Supervisor Debbie Lesko. Photo Credit: KJZZ
This week, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors delivered a masterclass in political courage. Led by Supervisor Debbie Lesko, the board voted 5-0 to reject Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad’s request to develop a massive 4,000-acre freight rail facility near the rural community of Wittmann. The decision wasn’t about opposing economic development; it was about standing up to a corporate giant attempting to bulldoze a community without proper infrastructure or local support.
Lesko articulated what should be obvious: “the fundamental reality is that the infrastructure and service framework necessary to support this level of development is not in place”. The board understood that concerns about traffic congestion on already-strained roads like Grand Avenue and Loop 303 weren’t mere NIMBYism but instead were legitimate infrastructure realities. When residents worried about their rural character being engulfed by industrial development, their elected officials listened.
This is what principled leadership looks like. The supervisors distinguished between good projects that serve communities and bad projects that serve only corporate bottom lines.
Now contrast this with what’s happening in Scottsdale.
Axon, the taser manufacturer, is attempting to force through a nearly 1,900-unit apartment complex near Hayden and the 101: what would be the largest apartment complex in Arizona history. The company bought the land from Arizona’s State Land Trust at a discounted rate, explicitly for corporate headquarters use, then executed a de facto bait-and-switch seeking residential rezoning; a move that effectively shortchanges Arizona schools of an estimated $150 million.
Despite over 25,000 Scottsdale residents signing referendum petitions opposing the project, Axon deployed “petition blockers” to harass citizens and prevent a public vote. The company even circumvented campaign finance laws by refusing to disclose how much it spent fighting the referendum. When legal citizen action threatened their plans, Axon pushed special-interest legislation at the state level attempting to eliminate Arizonans’ constitutional referendum rights.
Axon’s Apartment Plans
The parallel is unmistakable. Maricopa County faced a powerful corporate entity backed by Warren Buffett’s billions. They said no. They prioritized community infrastructure, quality of life, and the voices of affected residents over corporate profits.
Scottsdale now faces its own test. Will city leadership follow the County’s example and stand with residents? Or will they capitulate to corporate bullying?
The message from Wednesday’s vote is clear: good governance means knowing when to say no to bad projects, regardless of who’s proposing them. Debbie Lesko and her colleagues showed what backbone looks like. Scottsdale’s leaders should take notes.