Over the past two plus decades in Scottsdale there have been two epic campaign contests for Mayor.  In 1996 Diana Smith (wife of former Councilman David Smith) spent a major chunk of her own change to almost upset the presumptive frontrunner, Sam Campana.  Almost.  And then in 2008 then Councilman Jim Lane challenged a vulnerable Mayor Mary Manross, very narrowly … Read More

By Scottsdale Pinetop When it comes to charter schools people either celebrate them as an alternative to underachieving public schools or accuse them as a flawed outcome in failed education reform. Regardless of opinion, it’s hard to discredit charter schools’ growth throughout the U.S. Leading the way is the BASIS Curriculum Schools network, regarded as the best charter school system … Read More

By Scottsdale Pinetop The recent events of local high school robotics teams is a classic Cinderella story. Against the odds, three of Scottsdale’s high school robotics teams advanced to the FIRST® Championships, an international robotics tournament held in Houston, Texas. But their celebration was short lived after discovering that teams from Chaparral, Desert Mountain and Saugaro might not be able … Read More

  By Virginia Korte I believe the City Council does an exceptional job of representing citizens, no matter where you live. I feel I can speak for everyone on the Council when I say we work hard to treat everyone and every issue the same: thoughtfully and thoroughly. But as I have conversations with people throughout our community, some ask … Read More

Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane has always been more concerned with getting things done than getting attention. That may be his motivation behind forming a Political Action Committee called “At Our Best.” Records show it is being organized to raise money to assist political candidates. Scottsdale, or Arizona for that matter, has no shortage of critics. But it may have a … Read More

The Phoenix Suns have had many great players over the years but Paul Westphal was right up there with the best of them.  Twisting, turning, shooting and scoring like few others is why he’s in the team’s Ring of Honor.  His jersey number was 44.  It was fitting and looked good to all who saw him play. Compare that with … Read More

By Scottsdale Pinetop If there is one-thing critics and supporters of the Trump administration can agree on is that President Trump is leaving a lasting mark on U.S. foreign policy. Weakening traditional alliances, threatening military action and dissolving trade agreements, the fate of the U.S. foreign relations remains murky. This can leave local leaders to step into the vacuum and … Read More

By Scottsdale Pinetop As the debate about bike share programs rages on in Scottsdale, neighboring community Paradise Valley can’t seem to escape the discussion either. In recent months, various bike share companies have migrated into the Phoenix and Scottsdale downtowns areas, often crossing city limits. For many Paradise Valley residents, this appears to be a problem and has many asking … Read More

As noble opponents of the ill-conceived and politically toxic Desert Discovery Center/Desert Edge continue their impressive volunteerism to force a public vote on the project we thought it would be helpful to remind readers why their efforts are justified. We have not been shy about our opposition to this wholly unnecessary white elephant over the years and wanted to summarize … Read More

By Scottsdale Pinetop Many visit Arizona in March for its breathtaking desert sunsets, five-star resorts and upscale nightlife. But in recent years, it’s the month-long preseason spring training season that is making Scottsdale a leading economic and tourist destination. Selling out Scottsdale Stadium seats at for most Cactus League games, it’s time for Scottsdale to make long-term improvements to one … Read More