Arizona’s Premier and Only Kentucky Derby Event with Live Horse Racing and Betting — The Bulleit Bourbon Derby DayClub: Presented by Sanderson Lincoln Returns Better Than Ever Saturday, May 1^st to Turf Paradise

The Expanded Event Now Includes 3 Separate Areas Including Air-Cooled Scottsdale Polo Style Tents, Winner’s Circle and Pavilion Experiences with VIP and Front Row Tables; Tickets Now on Sale

(PHOENIX) – Arizona’s most exclusive and only Kentucky Derby Party with LIVE thoroughbred horse racing and on-site private betting returns to Turf Paradise in Phoenix on Saturday, May 1^st with a bigger and more socially distanced experience. New for 2021 enjoy three different experiences inside The Bulleit Bourbon Derby DayClub: Presented by Sanderson Lincoln.

All event details can be found at ThePoloParty.com/Derby. There is limited capacity and CDC and Turf Paradise protocols will be followed.

Guests can enjoy the Sanderson Lincoln Black Label Lounge which includes reserved tables in the covered, air-cooled Sanderson Lincoln Black Label Lounge track-side tent near the finish line. It includes amazing views plus convenient access to Turf Paradise betting terminals, no-host bar inside the tent for Mint Juleps, champagne, cocktails and close proximity to food trucks for additional refreshments and 65” TVs to watch the Kentucky Derby and live horse racing at Turf Paradise. Space is limited. Tables for two start at $250 and go up to $2,000 for a front-row table of 8. Some table options include complimentary bottles of Veuve Clicquot or Chandon Champagne, rose centerpieces, and chocolate-covered strawberries.

Bulleit Bourbon Derby DayClub guests can also enjoy a new experience for 2021 called the Ketel One Botanical Pavilion.  It includes reserved tables in the covered Ketel One Botanical Pavilion open-air tent. It is near the finish line but further off the backstretch than either the Black Label Lounge or Winner’s Circle tickets.  The Pavilion is close to the action and tables include a bucket of Ketel One Botanical Vodka Spritz Seltzers plus convenient access to Turf Paradise betting terminals, 65” TVs to watch the Kentucky Derby and live horse racing at Turf Paradise, no-host bar inside the tent for mint juleps, champagne, cocktails and close proximity to food trucks for additional refreshments. Space is limited. Tables for four start at $275 and go up to $400 for a front-row table.

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The Modern Hillside Estate Sold for $4.4 Million on the Edge of Mummy Mountain in Paradise Valley

(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) – Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, Arizona’s leader in luxury real estate, is proud to announce the sale of award-winning interior designer David Michael Miller’s Paradise Valley estate. The hillside contemporary estate was designed by acclaimed architect Ned Sawyer.

This exclusive property is the former home of renowned interior designer David Michael Miller and was completely remodeled by him in 2016. Miller has established his accredited career in the Southwest and initially began design in Phoenix. Since 1989, he has led his own interior design firm called David Michael Miller Associates. Miller is known for his ability to make living spaces “quiet.” He emphasizes ridding spaces of unnecessary visual noise and allowing the architecture to speak for itself.

Luxury agents Grant Almquist, Joe Bushong, and Chad Christian of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty represented Miller, while luxury agent Suzi Miller of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty represented the buyer.

The home is located at 6200 E. Hummingbird Ln, Paradise Valley and is a total of 4,559 square feet. The estate sold for $4.4 million and is rested on the Northeast slope of Mummy Mountain in Paradise Valley.

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Harry M. Lourimore launches new real estate firm to create and expand excellence in residential land development

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) – One of the most active and successful land and home building executives in Arizona, Harry M. Lourimore, recently announced the launch of his new company Lourimore Land & Development.

Lourimore Land & Development is focused on becoming a leading residential developer in the Phoenix marketplace by applying its real estate and development expertise to a variety of residential and mixed-use asset classes. Currently, Lourimore is focused on creating single-family residential opportunities for home builders and building vibrant multi-family communities within the Phoenix marketplace.

“Our mission is to create enduring communities of high quality and distinct character through thoughtful design and execution. They will reflect our commitment to excellence and our passion to make positive contributions to communities,” said Harry Lourimore, Founder and President of Lourimore Land & Development.

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(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) – Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, Arizona’s leader in luxury real estate, is proud to announce the closing of another record-breaking deal. This Silverleaf estate, originally listed for $24,000/month, leased for $25,125/month making it the highest lease in Scottsdale according to the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service (ARMLS).

Luxury Agent Ryan Hass of the Camelback Tower office at Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty represented the buyer and closed the deal.  The buyer and seller names have not been disclosed.

“There’s many benefits for tenants to rent long term in Arizona, while the rate of return for landlords and investors is typically very successful in Scottsdale, when done correctly. The tradeoff is a win-win to say the least, but there’s a process to making it work for everyone, including the neighbors in the community.  The Scottsdale lease market is very strong year-round and the demand only continues to grow and the luxury lease market is an excellent option for homeowners or investors,” said Hass.

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The 22,215 Square Foot Estate Offers a Private Desert Oasis and Earns its Nickname as “The Villa”

(PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz.) — Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty is pleased to announce the impressive February sale of $9,500,000 estate in Paradise Valley procured by Luxury Agents Frank Aazami, Bill Bulaga, Thomas Scott and Jean-Michele Edery, who closed the deal last Friday. Aazami, Bulaga and Scott represented the seller, while Edery and Aazami represented the buyer.

The buyer and seller names have not been disclosed.

This exclusive Tuscan style home located at 6721 E. Cheney Drive in Paradise Valley is nicknamed “The Villa” and spans over an impressive 3 acres. Surrounding the entire property is lush and abundant foliage that offering its residents full privacy. Inside the estate totals a spectacular 22,215 square-feet and is composed of 11 bedrooms, 12.5 bathrooms, 3 kitchens, a theatre and even an indoor basketball court. Also included is a library, billiards room and a separate guest house. Beautiful and intricate accents can be found throughout this retreat making it easy to see why it has earned its nickname “The Villa”.

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By Gilbert Guru

Arizona Community Colleges are on the rise. Dr. Casey Durandet, a professor at Paradise Valley Community College, was recently one of 23 faculty nationwide to be awarded the 2021 Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty Award. The award is a national recognition for those making a difference in the classroom, presented by the American Association of Community Colleges.

Dr. Durandet has been a physics professor at PVCC for over 20 years. According to PVCC, Dr. Durandet utilizes her experience and passion to inspire and mentor her students, especially young women pursuing careers in STEM.

Furthermore, Dr. Durandet established a scholarship in 2019 titled “Excellence in STEM” designed to help PVCC, particularly women, pursue majors in STEM. College is a burden and an inhibitor to many people and Dr. Durandet is making it more accessible and demonstrating to women that they can enter the heavily male-dominated field.

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By Scottsdale Pinetop

Rosie the Riveter – one of history’s most recognizable cultural (and feminist) icons since its inception in World War II with a message to women everywhere that “We Can Do It.”

Women have continued to play increasingly important roles in all branches of the U.S. military, as history can attest for more than 80 years. And Arizona is no exception.

Last week, Gov. Ducey appointed Brid. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck to serve as the first female leader of the Arizona National Guard – a major accomplishment for military women in Arizona. She will be replacing retired Maj. Gen. Michael McGuire.

After leaving active duty in 1977, Muehlenbeck joined the National Guard and went on to work as a civilian prosecutor in Arizona. She will now be responsible for over 8,000 guard members and employees of the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs. Picking up where her predecessor left off, Muehlenbeck will be continuing the state’s response to the pandemic including delivery of goods and services, build temporary medical facilities and provide supplies to the underserved Navajo Nation who continues to be severely impacted by COVID-19.

When asked about the historic nature of the appointment at a press conference, Muenhlenbeck tactfully and gracefully toed the line between feminist and professionalism by stating:

“The historical importance of being the first female adjutant general in Arizona is not lost on me. But I do hope that what I’ve done and who I am is more important than simply my sex.”

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The year was 2004.  The City Council consisted of Mayor Mary Manross and Councilmembers Wayne Ecton, Bob Littlefield, Cynthia Lukas, Ned O-Hearn, Roberta Pilcher, Tom Silverman and then Councilmember David Ortega.

That March, Scottsdale voters were asked to consider a major change to the way its City Council would be elected.  Instead of 6 councilmembers being voted in by a city-wide majority Proposition 100 offered a change to six new council districts, which in turn would elect its own representative to council.

The argument then, as we hear some making now, is that Scottsdale has become so large that it should follow the lead of Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale and others.

But Proposition 100 was soundly defeated in 2004.  With 61% voting no and only 39% yes.

A look back at the hows and whys is noteworthy and instructive.  Scottsdale voters south of Camelback were positive on districts while those north of it were overwhelmingly opposed.

The pro-district forces didn’t raise much money and were largely made up of what might be described as a pro-development campaign. Its largest donor was landowner Henry Becker, he of weird protest signs at Pima and Happy Valley Road infamy.  The 6-district construct offered to the electorate was the result of a task force.

The opposition didn’t raise much money either.  Its leadership reads like a who’s who of anti-growth activists over the years.  John Washington.  Don Badenoch. Lee Tannenbaum.  Susan Wheeler. Sam West. Patty Badenoch. Lois Fitch.  The powerful Coalition of Pinnacle Peak led donations to the “Don’t Lose Your Vote” opposition campaign.

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By Alexander Lomax

I recently spoke about Rep. Kirkpatrick’s retirement and how the race to succeed her will almost certainly become crowded. We received a bit more clarity recently with Randy Friese’s official announcement of his candidacy.

Friese joins Kirsten Engel as the two stated candidates to succeed Kirkpatrick. Like Engel, Friese has spent plenty of time in the state legislature with little to account for it, the victim of being permanently and fastidiously in the minority at the Capitol. However, Friese has another thing going for him; he was the doctor who helped treat Gabby Giffords after her 2011 assassination attempt.

Indeed, Giffords’s sphere of influence has proven to be something that her would-be assassin never could have imagined. To have treated her is enough of a catalyst to send someone to the state legislature and become a legitimate Congressional candidate (Friese), to have been an intern for her was enough to be vaulted to the state House of Reps (Hernandez Jr.), and to be married to her (along with being an astronaut, of course) enough to become a US Senator. It is as if she is the political equivalent of one of the most historic coaching trees in sports.

Will this be the last of the major announcements for Arizona’s 2nd congressional district? It may very well be. Along with the strength of both announced candidates, federal laws allow for candidates to run for seats in districts in which they do not live in. And many, MANY Democrats have already been eyeing both the 10th Congressional district which will be created this year due to our population increase, as well as the 9th district which many political insiders believe current occupant Greg Stanton will abandon in pursuit of statewide office. There will be no shortage of potential options for upwardly mobile and unceasingly ambitious folks here.

So while the chessboard has cleared up a bit, the big moves have yet to be made, and many are breathlessly waiting on them.

A number of years ago there was a creative proposal to build a New York City-inspired “High-Line Trail” down the middle of Scottsdale’s McDowell Road, up in the air, connecting the Indian Bend Wash to a new Red Rocks-style amphitheater in Papago Park.

Those familiar with the High-Line know what a remarkable recreational amenity and economic development driver the project has been.

The idea for Scottsdale was similar, but different.  And before the massive redevelopment of old automobile dealerships along McDowell.

There was a lot of discussion about a “High-Line” for Scottsdale’s southern city.  Could it too drive more economic development, tourism and create yet another spectacular walking, jogging and biking place in the community?

Some people liked the idea. The Scottsdale Republic even endorsed the concept.  Others decried the cost and disruption.

But at its interesting core the idea was really about connectivity.  Southern Scottsdale boasts many attributes with the Indian Bend Wash and Papago Park (which is actually in Phoenix) at the top of the list.  But there is nothing connecting them other than the highly-trafficked McDowell Road.  In other words, to get from one to another and enjoy both an automobile was required because to walk or bike it was not appealing.

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By Alexander Lomax

Life certainly isn’t back to normal. We all have had enough normal-ish experiences, but everyday life sort of resembles Canada; a lot of similarities but nearly everything is slightly yet noticeably different. One thing that is nowhere close to normalcy is the live music scene, which has been destroyed by Covid for obvious reasons. But are we recapturing this aspect of our lives? It is on the horizon, it would seem.

Believe it or not, there are actually a few festivals going forward this month. Party promoter Relentless Beats is being a bit of a trailblazer on that end, with two shows planned for the month. I use the term “trailblazer” with special trepidation, as I’m not convinced of the safety of large groups in one space yet, but someone has to take the risk (and I assume that they have a robust insurance policy). They are bringing ‘90’s California rock heroes Sublime to the Valley, along with another edition of their Wet Electric Festival. Their typical attendees are young and indestructible, so my greatest hope is that their older family members are already vaccinated since I doubt that it is front of mind for many who will be attending.

Chandler had a much wiser idea for its 21st annual jazz festival, happening at the time of writing this; to decentralize it and put it in 4 different spaces to reduce crowd sizes in one particular area. I recognize and value their risk mitigation attempts, even if it’s not quite the return to normalcy we’d all like. Highlands Church in Scottsdale is being similarly safe as it brings the Kingston Trio to town this month: mandatory masks and distancing.

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By Councilwoman Tammy Caputi

For those of you who missed it, Tuesday’s council meeting showed there may be reason for optimism about the future of Scottsdale. The City Council voted 6-1 to move forward with the Kimsey Project, with plans that include a 168-room hotel, 190-dwelling units, a restaurant and commercial space at 7110 E. Indian School Road. Yes, council approved a project with height, density, and apartments, and it was approved without any stipulations, exactly as the applicant requested!

This was accomplished through teamwork, compromise, and a huge amount of public outreach. I participated in many meetings with residents, staff and the developer over the past few months. The collaborative process turned this project into a winner! Community support and benefit, especially from the surrounding neighbors and small businesses made the difference. I was glad to join my colleagues in supporting this watershed project, which will set the tone for development over the next few years in Scottsdale.

More coverage and information can be found in the Scottsdale Independent.

By Gilbert Guru

Winners of the 4th Annual Shark Tank Competition

In the happy news of the day category, we present to you the 4th Annual Shark Tank Competition: Hosted by Quartz Hill Elementary. Home of the “Trailblazers,” the school saw 7 teams pitch their business ideas to a panel of “Sharks” on March 24th. 26 fifth-graders, pulled on their best business professional attire and took to the stage to present their original business ideas.

For the past 4 years, Quartz Hill Elementary School, located in Gilbert, has given its 5th-grade students the opportunity to explore their business acumen. This year’s Annual Shark Tank Competition began with 18 groups and was narrowed down to 7 to present their ideas.

The amazing program gets young minds to explore the very real possibility of opening their own business in the future. By creating their prototypes, learning essential presentation skills, and developing business plans these students are the Valley’s future entrepreneurs, business leaders, and “trailblazers” – the Valley’s future has never been brighter.

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We’re not sure how certain even she was of victory when she ran for Scottsdale City Council in 2018.  But when you are relentlessly positive and have a wave issue like opposition to the Desert Discovery Center to ride things can, and did, turn out well for Solange Whitehead.

Two years later, after smartly and deliberately taking her time to ask questions and perform an impressive amount of government due diligence, Whitehead now serves as the most important member of the City Council.

Why?

Because unlike all of the asininity in Washington, D.C., Whitehead is a consummate problem solver.  When she can’t figure out how to do so in a way that fits within her slower-growth template she will vote no on development proposals.  But when she recognizes the good in a plan, or hears from compelling new voices, she is not afraid to take a fresh look at things and press all parties towards compromise for the common good.

No matter what your point of view is, and we have differed with her on numerous occasions, that’s refreshing.  And it was on abundant display last night as The Kimsey – a project once in trouble – was approved via compromise and consensus, led by Whitehead.

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By Alexander Lomax

So I know that I have been known to rant quite a bit about the state of our politics here in Arizona. But with our state’s robust vaccination rates front of mind and my recent stimulus check in my back pocket, I can’t help but look ahead and be positive. And I gotta say, Arizona’s sports future looks quite bright.

First of all, if you hadn’t paid attention to the Phoenix Suns in a while, you should resolve that ASAP. Very few people were as cynical as me when it came to the Suns as they entered the weird world of “the bubble” as sports returned last year. Their placement in the bubble for the 8-game reformatted ending of the regular season seemed almost charitable. No one told them that it was a gift though. Against all odds, they rattled off an 8-0 record in the bubble, barely placing out of the playoffs that no one thought they had business being in contention for.

They may have missed those playoffs but they have carried that momentum right into the 2021 season. At the time of writing, they are currently in 2nd place in the Western Conference, something that would have been considered absurd pre-Covid. They have a legitimate if not criminally under-respected superstar in Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton is averaging a double-double a game. The future is young, and befitting their name, it is indeed bright.

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If the nation is struggling with a housing affordability crisis, and it is, Scottsdale is one of its cauldrons.

Few columnists have better described the costs and predicament than Jamelle Bouie in the New York Times.

Bouie offers a key observation contributing to the crisis:  “onerous burdens on new housing development.”

While Scottsdale’s new City Council majority proudly touts caution when it comes to new development one of the approach’s consequences is becoming clearer.

Existing homeowners may relish the price run-up.  Ultimately, however, does Scottsdale want to be only the playground of the older and privileged, pricing younger families, seniors looking to downsize and blue-collar workers entirely out of its community?

We believe this anathema to the diverse, interesting community Scottsdale has become and that it has been throughout its history.  There is something for everyone whether young, old, religious or agnostic, athletic or not, gay, straight or black, brown or white.

This is truly when community, real community, is at its best.

This is not an argument for approving all development proposals.  Indeed, Scottsdale can and should be discriminating.  But if the city becomes too restrictive, ignoring the policy consequences of campaign sound bites on growth, there will be little supply to match demand.  And the true costs of this political posture will become clearer.  That’s too bad.  Because strident anti-growtherism misses what Scottsdale is really all about.  Our city was never about its buildings, but its wonderfully interesting mix of people.

Throughout the pandemic, liberal City of Phoenix leadership has constantly sniped at Arizona Governor Doug Ducey for just about everything.  “Where are masks?” “Don’t open up too early!”  It quickly devolved from understandable concerns to gratuitous political grandstanding.

Though surely tempting to fire back, Governor Ducey has maintained his decorum and decency.  Has he done everything great?  Of course not.  But for this state having a leader with pro-business tendencies has served it well.  This is a Governor who never thought he would be facing the daunting situation on behalf of his citizenry, but who has been comfortable in his own skin throughout.

That’s what made today’s decided Ducey counterpunch against Phoenix officials so notable, appropriate and overdue.

Showing they adhere more to a kooky caucus when it comes to the pandemic Phoenix made the asinine decision to close its parks over Easter.  As a reminder, Phoenix was one of the last Arizona cities to re-open its parks despite constant pleading from parents and children.  Phoenix has stood in marked contrast to Scottsdale, among others, which have taken a calibrated and smart approach since the onset.  Indeed, despite Scottsdale’s new council majority that has moved decidedly left after the last election it has been far more common sense than kooky with pandemic considerations.

It’s odd too that the City of Phoenix would want to have a discriminatory policy towards Latinos, families of whom are great utilizers of city parks.

So on Good Friday, we want to say good for Doug Ducey.  Phoenix’s whining, sniping and approach was starting to wear thin.  Thanks to our Governor for saying so.

By Mark Brnovich, Arizona Attorney General

With April now upon us, it’s time to reflect on the Spring season and its classic themes of rejuvenation and renewal.

Over the course of the past year, the Attorney General’s Office has never wavered in protecting and serving Arizona citizens through the challenges we’ve all faced, and we will certainly continue in our mission.

In March, we took actions to ensure Arizona’s interests are not lost in a sea of sweeping federal policy changes, including major shifts in tax, immigration, and election policy that threaten our state’s sovereignty and well-being.

We’ve recently secured significant consumer settlements for Arizonans, including restitution for pest control and home warranty customers, owners of certain Honda and Acura vehicles, and a landmark settlement that will return millions of dollars to APS customers.

We’ve been steadfast in holding individuals who violate the public’s trust and harm the most vulnerable members of our community accountable, and we championed groundbreaking pro-victim legislation that will help human and sex trafficking survivors rebuild their lives.

I hope this update finds you well and wish you and your families the utmost optimism and success in the sunny days ahead.

Sincerely,

Click here to read the full update from AG Mark Brnovich.

By Connie Wilhelm
Chief Executive Officer, Home Builders Association of Central Arizona

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By The Office of Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego

The ongoing pandemic has generated a lot of speculation about what the future of our workforce looks like in Phoenix.

That’s why we are so excited that after years of negotiating and planning, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. (TSMC) has given us the answer: higher wages and advanced manufacturing jobs.

Fortune recently covered Mayor Gallego’s role in recruiting TSMC. Here is an excerpt from the article:

This is a HUGE opportunity for not only Phoenix but the entire state of Arizona. More than 1,600 new jobs will be created by this $12 billion investment and help propel Arizona as a leader in technology and advanced manufacturing.

And the best part – this is just the beginning! 

An ecosystem of suppliers and higher education partnerships is already developing around this project. Our economy will benefit from this investment for years to come.

Thanks to the hard work of our local and federal governments, Phoenix is poised to emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever.

By Alexander Lomax

You’ll have to pardon my extreme cynicism when it comes to Governor Ducey’s recent visit with Florida Senator Rick Scott to the southern border to bring federal attention to (read: get national attention for) the recent uptick in migrants attempting to cross the border.

After all, we were told that what we needed was a big, beautiful wall on the southern border (one which we weren’t supposed to pay a penny for), and that that would be the solution for all of those issues. We never heard the Governor say, “Mr. President, folks who are determined enough to get that far will make it past a wall. It’s nowhere near enough”. It’s almost as if he was more focused on upward mobility than fixing an issue.

But Governor Ducey, who has the unique ability to avoid any difficult decisions or strong stances and in the process please absolutely nobody, won’t let his poor polling numbers get in the way. He clearly was destined for Washington. Call it the ice cream-to-Washington pipeline.

Oddly enough, in a time of extreme divisions in our society acknowledging a problem at the border seems fairly widespread, liberal cable news watchers notwithstanding. Even the President’s Press Secretary recently called it “a big problem”. An unpopular nearly lame-ducked Governor in the opposing party isn’t going to move the needle with that.

However, this may illustrate the unique situation that Ducey may find himself in: can someone be too unpopular for the US Senate yet have a chance at becoming the next President?

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By Don Henninger, The SCOTT Perspective

Scottsdale’s leaders are proud to proclaim that we are a Golden Rule City. We’ve been one for a couple of years now. The city adopted the One Community Unity Pledge a few years before that. That also was a nice gesture and a good way to talk about how much the city values fairness and equality.

It looks like the city is ready to go beyond talk and good intentions and put some accountability behinds its principles. Truth is, it’s about time.

By all counts, the City Council appears to have the votes – possibly even unanimously – to adopt an anti-discrimination ordinance. Judging from its work-study session this week and the messaging from just about all six council members and the mayor, it should be easily approved when the council meets April 20.

Yes, all looks well, but as the cliché goes: don’t count the chickens before they’re hatched.

It’s not been an easy road to this point. Various city council members have been wrestling with this issue for nearly a decade and they rejected a similar ordinance five years ago. While they did adopt the “unity pledge” in 2015, it did not prevent people from being denied service or housing in the city based on things like sexual orientation or gender identity. And proclaiming itself a Golden Rule City in 2017 was a positive step too, though again it had no enforcement teeth.

The non-discrimination ordinance now being considered would expand on coverage under the state’s Fair Housing Act by offering protections to members of the LGBTQ community and other protected classes; it would apply to employees working in businesses of all sizes and cover all public accommodation and city services.

After the state legislature failed to pass a bill in 2018 that would have made discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, services and housing illegal, the city’s Human Relations Commission in August asked the City Council to revisit the issue.

“This discussion is occurring within the renewed national discourse on race and equity, a movement that has touched and activated many within the Scottsdale community,” the commission rightly said in its presentation to the council.

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By Alexander Lomax

A few weeks back I wrote about how Senator Kyrsten Sinema had ticked off a good portion of the Arizona Democratic electorate. Now we have an idea of how much she self-immolated with the Dem voter base. OH Predictive Insights conducted a poll recently which showed what voters thought about her.

The findings? 30% of Democrats had an unfavorable view of her (and 50% with a favorable view). For a point of comparison, only 11% of Democrats had an unfavorable view of Mark Kelly. Even more problematic is how “Liberal Democrats” felt about her; a full 40% of them had an unfavorable view. Why is that more problematic? Because they are more likely to vote in a primary than what OH labeled “Conservative/Moderate Democrats”.

Is this the beginning of the end for Senator Sinema? It’s far too early to make that declaration, considering that she has a full 3 years ahead of her before re-election. Moreover, seeing the hard numbers will likely be more of a wake-up call to her and her staff than any conjecture and ranting on Twitter. She has plenty of time to pivot towards the left and attempt to save face with the more liberal wing of the party. And she will have an incredible amount of money to make her case.

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Newest Arizona Law helps people date smarter and save them from a date with the fraud department

By Valley Girl

Dating during the time of advancing technology can be a challenge for most individuals to find their next whirlwind romance. But then add in the fact that anyone can sign up on dating sites, even under an alias, creates a cesspool for scams. To combat this very issue Arizona lawmakers have passed a new bill that aims to keep users of dating apps safe from online scammers.

The state Senate approved safety protocols that allow dating platforms to notify members when one of the people they have been dm-ing with is banned from the site because of a suspected scam. Fraudulent activity on dating sites has become an epidemic on the rise. According to Rep. Regina Cobb, R-Kingman in an interview with Daily Independent; “Arizonans lost about $8 million in 2018 to these kinds of online dating scams.” And today, more people are falling victim to because of the pandemic limiting in-person interactions.

Current dating sites like Match.com have preliminary settings that enable them to monitor messaging that alerts if currency transactions take place in messaging through the site. Scammers will lure people to other forms of communication in order to bypass this safety feature. Other forms include social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and even the traditional route of texting or phone calls.

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By Alexander Lomax

ICYMI earlier this month Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick announced that she will not be running for re-election. She carved her path to Washington like numerous Arizona Democrats have: through the middle. Not one to make waves and more inclined to stick to issues closer to home rather than party-affiliated bombast, it might be easy for us in the Kingdom of Maricopa to forget her time in Washington, although I’m not convinced that that’s a bad thing.

The thing that sticks out to me most about her came from a problem. After she injured herself in a fall, she admitted to the world that she had a problem with alcohol and that she was seeking help for it. Politics is a field that works strenuously to cover the flaws of the politicians it depends on. For one of its own to be so honest and open was incredibly refreshing and even more brave. Perhaps the admission prompted folks with similar issues to find the strength to fix them, which wouldn’t be a bad legacy to leave in and of itself.

Very quickly, however, the conversation turned towards the Hunger Games that are newly open seats. Arizona’s 2nd district went for Biden by 11 points, so the focus immediately turns to the Democrats running. Current State Rep Kirsten Engel has thrown her hat into the mix, and another Rep., Dr. Randy Friese, has given a wink nudge acknowledgment that he is very interested in the seat. However, the beauty (or downside, depending on who you ask) of Congressional races is that since you don’t need to live in the district to run to represent it, who knows who may try to parachute in to run. That is how Rep. Kirkpatrick first came to run in the district after all.

That said, a disclaimer is necessary, as the Independent Redistricting Committee will change up the boundaries for 2022. It will be a different district that they will run in; likely similar in its voter registration make-up, but not guaranteed.

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Arizona Treasurer’s Office Continues to Break Multiple Records & Outperform Large University Endowments Nationwide 

PHOENIX, AZ – According to a just-released report, the Arizona Permanent Land Endowment Trust Fund (PLETF), managed by the Treasurer’s Office, outperformed the long-term average returns of some of the largest university and college endowments in the country.

“This extraordinary performance translates into more money for our beneficiaries, including K-12 public schools, and less taxes for Arizona taxpayers,” Treasurer Kimberly Yee said. “I am proud of our exceptional, internal investment team at the Arizona Treasury, which is among the best in the country. This report is evidence of their hard work paying off for the great state of Arizona.”

When comparing the 10-year returns of the PLETF to University Endowments for FY20, Arizona’s endowment ranks in the upper 75th percentile and beats some of the top public and private universities in the country including Harvard University, Cornell University, University of Southern California, Michigan State, Northwestern University, and University of Chicago to name a few. When comparing the 10-year returns of the PLETF to Public University Endowments for FY20, Arizona’s endowment ranks in the upper 90th percentile and beats the likes of University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, Berkeley, Ohio State University, and many more. The information was compiled and released by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO).

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Phoenix, AZ (January 4, 2021) Arizona-based Data Orbital has consistently been one of the most accurate election pollsters, and the 2020 cycle has solidified that. Given an A/B rating (one of the industry highest) by political data website FiveThirtyEight and a member of the American Association of Public Opinion Researchers Transparency Initiative, Data Orbital has long prided itself on its industry-leading work.

With a laser focus on the Presidential and U.S. Senate races this year, we are proud that our final Presidential survey was accurate within 0.29% and our U.S. Senate survey within 1.25%.

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(PHOENIX) – Americano! – a record-setting musical production based on the life of a DREAMer – has reached out to the incoming Biden Administration via a letter sent December 2, 2020 to propose a special performance at The White House.
It would help celebrate President-Elect Joe Biden’s pending reversal of President Donald Trump’s policies and follow in the footsteps of productions like Hamilton which performed for the Obama Administration.

During his first 100 days in office, President-Elect Biden has pledged to rescind President Trump’s 2017 Executive Order that sought to end the DACA program. Biden’s administration also plans to produce legislation that would provide a pathway to citizenship for over 1 million DREAMers.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court decided on a temporary reprieve on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program with a solution ultimately being required by Congress.

Americano! is the true-life story of Antonio Valdovinos who learned of his DREAMer status on his 18th birthday when he tried to enlist in the U.S. Marines after graduating from Camelback High School in Phoenix.
Americano! completed its record setting 27-show run earlier this year on February 23rd at The Phoenix Theatre Company, breaking all-time for an original musical production. Besides the box office record, 9,048 people saw Americano! with a string of 10 sold-out performances.
The production has also garnered positive reviews from both sides of the political aisle.

“I saw ¡Americano! The Musical at The Phoenix Theatre Company. It’s the inspiring story of my friend and DREAMer, Tony Valdovinos. Great music with an important message to Arizona,” said U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Arizona) who saw the show the same night as U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona). Rep. Gallego played an important role throughout Biden’s presidential campaign. Other notable attendees have included Gov. Doug Ducey (R-Arizona), newly elected U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego.Read More

(SCOTTSDALE, AZ.) Litigation has been filed challenging the largest income tax hike in Arizona history. The lawsuit was filed by Scottsdale’s Rose Law Group on behalf of Ann Siner, CEO and Founder of My Sister’s Closet, and retired Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Buttrick.

The litigation was filed after the vote was canvassed. The lawsuit does not challenge the election but rather the legality of Proposition 208. The Arizona Constitution says the power to tax and spend state funds rests with the Legislature. Prop 208 bypasses Arizona’s elected leaders and gives the power to spend the funds to unelected bureaucrats with no oversight.

In addition to violating the rights of Arizona taxpayers, the tax hike puts the state’s economy in jeopardy.

Siner said. “Business owners are already suffering greatly because of COVID. Many are closing. Prop 208 will simply cause more businesses and their owners to leave Arizona. In the long run that’s bad for the economy and bad for school funding. I am all for getting more money to schools. But 208 is not the cure. It’s bad medicine that will shrink our economy and hurt school funding in the long run.”

Judge Buttrick said, “The Arizona Constitution was written to prevent the sort of overreach demonstrated by Prop 208.  It fundamentally upends the way Arizonans are taxed and sets a dangerous precedent for the future.”Read More

The final results of the general election are now complete, and I am thrilled with the results; I have solidly won a seat on city council! We never let up after the primary, working even harder to win this race. I moved ahead with my positive, forward-thinking message and it was all worth it. I couldn’t have done it without the help of my volunteers, friends, campaign staff and supporters- it truly takes a great and committed team.

Thank you all so much for your work and dedication and your belief in our mission. It’s been a year of full-time commitment that got us here. I’m grateful to everyone in my community who has supported me through votes, donations, volunteer hours, putting up signs, sharing your thoughts and ideas, and listening to mine. You’ve all worked hard with me every single day of this campaign. We truly “left it all on the field.”

I want to give a special shout out to my beloved husband and daughters, who haven’t had much of my time this last year, even though we’ve all been stuck at home together.

Getting elected is just the beginning. I will continue to work as hard as I can for all our residents and businesses to be a positive, forward-thinking member of our city council. Thanks again to everyone. Let’s keep the positive momentum going- this is just the beginning of our journey together- see you at the Kiva!