Phoenix recently approved a controversial “middle housing” ordinance that will reshape how its historic neighborhoods develop. The decision, made under pressure from state law, allows duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes in areas previously zoned exclusively for single-family homes, including beloved historic districts like Willo, Encanto-Palmcroft, and Los Olivos. The resistance was fierce. Neighborhood advocates warned of bulldozed century-old homes, decimated historic … Read More
Guest Editorial: TAAAZE Is Unfazed: Lawsuit Against Unconstitutional “Axon Bill” Will Continue Despite Split Scottsdale City Council Decision
By Bob Littlefield Former Scottsdale City Councilman and Chairman of Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions (TAAAZE) The fight against Axon’s assault on democracy and profoundly frustrated Scottsdale residents isn’t going away despite a recent 4 to 3 Scottsdale City Council approval of the second largest multifamily housing project (1,200 units) in state history as well as undermining efforts to … Read More
In Defense of Imperfect Democracy: Why Public Engagement Matters
By Alexander Lomax Former Scottsdale City Councilmember Tammy Caputi recently raised concerns about proposed changes to the city’s Rules of Council Procedure, scheduled for consideration on December 2. Her message has sparked an important conversation about what it means to truly engage with residents, even when that engagement is messy, time-consuming, or uncomfortable. The proposed amendments would restructure public participation … Read More
Is Mayor Borowsky’s Axon Vote a Major Misstep, or Part of a Deeper Problem?
By Ronald Sampson Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky is facing a sudden and unusually sharp backlash after sources say she was booed at a meeting of the Palo Verde Republican Women; a group that once represented a reliable pocket of support. The reaction followed her vote in favor of a “compromise” agreement with Axon, clearing the way for a sprawling apartment … Read More
Guest Editorial: Mayor Borowsky’s ‘Resident-First’ Mask Slips Off
By ScottsdaleVoter For months Mayor Lisa Borowsky has flooded our mailboxes and social media with the same sermon: “I listen to residents,” “I’m protecting our water and our neighborhoods,” “your voice matters most.” Then, on November 17, she showed us what she really thinks of resident voices. In the middle of a packed special council meeting, Axon president Josh Isner … Read More
Love Conquers All (Except Security Cameras)
In a city where everything is photographed for Instagram, from your pink pasta to your overpriced mimosas, two alleged lovebirds forgot one crucial Scottsdale survival rule: assume you’re always on camera. Last month, Corrisa K. Sucanick, 30, and Brian H. Morrow, 39, were arrested for what can only be described as the most romantically misguided burglary in Old Town history. … Read More
Tell Me if You’ve Heard This Story Before: More Fraud Originating from Our City
If you’re a regular reader of the Arizona Progress & Gazette, you’ve seen this story before. Scottsdale, with its affluent and aging population, has become notorious as both a haven for fraudsters and a prime hunting ground for scams. This week’s case is just the latest chapter in an unfortunately familiar narrative. Robert Swagger, a Scottsdale man, has been ordered … Read More
News Release: TAAAZE Is Unfazed Lawsuit Against Unconstitutional “Axon Bill” Will Continue Despite Split Scottsdale City Council Decision
Additional Legal Actions Anticipated After Majority Of Scottsdale City Council, Not Voters, Attempts To Greenlight Second Largest Multi-Family Housing Project In City History (Scottsdale, Ariz.) The fight against Axon’s assault on democracy and frustrated Scottsdale residents isn’t going away despite a recent 4 to 3 Scottsdale City Council decision to approve the second largest multifamily housing project (1,200 units) in … Read More
Guest Editorial: Elections Lawsuit Update: Victory! And District 2 News…
By Supervisor Thomas Galvin Hello Neighbors, As we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, I’m reminded of how fortunate we are to live in a such a safe and thriving community. We own a special debt of gratitude to our veterans, sheriff’s deputies, and all our first responders who bravely serve and protect us. May this season bring peace, joy, … Read More
The Future of Journalism
By Brian C. Anderson, reposted from City Journal Three decades ago, the visionary social thinker Peter Huber published Orwell’s Revenge, a book that turned one of the twentieth century’s most haunting political parables on its head. Where George Orwell imagined a future of total information control, Huber saw the opposite: a world where digital technology shattered centralized authority. In 1984, the Ministry … Read More