Op-Ed: South Scottsdale Is Scottsdale. Period.

By Becca Linnig

Raoul Zubia has called Scottsdale home his entire life. He was raised here,  educated here, and today lives in the same South Scottsdale home where he grew  up, having returned to care for his aging mother. 

It’s a story familiar to many Scottsdale families: deep roots, generational ties, and  a commitment to the community that raised them. 

During a recent debate, Michelle Ugenti-Rita reportedly suggested that Zubia  “almost lives in Tempe.” Whether intended as a joke or a criticism, the remark  raises a larger question: Why should proximity to a city boundary diminish  someone’s connection to Scottsdale? 

Long before Scottsdale became internationally recognized, generations of working  families and small-business owners were building neighborhoods, establishing  businesses, and creating the community we know today. Their contributions  deserve recognition, not dismissal. 

South Scottsdale remains an important center of commerce, employment,  culture, and neighborhood life. Its residents are no less invested in Scottsdale’s  future because they live south of Indian School Road. 

And there is something particularly meaningful about a lifelong resident returning  to his childhood home to care for a parent. That decision speaks to the family  connections and sense of responsibility that many Scottsdale residents  understand firsthand. 

Candidates should be prepared to debate their records, policy positions, priorities,  and visions for the city’s future. Those are legitimate subjects for public scrutiny. A candidate’s neighborhood should not be up for debate. 

Scottsdale’s strength comes from the diversity of its neighborhoods, its history,  and the people who have invested their lives in this community.  

That history deserves respect, and so do the people who continue to call it home.

Becca is a long time South Scottsdale Resident