New Axon “Push Poll,” A Joke Of A Public Opinion Survey, Ignores The Real Issue: A 1,900 Unit Unwanted Apartment Complex In Scottsdale Which Would Be The Largest In State History
Axon Seeks Support For Special Interest Legislation That Would Effectively Cancel An Election In Scottsdale And Destroy Voting Rights Across Arizona
(Scottsdale, Ariz.) It’s all about a giant apartment complex in Scottsdale. Axon’s recent poll of cherry-picked questions hides behind distortions and corporate propaganda while failing to acknowledge the real reason it is pushing legislation to limit voting rights statewide on zoning issues.
The purpose of its legislation is to do an end run around Scottsdale voters and cancel a November 2026 election which would decide the fate of Axon’s unwanted 1,900-unit apartment complex near Hayden and the 101 in Scottsdale. It would be the largest apartment complex in state history. That’s why Scottsdale voters oppose it after the city already approved the second and third largest apartment entitlements in recent years.
Axon never mentions the scope of this project in its new polling and instead extols the company’s “virtues” while blaming a California union for its woes. In reality, the petition drive against Axon’s giant apartment complex was led by former Scottsdale City Councilman Bob Littlefield and funded primarily by the Arizona based Public Integrity Alliance, an organization that advocates for issues on both sides of the political aisle. Union support totaled about 2% but you wouldn’t know that based on Axon’s bogus poll. Here is the question they posed.
The Axon poll ignores the massive size of the apartment project and resident opposition. Instead, the company is releasing a bogus poll with deficient language to shroud overwhelming opposition to their plan as well as their stunning legislation to eliminate the constitutional rights of Scottsdale residents and everyone around the state who may want to challenge the decisions of local governments. These rights have existed since statehood and one selfish company seeks to change that. Here’s how the Axon poll “framed” its assault on the public’s right to vote on zoning issue.
The Axon poll also fails to mention that Axon bought the land from the state of Arizona at a bargain because the property was not zoned for apartments at the time of purchase. Money from the sale goes to Arizona schools. This bait and switch is ripping off public schools to the tune of about $100 million.
“Axon’s new ‘poll,’ which it will surely release in the next few days, should be treated as the political garbage it is, devoid of any veracity of where the public stands on the issue, which is why they are attempting to void a Scottsdale election they know they will lose,” said Bob Littlefield, Chairman of Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions, or TAAAZE. By contrast a January survey conducted by widely respected pollster Data Orbital and commissioned by TAAAZE shows Scottsdale residents overwhelmingly oppose the apartment rezoning which would be the largest such request in Arizona in terms of units built. Nearly two-thirds (65.2%) of respondents oppose the zoning change, just 29.1% support it. 48.6% of respondents are strongly opposed. Here is a copy of the question and the breakdown of responses.
Axon’s survey fails to acknowledge how residents feel about the massive increase in apartment construction. Those feelings are plainly stated in the January Data Orbital survey. A strong majority (59%) of Scottsdale voters feel that there has been too much apartment construction in the past few years, while only 8.4% say there has been too little. Here is the poll question and a breakdown of responses.
The petition drive to place the apartment rezoning on the ballot had record support. Neary 27,000 signatures were submitted. Maricopa County estimates a record setting 19,000 were valid, 4,000 more than the City of Scottsdale claims is required to place the measure on the Scottsdale ballot.
TAAAZE is the driving force opposing Axon’s unwanted apartment complex.
Littlefield added, “Axon has demonstrated it has no respect for Scottsdale neighborhoods and the right of Arizonans to vote on zoning issues, and its poll demonstrates it has no respect for the truth. Axon CEO Rick Smith is willing to upend voting rights in Scottsdale and around the state to get what he wants. So much for his hometown hero façade.”
TAAAZE does NOT oppose Axon building its headquarters in Scottsdale. The Scottsdale City Council previously approved Axon’s plans for new headquarters without 1,900 apartments. What TAAAZE opposes is a blatant bait and switch which allows Axon to reap massive profits on land it bought from the State of Arizona at a reduced rate, while ruining the quality of life for a large part of Scottsdale with a giant apartment complex. And if Axon’s legislation is passed, this can happen to almost any community in Arizona.
Littlefield continued, “A massive apartment complex in Scottsdale and voting rights for Arizona are the real issues here despite Axon’s attempts to divert the debate with a push poll that tazes the facts and buries them in a ditch. Any experienced member of the media knows they should not bury the lead, which means deemphasizing or concealing the real issue. Axon’s poll makes about as much sense as a reporter covering the Lincoln assassination and handing the editor a theater review.”
To learn more, go to www.ProtectOurScottsdale.com.
