Guest Editorial: Tourism is Big Business in Scottsdale

By Michelle Ugenti-Rita Fall has always been one of my favorite times of year in Scottsdale. Growing up here, I remember the excitement as tourism season kicked into gear. Throughout high school and college, I worked at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort, now the Kimpton Miralina Resort and Villas, where we’d watch occupancy rates climb as business conferences, weddings, and other … Read More

Op-Ed: Elections Have Consequences. So Do School Closures.

By Jeanne Beasley Elections have consequences. This week, Scottsdale families saw just how significant those consequences can be when the Governing Board voted 3-2 to close two more neighborhood schools. Copper Ridge and Laguna will join Pima and Echo Canyon as schools our community is losing. Four schools in less than a year. Behind every closure are students, teachers, families, … Read More

Scottsdale Needs Real Control Over Short-Term Rentals

By Raoul Zubia I have lived in this neighborhood since the 1960s. For the past few years, I have been living in my childhood home to help my aging mother. In all those years, I had never heard gunfire on our street until early Sunday morning. Shots were fired in the front yard, the backyard and the street of a … Read More

Scottsdale Hall of Famer: Jason Mohns, the Coach Who Made Saguaro the Standard

Some Scottsdale legacies are carved into buildings and desert preserves. Jason Mohns built his under the Friday night lights. Over 11 seasons as head coach at Saguaro High School, he turned the Sabercats into one of the most respected programs in America. In fact, his teams won seven state championships and went 123-19. That run included a state-record six straight … Read More

Op-Ed: Scottsdale’s Future Depends on Getting Water and Growth Right

By Ana Landeros I’m proud to be a Scottsdale resident. I attended our schools here, graduated from Coronado High School, and now attend Scottsdale Community College. My family and I moved to Scottsdale because of its promise of community and opportunity. Now, at 18 years old, I know that the decisions made about Scottsdale today will impact my generation and … Read More

Op-Ed: Yes on Props 426 and 427

Dear Paradise Valley Residents, I encourage you to vote YES on Propositions 426 and 427 this November. Arizona’s expenditure limitation system was created nearly 50 years ago and limits how much of its own local revenue a town can spend based primarily on population growth and inflation. While well-intentioned, the formula can create unintended consequences. Our town has the financial resources to … Read More

Old Town Farmers Market Move – A Success!

By Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas Scottsdale’s treasured Old Town Farmers Market has a vibrant new home at City Hall – and the results are better than anyone expected! The expanded site now offers seating, shade from trees and solar canopies, and more space for vendors and families. On opening day Oct. 3, the market drew an estimated 2,700 visitors—about 1,000 more … Read More

Judge me on my record, not my opponents’ accusations.

By Raoul Zubia Christian Serena’s op-ed is a list of things I didn’t do. I didn’t write SB 1543, lobby for it, or vote on it. Every contribution to my campaign is publicly disclosed, and no one gets my vote for a check. I can’t control who funds Better Together or how it spends.  Voters deserve consistency. My opponents have … Read More