Governor Doug Ducey is announcing today a reform to have more money from the sale of state land go into K-12 education.  Here is a link to the Republic’s coverage.  At a time of a rising Arizona real estate market this appears, on the surface, to be government innovation at its best. It is both good policy and good politics … Read More

We have not been fans to date of an overly aggressive development plan for a Ritz-Carlton resort and community in Paradise Valley. But even we can admit that the story of last week should have been the signs (finally) that the developer is at least starting to get it by dropping the second “H” in its HGH plan for the … Read More

Preservation of Scottsdale’s McDowell Mountains is one of the finest accomplishments by any municipality in the nation over the past two decades. Resident John Nichols was a part of those efforts.  He is to be commended. His recent effort via an Arizona Republic letter to editor supporting the David Wright House in Arcadia and deriding critics as “NIMBYs” is not … Read More

The All American Rejects have 38 million hits on YouTube for their video of “Dirty Little Secret.”  The City of Surprise, Arizona may see a few hits of its own, especially directed by taxpayers, if they continue their quixotic request to seize property from the largest property owner in its downtown.  The Arizona Republic reported on the story awhile back. … Read More

Scottsdale is an overwhelmingly Republican city.  This tends to make it innovative on business issues, but an awkward actor when it comes to rapidly changing social opinions about gay marriage and other matters of import to the LGBT community. Of late there has been a concerted effort to encourage Scottsdale to follow the lead of other Arizona cities and provide … Read More

Imagine this:  A City of Scottsdale employee perhaps not enjoying a request or opinion from a citizen decides to choke them, in public and resulting in a police investigation. How long do you think City Manager Fritz Behring would keep them around?  The pink slip likely wouldn’t take as much time as the choke. Yet, if developers asking for special … Read More

You spoke, and your leaders listened. With the stroke of a pen, Arizona became the latest in a growing list of states to embrace smart ridesharing regulations that support innovation, expand economic opportunity, and put consumer choice and safety first. We’ve been proud to play a role in strengthening Arizona’s economy while making it easier, safer and more affordable for … Read More

We are fans of the Arizona Republic. We also came into being due to their retreat from robust, community-oriented editorial content.  Today, the Arizona Republic’s editorialists awoke from their frequent hibernation on matters local, reminding us how they can be wrong, not Wright. Essentially, the Republic chastised the Arcadia neighborhood for its substantial opposition to a developer’s plan to commercialize … Read More

About a decade ago far north Scottsdale saw Rawhide relocate to the Gila River Indian Community.  The property now houses a Sprouts, strip center and nursing home. The venerable Scottsdale watering hole Greasewood Flat is set to be replaced this year with houses, as is Pinnacle Peak Patio. And while its special nature can be questioned The Borgata was certainly … Read More

Today, Hall of Fame funny man Will Ferrell is creatively making his way around the Cactus League to showcase a great cause. That he is here at all, able to move so conveniently from one stadium to another, reminds us all of one of the Valley’s most notable achievements. The economic impact from spring training is staggering.  Just ask most … Read More