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Winning Teams for the Day Included Wine Country Polo, Wales, Texas, New Orleans & Nashville — Scottsdale’s Polo Party Returns on November 8th in 2025

In front of another tremendous crowd of 10,378 attendees on a warm day and night, against the backdrop of the picturesque McDowell Mountains, The 13th Annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships: Presented by Gila River Resorts & Casinos wrapped up another memorable Saturday on October 26th with several new event firsts, including what was now the longest day of Scottsdale polo in the event’s history.

Among the new elements for Scottsdale’s 2024 Polo Party were five thrilling polo matches, an event record with two of them being played under the new lights recently installed on the polo fields at WestWorld, thanks to the City of Scottsdale, which was also a sponsor for event.

Among the matches — Wales Polo Team smashed the Arizona Polo Club (14-0) led by Pete Webb. Jared Sheldon carried his Texas Garland Polo Club to victory against the Sonoma Polo Club (8-7). 

In the day’s featured match, it was a nail bitter as The Wine Country Polo Club’s Manuel Crespo clenched a victory against the defending champions of the Aspen Valley Polo Team (4-3) which was led by USA’s top ranked polo star Nic Roldan. New Orleans’ Max Segunda stole the show beating Cave Creek (6-4) and Nashville’s Wes Finlayson led his team to victory over The World Pride Polo Team (8-6).

The event’s ceremonial bowl in, or “ball drop” as its most commonly called was shared by Scottsdale Mayor Dave Ortega, Gila River Governor Stephen Lewis, Arizona State University’s Head Coach Kenny Dillingham, ASU leading rusher Cam Skattebo and former Suns star and player Eddie Johnson. See the video here.

Throughout the afternoon, other events like the 11th Annual Canine Couture by Lugari Pet Salon thrilled the crowds and awarded cash prizes to the best dressed pets. 

The large crowd was also entertained by luxury car displays and the World’s Longest Catwalk Fashion Show by Phoenix Fashion Week. Inside the Casa Amigos Day Club new event partner Relentless Beats hosted D.J.’s for a non-stop afternoon of entertainment and following the fourth match of the day, DJ Jai Wolf provided the event’s first sunset concert under the lights. Wolf has performed at Red Rocks and Coachella, among other places around the world.

But perhaps one of the most memorable moments of the day came when internationally acclaimed opera singer James Valenti partnered with Arizona rock band Whiskey’s Quicker for a special opera rock rendition of Metalica’s Enter Sandman and Guns N’ Roses Sweet Child O’ Mine. See the Performance here.

“There were some incredibly special moments and firsts in American polo last Saturday,” said Title Sponsor Beli Merdovic of Bentley Scottsdale. “Between ASU’s leading Running Back dropping the ball to the Rock Opera performance to seeing the lights come on the field for the first time, it was another extraordinary day at the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships. We are excited to come back next November 8th.”

New event sponsors Gila River Resorts & Casinos, Cardone Ventures, YRefy, LuxRally Travel, Compass, City of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Med Spa, Robert Graham, Diva Diamonds, Grand Hyatt, Scottsdale Resort and Spa, Mountainside Fitness, World Polo League, Casa Amigos, and Calisco Spirits joined longtime Title Sponsor Bentley Scottsdale, which returned for its 10th year. Other signature sponsors included Scottsdale Maserati, Sanderson Lincoln, Barrett-Jackson, Cloudy Bay New Zealand, Edmiston, Genesis of North Scottsdale, Nutrl Selzer, Moet Hennesey, Polestar, Aston Martin, Lucid, Mark Taylor, Lugari Pet Salon, Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, BreakThru Beverage, and Southeast Valley Urology, and Grimaldi’s Pizza Oven. The event returns on Saturday, November 8th, 2025.

By John Carlson, President of Mark-Taylor Companies

The countdown to the 2024 US election has begun, and exercising your right to vote is both a privilege and responsibility. What matters most is understanding who and what you are voting for – and the impact the new president will have on the country’s future, its economic strength and sustainability.

The Harris/Walz and Trump/Vance campaigns offer contrasting solutions to the housing crisis and the broader economic landscape – issues that touch all Americans. While one focuses on tax cuts and deregulation to boost growth, the other emphasizes increased taxation and regulation to address systemic issues.

Taxation

Trump and Harris come from two completely different approaches when it comes to taxation. The Trump ticket emphasizes tax cuts as a means to stimulate economic growth and investment. Building on the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” of 2017, which reduced corporate taxes during his administration, the proposal seeks to lower the corporate tax rate from 21% to 15% and permanently extend capital expenditure depreciation rules.

On the other hand, the Harris ticket supports increased taxation, including a tax on unrealized gains, which some argue could negatively impact housing investments and homeownership. Their plan to address the housing crisis includes building three million new housing units, offering tax incentives and down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, as well as establishing a $40 billion fund to promote affordable housing.

Although this plan seems idealistic, achieving these goals would require increased taxation. The Harris/Walz administration would implement taxing unrealized gains which is not only going to hurt homebuyers and owners but would also destroy housing investments.Read More

The Most Enchanting Holiday Experience will Kick Off with Extended Hours, Longer Run Time and the All-New ‘Dome After Dark’ Cocktail Bar

Vestar, a leading privately held shopping center owner and manager in the western United States, announced today that its North Phoenix property, Desert Ridge Marketplace, will be bringing back the ultimate holiday experience—Ember Lounge.

Inside the striking 50-foot District Dome, guests can enjoy a festive evening under the stars, complete with a cozy dining atmosphere, whimsical craft cocktails, a chef-driven menu, and a state-of-the-art projection show. Following the success of last year’s launch, Ember Lounge will return with exciting new offerings, including updated menus, a revamped projection show, and most notably, the highly anticipated debut of Dome After Dark.

This year, Ember Lounge is thrilled to introduce an exclusive late-night experience, Dome After Dark, on Friday and Saturday nights. This innovative bar concept invites patrons to enjoy Ember Lounge’s signature cocktails in addition to a full bar service, while talented musicians, Ellery, co-founder of a DJ collective, and Joseph Torres, founder of Feel Good Jawns, set the mood for an unforgettable evening. Surprise guests will perform during opening weekend and on select holidays throughout the season.

“Following the success of Ember Lounge last year, we are excited to bring back another District Dome experience this holiday season,” said Jenny Cushing, Vice President of Leasing for Vestar. “Last year’s Ember Lounge sold out for the entire season, and due to demand, we’ve extended the runtime, opening earlier in November and continuing through mid-January. We’ve also added a late-night bar experience and resident DJs providing entertainment on weekends.”

Officially opening to the public on Friday, November 8th, and running through Sunday, January 12th, Ember Lounge invites guests to step into a winter wonderland filled with evergreen foliage and festive decor, where they can enjoy a memorable dining experience beneath the District Dome’s signature state-of-the-art projection show. Upon arrival, groups will be seated in cozy European-style nooks, where they can indulge in a chef-driven menu of savory shareable dishes and whimsical-themed cocktails, thoughtfully crafted by Copper Blues Live.

Signature dishes include the Fall Harvest Bread Boule, Golden Season Bruschetta Board, Open Fire Meatball Skillet, Cauliflower Edamame Roast, Flame-Seared Wild Shrimp, Mountain Steak Feast, and Smoked Campfire S’mores—each curated to capture the enchanting spirit of Ember Lounge.

Guests can also enjoy a selection of signature cocktails, such as The Ice Hotel, which blends wild berry vodka, lingonberry, vanilla, and cardamom, served with shaved ice and snowflakes. The Douglas Fir combines pinecone gin, Earl Grey, cucumber, lemon, and rosemary, served in a watering can vessel.

The Northern Light mixes Starburst-infused tequila, pear, ginger, lime, and is garnished with galaxy glitter. The extensive bar menu also features house shots, a candy cane eggnog, and a wide selection of top-shelf beer, wine, and spirits.

Ember Lounge welcomes all party sizes, allowing guests to choose from four themed dining areas: The Highland, Grove, Wildwood, or Monarch upon booking. Both Ember Lounge and Dome After Dark will require a cover charge for entry, tickets range from $10- $20 per person for Dome After Dark and $30 per person for Ember Lounge, with food and drinks available for purchase upon arrival.

Ember Lounge will operate Wednesday through Sunday, with Dome After Dark starting at 10 PM on Friday and Saturday evenings. Hours of operation and tickets can be purchased at districtdome.com.

Ember Lounge is part of Desert Ridge Marketplace’s Sip & Stroll program, which allows customers 21 and older to enjoy alcoholic beverages from participating bars and restaurants while exploring the property. All guests must be 21 and over, with IDs checked upon entry.

This limited-time experience runs from November 8th through January 12th and is also available for corporate buyouts, events, parties, and large group dining. For sponsorship and corporate rates, contact crichards@vestar.com.

The Ember Lounge is located near Barnes & Noble and Copper Blues at Desert Ridge Marketplace: 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. For more information, visit https://www.districtdome.com/.

Popular Restaurant Chain Now Open, Best-Selling Children’s Clothing Brand Set to Open Nov. 21

Vestar, the largest privately held shopping center owner and manager in the western United States, announced that Carter’s and First Watch will be joining Queen Creek Marketplace in Queen Creek, Arizona. The two tenants will occupy a combined 8,600 square feet of retail space, bringing the shopping center’s occupancy rate to an impressive 98%.

Located at 21398 S Ellsworth Loop Road, Queen Creek Marketplace, home to Target, Trader Joe’s and more, features 900,000 square feet of diverse retail, dining, and entertainment options tailored to meet the needs of the local community. With construction already underway, these new locations are expected to open in the next six months, further solidifying the center’s reputation as one of Arizona’s premier shopping and dining destinations.

First Watch, a favorite breakfast, lunch, and brunch spot, opened its 4,500-square-foot location on Monday.

Meanwhile, Carter’s, known for its baby, toddler, and children’s apparel, will occupy a 4,100-square-foot space with plans to open Nov. 21, 2024. 

“Queen Creek Marketplace continues to be a top destination for Arizona families, and we are committed to bringing a diverse range of retailers to this rapidly growing community. These new additions underscore our dedication to enhancing the East Valley’s retail, dining, and entertainment landscape,” said Angie Kory, Vice President of Leasing at Vestar.

Queen Creek Marketplace neighbors Vinyard Towne Center and Queen Creek Crossing, part of the five ground-up development projects that Vestar currently has underway. Verrado Marketplace, Laveen Towne Center and the Shops at Lake Pleasant are also in various stages of development.

To learn more about Vestar, visit www.vestar.com.

“The Face of American Polo,” Nic Roldan, Facing Off Against Napa Valley Polo Team in Event’s Most-Anticipated Matchup; Arizona State University’s Running Back Cam Skattebo, Head Coach Kenny Dillingham Performing Ceremonial Ball Drop Ahead of Signature Match

2016 Polo Championship, Westworld. Dave Seibert photo

He’s one of the world’s top polo players, and fans can see Nic Roldan take his skills, speed and star power to the field at the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships on Saturday, October 26th, 2024.

Roldan, an eight-goal, Argentine professional polo player, will lead the Aspen Valley Polo Team in the most anticipated match-up of the event at WestWorld of Scottsdale.

Last year, Roldan and his teammates took home top honors at America’s most-attended polo event, and this year promises even more exhilarating polo action, with Roldan and his teammates, Melissa and Grant Ganzi, taking the field against Argentine six-goal player Manuel Crespo and his teammates, Vladimir Rivkin and Jared Sheldon, in the Napa Valley Polo Team’s first Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships appearance.

“Nic’s a favorite face around the Polo Party, and fans should prepare themselves for a heck of a showdown when we take on Napa Valley,” said Melissa Ganzi. “The energy, excitement and intensity of this match will make it one of the most memorable moments in Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships history.”

Roldan first burst onto the American polo scene at age 15, when he became the youngest player ever to walk away with a win at the U.S. Open Polo Championship. A fourth-generation polo player, Roldan amassed a lengthy list of victories in matches across all five continents, scoring multiple MVP nods and coveted wins at the Copa Camara de Diputados in Argentina and the Cartier Queen’s Cup in Europe, among other major titles and triumphs.

While Roldan’s on-field successes have dominated headlines, so, too, have his philanthropic and entrepreneurial efforts. He co-founded Sunset Polo International alongside his Aspen Valley Polo teammates, Melissa and Grant Ganzi. The nonprofit supports organizations dedicated to improving child welfare and works to enhance accessibility and educate the public about the sport of polo. Roldan is also an active supporter of other child-focused nonprofits, including the Kids Cancer Foundation, The Boys & Girls Club and WindWalkers, an Aspen-based nonprofit offering equine-assisted therapies.

In addition to his charity work, Roldan is a successful model and businessman. He owns his own apparel line and property development company, and he also co-founded High Goal Luxury Gin, a sustainable spirits company, alongside liquor entrepreneur Matti Antilla.

“The crowd in Scottsdale is second to none – the energy is always high and the atmosphere is electric,” Roldan said, of his multiple appearances at the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships. “I love coming here, not just for the competition, but to be around so many people who have embraced the sport and the lifestyle that surrounds it.”

Roldan and the Aspen Valley Polo Team’s face-off against the Napa Valley Polo Team will be one of five matchups taking place during the Championships, with this year’s signature match also featuring special guests from the gridiron.

Electrifying running back generating national headlines Cam Skattebo and Sun Devils Head Coach Kenny Dillingham will perform the ceremonial ball drop ahead of the match. ASU boasts a winning five-to-one record this season under Dillingham’s leadership, with the head coach earning recognition as the brilliant and positive force behind the team’s success.

For the first time ever, this year’s Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships will also feature Night Polo matches, a new “Polo After Dark” element and an elegant Dinner Under the Stars planned in partnership with the City of Scottsdale.

Guests can also look forward to fashion shows, luxury car and brand experiences, VIP tent opportunities and appearances by DJ Jai Wolf, internationally acclaimed tenor and opera singer James Valenti and other top musical talent.

Gates open at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, and tickets and a full event schedule are available at ThePoloParty.com.

Featured Editorials


By Scottsdale Mayor-Elect Lisa Borowsky

By every significant measure, Scottsdale is ready for its tomorrow, from a solid tax base to government resources to tourist draws to open spaces, on and on. We should succeed; we will succeed. The question is: What form will that success take?

As Election Day retreats to results, let’s pause for a moment and take stock of the underlying stakes that were in this race.  Yes, it was about the usual issues facing local government, from transportation to housing to the budget, and more. But it was also about something bigger – its about how we envisioned the future of our city and our community, a vision that is not only about buildings and roads but also about the type of people we are as well as aspire to be, and how those aspirations will shape the place where we live.

Will we be a united city, with citizens participating in the discussion about our path forward? Will the people of Scottsdale feel empowered by our government, or disconnected from it? Will we build homes and communities that organically grow welcoming neighborhoods? Will we support our schools to best equip our students with the knowledge and tools they will need? Will we attract businesses and industries that add not only jobs but also contribute to our quality of life? Will we confront the rising risk to our natural resources, working independently as well as in concert with other cities and the state, fortifying our community?

More specifically, and perhaps more prosaically, how do we stop cost overruns and excess spending? How do we stick to projected costs and agreed-upon expenditures? How do we make sure government does what it says it will do, instead of pushing one agenda publicly and another quietly, out of sight from the public and the media? How do we make government more responsive, more reliable, more worthy of our trust?

There is a reason that this was a non-partisan race, because the future of Scottsdale does not belong to one faction or another, it belongs to its citizens. The issues are not political but practical–how can we build a better, stronger, more prosperous Scottsdale, prepared to take on any and all challenges? How do we ensure that Scottsdale is a place where its residents are best positioned to pursue their ambitions and fulfill their dreams?

The answer begins with coming together for the sake of our families, our community, and our future.

I asked for your support on November 5th, and I am grateful to have received it.

 

One of the best things that happened in Scottsdale Tuesday night was the decisive passage of Propositions 490 and 491 despite an odd conglomeration of opponents.  Both measures will meaningfully provide important funding of city parks, the spectacular Preserve, our great public safety and our significant “Central Park” that is WestWorld.   It will do so for generations.

Though not as dramatic as initial decisions that launched the Indian Bend Wash or the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Propositions 490 and 491 represent tender loving care for 2 of the community’s most beloved places, as well as other needs.  And they both did so in a way that will still see a reduction in city sales taxes from previous years, notwithstanding suggestions otherwise from the irresponsible.

Many were involved on task forces,  the City Council, with contributions and with volunteering to help a two year process come to a successful conclusion.  Yet, there 4 unwavering women that deserve the most credit.  Former Mayor Mary Manross.  Preserve pioneer and Greenbelt adjacent resident Carla, Scottsdale City Councilwoman Solange Whitehead and Scottsdale City Councilwoman Betty Janik.  They were the heart and sould of the campaign to back the propositions.  They were leaders, they were tireless and they were ultimately successful.  And Scottsdale will be the better for it, and them.

Many months ago as initial opposition was surfacing from those who believe the good is the enemy of the great and who themselves have been engaged in advocacy for necessary taxes, it was the steely Janik, a Sonoran sage, who was heard whispering to a concerned supporter:  “Not to worry.  We are going to win because the facts and merits are on our side.”

Janik proved prophetic.  And thanks to her, Whitehead, Manross and Carla, keeping Scottsdale special just took another big step forward.

By Ronald Sampson

Credit: Axon

Just when I had hoped that it would be the end of it, that the city of Scottsdale would get a reprieve from the constant harassment, it persists. Like a woman at a club who keeps getting hit on by a guy that won’t take no for an answer, regardless of her friends and her beefy boyfriend telling him to get lost, he’s just going to take another shot of Don Julio and give it another try, because she actually really likes it, she just doesn’t know yet.

Scottsdale is that woman, and Axon is that clueless dude, and Axon’s baaaaaaack. Regular readers know what a persistent problem they’ve been in Scottsdale, trying to shoehorn in a massive apartment complex against the desires of essentially everyone and like a petulant child threatening to take its ball and go home (i.e. move its headquarters) if it doesn’t get its way (read our full coverage here).

Well after massive public pushback Axon is preparing to take another swing, with revised plans that it is preparing to take back to the Scottsdale Planning Commission and City Council. And wow, what a change! Instead of 2,500 units, they’ve reduced it down to a mere 1,965 units! Don’t you see? Axon is listening! Axon cares!

Hopefully the sarcasm was obvious. It’s an embarrassingly small capitulation, turning into a potential local nightmare into very slightly less of a potential local nightmare. 

Think about it…when have you EVER known of any local company, or ANY corporation at all, wanting to create a MASSIVE apartment/condo complex for its own benefit? This is not a thing that happens. Imagine if GoDaddy Gardens was proposed. It would be rightfully laughed off the stage. Why on earth is Axon even trying to do this? Clearly it seems like a backward way of boosting its own bottom line, and hey, they should pursue profits, but not at the expense of the community and the taxpayer.

After all, perhaps the worst part is that it very much gamed the Arizona State Land Trust, performing a zoning rug-pull bait-and-switch that stole millions of dollars that would be dedicated to Arizona’s schools and yet still trying to cosplay as a “good corporate neighbor”. 

“It’s not easy to do something iconic as a big public company,” Axon CEO Rick Smith said. “I want to do something that stands out.”

If “something iconic” is alienating an entire city to feed your own misplaced hubris, than well done…he’s truly an icon.

Meanwhile, Scottsdale should continue to reject this bully, and the only way to treat a bully is to punch them in the mouth. Not literally, but by standing up to them and saying, “Hell no.”

As you read this, you may be just as surprised at the outcome at the national level as I am. While polling composites generally seemed to have Trump with a slight lead, that slight lead looks to have turned into an electoral landslide the likes of which were technically possible but not probable. But while there is already considerable pontificating about that already, I would prefer to look at some local results and see what we can collectively glean from that, and few results are currently as surprising as a few local races.

First, it’s worth mentioning that there are currently many votes to count, amongst which are the early ballots mailed in or dropped off late, and there is speculation that those may break towards Democrats. That said, current trends are rather telling and without a major reversal it seems as though most of these results will hold.

For starters, in one of the bigger shocks of the year it looks as though Scottsdale will have a new mayor next year. Challenger Lisa Borowsky took a lead over incumbent Dave Ortega that started after the initial vote count announcement yesterday and has widened in subsequent counts. She is currently up by seven percentage points, or over 6,500 votes, more than reversing her margin of loss four years ago on a percentage basis. It appears as though this one is about over.

Not to be outdone in the surprise category, the results so far to fill two seats at the Scottsdale City Council are raising a few eyebrows. Mary McAllen is currently in the first position with a slim (and thus far decreasing) lead over Adam Kwasman. Incumbent Tammy Caputi sits about 2,800 votes out of the 3rd place position, with Tom Durham, who famously told voters to vote for both McAllen and Caputi in order to keep Kwasman out, in a distant fourth. While not an insurmountable lead, Caputi will need to make up considerable ground over the next few counts in order to avoid a loss.

In order to round out the trio of surprises in Scottsdale elections, propositions 490 and 491 were amongst the best performers of the night, easily doing away with their opposition. Prop 490 has earned 59.3% of the vote as of the time of writing, and Prop 491 is nearly 67% support. While well regarded and generally thought likely to pass, these margins seem to be a statement of some sort.

Lastly, Paradise Valley will have a new mayor next year as well, as in their run-off election Mark Stanton has defeated Anna Thomasson by a 7.3% margin at the time of writing. This serves as an impressive turnaround from even just a year ago, when many saw his pursuit of the office as an uphill battle.

While the Paradise Valley result shouldn’t result in a massive shake-up in the town, suffice it to say that Scottsdale has so far voted for change, and soon the difficult work on turning campaign promises into action will begin.

APG readers: we see you. We see how many people read our content and where they are from. We see your comments, we see the back-and-forth bickering even if we rarely intervene unless it gets particularly nasty (it’s the free market of ideas, baby!). We even see the mean comments where you hurt our feelings and we weep softly and slowly in a corner (jk, we are hard as bricks forged in the fires of too much political involvement). 

Long diatribe-y intro aside, our point is…you have thoughts. You have ideas. You care about your area. And while we love the engagement, as it’s heartening to be a public meeting spot for thoughts and bickering (also, it really helps our search engine optimization), there are more important outlets for your passion.

So what can you do to truly make your voice heard, above and beyond engaging with our awesome blog that is? You can serve on a Scottsdale city board or commission!

Seriously? Seriously! The city is seeking residents to serve on these boards! It needs to fill openings for the Environmental Advisory Commission, the Historic Preservation Commission, the Loss Trust Fund Board, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission, the Neighborhood Advisory Commission, the Paths and Trails Subcommittee, and the Veterans Advisory Commission.

Some of them might be a bit more in demand and more hot-button, such as the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission or the Neighborhood Advisory Commission, and at least one is a mystery (what is a Loss Trust Fund Board anyway??). But some of them are just asking for everyday people with a certain type of expertise who are not tied to any sort of dogmatic political fury. Historic preservation? Paths and trails? That could be very cool for the right people!

Ok, so perhaps we oversold it…it’s less of a vehicle for you to rant about Scottsdale politics, but it is an opportunity to put your big brains and specific expertise to use. And at the very least, it would be a neat opportunity to serve your community.

If you feel like you would add value to the city and you’re not simply looking to climb up the nasty, slippery rope of politics, you should consider applying. You can do so here.

 

Most of us probably remember the sh*tshow that was the 2024 WM Open, but since so much has happened since then and memories are short…many tickets weren’t checked, people were severely over-served alcohol, there were fights, there was vomit, and there was precious little police presence compared to the number of revelers that were there. It was a stain on the reputation of the event, and hopefully a catalyst for some degree of change (you can read our coverage here).

Preparations are now underway for the 2025 iteration of this event, and we have to wonder…what will change?

According to the organizers they are looking to “elevate the fan experience” with “an additional entrance, all-digital admission ticketing platforms, improved walking paths and upgraded general admission areas”.

This is very likely to alleviate the issues related to ticket-checking and fewer people crashing the gates without tickets, so from a logistics perspective this is helpful. But as we all know, that was only one of the profound issues with this year’s event.

They are saying that they want to make the event “better, not bigger”, and that is also preferred, but we also have to wonder how much these changes will move the needle in that regard. The Bird’s Nest headliners of Luke Bryan and Jelly Roll are A-list acts, but will the organizers be focused on toning down the debauchery of the event which has become an increasingly unfortunate hallmark of the event?

The fact that law enforcement from around the Valley had to be rustled up and brought to the event, and even then it was not enough to keep things in check properly, is indicative of a larger need…the need for a cultural overhaul. The events of this year were indicative that perhaps the pendulum swung too far towards the party side and away from the golf side, and that it has potentially damaged from the brand in a way that makes it much less of a desirable event for professionals to participate in.

While logistical changes are welcome and will undoubtedly be helpful to the overall experience, it is the elephant in the room that remains unaddressed that perhaps needs to be addressed more than anything else.

Photo Credit: KJZZ

The race to represent Congressional District 1, which covers much of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and parts of Phoenix, is easily one of the premier target Congressional districts in the entire country and could very well play a leading role in the balance of power in the United States House of Representatives (you can read our coverage here). As the election nears we are getting both more clarity and more attacks, as is expected.

As a brief primer, Congressman David Schweikert is defending his seat once again; having had numerous close races in the recent past, he may now find himself in his toughest battle against Amish Shah, a State Representative who is well known for personally knocking on more doors and having more personal conversations with voters at doors than nearly any local candidate.

Election campaign finance reports are out and give some clarity as to what each candidate has spent and what they have left in the final hours of the campaign. First, as of the time of writing, Shah’s “pre-general election” report was not available, but for Q3 he spent a staggering $2.1 million, and yet at the start of October still had $1.5 million cash on hand. Indeed a position of strength.

As for Schweikert, he did file his pre-general election report, which showed him with 392K cash on hand as of a couple weeks ago. Between the Q3 report and the 12 subsequent days covered in the pre-general election report, he was not to be outdone by Shah, having spent $2.2 million over those two periods.

There has predictably been a deluge of advertisements, with mail pieces being a nearly daily occurrence for target voters that the campaigns see as up-for-grabs. While sometimes it can be difficult to capture the intent of those mail pieces before they are tossed into the garbage, their respective digital ads give more lasting clarity.

For Schweikert, he seems to be running very little positive advertising about himself and is almost entirely focused on going negative against Shah. He is tying in Shah with AOC and “The Squad”, calling him radical and picking a few nuggets from his time in the House. Calling easily one of the most moderate Democrats at the House “radical” is a predictable stretch, although tying him in with The Squad, a group that he seems to have little ideological common ground with? One has to wonder if he was white if those same comparisons would be made; Schweikert’s campaigns have a long history of being gross.

Meanwhile, in a refreshing change, Shah’s digital advertising seems to be entirely positive. Since this is a target district, the DCCC has no doubt been using significant resources to bloody up Schweikert; since the RCCC has more-or-less abandoned Schweikert based on previous reports, he doesn’t have that luxury of being able to play good cop.

With relatively equal amounts of spend, it seems as though this campaign will be a test of what works better: purely negative, baiting advertising, or positivity and a lot of doors knocked personally. I’d like to think that Shah’s approach will be the successful one, but there’s a reason why politics is full of cynics.

From Data Orbital

Data Orbital has released the results of its latest statewide, mixed mode (live caller and text to web) survey of likely General Election voters. The survey was conducted from October 26th 2024 – October 28th 2024. The survey measured support for candidates in Arizona’s Presidential and US Senate contests.With just one week to go until the 2024 General Election, Republicans hold a lead in the Presidential race, and the US Senate race is in a statistical dead heat.

In the race for president, Republican Donald Trump leads Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, 49.7% to 41.9%. Green Party candidate Jill Stein received 1.0% support, while Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver garnered 0.7%. An additional 6.8% of respondents were undecided or declined to answer.

In the US Senate race, Republican candidate Kari Lake holds a narrow lead over Democratic candidate Ruben Gallego, 45.2% to 44.5%. Green Party candidate Eduardo Quintana received 1.6% support, while 8.6% of respondents were undecided or declined to answer.
Pollster George Khalaf had this to say about the latest results, “With early voting in full swing and a week until election day, former President Donald Trump looks to be in a commanding position to win the state of Arizona. Republican nominee Kari Lake also looks to have closed the gap with Democratic nominee Congressman Ruben Gallego in the US Senate race. It all comes down to what the final electoral makeup looks like when voting ends at 7:00 PM on November 5th.”
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This poll of 550 likely general election voters was conducted through a combination of live phone survey and text-to-web that collected 33.3% of the results from live caller landlines, 33.3% from live caller cell phones, and 33.3% via text-to-web. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.26% with a 95% confidence interval. Respondents were weighted on a number of different demographic figures based on prior general election voter turnout figures. The poll was conducted from October 26th 2024 – October 28th, 2024. The questions released are verbatim from the survey provided to respondents.  Toplines and demographic data can be found here. Crosstabs for this survey can be found here.

 

Harrison Jr.’s new home. Photo Credit: Realtor.com

Marvin Harrison Jr. was perhaps the most hyped-up and heralded draft pick in the history of the Arizona Cardinals since perhaps Larry Fitzgerald, and the comparisons are easy to make. Fitzgerald was the 3rd overall pick in 2004, and Harrison the 4th overall pick last year. Both are tall, prototypical wide receivers, both run great routes and have excellent hands. Fitzgerald turned into probably the smartest draft decision in the franchise’s history, not just for his play but for his leadership and presence in the area.

Hype had been unusually high for a fanbase well versed in disappointment and malaise, and for good reason. While the word “generational talent” is thrown around too much by the 24/7 sports media, Harrison fits that description.

Then we learned that Harrison purchased a beautiful home in Paradise Valley. He’s growing roots in the area. He’s here to stay…this is real. 

And yet…where has he been? As of the time of writing (before their game against the Dolphins) he’s caught a mere 20 receptions in his six games played (leaving aside one game where he was out with a concussion). While his four touchdown catches in six games would extrapolate out to an excellent season total, exactly 300 yards over that time period (i.e. 50 yards a game) is pedestrian, more indicative of a 2nd or 3rd receiver than an all-world #1 receiver, on a team which he has no one even approaching being a peer at his position.

So what’s the deal? And will it change?

First, it’s not time to panic, even if concerns could be warranted. Some positions are more amenable to a rookie stepping in and producing. There isn’t much of a learning curve for running backs coming out of college, for instance. The wide receiver position is more nuanced in the NFL and does have that learning curve. Rookie wide receivers very rarely dominate.

Another problem is the lack of other options. Fitzgerald blossomed most when Anquan Boldin was on the other side. When a team has multiple threats at receiver, the defense can less effectively shut down the #1. As of the time of writing, Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch are the other starting receivers. Those two will keep precisely zero defensive coordinators up at night worrying about how to shut them down, so they can more effectively focus on Harrison.

But maybe the biggest elephant in the room? The quarterback. Kyler Murray is eminently talented, no doubt, but his biggest drawback may be playing into this problem. Murray is listed as 5’10”, and that might be charitable. As the pocket forms around him in passing plays, 6’6” men will naturally block his sight-line to the sideline and will make it more difficult for him to even spot Harrison. He almost needs to move out of the pocket to spot him, which will be impractical or undesired much of the time.

So Harrison may be growing roots here, and it is a true hope that he is a career Cardinal. But without more options at receiver he will be easier to gameplan around, and with the shortcomings (pun intended) of our current quarterback, his skill set may never truly be maximized while here.

 

ADDENDUM: since this was written over the weekend, it ran the risk of being rendered null and void with a big performance on Sunday. And what happened? Six receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown for Marvin Harrison Jr. Of course. If this publication is proven wrong, best to have it be from a great Cardinals performance. Here’s to hoping it’s the first of many.

Former Maricopa County Assessor Paul Peterson

Mistakes from the past will sometimes come back and catch up to you; they do to all of us at some point. A lie in the past comes back to haunt you, credit card bills come due, poor lifestyle choices in the past turn into health problems today. But rarely is it a result of someone else’s mistakes, and rarely does it come in the form of a catastrophic dollar amount like this story does.

Back in 2017, the Maricopa County Assessor’s office under the leadership of Paul Peterson made a grave, grave mistake; it failed to recognize that homes that were not a primary owner-occupied home should be assessed at a higher property tax rate than secondary or vacation homes, and that when that classification changes the rate should drop with it. What seems like a relatively banal decision generated a massive ripple effect with a bill that is about to come due after a lawsuit worked its way through the courts.

That bill? A staggering $330 million countywide. And now the Scottsdale Unified School District has the largest bill due of any school district in the county, as it owes a nearly-as-staggering $23.7 million, generating the start of a lawsuit against the county. Meanwhile, it only has $10 million cash on hand.

Yikes.

Of course, the damage isn’t purely relegated to Scottsdale; the Maricopa County Community College District may be on the hook for $44 million, draining its surplus accounts and likely leading to significant budget cuts. Additionally, interest has accrued over that time period, which for eight years is a hefty additional burden. Over one-fifth of the amounts taken from MCCCD’s coffers to cover the deficit has been interest alone.

The path forward at the moment seems to be debt issuance; thankfully our municipalities and taxing jurisdictions nearly universally have good credit ratings and plenty of room left to borrow. However, if it will necessitate a specific bond override, that could set things up for an unfortunate political hot potato. And if it will necessitate a tax increase, watch out.

Neither of these should be such political hot-buttons. SUSD, MCCCD, and every other affected organization is entirely blameless in this situation, and Assessor Peterson was run out of the office after various scandals. But memories are short and the desire to blame others is a political birthright. We have to assume that at some point it will manifest itself into political finger-pointing, but not at the one person who deserves it: Paul Peterson.

By Alexander Lomax

For Scottsdale political wonks, it’s been a fun year regardless, but few developments have been as fun as Councilman Tom Durham essentially peacing-out of his re-election campaign and turning all of his efforts towards defeating Adam Kwasman in his race to defeat him. Rarely has an active candidate told everyone publicly, “Don’t vote for me, vote for these two people instead” (you can read our pieces about it here).

But there are a few different echelons of “quiet quitting” as a candidate. There are some whose hearts aren’t really into it and who are going through the motions, ready to move on to the next phase in their lives. And then there is going Full Kamikaze, using your resources to both destroy yourself and your enemy simultaneously.

Enter Councilman Durham and yours truly, a humble political blogger/nerd.

A concerned citizen recently forwarded on this ad from Facebook, coming from Durham’s official campaign page. Not only is Durham not actively campaigning for himself, but he’s spending campaign funds to specifically go after one other candidate.

And look who he quoted in his graphic:

Councilman Durham…I’m honored. 

While you don’t say it explicitly, I agree with you in spirit…there are those who attempt to exploit the political winds in order to gain power instead of adding any value to the position that they’re applying for. And then there are those who are civil servants, who have a specific set of experiences and skills that uniquely align them with a particular position. And Adam Kwasman is the former, not the latter, as his past attempts at attention have demonstrated.

Besides, it’s always nice to have your work attributed! 

Whatever else I can do to help, just let me know. While each of the other candidates have their flaws, at no point have I believed that they don’t have the city’s best interests in mind. Kwasman? I’m confident that he only has his own best interests in mind.

By Preserve Pioneer and Former Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross

Scottsdale has an unmatched quality of life because our community came together with a

Vision.  Thanks to that Vision we have built a world class park system, a beautiful greenbelt through the middle of the community, and a one of a kind McDowell Sonoran Preserve. I was here for every one of the challenges those big ideas faced and we prevailed.

All of these proposed amenities were criticized using the same small minded, untrue accusations which we face today.  Scottsdale has the 2nd lowest property tax rate of eight large cities in the valley.  It has the third lowest sales tax rate of 12 cities in the valley. If Mesa passes its tax hike in November, Scottsdale will have the second lowest sales tax rate.  We have AAA Bond ratings.  Still, we enjoy a very high quality of life because our residents have, from the beginning, had a long term vision for our community.

Today we need to stand up, again, to protect and sustain our entire open space and recreational network. Our Vision is, again, on the ballot.  We must make sure that network is taken care of every single year, not just when a particular council decides to fund a repair or address a maintenance issue in a park or the Preserve.  The smartest way to fund those needs is through sales tax. So every Scottsdale visitor will help pay for maintenance, repairs and projects outlined in detail in the propositions, including important improvements for our Police and Fire Departments. Plus, the city sales tax rate will remain low when these ballot measures are implemented. There will be complete accountability and transparency.

Scottsdale needs the same discernment today that it has exhibited in the past.  Make the right decisions for Scottsdale’s future and all of our Crown Jewels!  Vote YES YES for 490 and 491.

Mary Manross, former Mayor and Chair of Vote YES YES Scottsdale PAC

By Alan Bovi

Let’s say you’ve budgeted 10K of your savings to do some home projects. You get quotes, you’re within 5-10% of your budget and you proceed. Only the contractor you’ve selected now says that project is 30K. Or what if it’s a large house remodel budgeted and quoted at 100K…oops, the contractor now says it’s 300K. Hmm, do you proceed?

Common sense prevails and you pump the brakes. But if it’s a roundabout in Scottsdale, sure, why not, it’s only taxpayer money and we, the Council/Mayor, know better than you.

Let’s take it a step further. I used to be a sucker for these propositions that ‘save’, or ‘protect’ or ‘fund’ various buckets like parks, police, fire, schools, you name it. Prop 490 is a great example. Except for 1 vital detail I learned: all these things ARE fully funded, as they should be. But no, mayors and councils want to dig deeper into your wallets to give them a piggy bank to do whatever they might deem important (whether you want it or not) while we’re baited into thinking these community essentials will be compromised.

Every time you are tempted to vote Yes for the latest gimmicky Proposition-especially one that raises our taxes by $1.2BL- close your eyes, envision the countless large buildings that keep going up, robbing Scottsdale of every inch of real estate (bye, bye green spaces) and envision the mountain of cash that accompanies each of these projects in Net New city tax revenues.

Enough already. They have more than enough $$ to keep our city thriving without more taxes and special interest propositions. Let’s start with canceling unnecessary projects that come in at 2x/3x the cost of what’s reasonable, sensible and budgeted. (Message to City Leadership: Pretend you’re teaching your kids a lesson in finance, then operate in the same manner with city revenues/our tax dollars…)

Oh yes, one more thing: that’s why I’m voting Lisa Borowsky for Mayor and Adam Kwasman for City Council…I don’t have to explain my position regarding the above basic concepts because they already know, and will inject some common sense back into city fiscal leadership. Then we can TRULY and responsibly ‘save, protect and fund’ Scottsdale…

No one likes it when lawyers get involved (except for lawyers themselves). Legal battles always lead to an incredible amount of money spent and rarely is anyone truly satisfied with a result (again, except for the lawyers). Thus when a recent headline hit the wire, it had us double-taking: the city is suing itself.

Wait, what? Yes, put more specifically, the city of Scottsdale is suing the city’s public safety retirement board, basically its pension and benefits governing body.

The spat is a result of three board members deciding not to follow term limit rules, with two members being on the board since 2014 and one since 2005, and the rules dictating that nine years is the limit. 

This begs another question: how are they 10 years late in detecting that the longest serving board member was past the limit? It feels like the equivalent of taking several years to finally get to a spring cleaning only to see that an item of food expired in 1998.

The independent counsel for the board members state that the city rules don’t apply to them, because of course. Again, the only winners are always the lawyers.

One has to wonder why being on a relatively arcane board is such a matter of importance for the three members. While it is a noble endeavor, making sure that first responders are provided the benefits that they were promised, it is hard to believe that their institutional knowledge is of such a necessity that they can’t be replaced. Is actually enjoying retirement so difficult?

No one should be above the law, even those in governing boards. While we will leave the arguing and the technicalities to the well-paid professionals, it is our simple hope that this is resolved quickly and cheaply. We have more value-adding items to spend money on as a city.

Axon has resubmitted plans for massive project in north Scottsdale.

We all want economic growth, and Arizona (and Scottsdale, more specifically) has been on fire in that regard recently. This has been optimized by the massive recent announcement by semiconductor-adjacent giant ASM, which recently announced an absolutely mammoth expansion in Scottsdale (you can learn more about it here).

But as with anything mammoth, there will be winners and there will be losers. There will always be ancillary damage for any major development. And in this case, one of the potential losers is another fairly massive development.

Enter Optima, the somewhat controversial luxury condo/apartment development at Scottsdale Rd. and Mayo Blvd. that was approved in 2022. The 1,330-unit development was one of the precious few large developments that have made it through the gauntlet that is the current makeup of City Hall, but which is now rather close to the new ASM development.

The biggest issue? A proposed five-story parking structure for ASM workers that will block the views of many people in the luxury development. Uh-ohh, looks like a massive battle is brewing, right?

While some corporate partners (looking at you, Axon) make unnecessary fights and threats, pouting like children if they don’t get their way, in this case it was about as kumbaya as it gets. A solution was crafted (bury three floors of the garage below ground), and Optima would even help pay for it!

No public spats, no veiled threats, no lawyering up…bam. A solution that works for everyone. If only all conflicts in life were handled so pragmatically and graciously!

Axon could learn a thing or two: that collaboration is better than going at it alone, that honey works better than vinegar. 

The Scottsdale Mayoral run-off between Mayor David Ortega and Lisa Borowsky is entering its final stages, and there are a number of things we can glean from the final stretch.

First, the last campaign finance reports of note have been released, and that offers crucial insight. Q3 was a very strong fundraising quarter for Mayor Ortega, raising $113K and leaving himself with $149K cash on hand as of the end of September. That said, nearly $45K of that came in the form of a personal loan.

Meanwhile, Borowsky raised $93K for the reporting period and sits with a relatively weak $44K cash on hand; she is in need of a significant last-minute infusion of cash to keep relatively close to Ortega.

Meanwhile, Ortega released a professionally produced new video which is currently running all across the city, and mail pieces have already hit some mailboxes, including one that goes right after Borowsky. Meanwhile, Borowsky’s digital advertising presence has been a bit on the light side, merely running this ad highlighting “Ortega’s vision for Scottsdale” and apparently not currently running any ads on Meta or Google, with a communications and advertising strategy that seems to be largely dependent on print advertising. She has sent some mail pieces out, and will undoubtedly get a boost being a favored candidate of the local Republican party.

As for messaging, the battle lines are both clear and predictable. Ortega is focused on how Scottsdale has remained a great city under his tenure while highlighting some of his achievements, and Borowsky is going with a message about how Ortega will turn Scottsdale into a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants and the homeless. Necessary to a degree for anyone challenging an incumbent, although more explicitly spelling out a vision for a better Scottsdale might help.

While both campaigns have been less-than-perfect, considering the money advantage it’s certainly Advantage Ortega at this point. But stranger things have happened; after all, few thought Ortega would win last time around.

Regular readers of this blog (or other political nerds who simply haven’t come across the Arizona Progress & Gazette yet) understand that the race to control both the Arizona House of Representatives and the Arizona Senate is an incredibly tight and important one. With mere one seat advantages in both the House and Senate, Arizona Republicans’ control of both chambers (and with it, quite a bit of power) teeters perilously close towards tipping to the Democrats (especially with Democrat Katie Hobbs as Governor).

Yet as is the case with the Electoral College, where only a handful of states (including our own) control the destiny of the Presidency, only a handful of legislative districts are balanced enough to truly be in play this election cycle. And wouldn’t you know, District 4, which covers part of Scottsdale and includes Paradise Valley and swaths of Phoenix, is one of those swing districts.

And wherever there is power to be had, the sort of power inherent in winning swing districts, there is a lot of money on the line. A whole lot.

First there’s Matt Gress, the Republican defending his seat, and his campaign finance reports look closer to someone running for statewide office, having raised an eye-popping $583K to date with a nearly-as-impressive $281K cash on hand still, even after all of the street signs have been raised, most advertising buys having been made, and numerous mailers having gone out. At this point it seems as though he will exit the election with a bunch of money in the bank, which may well support a run for higher office.

The Democrats are no slouches however; current Representative Kelli Butler is not far behind, having raised $485K but still sitting on $111K in the bank. Challenger Karen Gresham has raised a similarly impressive $475K and still has $77K in the bank. Republican Pamela Carter is being left in the dust, having raised a still solid $158K with $77K in the bank.

All told, this means that $1.155 MILLION has been spent in order to occupy one of the two Representative seats. While we have no data to compare that with, it would not be shocking if this was the most expensive Arizona House race in history.

For those of you who are in district, perhaps the brightest light at the end of the tunnel? In a couple weeks all of the mailers, ads, and canvassers will all be done, and life can resume as normal.

As reported here, Axon is plotting to bring its highly controversial and widely opposed plan to build the largest apartment complex in Scottsdale history back to the lame-duck Scottsdale City Council following the November 5thelection.  The units would adjoin its previously pledged and approved corporate headquarters.

Axon clearly believes it has the best chance to secure 4 (or 5 votes if a Major General Plan Amendment is needed) with the current council and not the reconstituted one that will be seated in January.

This is where it gets really interesting.

If Axon somehow finds a way to get 4 or 5 votes in November/December despite polling showing Scottsdale voters opposing the Axon plan by nearly 80% a citizen’s referendum is possible if not likely.  If the Axon plan goes to a city-wide vote it loses. Period.

And this is where recent history is instructive.

After the 4-3 council approval of Southbridge II in Old Town a few years back a successful referendum was launched.  The developer knew he was likely to lose – and he had far better polling numbers than Axon – so he asked the City Council to rescind its approval rather than face the voters.  The previous council Yes votes did so fearing the backlash at the ballot box.  But in that case approval and rescission was done by the SAME council.

But in Axon’s case were the requisite signatures to be collected for said referendum the NEW council – many of whom have been highly critical of more apartments – would be the ones deciding to rescind.  It would not be a foregone conclusion that would occur.  For various reasons a majority of the new council may want to have the citizen’s weigh in on the enormous apartment plan.

And there would be nothing Axon could do about it.  A proud, public company would be left flapping in the wind, facing the worst issue loss in Scottsdale history, making the lopsided 2018 defeat of the Desert Discovery Center look like a nail biter.

Unknown is what impact that defeat would have on Axon’s stock price and its shareholders, which has been on a tear lately.

Axon’s entire effort has been as poorly managed as it is unjustifiable.  The soap opera it has become – even at times allegedly threatening the jobs of the city public servants – could get even more interesting, if that’s possible.

By Jan Dubauskas

We are SUSD parents. All five of our children have attended SUSD schools; our two little girls currently attend Copper Ridge Elementary School. Our older children received excellent educations. Unfortunately, the District’s stark decline in academic performance and sharp decline in enrollment is noticeable to all parents – and it’s alarming.

Parents expect the District to provide our children a safe learning environment that challenges and supports our children. Yet, the results over the past years speak to a very different outcome.

Today, about 50% of parents in the District do not choose SUSD for their children. And can you blame them? Only 48% of the 2023 graduating class were proficient in reading, math, and science, despite a 93% graduation rate. And, just 25% of seniors were proficient in science.

We expect the best for all students and the current majority leadership at SUSD is not delivering the best for our children or for our wonderful teachers. In 2022, we successfully elected Carine Werner and Amy Carney who are working to improve SUSD’s performance. They need our help. If we want to change SUSD’s outcome, we need to do something different – and vote for the Governing Board candidates who will deliver the best education for our children.

Over the course of the last year, I have come to personally know Gretchen Jacobs, Jeanne Beasley, and Drew Hassler. They share our frustration with the District and will deliver a stronger SUSD that is focused on academic excellence, fiscal accountability, and a safe environment for Scottsdale’s precious children.

Join me and vote for the Jacobs, Beasley, and Hassler team on or before November 5, 2024.

Learn more at: www.susdstrong.com.

Jan Dubauskas is a Scottsdale City Councilwoman-Elect. You can reach her at jan@janforscottsdale.com.

2024 Scrum


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.

 

By Scottsdale City Councilmember Tom Durham

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

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

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