Guest Editorial: Mayor Borowsky’s ‘Resident-First’ Mask Slips Off

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 publicly berated Borowsky for disobedience. Instead of standing her ground, Borowsky immediately let Isner march her upstairs to her private office.

When TAAZE’s attorney (the same citizens group who gathered 27,000 signatures to force a voter referendum on Axon’s original 1,900-unit monster) tried to join, Isner screamed “Get the f— out of here!” and appeared to threaten a lawsuit.

Forty minutes later they emerged with a backroom ‘compromise’: 1,200 high-density units,, zero deed restrictions, and the knife twist: Borowsky cast the swing 4-3 vote to:

• waive Axon’s previously assured water supply commitments (in the middle of a 25-year drought),
• grant Axon unprecedented VIP treatment to self-certify their buildings, a privilege never before granted in Scottsdale, and
• permanently void the voter referendum you worked so hard to earn.

Yes, the same mayor who claims to respect the will of the voters just erased your referendum with a single vote, teaming up with Solange Whitehead, who has now sided with Axon and against Scottsdale residents at least seven separate times.

Other councilors were appalled about the secret meeting. Councilor Barry Graham called it “highly unusual… I’ve never seen anything like it.” Councilor Jan Dubauskas: “surprising and highly unusual.” Former Councilor Bob Littlefield was blunt that he believed Borowsky illegally created her own private executive session to cut a deal with the developer. (It’s worth mentioning that we know these details thanks to the reporting of the Scottsdale Progress.)

This is hypocrisy we can no longer ignore. Borowsky brags about meeting with TAAZE and “knowing what residents want,” yet the second Axon snaps its fingers she locks residents out and lets the corporation dictate the guest list, the water rules, and even whether your referendum lives or dies.

The TAAZE lawsuit is still our lifeline. Support it. Show up. Speak out. And remember this moment in 2028 when Borowsky begs for four more years of the same smoke and mirrors.