You almost certainly have seen asks from political candidates around Arizona to sign their online petition to get them on the ballot. It’s easy for voters to sign, it’s less fuss and muss for candidates (and allows them to avoid 100 degree signature collections and COVID), and those signatures are pre-qualified, and as such are immune from legal challenges from … Read More
Hey Scottsdale: If It’s All About Being Responsive To Citizens, Then Be Responsive To Citizens
Scottsdale’s current City Council majority professes allegiance to citizen input. The merits of a particular project no longer seem to matter much. Instead, Scottsdale decision-making appears to be an experiment in mass democracy. Most politicians have an eye toward the next election. That’s normal. Every two or four years residents give a thumbs up or thumbs down based on that … Read More
The Rent Crisis Hits Low Income Areas – Will Progressives Finally Push for More Housing Options?
Rents are increasing all around the country, but most exorbitantly in Arizona, with three AZ cities in the top 20 for highest increases in rent in the country over the last year. This is nothing new for us here at APG, we’ve been sounding the alarm for a while now. But as time goes on, we wonder what catalysts will … Read More
Guest Editorial: Kid! Get Off My Lawn.
By Mike Norton The “growth years” for Scottsdale long ago ended. From 1970 through early 2000’s, Scottsdale grew steadily. Compared to today, we were a vibrant, comparably young, and thriving community. Family Friendly housing developments and the expansion of superb school networks dominated those decades. Not only were there no complaints about growth, we embraced growth and enjoyed it. From … Read More
New Scottsdale Poll Reveals Support On Key Issues And Projects As Well As Thoughts On City
Poll Shows Substantial Support For Plan To Replace Empty Offices With Multi-Family Residences Near Honor Health North Scottsdale Same Poll Shows Most Residents Willing to Accept Some New Residential Development; Ratings On City Direction, Elected Officials Also Included (Scottsdale, Ariz.) While a vocal minority may give the impression that Scottsdale residents do not want to see any new multi-family housing, … Read More
Afghan Refugees are Settling in Scottsdale: An Opportunity to Shine or a New Hot-Button Protest Magnet?
Recently 300 war refugees from Afghanistan were housed in a hotel in Scottsdale in order to escape their dystopian situation at home. It seems as though many of them will begin a new life in Scottsdale and settle into our neighborhoods and no doubt contributing to them via hard work and the chase of the American Dream. This is a … Read More
Paul Dembow Running for 4th Term in PV: Why Voters Must Reject Him This Time
Here we go again: Paradise Valley town councilmember Paul Dembow has announced his run for re-election. We were hoping to be spared, for him to go quietly into the night to work on himself, to spend more time with his family, or whatever graceful bow-out he chose. But no…here we are again. Dembow is now seeking his 4th term, which … Read More
Guest Editorial: Successes, Goals & Enthusiastically Seeking Re-election
By Solange Whitehead It has been a packed few years at City Hall. Since 2018, we’ve expanded open space, approved new parks, dramatically raised the bar on development, protected neighborhoods and funding for vulnerable populations, took care of seniors, and welcomed everyone with a non-discrimination ordinance. Aligning City Hall policies with citizen priorities led to the passage of crucial, tax-neutral … Read More
Gilbert Moving Forward with Significant Development Plans – What Could Scottsdale Learn?
We often gripe about the lack of new developments in Scottsdale, with reasons ranging from a council that is sometimes antagonistic to such projects as well as the culture of NIMBYism that has befallen our great city. Sometimes we need to see that there is a better way. Enter Gilbert. Gilbert is showing what can happen when you have leadership … Read More
A PV Shake-up – A Mayoral Battle and New Entrant for City Council Race is Making Waves in Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley politics haven’t always been the most exciting, but recent events demonstrate that 2022 will be different, as new entrants for Mayor and City Council will likely mix things up significantly. Councilmember Julie Pace recently submitted paperwork to run for Mayor in what will certainly be a closely watched battle against incumbent Jerry Bien-Willner. The two have had a … Read More