An early morning jog on a neighborhood canal is one of the oldest and most common forms of exercise in Arizona. Imagine if that jog could span from Scottsdale to Tempe to Phoenix. Starting in early 2016, using the canals to get around the city will be a reality. The Canal Multiuse Path Improvement project, predominately in Scottsdale, is reaching … Read More

The Sanctuary Resort in Paradise Valley is a beautiful property run by respected industry veterans.  Indeed, it’s one of the finest small hotels in Arizona, if not the best. The one amusing exception seems to be its disregard for Sun Devil fans.  Curiously, bar management shuns ASU football on its televisions for games in Gainesville and the like.  Higher-ups may … Read More

Last Tuesday, Seattle voters approved of an unprecedented measure that will dramatically overhaul how local candidates running for mayor, city council, and city attorney raise campaign funds. Under Initiative 122, Seattle became the first city in the United States to try taxpayer-funded “democracy vouchers.” These vouchers work in a relatively straightforward manner. Each registered Seattle voter will receive four $25 … Read More

It is no secret that the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs has been dealing with a scandal or two. Thanks to whistleblowers like Dr. Katherine Mitchell, the internal issues came to light as well as the shocking knowledge that our veterans are not receiving the proper care they deserve. 50 veterans passed away due to lack of care. Sen. John … Read More

On October 28th the message below was sent out to businesses in downtown Scottsdale.  There’s probably more than a few alarm bells going off. After all, what problem would shrinking Scottsdale Road from two lanes to one lane through a vibrant downtown solve?  Are city planners just looking for something to do?  Is there one-lane envy of Mill Avenue in … Read More

Dierks Bentley’s popular restaurant and bar, Whiskey Row, hopes to join Gilbert’s Heritage District very soon. There are already two other popular locations in the Valley, Scottsdale and Tempe. So why are the residents of Gilbert worried about this establishment? Noise. That’s right, the residents of Gilbert are worried that Whiskey Row will be too noisy and will not be … Read More

It’s been 33 years since John Rambo took on the world.  It’s been only a week or two since former Phoenix City Councilman Tom Simplot fired the first shots in the 2019 Phoenix Mayor’s race. Two capable people have made it known they want to replace the term-limited Greg Stanton. Simplot and current Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski.  Both would … Read More

There are always great stories in any school district.  A wonderful teacher.  An enterprising student.  A feel good sports team. The Scottsdale Unified School District is no different. But the problems infecting the one time model of public schooling are a shocking indifference to malaise.  And that’s to put it kindly. Last year the district again lost some 1,000 students.  … Read More

Fiesta Mall in Mesa is about dead.  Los Arcos Mall in Scottsdale died years ago.  Metrocenter is trying to reinvent itself as so many other malls are doing across the country.  The changing retail landscape driven by increased online sales demands it.  Look at Biltmore Fashion Park which now seems more a tony food court than mall.  That brings us … Read More

It would seem that the Tempe police are more concerned about people’s opinion of them than actually protecting the residents. The ‘Safe and Sober’ campaign that launched in 2013 after incidents where Arizona State University students were found dead after attending parties where heavy drinking was involved was replaced with a babied version that focuses on education and prevention. After … Read More