When did suburbia become a dirty word? It must have been some time ago because people have been bashing the suburbs and the people who live there for decades. It’s fashionable to sneer, snicker, and sanctimoniously prattle on about how the suburbs lack diversity and culture; how they cause sprawl; and how they are bad for the environment. I’ve had … Read More
Conflict of Interest or Just Good Luck?
In the 2012 legislative session, the Arizona Legislature raised the contribution limits for statewide candidates from $912 per person once during an entire election cycle to $2,000 per person for the primary election and another $2,000 per person for the general election. The usual liberal suspects sued to stop the change, the Legislature and the Secretary of State’s office argued … Read More
Scottsdale’s Western Heritage Demise Greatly Exaggerated Thanks To Creative Thinking With Greasewood Flat
There may be no better road house – cowboy centric or otherwise – than the watering hole in north Scottsdale known as Greasewood Flat. And after “losing” Rawhide, as well as a public relations battle with the spunky Town of Cave Creek about which community is more chaps than chatter, the thought of a sunset for the most western bar … Read More
An Expensive “Win”
The entire story would take too long to write, but anyone can go online and find the entire history. For now, all you need to know is that two groups in Arizona gave approximately $15 million to two campaign committees in California during the 2012 elections. One group, Americans for Responsible Leadership, is led by former Arizona House Speaker Kirk … Read More
This For North Scottsdale?
What is this? You’re not alone if confused. It’s a proposed design for a new Chinese restaurant in north Scottsdale. The photo has not been manipulated. It is not a joke. On November 21st the Scottsdale Design Review Board will decide whether this type of exotic, foreign design is appropriate for the area, or as it has at previous meetings … Read More
Good News: A Lyon For The Mountain Shadows Jungle
Upton Sinclair once wrote a captivating American novel called The Jungle. Far more recently others have written about the municipal jungle known in Paradise Valley as Mountain Shadows. It seemed to be to this community’s Los Arcos, a property always top of mind but without solution. But just as Scottsdale eventually lanced its boil, Paradise Valley may have more elegantly … Read More
Quick Thoughts On The Scottsdale Bond Failures: Unlucky ‘13
Political malpractice. That’s a kind term to describe the decision to place both a City of Scottsdale bond package on the ballot as the same time as more money for the school district. At a time when the stock market is high but the economy is not. Dueling taxing propositions was an effort needing to defy the gods. Rare are … Read More
Hiking Paradise Valley’s Mummy Mountain?
As the joint Phoenix-Paradise Valley improvements impressively conclude soon at Camelback Mountain’s Echo Canyon it sparks a new idea: hiking access to Paradise Valley’s Mummy Mountain. Scottsdale is opening trailheads in its spectacular McDowell Sonoran Preserve daily, it seems. Demand for hikes in and around Paradise Valley at Piestewa Peak, Cholla Trail and Echo Canyon aren’t subsiding any time soon. … Read More
Is it Possible to be a Conservative at the Local Level?
Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio certainly contradicts the notion in this headline. And he has been an exceptionally important voice railing against many excesses in Phoenix city government. But ultimately is a city best off with five, seven or nine Sal’s? Pardon the detour. It would seem a consistent conservative message would go something like this. The federal government is … Read More
It Ain’t Mountain Shadows or The Ritz: Paradise Valley Should Defoliate Cottonwoods Proposal
A beautiful evening on the patio at Camelback Back Inn’s restaurant called Rita’s. The views at Sanctuary. The charm of The Hermosa Inn. The social conscience of the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. The increasing charm of Montelucia. When one thinks of and experiences Paradise Valley’s grand resorts The Cottonwoods’ hotel property along Scottsdale Road doesn’t come to mind. Most don’t even … Read More