Sometimes editorials, ours included, don’t need to be long to convey key points.  Such is the case with the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board’s recent decision to appoint Dr. John Kriekard as Interim Superintendent. It’s kind to call recent months in the district tumultuous.  That’s why we can think of few, if any better people than Kriekard to calm … Read More

By Manny Siprut Scottsdale Resident & Vice President Troon North HOA In the movie Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger was the bad guy who just wouldn’t die. Now, our 3000 residents at Troon North feel like we are watching the movie all over again.  Except this time we are being forced to watch real estate speculators run amok, not fictitious villains. The consequences for … Read More

By Virginia Korte I want to thank all of you who took the time to respond to my May 2nd e-blast regarding the most fiscally responsible way to address the city’s deteriorating infrastructure.  The number of responses was significant. Most of those who emailed me were already aware of the pros and cons of raising the sales tax rate as … Read More

By Scottsdale Pinetop Whether it’s the current Trump administration or local city councils, those who have become disenfranchised by their government all share a common denominator: passionate advocacy. It’s that passion that has fueled new grassroots movements like Red for Ed and March for Our Lives. Unfortunately, for Scottsdale, it’s the passion behind the Desert Discovery Center that is the … Read More

By Scottsdale Pinetop Litter or Luxury? The debate rages on. By now, many Scottsdale and Paradise Valley residents have noticed the colorful dockless bikes left along the streets, parks, sidewalks and at times in the canal. While these bike-share programs offer visitors and locals an efficient way of getting around the city, the de-regulation of these dockless bikes have left … Read More

We’ve always wondered why the most visible mouthpiece for critics of the revitalization of the failed former Chinese Cultural Center site in Phoenix was an Anglo, and a convicted felon.  There is more info on that here. Tom Simon’s failures in this case and felonious behavior previously could be the reason notable sympathizers like former Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, respected … Read More

Politically, Scottsdale is a red city, with the exception of bluer-collar neighborhoods in the south that tend to hue similarly. This is reflected on the Scottsdale City Council where some if not all City Councilmembers are usually Republican, and where a majority has long espoused pro-business policies, for lack of a better term. But business as usual could be in … Read More

By Scottsdale Pinetop Every year White Mountain residents hold their breath when fire season rolls around. They pray for the snow and rains, but prepare their homes for the worst. And with the two major fires lurking around the edges of the White Mountains these past two weeks, it seems these preparations cannot come soon enough. This past winter was … Read More

Paging Dr. Anthony Yeung. This respected spine surgeon is the unlikely focus of a weird new YouTube video hosted by a felon attempting to play the role of reporter.  The folks opposed to the rehabilitation of the former Chinese Cultural Center near Sky Harbor Airport have been employing a spokesperson with a pretty colorful past. Tom Simon (AKA Tom Avila) … Read More

By Scottsdale Pinetop Dark money is the dark curtain of American politics. Arizona and Scottsdale are not immune. Nor is Tempe. Recently, Tempe voters passed a ballot measure that would require any group spending over $1,000 towards a local election to be disclosed on campaign finance reports. This transparency measure was supported by 91 percent of the voters – a percentage any … Read More