This week the Phoenix Suns confused the basketball world with a draft and trades that left even the most optimistic fan scratching head. That’s because the team desperately needs a point guard yet passed on one, any one. Cities are a lot like NBA franchises. City managers act as the point guard, assisting policymakers and creating opportunities. Until current Scottsdale … Read More
A Critical, Compelling And Rare Scottsdale Confluence
The sun. The moon. Earth. Other planets. Sometimes they line up in a way that creates something beautiful. Politically speaking, that is happening now in Scottsdale. When measures to aid the Scottsdale Unified School District or the City of Scottsdale are proposed they nearly always increase taxes. But not this year. Not on November 5th. And that’s a beautiful thing. … Read More
‘For The Best Scottsdale’ Bond Campaign Adds Community Leaders, Elected Officials to Diverse Leadership
Additional honorary campaign co-chairs and Steering Committee members have joined the campaign supporting three Scottsdale bond measures on November ballot that bolster public safety, make overdue and essential infrastructure repairs and invest in senior centers, parks and recreation assets. Current Scottsdale City Council members Guy Phillips and Virginia Korte, former Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross and former City Councilman Robert Pettycrew … Read More
Guest Editorial: Career Move and Milestone Show Marijuana’s Maturation, Move Into Mainstream
By Recker McDowell — Colorado has now raised $1 billion in state tax revenue from marijuana since legalization in 2014. Phoenix attorney Nicole Stanton has also announced she was joining Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. as vice president and general counsel. Tempe -based Harvest Health is one of the largest cannabis businesses in the country. The money in Colorado and … Read More
Guest Editorial: Scottsdale Needs To Be More Gung Ho For Adaptive Reuse
By Recker McDowell — More than a decade ago, adaptive reuse was new and easier. Arizona was ground zero for the recession. There were plenty of buildings and properties available and for economic slowdown prices. That allowed for a wave of new restaurants and creative office spaces to sprout and blossom on Seventh Street, Phoenix’s Warehouse District, Tempe and Scottsdale. … Read More
Guest Editorial: Taking Chandler’s Price Road Corridor to the Next Technology Level
By Recker McDowell — Chandler’s Price Road Corridor is on the verge of taking its regional reputation as a technology hub to another level. Intel is expanding in Chandler with a $7 billion investment its semiconductor fabrication operation. Intel also has an autonomous driving laboratory and research and development in Chandler. Alphabet / Google’s self-driving Waymo also does major testing … Read More
Guest Editorial: Scottsdale Shows Its Economic Strength, Appeal to Younger Workers With Summer Jobs
By Recker McDowell — Scottsdale ranks second in the U.S. for summer jobs, according to a new study. The Wallet Hub study ranked cities on summer job opportunities, pay for those jobs, affordability and things to do for younger workers. Scottsdale ranked first on the same list in 2018. Orlando was first this year. Scottsdale’s ranking shows its diversity of … Read More
Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS Endorses Bond Questions 1, 2 and 3
The Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS (SAAR) has endorsed three Scottsdale bond measures on the November 2019 ballot joining a diverse coalition of community backers. SAAR has more than 9,000 active members and affiliates. It is the largest trade organization in the Northeast Valley. The Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS supports Question 1, 2 and 3. Those three measures ask … Read More
Guest Editorial: The First of Many Potential Twists, Turns & Politics Around D-Backs Future at Chase Field or a New Ballpark
Recker McDowell — First it was the renderings. Now it is a potential architect. These are but the first of many twists and turns for the Arizona Diamondbacks, their future at Chase Field or potentially a new ballpark. The latest has the D-backs hiring architecture firm HKS to do designs on a possible new ballpark. HKS designed Salt River Fields … Read More
Guest Editorial: Focus For Martha McSally And Mark Kelly Will Be On Border, Immigration And Donald Trump But Their Race Will Be Won And Lost In Metro Phoenix
By Recker McDowell — The border, immigration and President Donald Trump will be front and center in the U.S. Senate race next year between Republican Martha McSally and Democrat Mark Kelly. But the race — like McSally’s narrow loss to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema last year for Arizona’s other U.S. Senate seat — will be decided in vote-rich metro Phoenix That … Read More