Scottsdale’s Bully Taking Its Bullying National

Any occasional readers of this blog knows our feelings about Axon; that it will bully its way into getting what it wants, with the most recent and egregious case being its massive apartment megacomplex plans in the heart of Scottsdale. And while we’d prefer not to have to continue writing about it, the company just keeps on pushing more and … Read More

Axon CEO Rick Smith Keeps Tazing Himself In The Foot While Blaming Others

By Former Scottsdale City Councilmember Bob Littlefield The mess Axon CEO Rick Smith finds himself in is entirely of his own making. Opining in a recently published editorial that his company could be “pushed out,” Mr. Smith blends denialism while playing the blame game. Smith says building Axon has been his life’s work. That’s fine. As a former Scottsdale Councilmember, … Read More

In Defense of Mayor Borowsky: Much Ado About Nothing

By Ronald Sampson This year’s iteration of the Scottsdale City Council has been a surprisingly contentious one, sometimes seemingly needlessly so, but new Mayor Lisa Borowsky has generally stayed above the fray. She has taken diplomatic approaches to a few sticky situations and has generally led with grace and decorum. However, she has recently found herself in the crosshairs of … Read More

Whoa is King Rick the Bully: Axon Willing to Throw Arizona Under the Bus to Get Its Way

Axon’s egregious attempt to short-change Arizona’s schools and bully the electorate in order to construct its unwanted apartment megacomplex for its own benefit has been well-documented (read our coverage here), and yet somehow it manages to get worse and worse. It recently announced its quarterly financials and stop us if you’ve heard this before, but the stock soared 15% to all-time … Read More

Scottsdale Unified is Banning Books! Are You Outraged?!? Because I’m Not

By Ronald Sampson The political left has done a very good job at comparing everything it doesn’t like to the Nazis. Elon Musk and Donald Trump are literally Hitler, it sees fascism around every corner (even if it is the result of fairly held elections), and every action from the Trump administration is picked apart to attempt to find ways … Read More

Another Sex Trafficking Sting in Scottsdale: Is This a Problem?

Stop us if you’ve heard this before: there was another sex trafficking sting in Scottsdale recently, this time with a stunning 200 arrests, with 53 of those being felonies. Charges of child sex trafficking, prostitution, pandering, luring a minor for sexual exploitation, attempted sexual conduct with a minor, possession of narcotic drugs, and felony flight were levied in this particular … Read More

Axon’s Special Interest Legislation To Prevent 2026 Election On Massive Apartment Plan In Scottsdale Appears Dead. Arizona Senate. President Warren Petersen Assures Leaders The Bill Will Not Go Forward

By TAAAZE (Taxpayers Against Awful Apartmentment Zoning Exemptions) (Scottsdale, Ariz.) Senate Bill 1352 has been stopped in its tracks at the Arizona State Senate. The bill could have canceled a November 2026 Scottsdale election challenging Axon’s rezoning proposal to build some 1,900 multi-family units near Hayden and the 101 and allow the rezoning to stand. That rezoning is believed to … Read More

Ken Kendricks’ Legacy is Shaping Up

Arizona sports have had a really rough go of it recently, and a significant amount of the blame is often tossed at ownership (and for good reason). The Suns’ disappointment compared to expectations can easily be pinned on Mat Ishbia’s flashy offseason moves that seemed to be more style than substance. The Bidwell family has long been in the crosshairs … Read More

Statement on Governor’s Veto of HB 2703 and SB 1011

By County Supervisor Thomas Galvin “Arizonans want election results faster, and I am confident the exemplary work of legislators in both the Arizona House and Senate over the past month will make that a reality. I have been a strong proponent for necessary election reforms. House Bill 2703 and Senate Bill 1011 accomplish the goals I outlined in my Chairman’s … Read More