By Recker McDowell — Scottsdale saw 10.8 million tourists last year with visitors enjoying the city’s shopping, restaurants and bars, hiking trails, arts and culture and golf courses. What all those tourists have in common is that they are coming to Scottsdale for experiences. That is true for visitors everywhere whether it’s Key West, Florida or Juneau, Alaska. And recreation … Read More
Guest Editorial: The Ritz-Carlton Is Rising And It’s Getting Very Exciting
By Jini Simpson and Dan Schweiker — Wow. That’s all one can say once you witness the breadth and depth of construction and progress now taking shape at the new Ritz-Carlton project in Paradise Valley. Over the years we have been two of the project’s staunchest supporters. Both of us served on the Paradise Valley Town Council in the past. … Read More
Guest Editorial: The Positive Lessons For 2020 From The Scottsdale Bond Campaign
By Recker McDowell — The Scottsdale City Council has certified the November bond election where voters overwhelmingly passed Questions 1, 2 and 3. It is the first major bond program passed by Scottsdale voters in 19 years. Now, the political focus in Scottsdale, statewide and nationally turns to the 2020 elections. Scottsdale will be electing a new mayor and council … Read More
Guest Editorial: I’m Honored By The Recognition For Helping Establish Our McDowell Sonoran Preserve
By Virginia Korte — During the more than 30 years of serving our community in a variety of capacities, I have been humbled many times. But never more so than when I was named a “Preserve Pioneer” for helping establish the McDowell Sonoran Mountain Preserve. I was privileged to join 11 people as a “Pioneer” when the city recently celebrated … Read More
Guest Editorial: Scottsdale Can Parlay International Tourism Into Economic Development Gains
By Recker McDowell — Scottsdale hosted 1.7 million international tourists last year, according to a new tourism impact study released by the city earlier this month. Those international travelers account for 15.7 percent of the 10.8 million of Scottsdale’s visitors in 2018. This is the first study where Scottsdale tracked international visitors and their $443.9 million spending here. That spending … Read More
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Grants Air Quality Permit to Alliance Metals USA; La Paz County Already Home to Seven Operations With Same Permits
(LA PAZ COUNTY, Ariz.) — The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has approved Alliance Metals USA’s application for an air quality permit for a proposed $30 million economic development, jobs producing investment in La Paz County. The permit award is a major milestone and victory for Alliance Metals USA and its commitment to operate an environmentally safe and secure … Read More
Guest Editorial: How Tempe Charts Its Growth & Future Will Reverberate in Scottsdale, Phoenix, East Valley
By Recker McDowell — The city of Tempe is looking at its long-term growth plans for its downtown area including Mill Avenue and Arizona State University’s main campus. Tempe leaders are examining how to bring more residential development and workforce housing options as well as the height of buildings. The rest of the region should pay close attention to Tempe’s … Read More
Kyrsten Sinema and the Big Question for Democrats in 2020 Versus Trump
By Recker McDowell — U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona) is very much indicative of Democrats prospects in 2020 and the fork in the road they face in their bid to beat President Donald Trump and win control of the U.S. Senate. Sinema’s moderate path helped her win the Senate seat in 2018 in red-state Arizona and has given her solid … Read More
Statement from Councilman Sal DiCiccio: Lyft to Pull Out of Sky Harbor in Response to Massive Airport Tax
By Sal DiCiccio — Phoenix politicians are about to stick it to the public once again. They need to realize this is going to hurt the City of Phoenix at a national level, it will hurt the public, and it will hurt small business owners that rely on rideshare. Last month the council voted to tax every rideshare trip to/from … Read More
Guest Editorial: After The Rush What White Castle & Fry’s Food Stores Show About Scottsdale’s Brand, Salt River & Downtown Phoenix
By Recker McDowell — The initial rush and much covered openings of the new White Castle restaurant in Scottsdale and the new Fry’s Food Stores supermarket in downtown Phoenix are a little bit in the rearview mirror. The new White Castle still says a lot about Scottsdale’s brand and the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community where the restaurant located … Read More