A Big Scottsdale Whoops . . . And Reversal

There’s a helpful rule in political and legal circles:  know the answer to the question before you ask it. Rarely has it been violated more spectacularly than last night, in Scottsdale.  For a redevelopment project called 92 Ironwood that in most any other time would be on a consent agenda.  As a reminder the plan seeks to replace an empty … Read More

Allies, Alignment & Alexander

Once upon a time Jason Alexander and Solange Whitehead were allies.  They worked smartly and effectively on the same team to defeat the ill-conceived Desert Discovery Center a few years back.  In many ways Alexander’s indefatigable leadership paved the way for Whitehead’s election in 2018. But a split has developed between the two, largely on policy lines.  This recent Facebook exchange about a … Read More

Conflict in Scottsdale City Council: Are They Looking for a Lawsuit?

It hasn’t been a big secret that Mayor David Ortega has had a sometimes contentious relationship with a few other members of the city council. That has recently come out in the open even more however, with a recent tift with Councilwoman Tammy Caputi coming to light and with potential stakes including a significant lawsuit. The most recent conflict is … Read More

Scottsdale Moving Forward with STR Enforcement: When Will State Get the Point?

Finally, the crackdown of party houses may finally start in earnest in Scottsdale. So why did it take this long? Last Friday, Scottsdale police were finally able to begin their enhanced enforcement efforts on out-of-control short-term rental parties. This is after the STR issue was a major campaign talking point on numerous city council and mayoral campaigns, and which clearly … Read More

Guest Editorial: 20 Applicants for Every Vacant Apartment

By Larry Kush I recently read an article in a nationally published apartment industry report called Rent Cafe, which stated that Scottsdale” renters struggled to find an apartment in our city where they met an awful mix of high occupancy rates of 96.3%, and 20 applicants competing for every vacant apartment that on average, stayed available for just 25 days.” … Read More