Rarely is there contention in paradise, but Paradise Valley finds itself wrestling with a question that reveals the heart of what kind of community it wants to be. The planning commission recently voted 4-3 to recommend reducing occupancy in assisted living facilities from 10 to six residents; a proposal that has divided the town in ways that go beyond simple … Read More
Scottsdale’s Public Comment Changes: A Mixed Bag for Resident Engagement
By Alexander Lomax After a marathon five-hour meeting that ended at 10 p.m., the Scottsdale City Council voted 4-3 to implement significant changes to how residents can participate in council meetings. The decision has sparked debate about transparency and accessibility in local government. So what changed? In what supporters frame as an expansion of public access, the council increased the … Read More
News Release from TAAAZE: New Axon Opposition Demand Letter Signals Likely Lawsuit Against Recent City Approval
TAAAZE Preparing New Lawsuit To Fight Outrageous Scottsdale Approval Of 1,200 Unit Multi-Family Housing Project (SCOTTSDALE, Ariz) TAAAZE (Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions) has sent a demand letter to the City of Scottsdale, a first step toward likely litigation challenging a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Axon and the City of Scottsdale purporting to allow Axon to build a … Read More
Fresh Hope for South Scottsdale: Sprouts Coming to Papago Plaza
Long ignored within the city’s politics and growth, South Scottsdale is finally getting its moment in the sun. Sprouts Farmers Market has confirmed plans to open a new location at Papago Plaza, at the southwest corner of McDowell and Scottsdale Road, with an expected opening in late 2025. For residents of this often-overlooked neighborhood, the announcement is more than just … Read More
What Mesa’s Mekong Plaza Expansion Shows Us About How Cultural Diversity Drives Economic Growth
While Scottsdale gets plenty of attention for its upscale dining scene and luxury shopping, something equally exciting is happening just down the road in Mesa…and it’s a reminder that the Valley’s most interesting growth often comes as a result of its own maturity and diversity. Mesa’s Asian District recently completed a $10 million expansion of Mekong Plaza, adding twelve new … Read More
Guest Editorial: Treating Your Money As If It Were Our Own
By Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas Dear Friends, In business and in our personal lives, we seek the best deal – the biggest bang for our bucks. And, we shake our heads at cushy government contracts. This week, Scottsdale City Council faced that exact situation. We are working to revitalize our Old Town area. And one aspect of it is a $1.3M … Read More
Scottsdale’s Finest Tradition: Blackout Wednesday Lives Up to Its Name (and We’re Not Judging)
Ah, Blackout Wednesday…or as the more refined among us prefer, “Drinksgiving.” The unofficial drinking holiday drew massive crowds to Scottsdale and Phoenix bars on Thanksgiving Eve, with venues like Coach House reporting their busiest night of the year. If you ventured anywhere near Old Town Scottsdale last Wednesday evening, you witnessed a heartwarming American tradition: college students reuniting with high … Read More
Housing Pragmatism Over Historic Purism: Phoenix’s Middle Housing Debate
Phoenix recently approved a controversial “middle housing” ordinance that will reshape how its historic neighborhoods develop. The decision, made under pressure from state law, allows duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes in areas previously zoned exclusively for single-family homes, including beloved historic districts like Willo, Encanto-Palmcroft, and Los Olivos. The resistance was fierce. Neighborhood advocates warned of bulldozed century-old homes, decimated historic … Read More
Guest Editorial: TAAAZE Is Unfazed: Lawsuit Against Unconstitutional “Axon Bill” Will Continue Despite Split Scottsdale City Council Decision
By Bob Littlefield Former Scottsdale City Councilman and Chairman of Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions (TAAAZE) The fight against Axon’s assault on democracy and profoundly frustrated Scottsdale residents isn’t going away despite a recent 4 to 3 Scottsdale City Council approval of the second largest multifamily housing project (1,200 units) in state history as well as undermining efforts to … Read More
In Defense of Imperfect Democracy: Why Public Engagement Matters
By Alexander Lomax Former Scottsdale City Councilmember Tammy Caputi recently raised concerns about proposed changes to the city’s Rules of Council Procedure, scheduled for consideration on December 2. Her message has sparked an important conversation about what it means to truly engage with residents, even when that engagement is messy, time-consuming, or uncomfortable. The proposed amendments would restructure public participation … Read More