Season's Greetings and a Bid Farewell

By Paradise Valley Mayor Michael Collins Dear Friends and Neighbors, As we enjoy the Holiday Season and prepare to ring in the New Year, I offer you this final town update and a bid farewell as I near the end of my station as your Mayor. 2018 finished strong with progress and improvement across all areas of Town Government and … Read More

Guest Editorial: Bar Rescue

By Scottsdale Pinetop Downtown Scottsdale’s entertainment area, the Valley’s nightlife epicenter, has created a number of headaches between Scottsdale residents, City Council and business owners. Really it’s a love-hate relationship. While numerous patrons have spoken in defense of the growing entertainment scene, many Scottsdale residents have become disgruntled and vocal by attacking local bars. The Rockbar in downtown Scottsdale is … Read More

PHX Votes Down Massive Tax Increase on Water

Today the public made it extremely clear: they no longer trust the failed dysfunctional leadership of the City of Phoenix. Phoenix leaders demanded a whopping $1.5 BILLION water tax increase, one of the largest in city history.  This was voted down on a 5 to 3 vote, with Councilwomen Guevara, Mendoza, and Stark voting for the tax increase but Mayor Williams indicated she plans to bring it … Read More

Guest Editorial: The Electric Epidemic Part II

By Scottsdale Pinetop Litter or Luxury? The debate rages on. Last week, we wrote about the unavoidable consequences and safety concerns surrounding the scooters proliferating throughout Scottsdale. Click here to read.  There’s no question that bike and scooter share is transforming and modernizing transportation by creating a cost efficient and colorful way of getting around. But it should not come … Read More

Political Rankings

With the college football playoff upcoming and the college basketball season in full swing, many are paying attention to various rankings.  Here are some as they relate to interesting, future elections: SCOTTSDALE MAYOR 2020 (Jim Lane is term-limited) Councilwoman Suzanne Klapp Councilwoman Virginia Korte Any warm body John Karolzak PHOENIX MAYOR (Special Election March 12, 2019) Former Councilwoman Kate Gallego … Read More

Scottsdale Wedge Issue 2020?

Were you for or against the sales tax increase to fund preservation of the McDowell Mountains?  Were you for or against the Los Arcos hockey arena proposal?  Were you for or against Proposition 420? These have been the great questions and wedge issues that have shaped Scottsdale City Council elections over the past three decades. Indeed, Proposition 420, which rallied … Read More

The Karolzak Chronicles: Volume II

We wrote before about the amusing announcement by the very weird John Karolzak that he wants to run for Mayor of Scottsdale.  Click here to read. We note that he describes himself on social media as a “health care executive.”  What a disservice to the words health, care and executive.  Dude was a lobbyist for an ambulance company.  At the … Read More

Guest Editorial: A Very Special, Special Interest

By Scottsdale Pinetop In the age of “everyone is special” it’s often hard to stand out from the crowd. As an individual, a business and even as a community, our own special interests can easily be overshadowed. Scottsdale is no exception. In a city of greats, from the nationally acclaimed Barrett-Jackson Car Auction to spring training season, it’s easy to … Read More

Guest Editorial: Save Our Lake

By Scottsdale Pinetop What happens when a lake is not a lake but rather an irrigation reservoir? A small town community loses one of its biggest recreational assets. That’s the latest problem facing the beloved Woodland Lake in the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside. For years, residents, business owners and tourists alike have enjoyed the lake for its beauty and recreation. The … Read More