Since close to the very start of the Covid-19 outbreak, the virus and our collective responses have turned into a political issue. Sides were taken based on how seriously one took the virus, and once vaccines became prevalent, that too took on a left vs. right dynamic. One local restaurant is taking a stance that is bound to inflame passions … Read More
Scottsdale & Northeast Valley Potpourri
*Good timing and wisdom by the Scottsdale City Council giving its capable City Manager Jim Thompson a raise, right before Phoenix’s City Manager retired. *Barrett-Jackson’s new acquisitions of ClassicCars.com and other related assets are great news for the Scottsdale brand and its tourism. *Disgraced Paradise Valley Councilman Paul Dembow is about as popular in his town right now as Giannis … Read More
Guest Editorial: Many Questions but Few Answers
By Alexander Lomax In a shocking development last week, former Scottsdale Unified Superintendent Denise Birdwell was indicted by the Arizona Attorney General’s office on 18 felony charges related to kickbacks and fraud while in her role. It is alleged that millions of taxpayer dollars were improperly diverted to a construction firm which then rewarded her monetarily. Perhaps the most damning … Read More
Guest Editorial: Reading the Tea (Party) Leaves
by Alexander Lomax Photo Credit: azcentral.com In case you missed it, former President Trump came to Phoenix this past weekend in a rally organized by the conservative group Turning Point USA. While Trump speaking isn’t notable by itself, what is notable is that the declared Republican candidates for Governor and Secretary of State were invited to address the crowd. Quite … Read More
Guest Editorial: Trying Something New
By Alexander Lomax The city of Scottsdale isn’t exactly known for bold new ideas. The preservation of the past is actually a fairly important part of Scottsdale’s identity. As such, even relatively non-controversial ideas have a fairly tough road to implementation. Any readers here have almost certainly been to street fairs; events where a road (or several) is blocked off, … Read More
Guest Editorial: The Libertarian Master of Puppets
By Alexander Lomax The parade of new entrants in Arizona political races continued last week, as we have a new candidate looking to unseat Mark Kelly: Blake Masters declared his candidacy for the US Senate. Who is Blake Masters, you may be asking yourself. Not much is known about Mr. Masters, but what is known is unusual. Most notably, he … Read More
Justice For All
In our legal system equality is supposed to preside. Black or white. Rich or poor. Powerful or not. Yet, there is a belief that the elite, including politicians, can be above the law. We’re about to find out, courtesy of the Scottsdale City Attorney’s Office. It is apparently deciding whether to charge embattled Paradise Valley Councilman Paul Dembow with a … Read More
Finally Cooling Off (the Real Estate Market, Not the Weather)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard of the real estate market going bananas here in the Valley along with much of the rest of the country. A mix of Covid incentivizing people to move away from heavily crowded areas along with economic policies and personal financial situations has lead to an influx of home buyers from other … Read More
Sign Of The Times: Why Maricopa County Deserves Kudos, Again
Maricopa County has been in the news a lot lately. Some supporters of former President Trump don’t like the outcome of its 2020 election even though it appears to have been smartly and ethically performed by county officials. Now, there’s something else Maricopa County deserves credit for: updating its billboard ordinance. Certainly not as controversial or newsworthy as a hotly … Read More
Well Deserved
Rewind to last spring. It was thought Scottsdale would be among the most brutally hit Arizona cities by a once-in-a-century pandemic. Instead, it not only survived but thrived. Much of that had to do with Scottsdale’s municipal point guard, its City Manager Jim Thompson. It was not easy to walk the fine line of looking after public health while still … Read More