Several Ideas for Reform About two decades ago Scottsdale started suffering from a reputation that it was anti-business. There were several reasons for the perception, real and perceived. The City Manager at the time was pre-disposed against business. And while the Mayor then learned that the top job at the city is different than being one of six on a … Read More

Every old zombie movie, and many of the new ones, employ a tried and true dramatic device. Just when you think the creature or monster or zombie is finally vanquished, it seems to rise up without explanation to terrorize the townsfolk again. Hopefully, the Scottsdale City Council will end this horror movie when it meets January 21st. The creature is … Read More

Well that didn’t last long. The collective community spirit exhibited in the overwhelming passage of the bond package on November 5th has since devolved over divisiveness with a project called Southbridge II. Late last week, opponents of the development submitted 17,000 referendum signatures to put the matter to a city-wide vote later in 2020. That’s no small achievement even if … Read More

By Recker McDowell — South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and entrepreneur Andrew Yang posted strong fourth quarter fundraising numbers in the Democratic presidential race. Buttigieg, in particular, has shown in his fundraising and polls that many voters are looking for fresh faces and fresh voices as Democrats decide who will take on President Donald Trump in November. Trump benefited from … Read More

By Recker McDowell — The Phoenix City Council approved plans to impose higher rideshare fees on Uber and Lyft rides to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Lyft and Uber have promised to stop service at the Phoenix airport this month over the higher fees. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is looking at the higher fees and whether Phoenix’s … Read More

By Recker McDowell — With 2019 in the rear-view mirror, 2020 and the upcoming elections are front of mind nationally, statewide and in local races where cities such as Scottsdale will pick a new mayor and City Council members. Local races will determine the path on growth, development and jobs. Those running for office in Scottsdale, in other cities or … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Scottsdale Fashion Square is landing a new Versace store to go along with other luxury locations for the likes of Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada. Fashion Square’s new Nieman Marcus anchored luxury wing and attraction of high-end brands along with a new Apple store helped spur sales at the mall. Fashion Square sales … Read More

By Recker McDowell Arizona Technology Council President and CEO Steve Zylstra has penned a new column in the Business Journal on the issue of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and the estimated 661,000 Dreamers who grew up as Americans but were brought into the U.S. by their families when they were very young. The fate of those Dreamers is … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Restaurants have been a big real estate, economic development and consumer spending driver throughout the current economic cycle. New cool restaurants filled empty and foreclosed properties right after the Great Recession. That helped Culinary Dropout and others sprout on Seventh Street in Phoenix. Restaurants have been the linchpin of the growth and popularity of Gilbert’s Heritage … Read More

By Recker McDowell — Scottsdale and Gilbert rank among the top cities in the U.S. for remote workers. Scottsdale ranks 2nd and Gilbert ranks 3rd among mid-size U.S. cities for the percentage of workers doing their jobs remotely, according to software firm Volusion. Only Frisco, Texas (a suburb of Dallas) ranks higher for remote jobs. The high rankings show the … Read More