By Recker McDowell — The city of Tempe is looking at its long-term growth plans for its downtown area including Mill Avenue and Arizona State University’s main campus. Tempe leaders are examining how to bring more residential development and workforce housing options as well as the height of buildings. The rest of the region should pay close attention to Tempe’s … Read More
Guest Editorial: After The Rush What White Castle & Fry’s Food Stores Show About Scottsdale’s Brand, Salt River & Downtown Phoenix
By Recker McDowell — The initial rush and much covered openings of the new White Castle restaurant in Scottsdale and the new Fry’s Food Stores supermarket in downtown Phoenix are a little bit in the rearview mirror. The new White Castle still says a lot about Scottsdale’s brand and the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community where the restaurant located … Read More
What Are They Smoking?
A variety of factors are now coming to light about the true motivation for a “legal protest” against a plan to replace a tattoo parlor with a medical marijuana dispensary on the east side of the Galleria Corporate Center in downtown Scottsdale. Those motivations according to local media reports include a desire to assemble the city block where the Sunday … Read More
Winners & Losers From The Scottsdale Bond Election Landslide Victory & SUSD Win
Winners: Kathy Littlefield, Guy Phillips & Solange Whitehead. Phillips and Littlefield had opposed previous bond efforts. Not this time. Nor did newcomer Whitehead who frequently votes with either or both. The three stood up for Scottsdale with integrity and independence and the community is the better for it. Winners: Conscientious Activism. There were many reasons for the landslide bond win. … Read More
Secret Developer Group Launching Suspect Campaign to Stop Legal Medical Marijuana Dispensary So It Can Build High-Rise Project in Scottsdale
(SCOTTSDALE) — It really ultimately is Patients vs. Developers. Health Care vs. High-Rises in Scottsdale — and developers are trying to dupe the public and Scottsdale City Council. A new email shows real estate developers, including out-of-state ones, and some downtown property owners are working covertly to undermine and oppose a needed medical marijuana dispensary in downtown Scottsdale. Developers want … Read More
Guest Column: Congratulations Scottsdale Voters
By Virginia Korte — The overwhelming victory on all three bond questions is a time to celebrate. The last time we had this kind of overwhelming success for a bond election was 20 years ago. While there are still more challenges ahead in solving some of our future infrastructure needs, Tuesday’s election results were a significant step toward making our … Read More
Scottsdale Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Questions 1, 2 and 3; First Major Bond Program in City Since 2000
(SCOTTSDALE) – Scottsdale voters have approved the city’s first major bond program in 19 years by overwhelmingly backing Questions 1, 2 and 3. The three Scottsdale questions passed with an average of 70 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results. The program invests in 58 projects totaling $319 million. Question 1 (which invests in senior centers, parks and recreation facilities) passed … Read More
Patients vs. Developers: Scottsdale Citizens Form Group to Stop Developer from Harming Medical Marijuana Dispensary
(SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA) — Patients vs. Developers. State vs. City. Those are the fault lines that have developed over a proposed medical marijuana dispensary in downtown Scottsdale. What once seemed a foregone conclusion after a favorable Planning Commission vote, strong support in public opinion surveys and provisions in state law, has now been jeopardized by several downtown property owners, including out-of-state … Read More
Guest Editorial: Scottsdale Ranks as Top Coffee City; What It Shows We Have and What It Shows We Need
By Recker McDowell — Scottsdale ranks as one of the best cities in the country for coffee and is the top city in Arizona to get caffeinated, according to a recent study by WalletHub. The research firm ranked cities based on the number of coffee shops per capita and overall friendliness to coffee lovers. Scottsdale’s high ranking shows a lot … Read More
Guest Editorial: Scottsdale Comes Together, Now It’s Time To Vote For Questions 1, 2 and 3
By Recker McDowell — Scottsdale residents, neighborhood advocates and community leaders from all walks of life are supporting the infrastructure investments and repairs in Questions 1, 2 and 3 on the November 5th ballot. Voters need to mail their ballots back to the city now, so they are received and counted by Election Day. The entire Scottsdale City Council, groups … Read More