By David Hudnall (Editor-in-Chief, Phoenix New Times) Dear Friend, First of all, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting Phoenix New Times. Without you, we simply wouldn’t be here. We couldn’t have told the stories of Phoenix — many of which would have gone untold if not for New Times — for the last 50 years and … Read More

By Recker McDowell — The Coronavirus pandemic is unprecedented in its impacts on public health (especially for seniors and those with underlying health conditions), on the economy and jobs and on everyday life. It is touching literally everything. But it’s also the fear and anxiety that is also driving the fallout. From closed workplaces and canceled sporting events to ‘shelter … Read More

By Recker McDowell — The Scottsdale City Council voted 4-3 today to keep the city’s food tax in place. The 1.75-percent food tax brought in $13.5 million to the city last year and was projected to bring in $16 million this year. With all that is going on with the Coronavirus and its devastating economic fallout, it is good for … Read More

Unprecedented times. Two words we all seem to use a lot these days. And while the crisis we now face can be described in no other way, our industry and our community’s ability to unite and recover in the face of incredible challenges is not unprecedented. In the past, we have rallied together and come out even stronger on the … Read More

By Recker McDowell — The Scottsdale City Council approved a $1.2 million outlay earlier this month as part of the regional effort to host Super Bowl LVII in 2023. Scottsdale should repurpose that money to help local businesses being devastated by the impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Super Bowl money is coming from the Tourism Development Fund via four … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Take a minute and think about our community and the impact the Coronavirus is having on so many of our neighbors who make up the backbone, the soul of our city, our region and state. The impact is everywhere. That means our response and our efforts on the public health and economic fronts need to be … Read More

By Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane As mayor of Scottsdale, I am keenly aware of the growing concern about coronavirus (COVID-19) in Arizona. I want you to know that your city government is focused on keeping the public and our employees safe while continuing to serve the community. The city’s emergency response and continuity of operations plans account for public health … Read More

It’s not often the City of Apache Junction is accused of having a more beautiful mind and a more steely spine than the Town of Paradise Valley.  Yet, at least on one issue recently, it has and does. Readers may recall Paradise Valley’s aborted attempt to transition to a single-hauler trash system not too long ago. It considered so for … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Health care and medical research are front and center with the Coronavirus and its impact on public health, stock markets, consumer confidence and travel. Biomedical research is also critical the region’s economic growth and projected jobs gains. Economic developers, city planners, elected officials and the private sector need to make sure the region continues to welcome … Read More

By Recker McDowell WeTravel Inc.— a San Francisco-based fintech startup — is landing 150 jobs at new offices at the Scottsdale Quarter. The B2B travel oriented financial tech firm picked Scottsdale over sites in Nashville, Austin, Salt Lake City, Denver and other cities, according to the Business Journal. Why the investment and jobs landed in Scottsdale are important as the … Read More