Guest Editorial: Cool Architecture, Designs Key For Scottsdale’s Brand

By Recker McDowell — Architecture and design are increasingly important as Scottsdale charts its course on the future of Old Town and other parts of the city. Developers and builders need to offer cool and impactful designs, new projects and redevelopment plans. That is especially true in Old Town and southern Scottsdale where there are redevelopment opportunities and chances to … Read More

Guest Editorial: Scottsdale’s Card in Arizona’s Winning Hand

By Recker McDowell — WestWorld of Scottsdale has been named facility of the year by the League of Agricultural and Equine Centers. WestWorld hosts top equestrian events including the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show and Arizona Quarter Horse Association events. It also hosts the Barrett-Jackson and its World Greatest Collector Auction. The League honor is the latest accolade for the Scottsdale … Read More

Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels Won’t Seek Reelection

By Recker McDowell — Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels has announced she won’t be seeking reelection this year. Daniels is considered a rising star in Arizona politics and has been mentioned as a potential future candidate for statewide or another higher office. Daniels made her announcement not to seek another term as Gilbert Mayor on Facebook. “I have loved the nearly … Read More

Guest Editorial: True Colors, True Motives in Scottsdale

By Recker McDowell — Development, density, height and growth are center stage in Scottsdale as 2020 campaigns for Mayor and City Council ramp up. There are legitimate questions about the growth trajectory and vision for the city including in Old Town Scottsdale. Those discussions and debates can be a positive for the future of the city. What voters need to … Read More

Guest Editorial: Digging Into Jobs

By Recker McDowell — Arizona added 84,400 jobs over the past 12 months, according to year-end employment numbers. More than 80,000 of those new jobs were in the private sector. Arizona’s private sector job growth for the year was 2.8 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only Utah (3.1 percent and Idaho (2.9 percent) posted better job … Read More

Guest Editorial: Turning Around The Negative And Nasty

By Recker McDowell — There is never a shortage of the nasty, negative and disparaging these days in politics, the 24/7 news cycle and on social media. So, it was refreshing to see the warm wishes for U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Arizona) when she recently announced her health battles with alcohol dependency. Those included some positive vibes from the other … Read More

Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio and Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich on Phoenix Delaying Higher Lyft, Uber Fees at Sky Harbor Airport

The city of Phoenix is holding off on higher rideshare fees for Uber and Lyft rides at Phoenix Sky Harbor International until after the Arizona Supreme Court rules on the legality of the hikes. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich argues the higher fees go against a voter approved state law restricting cities from imposing new and higher taxes and charges … Read More

Developers Aren’t The Black Hats; They Are The Marketplace, Proof of Concept

Real estate developers are often cast with the black hats. But aren’t they the people who build the homes we live in? Their bulldozers, political maneuvering and redevelopment plans are often contrasted with concerned neighbors, small business owners and the preverbal local townsfolk. It’s the stuff of old ‘Murder She Wrote’ and ‘Scooby-Doo’ episodes. But developers are not actually the … Read More