Arizona Governor Doug Ducey Announces Latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) Actions

(March 19, 2020) — Governor Doug Ducey today announced additional mitigation strategies to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Arizona. “We remain focused in the state of Arizona on proactively limiting the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Ducey. “These latest actions are based on the facts and on data and come after careful consultation with public health experts from every county … Read More

Guest Editorial: Scottsdale Should Move Its Super Bowl Money To Help Local Businesses Threatened By Coronavirus (COVID-19)

By Recker McDowell — The Scottsdale City Council approved a $1.2 million outlay earlier this month as part of the regional effort to host Super Bowl LVII in 2023. Scottsdale should repurpose that money to help local businesses being devastated by the impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Super Bowl money is coming from the Tourism Development Fund via four … Read More

Guest Editorial: Coronavirus And Our Neighbors, Our Community

By Recker McDowell — Take a minute and think about our community and the impact the Coronavirus is having on so many of our neighbors who make up the backbone, the soul of our city, our region and state. The impact is everywhere. That means our response and our efforts on the public health and economic fronts need to be … Read More

Statement From Councilman Sal DiCiccio: Stick Together, Wash Your Hands

​In the last few hours, we’ve seen Governor Ducey announce a state of emergency here in Arizona, the NBA suspend its schedule, and President Trump announce an unprecedented range of travel restrictions, along with a host of other measures and financial supports to assist people through what will be a trying time. Make no mistake, the following days and weeks … Read More

And Then There Was One

It’s not often the City of Apache Junction is accused of having a more beautiful mind and a more steely spine than the Town of Paradise Valley.  Yet, at least on one issue recently, it has and does. Readers may recall Paradise Valley’s aborted attempt to transition to a single-hauler trash system not too long ago. It considered so for … Read More

Guest Editorial: Medical Innovations and Breakthroughs

By Recker McDowell — Health care and medical research are front and center with the Coronavirus and its impact on public health, stock markets, consumer confidence and travel. Biomedical research is also critical the region’s economic growth and projected jobs gains. Economic developers, city planners, elected officials and the private sector need to make sure the region continues to welcome … Read More

Guest Editorial: Proof of Concept in Scottsdale

By Recker McDowell WeTravel Inc.— a San Francisco-based fintech startup — is landing 150 jobs at new offices at the Scottsdale Quarter. The B2B travel oriented financial tech firm picked Scottsdale over sites in Nashville, Austin, Salt Lake City, Denver and other cities, according to the Business Journal. Why the investment and jobs landed in Scottsdale are important as the … Read More

Guest Editorial: Smart and Balanced Economic Development in Scottsdale

By Recker McDowell — Scottsdale Airport is an important economic, jobs and tourism driver for the city. It also is a prime example of how Scottsdale (and other cities) can balance growth and development with existing economic assets. Scottsdale Airport had a $688 million economic benefit for Scottsdale. The general aviation airport and adjacent Scottsdale Airpark account for 3,979 jobs. … Read More

Guest Editorial: Turning Foes Into Friends

By Recker McDowell It is very easy to cast skeptics and opponents of real estate developments and economic development projects as cranky neighbors or stubborn, stuck in the mud ‘no growthers’ resistant to new ideas, innovation and change. And some are just that. Whether it’s the growth debate going on in Scottsdale or economic development projects in rural parts of … Read More