By Alexander Lomax
In the face of consistent pressure and bullying, the fight for Scottsdale’s soul took a decisive turn this week as brave residents refused to bow down. And yes, it again ties back to our least favorite corporate citizen.
Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions (TAAAZE) has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of legislation specifically crafted to benefit one arrogant corporation: Axon.You already know about its unwanted apartment megacomplex plans (get our full coverage here), but this isn’t just about apartments…it’s about democracy itself. The new law requires cities with populations between 200,000 and 500,000 to allow hotels and multifamily residential housing in areas zoned for light industrial use without needing public hearings. Translation? Axon gets to bypass the voice of nearly 27,000 Scottsdale residents who signed petitions opposing this monstrosity.
TAAAZE Chairman Bob Littlefield didn’t mince words: “It’s time to let this arrogant company know they can’t force Scottsdale to accept an unprecedented apartment complex without a public vote. And certainly not without a fight.” That’s exactly the kind of backbone our community needs against corporate overreach.
The lawsuit targets two fundamental constitutional violations. First, it protects our right to referendum, the sacred principle that voters can challenge legislation they oppose. Second, it challenges Arizona’s ban on “special laws” that grant privileges to specific companies. As lead counsel Alexis Danneman explained, “The Axon bill passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor is the very definition of special interest legislation and it is illegal in the state of Arizona.”
Axon’s response? Predictably dismissive. Their spokesman called this lawsuit Littlefield’s “latest tactic to stall progress,” completely missing the point. This isn’t about stalling progress, it’s about protecting our community from corporate greed masquerading as economic development. It’s about protecting our ability to use our voice and our vote.
The fact remains: Axon wants to build what would be Arizona’s largest apartment complex, nearly 1,900 units, in a community that overwhelmingly opposes it. They’ve used every dirty trick in the book, from paying petition blockers to pushing through special-interest legislation.
But Scottsdale residents aren’t backing down. This lawsuit proves that when corporations try to steamroll communities, people will fight back. David may be smaller than Goliath, but he’s got something Axon doesn’t: the moral high ground and an entire community behind him.