We will never stop being advocates for public involvement in our city’s affairs. Often times elected officials are in a bit of a bubble and need to hear from everyday citizens in order to get them out of that bubble. Besides, civic involvement is the high tier from which you have every right to complain about politics! Scottsdale has been … Read More
Sports Betting is Coming to the TPC Scottsdale: A Positive Development or a Negative Sign of the Times?
It has been nearly impossible to ignore the hyperbolic growth of sports betting in America. Sports matches are inundated with advertisements from sportsbooks, there has been a de facto arms race between a few of the bigger players, and most prominent sports talking heads on digital platforms have had sponsorships from betting platforms. Now we know that the sportsbook at … Read More
In the Wake of the Rio Verde Foothills Crisis, Water Rights Come Front and Center
Regular readers are acutely aware of the water crisis in the Rio Verde Foothills, the beleaguered community on the border of Scottsdale. Their trouble securing a long-term water source has been well documented and is still an ongoing process. But as the state legislature and other entities were forced to weigh in on the subject, it has now become clear … Read More
Governor Hobbs Calling for Charges Against Trump? A Cautionary Tale
When it comes to the first year for Governor Katie Hobbs, it has been somewhat turbulent. It began with numerous missteps but seems to have course-corrected after the hiring of her new Chief of Staff (you can get up to date here). That said, recent actions have shown that unforced errors may be nearly impossible to avoid without keeping her … Read More
Republicans Have a New Attack Against Governor Hobbs: Attempted Censorship
Criticism is an absolute given if you run for a high public office; regardless of who you are, what party you’re in and what your background is, you are certain to get some slings and arrows flying at you. Governor Katie Hobbs has taken plenty of those slings and arrows, some being legitimate and some ridiculous. Now a new accusation … Read More
The Race for the Swing District at the County Board of Supervisors: Positioned to be a Blockbuster
Bill Gates is not only the founder of Microsoft…he’s also one of the five Supervisors at the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors! Ok, that’s a bad joke, it’s a different Bill Gates. But our Gates has long been one of the more reasonable voices in leadership in his role representing County District 3, a district that essentially covers the entire … Read More
The Arizona GOP has a Huge Fundraising Problem: Where Do They Go From Here?
Money is the fuel that powers politics: fuel alone won’t drive anything, but the best car around won’t drive an inch without it. And it’s the same with political parties as it is with campaigns. Money helps parties hire staffers, pay for resources, and ramp up in preparation for warfare every two years. And here in Arizona, we found out … Read More
A Gigantic Post-Scandal Shake-Up at the Maricopa County Democratic Party: Executive Director and Chair are Out, New Regime Is In. What Does It Mean?
What a few weeks it has been since we lifted the curtain on major financial improprieties at the Maricopa County Democratic Party (read our analyses here). Within the first five days 7,600 of you read our most recent story which ended in our call for both its Executive Director Ne’Lexia Galloway and its Chair Nancy Schriber to resign. That article … Read More
Another Piece of History Dies at the Altar of “Progress”
The word “progress” denotes moving forward by its very nature. While it takes on different meanings for different things, at its core it generally means leaving something behind in the past for something in the future that is ostensibly better. But sometimes the word is used too loosely; not everything old needs to be updated, and not everything new adds … Read More
Arizona’s Own Rock God Spreading the Gospel of Grapes, Both Locally and Statewide
To anyone between the ages of 35 and 50 who knows anything about rock music, we don’t need to tell you about Tool. An iconic band which has transcended genres, has earned incredible commercial success while never needing to rely on stunts and attention-grabs, and in the process has obtained a nearly cult-like following. But most Arizona Tool fans can … Read More