The entire story would take too long to write, but anyone can go online and find the entire history. For now, all you need to know is that two groups in Arizona gave approximately $15 million to two campaign committees in California during the 2012 elections. One group, Americans for Responsible Leadership, is led by former Arizona House Speaker Kirk … Read More
This For North Scottsdale?
What is this? You’re not alone if confused. It’s a proposed design for a new Chinese restaurant in north Scottsdale. The photo has not been manipulated. It is not a joke. On November 21st the Scottsdale Design Review Board will decide whether this type of exotic, foreign design is appropriate for the area, or as it has at previous meetings … Read More
Good News: A Lyon For The Mountain Shadows Jungle
Upton Sinclair once wrote a captivating American novel called The Jungle. Far more recently others have written about the municipal jungle known in Paradise Valley as Mountain Shadows. It seemed to be to this community’s Los Arcos, a property always top of mind but without solution. But just as Scottsdale eventually lanced its boil, Paradise Valley may have more elegantly … Read More
Quick Thoughts On The Scottsdale Bond Failures: Unlucky ‘13
Political malpractice. That’s a kind term to describe the decision to place both a City of Scottsdale bond package on the ballot as the same time as more money for the school district. At a time when the stock market is high but the economy is not. Dueling taxing propositions was an effort needing to defy the gods. Rare are … Read More
Hiking Paradise Valley’s Mummy Mountain?
As the joint Phoenix-Paradise Valley improvements impressively conclude soon at Camelback Mountain’s Echo Canyon it sparks a new idea: hiking access to Paradise Valley’s Mummy Mountain. Scottsdale is opening trailheads in its spectacular McDowell Sonoran Preserve daily, it seems. Demand for hikes in and around Paradise Valley at Piestewa Peak, Cholla Trail and Echo Canyon aren’t subsiding any time soon. … Read More
Is it Possible to be a Conservative at the Local Level?
Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio certainly contradicts the notion in this headline. And he has been an exceptionally important voice railing against many excesses in Phoenix city government. But ultimately is a city best off with five, seven or nine Sal’s? Pardon the detour. It would seem a consistent conservative message would go something like this. The federal government is … Read More
It Ain’t Mountain Shadows or The Ritz: Paradise Valley Should Defoliate Cottonwoods Proposal
A beautiful evening on the patio at Camelback Back Inn’s restaurant called Rita’s. The views at Sanctuary. The charm of The Hermosa Inn. The social conscience of the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. The increasing charm of Montelucia. When one thinks of and experiences Paradise Valley’s grand resorts The Cottonwoods’ hotel property along Scottsdale Road doesn’t come to mind. Most don’t even … Read More
Everybody's a Little Gay
We dislike politicians because we think they’re hypocritical. We think they’re takers and that there is always a hidden motive behind their actions. But what is the motive behind fighting against equality and then being serviced in a public bathroom by a Craigslist secret lover? Later, going home to your wife and children and complaining that your wife, along with … Read More
It’s A Speaker Thing
What do Republican primary voters think of House Speaker John Boehner and why might it matter in next year’s CD1 Primary here in Arizona? Let’s call it “a Speaker thing”. Activists in the GOP are largely disappointed with Speaker Boehner and his leadership and they are critical of what they see as his lack of conservative resolve. They don’t trust … Read More
Transient Tongues
Transient Tongues, otherwise known as our guest column section, will feature different points of view from various writers of interest, so stay tuned as we ready our first entries.