As with every campaign, it’s easy to say that you’re running for office; you can even file some paperwork to make it official. However actually getting on the ballot is a very different matter, involving the collection of a significant number of signatures from voters. Since the signature deadline has now passed, unless a candidate’s signatures are challenged we have … Read More
An Interesting Potential Solution for Housing Affordability Crisis
We don’t need to tell you that the housing crisis in Arizona is one of the most important issues that impacts so many Arizonans. We have led the country in rent increases, and the median home price has risen exponentially and now tops an eye-popping $500,000. And we have spoken plenty about the need for more housing options; increasing supply … Read More
Scottsdale in the Crosshairs of Water Crisis – Will It Impact Our Livability?
In what is absolutely zero surprise to you, we all live in a desert. Water has always been and will always be an issue for Arizonans, one that we don’t shy away from talking about. But now Scottsdale is even more in the crosshairs of this significant subject. Ground Zero for this issue is currently in the Rio Verde Foothills, … Read More
Guest Opinion: Arizona Dysfunction
Dear Editor, It would be nice to think that our elected officials are the best of the best. Careful and measured individuals who will thoughtfully legislate to ensure the greatest possible outcomes for their constituents. Unfortunately, that is not what we are seeing from Arizona’s Republicans. This month, we’ve watched in awe as stories appeared detailing a considerable lack of … Read More
Paul Dembow Challenger Christine Labelle Demonstrating Leadership and Expertise with Timeshare Issue in PV
You know that us here at APG are no glowing fans of Paradise Valley Councilman Paul Dembow; ohh no, we have made our views known. That said, it is not always enough to simply want someone you find disagreeable gone from power…you need to have faith in the competence, intelligence and values of the person who is replacing them. Piggybacking … Read More
Scottsdale City Council Outlines Their Priorities – Are They In Touch With the Needs of Scottsdalians?
Last week, the Scottsdale City Council convened on a retreat in order to outline some of their priorities as they apply to the implementation of the Scottsdale General Plan 2035. It is a good window into the mind of the members of the Council, and we are here to dig deeper into them. First, we seem to get some insights … Read More
Another Old Town Shooting; Do We Have a Crime Issue?
There has been significant chatter recently about crime in and around Old Town recently, including a murder there just last month. Well here we are again, with another shooting there last week (and no arrests at the time of writing. We do not want to overreact with clickbait titles and fear tactics, but at the same time we often tend … Read More
Phoenix Metro is Ground Zero for Inflation Problem: Will It Impact Local Midterm Elections?
We have all experienced the relatively meteoric rise in inflation recently; between housing, gas, food and durable goods, it is nearly impossible to deny at this point. But our area can claim that we are number one in something other than sunshine now: the Phoenix Metro area is currently #1 nationally in inflation. It is fair to lay a lot … Read More
PV Responds to AG Statement on Short-Term Rentals: Will the Powers That Be Listen?
Frequent readers of APG will remember how often we have talked about the problem of short-term rentals (STRs), how prevalent they have been in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley (as well as the rest of the state), and the challenges municipalities have had in trying to reign them in due to state law. There has been forward motion recently in PV’s … Read More
Ortega, Whitehead, Janik, Durham, Littlefield: Please Meet Kathleen Black
As recently reported by the Wall Street Journal Scottsdale now has the distinction of being America’s top city for inflation. We can think of better accolades. Related to this topic is something Laurie Roberts from the Arizona Republic recently wrote about: rising housing costs. Here is something very powerful and disturbing she wrote: “You’ve heard the stories, or maybe you’re … Read More