The Arizona Legislature Might Do What? For Who? Why The State Legislature Shouldn’t Send The State Down A Nationally Unprecedented Regulatory Path & Enter A Private Contract Dispute For A Failed Gambling Group That Backed David Stringer

The owners of the reopening Arizona Downs outside Prescott and their pay-for-play, dark money backers at the “Public Integrity Alliance” are asking the Arizona Legislature to take an unprecedented leap into a private, contractual dispute. A last-minute striker to House Bill 2547 would tell private businesses who they are forced to work and transact with. Arizona Downs and its unsavory … Read More

Beneath Him

Losing a city council election, as David Smith did in November, did not infringe on his admirable service to Scottsdale. Ironically, it only reinforced it.  Running for office takes guts and displays a passion for community unmatched by few.   Smith has served the community he has called home for decades as City Treasurer and as a Councilman, having won … Read More

Guest Editorial: Scottsdale’s Brand Shows Its Strength with Fashion Square, Kierland Commons Performances in Age of Amazon

By Recker McDowell — First quarter numbers from mall owner Macerich (NYSE: MAC) show the strength of the Scottsdale market — even as retailers and shopping centers grapple with the age of Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN). Macerich owns close to 50 malls across the U.S. Kierland Commons, which sits in Phoenix but has a Scottsdale address, and Scottsdale Fashion Square were … Read More

Virginia Korte, Suzanne Klapp Show True Leadership, Put Community Over Politics When It Comes To Scottsdale Bond Measures

By all indications, Virginia Korte and Suzanne Klapp are both running for Scottsdale mayor next year. But the two councilors are putting that likely rivalry aside and are both strong backers of three Scottsdale bond measures on this year’s November ballot. Klapp and Korte are putting community before politics in backing the bonds which fund public safety, senior centers, parks … Read More

Guest Editorial: Why Mark Brnovich Strikes Gold with Nunchucks Twitter Video

By Recker McDowell Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s Twitter video showing off his mad nunchakus skills and celebrating the state lifting its ban on the martial arts gear has gone a bit viral. “Clearly, my years of martial arts training paid off. Pulled my old nunchaku out of storage … like riding a bike #WayofTheDragon,” said @GeneralBrnovich accompanied by a … Read More

Scottsdale City Councilmembers Determined To Help Get A Critical Bond Measure Passed

By Councilman Guy Phillips, Councilwoman Suzanne Klapp, Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield The City Council recently came to unanimous agreement to call a general obligation bond election on November 5, 2019 on three questions, with 58 capital projects totaling $319 million. The three of us served earlier this year on the Council’s Capital Improvement Projects subcommittee with the goal to bring a … Read More

Guest Editorial: Trump's Bid & Democrats 2020 Hopes Could All Hinge on Metro Phoenix

By Recker McDowell Maricopa County could be the national bellwether for the 2020 elections and whether Democrats can deny President Donald Trump a second term. That could make the metro Phoenix the 2020 equivalent of previous bellwethers such as Florida’s Interstate 4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando and Macomb County, Michigan near Detroit. Those regions have been key indicators to … Read More

Scottsdale Leaders Across Political, Business, Neighborhood Spectrums Come Together for Inclusive Bond Campaign; Steering Committee Named, Scottsdale Firefighters donate $10,000

A politically and geographically diverse group of Scottsdale leaders came together Wednesday, May 8th, for the first meeting of a unified campaign in favor of new bond measures for public safety, parks and key infrastructure improvements. For The Best Scottsdale: Vote Yes On Questions One, Two and Three has named its initial steering committee for the campaign in favor of … Read More