#LocalBuzz: Highs, Lows and In-Betweens

By Scottsdale Pinetop The Highs *Former Councilwoman Kate Gallego has been endorsed by former Mayor of Phoenix Terry Goddard. *Mark Phillips, former Managing Editor and Executive Producer for Sunday Square off at 12News, has joined Daniel Valenzuela’s team as Communications Director. *The Coalition of Greater Scottsdale (COGS) PAC will be holding a silent auction fundraiser next Sunday for their endorsed candidates, … Read More

Guest Editorial: #TheyToo

By Scottsdale Pinetop After learning that new mothers within her community were placing their sleeping infants in boxes and dressers because they could not afford a proper crib, former mayor of Jackson, Michigan Karen Dunigan decided to take action. With all of her involvement in the community, she began making phone calls and requesting donations. Karen’s simple request brought a … Read More

What Happens If Scottsdale’s Proposition 420 Fails?

While Scottsdale’s Proposition 420 is heavily favored to prevail at the polls in November despite a notably dishonest campaign by opponents, it’s fair to ask what happens if it fails? A reminder that Proposition 420 is the noble initiative brought forth by some 37,000 citizens to require public votes on projects like the Desert Discovery Center (DDC) that seek to … Read More

Guest Editorial: Rabbit’s Foot

By Scottsdale Pinetop As the lore goes, touching the foot of a rabbit three or four times will bring good luck. Actors have been known to stroke a bunny’s paw before going on stage or filming a big scene. Athletic coaches often wear out several rabbit’s feet during a single season. While the superstition of the rabbit’s foot has changed … Read More

Guest Editorial: Don’t Quit Your Day Job

By Scottsdale Pinetop In last week’s Phoenix mayoral debate, 12News moderator Braham Resnik asked each candidate “Will being Mayor of Phoenix be a full-time job for you?” Kate Gallego: “Yes” Nicholas Sarwark: “Yes” Moses Sanchez: “Yes” Daniel Valenzuela: “I intend in serving my community as a firefighter in the West Valley and as Mayor.” Excuse me? That’s not the answer … Read More

Guest Editorial: Scottsdale’s White Rabbit

By Scottsdale Pinetop The first thing many of us think of is the iconic white rabbit from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.  It’s surprising, bold and serves as a channel for imagination. That’s exactly the kind of character Scottsdale’s art district has and needs more of. And it’s thanks to the efforts of councilwoman Linda Milhaven and the Scottsdale City … Read More

Johnny Bench, Part II

Yesterday we wrote about Scottsdale City Manager Jim Thompson’s impression of Hall of Fame Catcher Johnny Bench preventing a wild pitch from harming Scottsdale taxpayers.  You can see it below or CLICK HERE. There’s even more to the story, reinforcing Thompson’s sagaciousness.  It turns out Tempe and Phoenix, the city in which the Desert Botanical Garden is located,  were planning … Read More

Johnny Bench

Without a good catcher in baseball too many wild pitches can find their way to the backstop, helping the other team win and wreaking havoc on your own. That’s a lot like the job of a City Manager, including Jim Thompson’s in Scottsdale. Thank goodness the city had its own version of Johnny Bench for a recent, near fiasco. Scottsdale … Read More

Guest Editorial: Professor Without A Plan

By Scottsdale Pinetop What’s David Garcia’s education plan for the state? Who knows. With Invest in Ed off the November ballot, the fight over K-12 education funding moves to the governor’s race. Most voters know where Governor Ducey stands on education funding, highlighted mostly during the teacher walk-outs in April, where he found a solution called “20 by 2020” which … Read More

#LocalBuzz: Highs, Lows and In-Betweens

By Scottsdale Pinetop The Highs *Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane announced his endorsement for Bill Crawford for Scottsdale City Council. Read the Mayor’s endorsement here. *Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters announced her endorsement for former councilwoman Kate Gallego for Phoenix Mayor. *Former Councilman Daniel Valenzuela has been endorsed by The Honorable Ed Pastor, Councilwoman Laura Pastor, Phoenix State … Read More