Cora Phillips Defends Her Husband In New Video

By Recker McDowell — Cora Phillips, the wife of Scottsdale City Councilman Guy Phillips, has posted a video on YouTube defending her husband. Guy Phillips has been criticized for saying “I Can’t Breathe” during a rally against mask mandates. Those were also the last words used by George Floyd before he died while being restrained by Minneapolis Police. Here is … Read More

Community Spirit: On The Frontlines of COVID-19

By Recker McDowell — Natalie Lewis has seen immediate and great community needs rise out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lewis, who is assistant city manager for the city of Mesa, said her East Valley city had to move fast to address needs of residents in need of food, small businesses needing help with rent and vulnerable residents including seniors and … Read More

Virginia Korte: Masks, Just Wear It

By Virginia Korte — Mayor Lane issued an emergency proclamation that “requires people to cover their nose and mouth in most public areas with some exceptions…:”  To learn more about Scottsdale’s mandate to wear masks go to: https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/news/scottsdale-face-covering-q-and-a_s4_p29218. This proclamation expires on July 20, 2020. When we come together as a community, we agree to abide by a social contract … Read More

Community Heroes: Partners for Paiute Navigates COVID-19, Neighborhood Needs

By Recker McDowell — For Lynn Whitman and others involved with the Partners for Paiute community and nonprofit group in Scottsdale, COVID-19 and all its impacts have hit fundraising and prompted some quick pivots. “We canceled our annual fundraiser which basically is our most significant fundraiser,“ said Whitman, who is president of the Partners for Paiute board of directors. Partners … Read More

Durham and Janik: A Proposal for Reforming Scottsdale’s Ethics Code

By Tom Durham and Betty Janik — The Scottsdale Ethics Code has been in the news lately, largely due to the ethics complaint filed against Council member Guy Phillips. On May 5, 2020 a panel of three independent judges (the “Ethics Panel”) held that Mr. Phillips had not committed any ethical violations. At the May 19 meeting of the City Council, the … Read More

Guest Editorial: COVID-19’s Lasting Impact on Jobs

By Recker McDowell — The economy is reopening but it is going to take time to recoup the more than 36 million jobs lost to COVID-19 and the contagion’s shutdowns. Veteran economist Elliott Pollack said Friday the economic recovery from the Coronavirus and its impacts could be a 2 to 5-year process. Economists from the University of Chicago estimate as … Read More

Save Our Schools Arizona Statement on Arizona Supreme Court Decision, 2020 Initiative

We are extremely disappointed in the Arizona Supreme Court ruling denying Arizona voters their fundamental right to participate in the initiative process. It would not have been difficult for the Court to grant voters both safety and their Constitutional rights, but today, they refused to do that despite the immediate availability of the E-qual online signature collection system and the … Read More

That’s What We’re Talking About

We have not been shy about the city of Scottsdale’s sluggish response to its critical tourism industry, waylaid by a pandemic. It’s supposed to be a first among municipal equals when it comes to ingenuity.  Instead, it’s led from behind, performing as if concussed rather than with commitment and conviction. Fortunately, one of its wannabe leaders, Scottsdale City Council candidate … Read More

Turf Paradise Owner Donates $1 Million To Support Medical Professionals, Arizonans In Need

PHOENIX⁠ — Governor Doug Ducey announced today that Turf Paradise Race Course owner Jerry Simms has personally donated $1 million to the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund, established to provide financial support to organizations providing essential aid to those affected by COVID-19. Turf Paradise also recently donated $25,000 worth of food to St. Mary’s Food Bank. “Businesses throughout the state have done tremendous … Read More