Regular readers know that the Arizona Progress Gazette has been screaming about the incoming water crisis from the rooftops. It began as volunteer requests for water reduction, which were not insignificant in impact, but nowhere near enough. As the Colorado River suffers another light year of melted snowpack, the crisis has recently escalated. In a recent blockbuster announcement with significant … Read More
News Conference Tuesday: Let Voters Decide Dark Money Not Governor Ducey
**News Conference** Tuesday, August 23rd 11:00am in Phoenix The Governor Wants To Take Away AZ’s Right To Vote On Anti-Dark Money Ballot Initiative A bi-partisan coalition of Arizona residents, business leaders, and political leaders will hold a news conference on Tuesday, August 23rd 11:00am at 668 North 44th Street at the Outlier Center (near 44th and Van Buren) responding to … Read More
Guest Editorial: The Political Earthquake In Scottsdale No One Is Talking About . . .And Ramifications For The City’s Future
By Jason Rose I ran my first successful campaign in Scottsdale in 1994. Two years later I consulted on the campaign that elected the city’s first female mayor, Sam Campana. Ever since I have been heavily involved in the Scottsdale political scene leading elections for other mayors, hockey arenas and bonds to fund new infrastructure. I offer these credentials not … Read More
Guest Editorial: Mark Kelly is Pivoting on the Border – Is Anyone Fooled?
By Ronald Sampson It’s late August in an even-numbered year, which in Arizona can also be known as “pivot season”. Now that primaries are out of the way, winning candidates will traditionally move towards the political center to appeal to those across the aisle. Blake Masters celebrated this holiday as ostentatiously as the person on your street whose Christmas lights … Read More
Scottsdale’s Tourism Plan Just Dropped. What Do You Need to Know?
You almost certainly know how important of an economic driver tourism is to Scottsdale. It fills our coffers, puts Scottsdale on an international map, and provides myriad jobs in the hospitality industry. And like any well-run city, we have leadership that recognizes its importance and puts together regular plans to help guide best practices to cultivate it. Recently, the city … Read More
Signs, Signs, Everywhere There’s Signs…Still
Political street signs are one of the most prevalent forms of political advertising, and simultaneously one of the most obnoxious. For half a year every high-traffic corner in the county turns into an arms race to see who can get the best placement, and as a result as many as a dozen signs crowd out every free square foot of … Read More
Rent Costs Being Discussed in Scottsdale City Council: Are We Actually Making Progress?
We don’t need to tell our regular readers: rent costs are an issue in Scottsdale. We have broken the top 10 nationally, in rarified air with our big city brothers and sisters, and the stories of longtime residents being pushed out of their homes due to egregious jumps in rent are shameful and unfortunate. The Scottsdale City Council has been … Read More
The First Dispensary is Coming to Roosevelt Row: A Cool Scene Just Got a Little Cooler
Roosevelt Row has long been one of the cooler spots in the Valley. Between First Fridays, a great walkable feel, and plenty of fun bars and restaurants, the area right on the northern tip of downtown Phoenix is a great intra-county destination for a night out. But it has always been missing one thing…until now. The first marijuana dispensary will … Read More
Guest Editorial: Voters Believe Experience Matters
By Barry Graham
Guest Editorial: Election Night – Trump was the Biggest Winner in Arizona
By Ronald Sampson As you are nearly certainly aware of, last Tuesday was primary election day, and while there weren’t many shocking outcomes, there was a very clear winner: someone who wasn’t even on the ballot. Indeed, former President Trump Trump made four big ticket endorsements: Blake Masters for Senate, Kari Lake for Governor, Mark Finchem for Secretary of State, … Read More