In Scottsdale and many other cities of late there is a rising citizen angst about proliferating apartment projects. We share some of these concerns. Look around. While art like architecture is often in the eye of the beholder most can agree what’s interesting and good. And what is not. Aesthetics aside this can miss a broader point in parts of … Read More
Guest Editorial: Go To Hell; Scottsdale Stands Up Again To Satanists
By Recker McDowell — The city of Scottsdale has continued its battle with the Devil this week. Scottsdale has been in federal court responding to the Satanic Temple’s legal challenge after its effort to give to say a Satanic prayer at a City Council meeting was rebuffed. The Satanists are upset with Scottsdale for not allowing their ‘prayer’ and for … Read More
Guest Editorial: Bonds Offer Scottsdale a Long-Term, Sustainable Path For Needed Infrastructure Repairs
By Recker McDowell — The Scottsdale City Council has approved a new construction contract for repairs at the Drinkwater Bridge over Drinkwater Boulevard. Drinkwater Boulevard has been closed since last summer after city engineers discovered the bridge at Civic Center Mall was crumbling and needed emergency repairs. The latest contract is the third phase for the bridge repairs. The Drinkwater … Read More
Guest Editorial: Seeing the Opportunities South of SkySong And McDowell Road
By Recker McDowell — Sometimes it feels like Scottsdale ends at McDowell Road. The roadway is southern Scottsdale’s gateway into Papago Park, Phoenix, the south end of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community and Loop 101 freeway. But of course, Scottsdale boundary stretches farther south to Tempe. And therein is the opportunity. The corridor between McDowell Road, where the … Read More
For The Best Scottsdale PAC Will Recycle Campaign Signs And Use Signs Made of Recycled Material; One Of The First Campaigns In Arizona To Make Recycling Commitment
The For The Best Scottsdale Political Action Committee, the campaign in support of Questions 1, 2, and 3, on the November 5th ballot in Scottsdale, is one of the first campaigns in the state to commit to recycling its campaign signs and use signs made with recycled plastic. Initially, the campaign assumed that its corrugated plastic campaign signs would be … Read More
Guest Editorial: Remember When the Coyotes Considered Playing Games in Saskatoon? Don’t Rule Out a Fresh Round of Coyotes Chatter with New Owner & MLB Rays Pondering Home Games in Montreal
By Recker McDowell — The Tampa Bay Rays are considering splitting games between St. Petersburg, where the team has struggled with attendance and to get a new ballpark, and Montreal which is looking to bring back Major League Baseball after the Expos left for Washington D.C. There is plenty of skepticism to making the Tampa Bay / Montreal ‘X-Rays’ work. … Read More
Good Points About Scottsdale, Mostly
On behalf of the Coalition of Greater Scottsdale, a collection of mostly slower-growth community leaders, Betty Janik conveyed caution about more height and development in the city, in a thoughtful, recent guest column. Click here to read. Agree or disagree with her, Janik’s respected voice is one that enriches discussions in the public square. But we take exception to Janik’s … Read More
Guest Editorial: Mesa’s Main Street Needs More R&R (Residential and Residents) And To Follow Its Own Downtown Path
By Recker McDowell — Mesa has long looked for the secret sauce for its downtown. It is easy for Mesa to look to other downtowns as the template for its long-desired success for Main Street. It is easy to look to Old Town Scottsdale, Tempe’s Mill Avenue and Gilbert Heritage District and try to aim for a restaurant, arts and … Read More
Guest Editorial: Employment Hot Spots Need More Office Space To Keep Up With Demand, To Keep Bringing Jobs
By Recker McDowell — The office market keeps getting tighter and tighter, especially in Scottsdale, Chandler and Tempe where employers and their workers want to locate. Simply put, those three are markets as well as downtown Phoenix need more new office space to keep up with demand and to keep bringing quality jobs to the region. The regional office vacancy … Read More
Guest Editorial: Why Scooters Work in Scottsdale And What They Teach Us About Consumers And Tourists
By Jessica Troy — Those electric scooters that well populate many an American and Arizona city raise concerns. The safety of riders zigging, and zagging and scooters scattered about are challenges. The critics see the injuries, the reckless riders and the perception that left-behind scooters are like the multiplying Tribbles from ‘Star Trek’. But for destinations for tourists, millennials and … Read More