Ahead Of Our Time

On January 7, 2014, we raised the question of why, in this age of Phoenix political correctness, Mayor Stanton wasn’t staying true to his roots, and fighting to rename Squaw Peak Drive.  Here’s a link. Well, it looks like he’s finally found time.  And stirred up a lot of controversy based on this recent front page article in the Arizona … Read More

Scottsdale Audibles Can Help The City Win Games

To orchestrate an amazing comeback in the Super Bowl, as Tom Brady did, one doesn’t acquiesce to the rote.  Quarterbacks have to call new plays on the spot, based on the information and defense they are seeing. In Scottsdale, our quarterbacks are the City Council.  And some time ago they made a decision to deconstruct the “Big Tent” at WestWorld … Read More

Really Tough Times For Paradise Valley

A community spawned by the likes of William Rehnquist, Sandra Day O’Connor and Barry Goldwater is bound to be something special.  But a quick review of the tony township’s current in-box isn’t just special, it’s extraordinary. *A new version of the beloved Mountain Shadows hotel is set to open March 7th, along with an equally loved “Short Course,” the renamed … Read More

Sticking To His Guns

Yesterday was Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane’s birthday.  It was also his annual State of the City address, attended by a record 460 people. That’s a testament to his leadership, and the landslide election victory he had in November.   But the most surprising part of his speech wasn’t his dedicatory remarks about the “best city in America,” it was in … Read More

ASU Center to teach community about thriving in a desert

Partnership between ASU, Scottsdale’s Desert Discovery Center to produce research, exhibits about local environment There’s nothing new about Arizona residents looking for sustainable ways to live in the desert, but a recent United Nations report has made the matter a worldwide concern. Because of climate change, the UN says that by 2030 almost half of the global population will be living … Read More

Right On The Mark

There are gadflies at City Halls.  Every town or city has one, two or more. And then there are gadflies.  Like big gad, horse flies.  They don’t come any uglier or smellier than Mark Stuart in Scottsdale. It’s not that he’s anti-establishment.  Nothing much wrong with that.   It’s that he’s in La La Land.  But his music isn’t pretty.  And … Read More

So Important For SoSco

One of the great Scottsdale stories of 2016 was the undeniable vibe that southern Scottsdale and her neighborhoods were an area on the move. Its strengths have long been known – proximity to Scottsdale’s thriving downtown and nearby freeways, a surging SkySong, new breweries – and the marketplace in the form of new families and residents started to respond. Mayor … Read More

Smart, Scottsdale

Plans are underway to tap the further potential of the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall.  Click here for more info. This is smart planning by city staff and Mayor Jim Lane and the City Council. But these plans should not languish.  They should be funded as soon as they’re completed. Home to the Scottsdale Culinary Festival, arts festivals, Sunday concerts and … Read More

The End Of History In Paradise Valley?

Michael Collins is the Mayor of Paradise Valley.  He likes to get things done.  He’s about the destination, not the journey.  So are most of the rest of the people serving on the Paradise Valley Town Council.  It’s a town of the accomplished.  It’s also a town started by the likes of O’Connor, Rehnquist and Goldwater. With historic names like … Read More

Together we can make our great city even better

By Virginia Korte Last week I was officially sworn in to begin my second term on the City Council.  I am looking forward to 2017 – especially working with our new City Manager, Jim Thompson. In my inaugural remarks, I said, “My one promise to our citizens is not only to work hard, but continue to use my moral compass … Read More