not mean instability.

The commitment of Scottsdale Water is to continue communicating clearly, factually, and transparently about both the challenges and the progress being made.

Residents deserve honesty about the realities facing the Colorado River. They also deserve confidence in knowing their local water utility has planned for these conditions for decades.

Water in the Southwest is evolving. Scottsdale is evolving with it.

And every day, Scottsdale Water remains focused on protecting the long-term reliability of one of our community’s most essential resources.

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 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.