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

By Virginia Korte Last night the majority of the City Council voted to place a proposal to increase the city’s sales tax rate on this November’s ballot.  Four councilmembers approved it, thinking it will be a way to resolve the cost of the serious need to repair the city’s deteriorating infrastructure. I opposed the move for several reasons, including the … Read More

By Scottsdale Pinetop “There’s never anywhere to park!” How many times have we heard it? It’s a traditional complaint for any lively city and one that Old Town Scottsdale has been battling for years. As a new wave of people flood to Scottsdale to live, work and play, Scottsdale’s lack of parking spaces has caused headaches for businesses, residents and … Read More

By Scottsdale Pinetop   Baseball has long been a staple of the greater downtown Scottsdale identity with Scottsdale Stadium and Indian School Park Complex being an integral part of that success. Home to one of the more popular Cactus League baseball teams, the San Francisco Giants have outgrown their current practice facility at Indian School Park and looking to move. … Read More