By Recker McDowell — The psychology of COVID-19 is as impactful as its direct impacts on public health and lost jobs. The pandemic has stirred fear, worry and anxiety. Those have been magnified by daily case and death counts as well as dire predictions of more cases and future outbreaks. Beyond all the health worries, fear is driving everything from … Read More
Governor Ducey Announces Next Phase Of Arizona Recovery
PHOENIX — Governor Doug Ducey today announced that the Stay At Home order in Arizona will be ending on May 15 and replaced by new guidance for the next stage of economic recovery. The new guidance aligns with gating criteria issued by the White House and Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and aims to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 … Read More
Guest Editorial: Economic Development And Jobs Now And After COVID-19
By Recker McDowell — Elon Musk is promising to move Tesla’s headquarters out of California to Texas or Nevada over his frustrations with the Golden State’s COVID-19 shutdowns. Musk will not be alone in evaluating and re-evaluating where to locate and land jobs after the pandemic ends. COVID-19 has already cost the economy more than 21 million jobs. Some of … Read More
Polling Shows Americans Are Concerned About Loosening Restrictions Too Quickly
Coronavirus Tracking Update: Despite the building economic pressure to reopen states, the majority of Americans continue to support stay at home restrictions. According to the latest numbers from the Firehouse Strategies and 0ptimus Analytics coronavirus tracking survey, 78% of Americans support current stay at home restrictions in their area. Our numbers also show concern for the consequences of moving too quickly to … Read More
Guest Editorial: Ultimate Crunch Time
By Recker McDowell — The U.S. economy lost 20.5 million jobs in April. The unemployment rate is 14.7 percent and could hit 20 percent or higher due to the impacts of COVID-19. Economies and businesses are gradually opening (including in Arizona). But it is going to take time for businesses to rehire workers and ramp back up operations. Consumers will … Read More
City Managers & Cy Youngs
City managers are a lot like baseball pitchers. You’re not going to win every political and policy game. But if you go 21-5 during the course of a year on important decisions you are municipal Cy Young Award winner. And Scottsdale City Manager Jim Thompson, over the past many years, has helped Scottsdale win. A lot. He’s earned the respect … Read More
Guest Editorial: Nordstrom Closures Hit Chandler
By Recker McDowell — Nordstrom is closing its store at Chandler Fashion Center permanently. The Chandler store is among 16 locations Nordstrom is shuttering. Other retailers will also be permanently closing stores with COVID-19 hastening the demise of some already struggling brands and locations. Nordstrom’s closure at Fashion Center is a blow to Chandler. The East Valley suburb has worked … Read More
Suzanne Klapp: Budget Deadline Looms Large
By Suzanne Klapp — The Scottsdale City Council is running out of time to address the severe economic impact we are witnessing now in our city revenues. Each day we do not recognize and act on the dramatic drop in sales tax revenues, the budget hole for the city’s next fiscal year just gets deeper. I am increasingly uncomfortable and … Read More
Attorney General Brnovich Urges Investigation of Meat Packing Industry Practices
PHOENIX – Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and ten other state Attorneys General are urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue an investigation in collaboration with the States into suspected national price fixing by meat packers in the cattle industry. In a letter sent to U.S. Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday, the Attorneys General expressed concern over the likelihood of … Read More
That’s What We’re Talking About
We have not been shy about the city of Scottsdale’s sluggish response to its critical tourism industry, waylaid by a pandemic. It’s supposed to be a first among municipal equals when it comes to ingenuity. Instead, it’s led from behind, performing as if concussed rather than with commitment and conviction. Fortunately, one of its wannabe leaders, Scottsdale City Council candidate … Read More