PHOENIX – Attorney General Brnovich announced today that the Attorney General’s Office awarded nearly $400,000 in grants to community organizations that provide mental health treatment and services to first responders. The organizations will assist firefighters, emergency medical services, and law enforcement across the state.

Four different grants were awarded to organizations, including the United Phoenix Firefighters (two separate grants), EMPACT Suicide Prevention, and Marana Health Center. Over 2,000 first responders and first responder families are expected to be served statewide over the next year through direct treatment, mental health services, and training.Read More

PHOENIX — Governor Doug Ducey announced today $300,000 in funding from the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund has been allocated to organizations across the state that support senior citizens, the homebound and those who are medically fragile. The funding will support organizations that have provided much needed aid to vulnerable populations impacted by COVID-19, by assisting with grocery shopping, meal deliveries, transportation to medical appointments, emergency errands and social interaction during a time of physical distancing.

“Arizona continues to focus on protecting public health, especially for those most at-risk like seniors and those medically vulnerable,” said Governor Ducey. “Volunteer and community organizations across the state are working day and night to provide support for those in their care through additional food deliveries, transportation and other services — and we’re proud to support their efforts. Thank you to everyone who has donated to the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund so we can protect at-risk Arizonans, and to everyone who has stepped up to help others.”

Recipients of the funding include:

• Foundation for Senior Living (statewide)

• Benevilla

• Aster Aging

“We are so appreciative of this generous donation,” said Tom Egan, President and CEO of Foundation for Senior Living. “Our team has been working diligently to shift many of our programs to meal and food bag deliveries to seniors and adults with chronic health issues or disabilities. So far, we have seen our expenses increase by 25 percent and we’re anticipating the community will continue to need help throughout the summer. This donation will help offset our expenses and allow us to serve those in need.  We are so grateful to Governor Ducey and the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund!”

“We believe we are strongest when we work together,” says Joanne Thomson, President and CEO of Benevilla. “The support from the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund Now will help provide much needed services to the most vulnerable population in our community. Working together we are able to help seniors with grocery shopping, emergency errands and more, we are able to provide support and friendship to caregivers who might feel overwhelmed and alone and continue to support families in our community during this time.”

“The support that Aster Aging has received from the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund is truly making the difference for vulnerable older adults in the East Valley,” said Deborah Schaus, CEO of Aster Aging. “Requests for Meals on Wheels and our other basic need services have continued to grow as we strive to keep seniors safe during the pandemic.”

The AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund was established by Governor Ducey as part of the Arizona Together Initiative to provide financial support to non-profit organizations serving Arizonans most in need statewide. The AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund has collected more than $8.2 million to date. Arizonans can visit ArizonaTogether.org to learn more, donate and find volunteer opportunities.

PHOENIX — Governor Doug Ducey has announced that following a national search, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has selected Arizona for its new U.S. advanced semiconductor factory. The project will create over 1,600 new high-tech jobs and generate thousands of additional jobs in the state for suppliers and other companies within the semiconductor industry. TSMC’s total spending on this project, including capital expenditure, will be approximately $12 billion from 2021 to 2029.

“We’re incredibly proud that one of the world’s leading technology companies has chosen Arizona for this high-tech project, one with national and global significance,” said Governor Ducey. “TSMC could have picked any place in the world to build this advanced manufacturing factory. They chose Arizona for our unbeatable business climate, already thriving tech sector and ready access to an international supply chain. I’d like to thank TSMC Chairman Dr. Mark Liu for his commitment to Arizona. We are honored to be selected for this project and look forward to building a collaborative long-term relationship with TSMC. I’m very grateful to President Donald Trump for his leadership and tireless efforts to bring more manufacturing back to our shores. I’d also like to thank Secretary Ross, his team at the U.S. Department of Commerce including SelectUSA, and the Trump administration for their partnership.”

Arizona has long been a hub for the advanced manufacturing and semiconductor industries. The state’s skilled workforce, strong supply chain, strategic geographic location, commitment to pro-innovation policies and unmatched quality of life have continued to drive rapid industry growth and economic momentum. This new U.S. facility will enable TSMC to provide enhanced service to customers and partners and increase its ability to attract global talent.

The facility will utilize TSMC’s 5-nanometer technology for semiconductor wafer fabrication and have the capacity to produce 20,000 wafers per month. Construction is planned to begin in 2021 with production targeted to start in 2024. The Arizona facility will be the company’s second manufacturing operation in the United States.

Several sites in the City of Phoenix are still being evaluated for the location of the factory. The Arizona Commerce Authority will continue working with TSMC, the U.S. administration, the City of Phoenix and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council to finalize all aspects of the project.

PHOENIX — Governor Doug Ducey today announced that the Stay At Home order in Arizona will be ending on May 15 and replaced by new guidance for the next stage of economic recovery. The new guidance aligns with gating criteria issued by the White House and Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and aims to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 resurgence, protect vulnerable populations, and guide the reopening of businesses with enhanced physical distancing and safety measures in place.

Arizona’s new Executive Order, which takes effect on Saturday, May 16, builds on Arizona’s comprehensive efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health, including: ramping up testing availability and frequency; implementing tracking of key health metrics such as reported symptomatic cases and emergency room usage; standing up surge hospital capacity to be used as needed; expanding statewide contact tracing; bolstering supply chains for personal protective equipment for frontline medical workers and emergency responders; implementing enhanced safety protocols to protect those living and working in high-risk facilities such as nursing homes; and providing public health guidance for businesses and individuals to ensure continued physical distancing.

“Since the start of this pandemic, Arizona has taken a calm and steady approach to protecting health and slowing the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Ducey. “Today, our hospitals have capacity to provide care to those who need it; our businesses are implementing and adapting to new physical distancing measures; and data shows Arizona is headed in the right direction. It is time to move forward with the next steps of Arizona’s economic recovery — while continuing to make health and safety our number one priority. I’m grateful to all Arizonans for their partnership and cooperation during these trying times. By continuing to follow the data and recommendations of public health officials, we can continue to move forward safely and responsibly together.”

Governor Ducey also announced today an accelerated plan to test all staff and residents of long-term care facilities as well as individuals within Arizona’s prisons. As part of this plan, the Arizona Department of Health Services will partner with private-sector labs to expand testing to 147 long-term care facilities and provide antibody tests for correctional officers. Additionally, major league sports can resume limited reopening, without fans, this Saturday, May 16.

The Arizona Department of Health Services also released additional guidance for businesses and customers as more industries resume partial operations. This guidance includes:

• Pools, with physical distancing and enhanced sanitation – can reopen Wednesday, May 13 (GUIDANCE)

• Gyms & Fitness Providers, with physical distancing and enhanced sanitation – can reopen Wednesday, May 13 (GUIDANCE)

• Spas, with physical distancing and enhanced sanitation – can reopen Wednesday, May 13 (GUIDANCE)

While never formally closed, many places of worship opted to temporarily change or suspend services in order to follow physical distancing guidelines. As they resume operations, the Arizona Department of Health Services released GUIDANCE for enhanced physical distancing and safety precautions.

View today’s Executive Order HERE.

View daily Arizona updates HERE.

For all the single people out there, would you like your government to help you find a mate? We’re going to garner a guess that nearly 100% of the responses would range from “No!” to “Hell no!”. But that is precisely what parts of Japan are doing to help stem their population decline due to low birth rates.

Scottsdale has no shortage of dates, good and bad, but it would be amusing to think of what this would look like in our city.

One, the updated Civic Center provides plenty of options to take a good profile picture. While we don’t have any insider information, Councilwoman Solange Whitehead strikes us as someone who would have a photography hobby in her free time, so sure, I’ll make her the official photographer to make sure everyone looks their best.

Because it’s 2024, this project needs an app. So how would we even build that? Hopefully the city has some tech professionals, but that’s less fun to think about. Councilmember Tom Durham looks like he knows his way around some code, so let’s go with that, why not?

Someone has to develop the algorithm to make sure that the right people are shown to users and to keep people on this app. Councilmember Barry Graham also looks like he knows his way around code, so let’s task him with that.

It’s important that we give prospective dates the best guidance possible on how to make the right dating profile. After all, duck faces and trucks in your profile pictures and a long list of “No’s” in your bio won’t appeal to anyone. Councilmember Tammy Caputi has style and sense; I think she’d make a good profile consultant.

And what if things progressed and the new couples are ready to get married and have some kids? I could easily see Mayor Ortega as the person tasked with officiating the wedding.

On second thought…let’s just stick with Tinder. Big Government is bad enough, but Big Government in our love lives sounds terrifying!

By Tony Fabrizio

Many of you have heard me refer to the upcoming “Harris Honeymoon” that I expect to see in the public polling over the next couple of weeks. As I’ve explained, the honeymoon will be a manifestation of the wall-to-wall coverage Harris receives from the MSM. The coverage will be largely positive and will certainly energize Democrats and some other parts of their coalition at
least in the short term.

That means we will start to see public polling – particularly national public polls – where Harris is gaining on or even leading President Trump. Obviously, the situation we find ourselves in today is totally uncharted territory and has no modern historical parallel. But there are some things that haven’t changed. Due to the events of the past two weeks including our highly successful Convention, President Trump has seen a bump in his numbers in a number of recent public polls. Not surprising given that most candidates historically receive some type of bump.

Given what has happened over the past couple of days and her impending VP choice, there is no question that Harris will get her bump earlier than the Democrat’s Convention. And that bump is likely to start showing itself over the next few days and will last a while until the race
settles back down.

The Democrats and the MSM will try and tout these polls as proof that the race has changed. But the fundamentals of the race stay the same. The Democrats deposing one Nominee for another does NOT change voters discontent over the economy, inflation, crime, the open border, housing costs not to mention concern over two foreign wars. Before long, Harris’ “honeymoon” will end and voters will refocus on her role as Biden’s partner and co-pilot. As importantly, voters will also learn about Harris’ dangerously liberal record before becoming Biden’s partner in creating historic inflation (she cast the deciding vote on the IRA), flood of illegal immigrants at our southern border (she is Biden’s Border Czar), and migrant crime that is threatening our families and communities (she set illegals free who went on to commit violent crime as DA).

So, while the public polls may change in the short run and she may consolidate a bit more of
the Democrat base, Harris can’t change who she is or what she’ done. Stay tuned…

By Alexander Lomax

Susan Wood

The City of Scottsdale won a significant legal victory on July 19. The City seeks to place an initiative on the November ballot, which if approved, creates a sales tax to fund maintenance, personnel and capital improvements to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the city’s 44 parks and WestWorld. The Goldwater Institute sued the City on behalf of former Mayor Jim Lane and local activists Susan Wood and Yvonne Cahill, claiming the ballot language was misleading. The suit was dismissed with prejudice.

No sooner had the ink dried on Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Michael D. Gordon’s decision than Plaintiff Susan Wood took to social media to complain about the ruling. A certain degree of frustration is to be expected from anyone on the losing side of a legal case. Projecting a spirit of indomitability and conviction to one’s audience is a key element of advocacy. Wood, however, took her defeat too far. She cast a stream of insults and conspiracy theories at the Judge, the City Council, and citizen volunteers. “I guess it is ok for your city officials to lie to the voters” whined Wood. She accused Councilwoman Solange Whitehead of “deception”, and trying to “hoodwink” the voters. Wood put citizen volunteers on blast – including Preserve pioneer Carla, former Mayor Mary Manross, and respected chair of the Coalition of Greater Scottsdale Sonnie Kirtley – denouncing them as a “band of thieves.”

Seeking redress through the courts, only to attack the integrity of the very institution when one loses fairly, is disingenuous. Goldwater’s attorneys responded professionally and civilly. But for Wood, this tantrum was in character. She often belittles the Scottsdale General Plan’s passage as the result of trickery by her unfavored City Councilmen. Wood has frequently accused the City Transportation Staff and Planners of hiding information, and being compromised. Whether targeting the City’s IT staff for a brief signal outage, or moderators on Nextdoor for blocking propaganda on the platform, Scottsdale has come to expect the airing of grievances from Susan Wood.

An engaged electorate sharing differences of opinions is far better than not being engaged at all. Out of our passionate disagreement comes stronger public policy. But childish red-faced feet-stomping reveals a fundamental disdain for the process of governance. If one can not accept outcomes gracefully, its clear they are only interested in autocracy. It can be a slippery-slope to storming the Capitol. And for that reason alone, Judge Gordon’s ruling to let the voters vote should be praised.

Photo Credit: Brian Hancock

Now that Q2 campaign finance reports are in for all candidates, as are many of their required “pre-primary” reports showing financial activity between July 1st and 13th, we have gotten some additional insight into the strength of the campaigns of Scottsdale City Council candidates.

Again, Tammy Caputi is dominating the competition raising an impressive nearly $89K during Q2 and spending about $37.5K. She sits with over $216K CoH (cash on hand). Pursuant to our previous article about Caputi’s chances of avoiding a run-off which you can find here, and while her pre-primary report covering the first two weeks in July hadn’t been posted at the time of writing, her light spending likely diminishes the chances of her avoiding that run-off. Perhaps she is looking towards four years ahead and a future run for Mayor.

Jan Dubauskas has raised $73K combined over the Q2 and pre-primary periods and has spent $76.3K over that time period; she sits with nearly $24K CoH on July 14th. Considering both the strong spend and reasonable cash on hand at the end, she seems reasonably well positioned for November.

Adam Kwasman is also likely to go forward to the general election. In Q2 he raised close to $45K, spent $62.5K, and had $45K CoH as of July 1st. At the time of writing he had not submitted his pre-primary report.

Maryann McAllen raised $10K during the combined Q2 and pre-primary periods, she spent $7.4K during that time period, and sat with $4.2K on July 14th. 

Tom Durham’s fundraising finally got off the ground, but he spent it about as quick as he brought it in. During Q2 he raised close to $19K, spent over $16K, and sat with $5K CoH at the end of Q2 (his pre-primary report hadn’t been submitted at the time of writing). If he makes it to the general election, he will be limping in.

Software engineer Justin Laos’s fundraising kicked in a bit in Q2, as he raised $13.5K during the period and spent $3.7K. While he sat with $12.3K at the end of Q2, his pre-primary report was not available at the time of writing.

The race’s youngest competitor Mason Gates pulled in $16K during the combined Q2 and pre-primary periods, and spent virtually the same amount during those periods, leaving him with under $2K CoH. If he moves on to the general election, he has a long road ahead of him.

Bob Lettieri rose from the dead in Q2, raising nearly $19K and spending over $18K, but is running on fumes as of the middle of July with under $1K CoH. It’s difficult to see a path forward for him. And lastly, Steve Casares raised over $12K and spent every single dime.

Our prediction? Caputi comes a hair short of winning outright, and Lettieri, Casares and Laos are eliminated.

This is a place where free speech and public debate are welcomed and encouraged. The Speakers’ Corner originated in the mid-19th century at London’s Hyde Park. The concept spread worldwide both physically and now virtually. Here at the Arizona Progress & Gazette, we are presenting this platform in the form of question-and-answer style interviews with people who have had a meaningful impact on the community.

Justin is a 6th generation Arizonan and has lived in Scottsdale nearly a decade. He works as a Software Engineer and has worked as an early stage employee at a  Scottsdale startup. He is active in community service, volunteering in organizations like Rotary and Big Brother Big Sister. He’s a recent graduate of Scottsdale’s 101 Citizen Academy. He also served on Scottsdale’s Board of Adjustment. Having grown up in Tucson, Justin believes destructive partisanship and extreme anti growth and business policies can throw a city down the path of decline, impacting quality of life and government sustainability. Justin’s mission is to ensure Scottsdale leadership stays on a path of success and protecting what makes Scottsdale special as it grows into the future.

What prompted you run for Scottsdale City Council?
While I was serving on Scottsdale’s Board of Adjustment, I became more interested in the city and noticed two large issues that worried me. They were a growing anti-business sentiment and overly partisan influence into city issues. I’ve seen how destructive these can be to a healthy growing city, and knew that Scottsdale’s pro-business and non-partisan nature is what’s propelled it to being the crown jewel of Arizona. I decided a reasonable and not radical approach with an engineering mindset and some youthful energy could make sure the place I call home would stay amazing and maybe even make it better.

What is your definition of smart growth?
Smart growth is a mix of the city setting a vision, guiding overall incentives and city goals with the ability of the free market to help determine supply and demand so that the right projects that properly fit the need and feel of the city make it through the pipeline. Furthermore, it includes innovative planning that balances the different characters of Scottsdale.

What do you think are some short term and long term solutions to solving Scottsdale’s housing shortage?
It’s important to note the many state and federal issues affect housing as well. At a city level long term, we have to have a reputation of being a place where the right business and developers CAN build at. If not, investment will go elsewhere and we will see more and more decrepitated buildings, dirt lots, and lowering property values. Short term, we can lessen the impact STRs have by weeding out bad actors. e work better with developers to find a balance between project viability and needs of the city. We can also streamline our pipeline process to bring projects to completion quicker and also reducing red tape that adds to the costly risk associated with projects. Scottsdale will have to lean on redevelopment and well need to closely follow our general plan to make sure our city isn’t making the housing shorting worse than it needs to be while protecting the neighborhoods and communities we currently have and value.

Do you consider traffic to be a problem in Scottsdale and if so, what solutions would you propose?
I think traffic is a concern for any growing city. Traffic is an indication people want to be here and that means we are doing something right. But too much traffic can greatly impact quality of life and hurt local business. Therefore, the city council must always be looking at solving traffic issues. But to do so, we need to understand what causes traffic and find solutions to solving it besides just removing the things that bring people here in the first place. I believe we have to continue investing in our vehicle infrastructure, embrace better planning so that uses are so spread out effecting long travel times, and looking to innovative technology to make our traffic light system the leading (system) in the state and country.

What is your vision for the future of Downtown Scottsdale?
I see downtown being a mix of the western influence, tourism, high end shopping and dining, and being the culture hub of Arizona. Downtown should be one of the best places in the state to have a business, to live in, and to visit. Ensuring we are controlling this growth to downtown can help prevent the encroachment of growth into older family-oriented areas of town, which I believe ends up as a win-win for everyone.
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Photo-Arizona PBS

Palo Verde, Evan Mecham’s impeachment, Fife Symington’s trial, Colorado City; Michael Grant made an art out of handling combustible topics with an even hand and a calming demeanor as the host of Channel 8’s Horizon from 1981 to 2007. His death on July 15th at the age of 72 reminds longtime Arizonans of the indelible mark he made on the state.

Through studious research and probing interviews, he was able to dissect stories large and small with little or no bias. Like any reporter, he had opinions, but he kept them in his breast pocket as opposed to wearing them on his sleeve. Grant’s successor, Ted Simons, has managed to continue that legacy of fair reporting without bombast or gimmicks.

The remarkable thing about Grant was that hosting Horizon was a side hustle. Grant was a full-time attorney and a darn good one. After spending the day practicing law, he would enter the Channel 8 studios and host Horizon.

Grant’s ability to burn the candle at both ends goes back to his college days. While attending law school he also worked as a DJ and reporter for Phoenix’s legendary KOY radio.

While Grant was certainly a fair journalist and host, he was no pushover. Thanks to his dedication to researching topics, as well as a stellar support staff, Grant was able to ask probing questions and made sure he and his viewers were getting honest and accurate answers. His training as a lawyer kicked in when some interviews warranted additional scrutiny.

Remembering Michael Grant should not be construed as an exercise in romanticizing the good old days of Arizona broadcast journalism. To be honest there has always been some degree of hyperbole, questionable stories, and media bias in Arizona in the 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s. But not on Grant’s watch.

Like any good reporter he understood that the viewer’s attention should be focused on the people and issues making the news, not the person reading the news.

Stephen Richer

Recently we took a look at some of the more contested and interesting primaries in our area, and with the 2nd quarter campaign finance reports now submitted, we finally got a final look at how the finances of the top four campaigns are looking, and as such, additional insight into the strength of those campaigns and their odds of success.

First we’ll check into the highly contested Democratic primary in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, with six competitors lining up to take on David Schweikert. First, Wall Street veteran Conor O’Callaghan has raised $1.2M over the course of the campaign along with a $900K loan to his campaign. He has spent $1.56M, leaving him with $547K Cash on Hand (CoH) as of July 1st; he is now spending into his own money however, something that he may be reluctant to do.

Next is former journalist, Marlene Galan-Woods, who has raised $1.5M and added a $75K loan into the mix. She has spent $1.1M, and is currently sitting on a robust $467K CoH.  State legislator Amish Shah has raised $1.3M along with a $163K loan; he has spent $1.24M, leaving him with $216K CoH as of July 1st. Considering that much of his remaining funds are from his loan to the campaign, he may also be reluctant to spend much more. Finally, former political staffer and entrepreneur Andrei Cherney has raised the most of the bunch with an impressive $2.3M raised along with a $150K loan. He has spent $1.7M, and sits with $690K CoH.

Next we look at the Democratic primary for Maricopa County Sheriff. The Democrats’ preferred candidate Tyler Kamp raised $58.5K in Q2, has spent over $22K, and sits at $54K CoH. Current Sheriff and new Democrat Russ Skinner raised nearly $47K, but spent nearly $44K, leaving him with only over $10K CoH. On the Republican side, Jerry Sheridan raised $52K, spent an astounding $140.5K but still has over $81K CoH. Frank Milstead raised a very impressive $146K, but spent $138.5K and is down to $11K CoH. Lastly, Mike Crawford raised nearly $33K, but spent only $14K and has $55.5K CoH

Lastly, we look at the Republican primary for Maricopa County Recorder. Incumbent Stephen Richer remains head and shoulders above the competition, having raised over $157K in Q2, He spent a brisk $213K in the quarter but still has over $182K CoH. State legislator Justin Heap has raised $78K, spent $47.5K, and currently holds over $81K CoH. Retired IT expert Don Hiatt trails the pack, having raised nearly $28K, has spent $19K, and sits with $10K CoH.

The County Recorder primary seems like a clear one with Richer sailing towards the general election. The District 1 primary has turned into an arms race that is too close to call, and the County Sheriff’s primaries also seem too tight, except to say that Kamp is likely to move on.

By AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes

Hi, I’m Kris Mayes – proudly serving Arizona as Attorney General.

I’m reaching out today about my good friend, Marlene Galán-Woods. Marlene is the proud daughter of Cuban refugees, mother of five who raised her family here in Arizona, and a former crusading journalist who exposed corruption for decades.

She’s the fearless leader we need leading us in Congress – not MAGA David Schweikert. Marlene is running to defeat him and flip the House blue in Arizona’s First Congressional District.

I was proud to be among one of Marlene’s first endorsers when she announced her run for Congress. This campaign has since gained thousands of supporters and Marlene has quickly proven herself as the BEST candidate in this race who can defeat Schweikert.

Republicans have noticed that, too. They’ve attacked Marlene with deceitful and false ads, and even tried to get her thrown off the ballot – all because they know Schweikert is in serious trouble.

Ballots are already out across AZ-01 and it’s critical that we reach every undecided voter we can about Marlene’s vision. She’s dedicated to protecting abortion rights, protecting our democracy, and doing right by this community. That’s why I endorsed her and why I appeared in a TV ad for her. Meanwhile, if re-elected, Schweikert will stop at nothing to ban abortion and IVF nationwide. We can’t have that.

By Ronald Sampson

Jim Lane. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore

Regular readers and most Scottsdalians are aware of Proposition 490, the Protect and Preserve Initiative that will expand maintenance and upgrades for our city’s many parks while simultaneously reducing our collective tax burden, a situation that’s as much of a win-win as you will ever find in government. But of course, you will never make 100% of people happy, even with something that’s as obvious of a Yes vote as this.

Enter former Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane, who along with local activist Susan Wood and political activist Yvonne Cahill made the dubious decision to oppose the will of an overwhelming majority of voters as per recent polling. They utilized the Goldwater Institute, a group that has never found a legal battle related to taxation that they weren’t willing to fight, and attempted to get Prop 490 kicked off the ballot in a desperate last minute hail mary attempt.

Last Friday, the courts spoke up; a Maricopa County Superior Court judge threw the complaint out due to a lack of merit. The Goldwater Institute plans to appeal still.

Regarding the action by the court, Councilwoman Solange Whitehead said, “A small, minority of residents opposing Prop 490 cannot use the courts to deny every other Scottsdale voter an opportunity to cast a ballot. Yet, that is exactly what the Goldwater Institute with plaintiff, former Mayor Jim Lane tried to do….With today’s ruling, Mayor Lane should do what right by Scottsdale residents: Say NO to a Goldwater Institute appeal, NO to wasting more of our tax dollars on a meritless case, NO to running the clock down as a way to deny us a vote, and YES to Scottsdale voters!”

It is disappointing and perplexing that former Mayor Lane would choose to hurt his own legacy significantly by choosing such an unpopular fight. Rumors had been mounting that he was considering another run for Mayor, something that would be nothing short of Quixotic considering Mayor Ortega’s relative popularity and the collective pendulum swinging away from his administration’s “growth at all costs” mentality to a much more growth-hesitant electorate. Perhaps he simply can’t exit gracefully from the political arena and enjoy retirement like he’s earned.

If Mayor Lane continues to fight against the will of the people and their right to make their views known on their ballots, he will only serve to further diminish his own legacy, and it’s truly unfortunate. Like an aging prizefighter who everyone else knows shouldn’t still be in the ring but he still thinks he has the goods, it’s ugly bordering on embarrassing to watch. He really should know better

Photo Credit: Arizona Republic

Democrat State Representative Laura Terech recently stepped down in the latest iteration of an incredible amount of attrition from the Democratic caucus; she represented Legislative District 4, which covers much of central Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and a large swatch of Phoenix. As a swing district it is a particularly important seat in a district that traditionally elects relative moderates.

Recently the Dems in the district nominated three candidates to bring to the County Board of Supervisors for them to choose who will succeed Terech, and clearly the district has sacrificed interesting options for a steady hand.

Every nominee is very, very well known in the district, each was a leader in the old Legislative District 28. And while a steady hand is obviously a positive, especially in relatively trying times politically, we can’t help but be a bit underwhelmed.

First is Kelli Butler, a long-time legislator in the district who is known for being a relatively moderate pragmatist and is currently a candidate for the House in District 4. Next there is Madison Elementary School Board member Karen Gresham, who is also known as a relative moderate and is also currently a candidate for the House in District 4. Lastly is Eric Meyer, a long-term prior state legislator who is also known as a…wait for it…a relatively moderate pragmatist!

Clearly they wanted the seat to go to one of the current candidates, which is perfectly understandable. And moderate pragmatists play a much needed role in Arizona. That said, these names are already very, very well known in the district and have been for a long time. A different takeaway is that perhaps Democrats in that district are very insular, rather clubby, and lack a deep bench.

Part of growth as a new district is helping build a bench of the next stage of candidates. While Gresham hasn’t yet been a legislator, she is hardly new to politics. With other options offered to the Board of Supervisors amongst the litany of openings this year, there has often been relatively new names and some variety; an indicator of investing in new viable candidates. LD4 seems to be clinging to the old LD28 like its life depends on it.

As far as problems go, this isn’t a huge one. We prefer this option to the district offering three hard-left candidates as their option, or total idealogues. But perhaps the district would be well served in locating and growing talent instead of continuing to go back in the same well.

To celebrate 25-years and just ahead of the 25^th Annual Behind the Flames Scottsdale Fire Fighter Charities Dinner, the Scottsdale Fire Fighters Association is proud to announce Scottsdale-based Cardone Ventures has just made the largest donation in the organization’s history.

The $25,000 donation by Cardone Ventures and the additional funds raised at the Annual Scottsdale Fire Fighter Charities Dinner, which returns on Sunday, September 22nd, 2024 will be used throughout the year by the Scottsdale Fire Fighters Association to help a variety of Valley charities.

Recognizing all that firefighters do and wanting to highlight the importance of this 25-year milestone, Cardone Ventures made the donation this summer to kickstart the fundraising efforts.

“On the 25th Anniversary it was only fitting that a Scottsdale business would step up to the plate and donate $25,000 to this incredible organization. We’re hoping this donation spurs other businesses to do the same,” said Brandon Dawson, CEO and Co-Founder of Cardone Ventures. “We are forever grateful for the services of Scottsdale firefighters and not just for risking their lives every day, but also for all the charitable contributions and everything they do in giving back to the community every year.”

Held at STK in Scottsdale at 7134 E. Stetson Drive in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, the dinner is organized by the Scottsdale Fire Fighters Association and attended by Scottsdale city leaders. The cherished tradition pays tribute to the bravery and resilience of Scottsdale Firefighters and honors three extraordinary Valley residents who have shown remarkable courage in the face of challenges. This year’s honorees of C.A.R.E Awards will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We are extremely grateful for this generous donation,” said Captain Sasha Weller, president of the Scottsdale Fire Fighters Association. “All funds from this dinner go back to the community, helping charities that have a direct impact on the quality of life for our Scottsdale residents and their families.”

The evening will commence with a sponsor reception and cocktails at 5 p.m., followed by a grand dinner featuring premium steaks, seafood, and crafty cocktails. At 6:00 p.m., the special program will begin with the honorees taking center stage to share their inspiring stories.

This can’t miss event is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a night of great food for an amazing cause. Single tickets are available to purchase for $150. There are several sponsorship levels and there is also the opportunity to sponsor the attendance of a Fire Fighter for $500.

To donate and reserve your spot please contact Brian Shedlock at (520) 275-4056 or BShedlock@Scottsdalefirefighters.org. It is recommended to secure your spot as soon as possible as seats always sell out every year.

Send checks payable to United Scottsdale Firefighters Charities, P.O. Box 14935, Scottsdale, AZ 85267.

For more event information or to interview a spokesperson from the Scottsdale Firefighters Charities, please contact Jennifer Sturgeon at (480) 495-3806 or JParks-Sturgeon@RoseAllynPR.com

This is a place where free speech and public debate are welcomed and encouraged. The Speakers’ Corner originated in the mid-19th century at London’s Hyde Park. The concept spread worldwide both physically and now virtually. Here at the Arizona Progress & Gazette, we are presenting this platform in the form of question-and-answer style interviews with people who have had a meaningful impact on the community.

Scottsdale City Councilwoman Tammy Caputi began her first term on the Scottsdale City Council in January 2021 and is currently seeking a second term. Caputi has lived and worked in Scottsdale for almost 25 years and is the president and owner of Yale Electric West, Inc, a Scottsdale company.  She’s been married for over 21 years and has 3 daughters who attend our local schools. Councilwoman Caputi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA and a Masters degree in Business Administration from Simmons University in Boston, MA. She says she is passionate about keeping Scottsdale the Gold Standard of the Valley.

What prompted you run for Scottsdale City Council?

I’m seeking re-election to The Scottsdale City Council to continue the great work that’s being done by this council. I’ve increased job creation by 10%, kept our budget in the black, fully funded public safety, and brought our Tourism back to pre-pandemic levels. I helped pass a new voter-approved 10-year General Plan and protected our neighborhoods from Short-Term Rentals. I’ve protected our most vulnerable seniors and children, improved downtown parking, improved traffic safety and bulked up our streets with 80 new lane miles of roadway. I have stood up from Day 1 for our kids’ education. All of our residents, including our kids and working parents, deserve the best possible Scottsdale. The City will be facing many new challenges in the next few years. I’m running for re-election to keep moving Scottsdale forward in a balanced, positive direction, and to maintain our reputation as the gold standard of the Valley. Successful cities do not stagnate; we can neither stand by nor sit still if we want to maintain our excellence.

What is your definition of smart growth?

Balance, thoughtfulness, and careful planning. More intensity only where it makes sense. Protection of our residential neighborhoods and open space. Exceptional projects with measurable community benefits like workforce housing and water recycling. Making sure all stakeholders are included in decision making- we’ve doubled our outreach and rolled out several new digital platforms to gather more resident input. Decisions based on facts and data, not fear and misinformation. I hear from people who say, “I’m not anti-growth, I want smart/quality growth”,  but there’s never a project they can support. We’ve approved only a handful of projects in the last 4 years and decreased our pipeline over 50% and some folks are still mad. No to everything is not a solution or a recipe for long term success. Scottsdale has always been forward thinking. We grow smart to stay on top.

What do you think are some short term and long term solutions to solving Scottsdale’s housing shortage?

We’ve been moving carefully towards buildout for decades, following our general plan. We’re not converting areas zoned for single family homes to multifamily. Our plans have always located multifamily housing in growth and activity areas, near freeways, employment, and retail, which is where we’ve approved it.

Our population growth has slowed to less than 1% per year and there are no large empty parcels left. During my first term on council, we’ve cut our housing pipeline in half, and many of those units will likely never get built. We’ve approved only a handful of projects with demonstrable public benefits. Truly affordable housing in Scottsdale isn’t economically feasible. Land is extremely expensive and scarce, our standards are the highest, our approval processes are purposely slow and rigorous, and neighbors are deeply engaged. It’s illegal to fix rents in Arizona and low rents and housing prices do not pencil out here. We can and have negotiated some dedicated “workforce” units from new developments with discounted rent for teachers and first responders.

Do you consider traffic to be a problem in Scottsdale and if so, what solutions would you propose?

Phoenix Metro has seen significant growth in population over the last several years, but in contrast Scottsdale has not; we have grown less than 1% per year over the last decade. Scottsdale has only 5% of the population of Maricopa County. In addition, Maricopa County is starting to experience a domestic migration decline, with negative numbers for the first time in decades, where Pinal County is seeing an increase. Continued years of future significant growth may not be happening.

Scottsdale’s surface streets traffic volume has been mostly flat since the 101 was built. When temporary freeway closures occur as part of the Loop 101 widening project, the surface street traffic illustrates how much traffic was removed from our streets after the freeway was built.

The biggest cause of our traffic is the 150,000 commuters driving in and out of our city every day. We have 18,000 businesses, but a lack of affordable housing and starter homes for young families in Scottsdale. Importing almost 80% of our workforce is the traffic problem we need to solve.  Our city streets still receive some of the highest traffic ratings in the Valley.

Per our Transportation Action Plan, we will continue to make sure our transportation network maximizes travel route choices, travel mode choices, and access and mobility for all ages and abilities. The overwhelming amount of transportation projects planned and in progress are adding capacity to the network in various ways. Here are some examples:

• Pima Road will be expanded to a four lanes cross-section from Indian Bend to McDowell Road.
• Dual left turn lanes are being constructed at Indian Bend and Hayden for additional turning capacity.
• A pedestrian/bicycle underpass will be constructed at Hayden/Chaparral that will provide safety for all users and additional green time for the traffic traveling to Loop 101.

Read More

Photo Credit: Evan Vucci, AP

We don’t have to tell you what happened last Saturday in Pennsylvania; the shot heard round the world that came quite literally one inch away from upending everything as we know it in American politics. At the time of writing there is still plenty we do not know, including the shooter’s motives, so we will not speculate. We also want to take a moment to acknowledge the attendees that were impacted; as of the time of writing, one is dead and two were critically injured, and our thoughts go out to their loved ones.

All that said, this monumental event is bound to have a significant impact not just on national politics, but also our local ones. Elected officials and candidates from across the political spectrum have made statements, focused on prayer for Trump (from the right) and condemning political violence (from both sides, but a primary focus on the left). But now, it’s worth considering how this will impact our elections.

While Arizona has been amongst the most significant of swing states for the last two election cycles, recent polling has shown that that may no longer be the case this election. In a composite of polls, it appears as though Trump has held a small lead in the state; then the disastrous (for Biden) debate happened and Biden’s numbers took an additional hit.

The assassination attempt is sure to provide a bump not just to Trump but those in his orbit, as his defiant fist-shaking and cries to “fight!” are undoubtedly positive for his image. However, how much of the benefit will go towards only Trump? Kari Lake is already too well known for opinions to change much. Perhaps Republican Congressional candidates in contested seats will get a boost, such as David Schweikert, but Trump being his own orbit despite others trying to take advantage of his wake may make that impact relatively minimal. Candidates in non-partisan races but stick out as being the most Republican, such as Lisa Borowsky, could very well benefit from increased turnout from Republicans. 

That said, in our quick news cycle where news items traditionally are forgotten within a week, it’s not hard to believe that this item will be mostly in the rear view come November, but likely less so than most normal news items for obvious reasons. But one news item that could steal the spotlight and shift momentum? President Biden announcing that he will no longer run for re-election and passing the torch to someone new, likely Vice President Harris.

Arizonans are known for splitting their ballots (which we will talk about later this week) and the benefit will likely accrue mostly to Trump. At this phase, it seems that Joe Biden has essentially no chance of winning this election, especially considering the actions of Saturday. But a new candidate? That could very well change everything.

“I am disgusted and appalled by the attempt on President Trump’s life.  In the United States, we resolve our differences at the ballot box and move on.  We have had too many presidents and candidates struck by assassins or would-be killers.  My fervent prayers are for President Trump, his family, and the families of the victims.

I want to assure Maricopa County residents I will do everything I can to keep them safe while they exercise their constitutional right to vote.  And I will make sure our law enforcement and public safety officials have all the resources they need.

Once again, I pray for President Trump’s full and complete recovery.”

This is a place where free speech and public debate are welcomed and encouraged. The Speakers’ Corner originated in the mid-19th century at London’s Hyde Park. The concept spread worldwide both physically and now virtually. Here at the Arizona Progress & Gazette, we are presenting this platform in the form of question-and-answer style interviews with people who have had a meaningful impact on the community.

Bob is from New York and relocated to Arizona in 1979. To become the operations Controller of Revlon US. Before coming to Arizona Bob began his business career with Deloitte after earning an BS in accounting form Saint Johns and a MS in economics from Fairly Dickinson. He received an MBA from ASU in 1981. His career in corporate financial management spans 40 years with 30 years as a CFO. Bob is currently employed as a fractional CFO for 2 Scottsdale based companies and 1 Nevada company. And sits on the Board of Cell Trust, a Scottsdale based company.

Bob has lived in in McCormick Ranch for 26 years with his wife Carol, they have 3 sons whom they are very proud of. And have 6 grandchildren.

Son Christopher, served in the military in Afghanistan, a full colonel. He served as the special medical liaison for the joint Chiefs of Staff, works at Walter Reed medical center, and is currently a doctor at John Hopkins suburban in Maryland, Son Matthew is currently deployed and is serving in the Army as a tank commander stationed in Poland.  Oldest Robert is an Arizona Addiction Specialist and Counselor. Bob volunteers at his local church, the Valley for the Harvest Compassion Center, and Teen Challenge.

What prompted you run for Scottsdale City Council?

I am running for Scottsdale City Council because as a 26-year resident and property owner, I have the very same concerns as my neighbors, and the people of Scottsdale have. I want to represent and respond to the concerns of the people of Scottsdale by bringing my C-Level managerial experience to our city’s government. As a Scottsdale resident I am concerned about density, traffic congestion, and rising crime. My concern is that my quality of life will continue to deteriorate.  Why? Because the current City Government allows rezoning that leads to increased urbanization and allows complete disregard for our concerns about multistory apartment buildings. If urbanization has a positive economic benefit, why isn’t our tax decreasing

What is your definition of smart growth?

A mix of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces to create vibrant, communities where people can live, work, and play without needing to drive long distances. Protecting natural landscapes, parks, and recreational areas to maintain the city’s unique desert environment and provide residents with opportunities for outdoor activities. Investing in infrastructure that supports sustainable growth, such as water-efficient systems, renewable energy sources, and modernized public utilities that our homes depend on. Ensuring that residents have a say in development decisions through public consultations and participatory planning processes, fostering a sense of community ownership and responsibility. If the community speaks out against urbanization listen to them.

What do you think are some short term and long term solutions to solving Scottsdale’s housing shortage?

Convert underutilized commercial spaces and office buildings into residential units like town houses and condominiums for ownership. Encourage homeowners to consider the benefits of ADUs, such as granny flats or garage apartments, Partner with private developers to create an understanding of what Scottsdale residents advocate for their community

Do you consider traffic to be a problem in Scottsdale and if so, what solutions would you propose?

Yes, I do, my solutions start with Installing smart traffic signals that adjust timings based on real-time traffic conditions to improve flow and reduce congestion. Use roundabouts and traffic circles to improve the efficiency of intersections and reduce the likelihood of accidents. Provide incentives for carpooling, such as dedicated carpool lanes and reduced tolls or parking fees for carpool vehicles. Promote the use of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft to reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road Encourage businesses to adopt remote work policies and flexible working hours to reduce peak-hour traffic congestion.

What is your vision for the future of Downtown Scottsdale?Read More

Scottsdale residents who are registered on the early voter list have already received their ballots and have likely noticed an overabundance of options for Scottsdale City Council; nine, to be exact, all vying for one of three seats. We have written about these races a few times (you can check them out here), but one name stands out not just due to incumbency but also extremely prolific fundraising: Tammy Caputi.

Before we really dive into the odds, let’s jump into the fun part, the part that you’re all here for: math! So to avoid a run-off and win outright, let’s say that 50,000 people vote for council races, and they vote for 2.5 of the 3 seats on average (some will “single-shot” or only vote for 2, most will vote for 3). We would multiply 50,000 x 2.5 to get 125,000. We would then divide that 125,000 by the 3 seats to get 41,666.7, and then divide that by 2 and round up to the next number to get 20,834. 20,834 votes to avoid the run-off in this situation.

For comparison, in the 2020 city council race, 184,910 total votes were cast for city council, not 125,000, but it’s just easier to work with rounder numbers.

Now that we’ve bored off half of our audience, let’s go back to Caputi. In this instance, she would need to get a vote on a bit over 40% of submitted ballots to be elected. If everyone were to use all 3 choices (extremely unlikely, but it serves as an upper bound), that percentage rises to 50%.

Caputi has her detractors, primarily vis a vis a perceived coziness with developers and nightclub owners, but those detractors also seem to be in the loud activist minority. Money speaks more than anything, and your average voter doesn’t get into the minutae of city politics where those activists lie. Most voters will likely be focused on partisan primaries and other more polarized elections.

With around $160,000 in her coffers, getting a vote on between 40-50% of ballots seems extremely achievable if she were to want to spend that balance down. If she tries to save for the general election, it could be tougher, but between significant name ID and the ability to pepper the area with some cable and streaming TV ads and mail pieces, a smart spend of $100,000 seems like it would be enough to do the job.

Frankly, the best that nearly any other candidate can reasonably hope for is to make it to the run-off election in November, and if they’re wise they should be rooting for her to not win outright. If she does win in July (and no one else does), only four competitors will go to the general election, compared to six (including her) if she doesn’t.

Arizona in some ways serves as a brilliant example of democracy in action, specifically its propensity towards ballot initiatives. Granted, the bar is high for a specific issue to be codified into law via a public vote, most notably the need for proponents to get a few hundred thousand signatures to get on the ballot. But it is the purest form of direct democracy which has been used rather liberally in our state.

This election will provide a number of very impactful votes which could have a significant impact on our state’s future. So what should you be looking out for?

By far, the biggest one that could upend the way we elect politicians is the initiative to do away with partisan primaries; they would be replaced by an initial election with candidates of all parties where all registered voters could participate, after which the top two, regardless of party, would face off in the general election.

Partisan primaries often reward the candidates on both wings of the parties, the ones who appeal purely to the party’s base instead of the general electorate. For instance, without this the last gubernatorial election could have easily been Karrin Taylor-Robson against Katie Hobbs in the general election; Taylor-Robson had more moderate appeal but didn’t engage Republican primary voters as well as Kari Lake, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Republicans in the legislature have put forth a competing measure to guarantee the right for one candidate from each party to make it to the general election, but it comes off as more attempting to have a semblance of control over this subject.

Having candidates that speak to all of us instead of 10-20% of the populace would be welcome, and our government could use more collaborative types over combative types. This ballot initiative (not the one foisted upon us by the Legislature) deserves your attention.

Next is an additional $2 raise to the minimum wage, and also makes it a hard $18 minimum wage for restaurant workers pre-tip. Yes, costs have gone up quite a bit in this state, but Arizona already has a fairly progressive minimum wage law, and one that is tied for inflation. This seems like a solution looking for a problem.

Lastly, the pro-abortion initiative spearheaded by abortion access groups in the state, most notably Planned Parenthood. This was started during the furor from when the state reverted back to the 1864 abortion law, but legislators have since reversed that and codified a 15 week limit on abortions now. This initiative would codify abortion as a right until the time of “fetal viability” (which has a nebulous definition but is probably near the 8th month of gestation). If the options were this initiative versus the 1864 bill, this initiative wins, but it’s harder to see the need for it in opposition to a fairly reasonable 15 week rule.

This is a place where free speech and public debate are welcomed and encouraged. The Speakers’ Corner originated in the mid-19th century at London’s Hyde Park. The concept spread worldwide both physically and now virtually. Here at the Arizona Progress & Gazette, we are presenting this platform in the form of question-and-answer style interviews with people who have had a meaningful impact on the community.

Steve Casares is a Citizen of Scottsdale, Arizona, having moved with his family to the area in October 1998. Steve is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Class of 2009, representing our Congressional district. He is a member of the first graduating class at Notre Dame Preparatory, Scottsdale, Class of 2005. Steve recently completed educating at the United States Military Academy at West Point, as an Assistant Professor of Leadership and Ethics to our Nation’s Cadets. He initially served as a civilian and loved educating so much, he sought to be reactivated into active duty to continue to teach the Cadets of West Point. Steve returned to Scottsdale, his home, our home, in July of 2023. Steve’s other military assignments include Fort Campbell, KY, Arlington National Cemetery, and The Pentagon. Steve is also a Bronze Star recipient for services rendered in Afghanistan.

What prompted you run for Scottsdale City Council?

Very simply, this is my home. My parents live here; my close friends live here and are raising young families; I intend to raise a family of my own here one day. I will also likely be teaching either this semester or next semester at my old high school—Notre Dame Prep. I desire to continue to represent and serve Scottsdale, this time as a legislator. I believe my career as an intelligence officer in the United States Army has enabled me to work effectively as a member of a team as well as decisively lead. My thoroughness, discipline, and sound judgment would be value-added to the Council, Staff, and Citizens of our city.

What is your definition of smart growth?

Smart growth for me, in the context of city planning and urban development, is managing essential City services and infrastructure with continued population growth and urbanization. For Scottsdale, this includes, but is not limited to:

1) Revitalized and efficient public transportation.

2) Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into existing city infrastructure, such as water recycling and distribution, traffic signals, etc.

3) Ensuring new single-family homes are both of sound construction quality and affordable for median income earners.

4) Recruiting and retaining innovation-centric companies, whether they be processed-based or product-based.

I encourage your readers to take a quick look at a recent piece from Forbes online, addressing the rise of ‘smart cities’. While I disagree with some points and solutions, it is an excellent analysis of what population growth forces planners and policy makers to consider. Intelligent City’s Blueprint for the Future City

What do you think are some short term and long term solutions to solving Scottsdale’s housing shortage?

The Scottsdale housing shortage must be observed in the context as a multi-faceted issue requiring a multi-faceted solution. Furthermore, this is a regional issue, so any viable solution will likely be a regional one involving our sister cities. This recent piece from the New York Times summarizes our predicament both in Scottsdale and Maricopa County at-large.

In the short-term, local developers need to start on approved, non-initiated projects for multi-unit housing, of which there are approximately 10,000 in Scottsdale alone—the delays are a part of the problem.

Do you consider traffic to be a problem in Scottsdale and if so, what solutions would you propose?

Yes, vehicular congestion is an issue which needs to be addressed. The three intersections that consistently come up in conversation as I speak with voters are Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) and Scottsdale Road; FLW and 101; and northbound on Scottsdale Road at the 101. I would also add in Shea Blvd between Scottsdale Road and 92^nd Street. Speaking with fellow Citizens the past six months, and based on observation over the past several years, these intersections are the most troublesome.

Community engagement and dialogue should be the starting point for any proposed modifications to the City’s transportation plan. It is the duty of a legislator to listen, learn, and provide information to our City Staff for the development of feasible options.

Explore additional options via a task force of a potential causeway to commute non-Scottsdale residents into our City for work.

What is your vision for the future of Downtown Scottsdale?Read More

Fiscal responsibility is something that all engaged citizens (except perhaps those to the extreme political left) want; government is funded by our money, and we all want to believe that those funds are being used appropriately. And it should come as no surprise to our readers that conservative politics often focuses on this, as do the conservative politicians that look to lead.

Like with anything in politics, if an issue is something that is problematic and a politician has a solution for that problem, fantastic. That’s adding value to society. But some politicians don’t know when to pivot towards real problems and instead start inventing a problem that doesn’t exist so they can invent the supposed solution.

Unfortunately, this is where much of the politics and many of the candidates in Scottsdale find themselves.

What do we mean? Well let’s start with this; the city of Scottsdale recently released their proposed 2024/25 budget, and perhaps the most shocking part? A 10% DECREASE in spending compared to the previous year. This reflects a slowdown in revenue and is a purported conservative approach to budgeting and the city’s expectations. In other words, a model of fiscal conservatism.

You would never think that if you listened to some of the screeds of city candidates who consider themselves “conservative”, however. Several talk about runaway spending and “slush funds” and all sorts of hyperbole. Instead of attempting to add value to society, they are being purposely misleading and attempting to invent a solution where a problem doesn’t exist.

In all fairness, it wouldn’t be the first time that politicians attempted to trump up issues for the sake of standing out, but these cases are particularly egregious since it’s not that fiscal responsibility is a mild issue in the city, it’s that it’s actually a strength. Instead of trying to locate legitimate issues and provide solutions, these candidates are spitting in your face and trying to sell you an umbrella to block it.

It truly is unfortunate, since there are many talented people running in local races. But the more they talk about this particular issue, the more they expose the apparent fact that their desire to be in perceived power seemingly outweighs their desire to actually fix problems. And that’s unfortunate.

By Ronald Sampson

As a relatively fiscally conservative person and a natural Republican, I **want** to dislike most government spending that I see. It’s a happy place to distrust it. But the activists on both sides of any issue tend to ruin it for everybody, finding any reason to be angry, even if it means resorting to half-truths, ignorance, or purposeful obfuscation. It’s an unfortunate part of policy, and by proxy, politics.

More perniciously, people who desperately desire to stand out and get some clout will do so: the political left does it by distorting anything that Trump says into an indicator that he’s Hitler-reincarnate, and the right did it by attempting to convince us that Hillary Clinton was the leader of a cabal that harvested kids for body parts and adrenochrome (remember PizzaGate? Yikes, conservatives…yikes).

Who you trust is important. And people like former Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross matter; a steady, reasonable hand who has weighed in on Scottsdale’s issues judiciously, not suspiciously. So when she wrote this statement of support for the initiatives coming to the ballot, we all should give a listen.

Also notable are the voices of dissent against it, both who they are and their rationales. While attempting to not make this political, it is irritating that one particular candidate for Mayor uses falsehoods (if not outright lies) when talking about it, as well as certain activists who clearly are looking for sway and clout.

I’ve heard these people talk about it as a tax increase, but it’s very much a tax decrease. The sales tax will go from 0.2% to 0.15%. In what world (other than a world of dishonest clout-chasing) is that a tax increase? Stated services would be increased; that’s a good thing. There is talk about it being a “slush fund”…well, do you have a problem with how the 0.2% tax is being used now? If not, then why would you assume that a lesser amount is somehow some slush fund?

It feels as though it’s the definition of bad-faith arguments: attempting to fill a vacuum of information with the presumption of bad intentions with absolutely zero proof to imply that. It’s the worst of our politics.

That’s not to say that questions shouldn’t be asked, that everyone should simply fall in line. Absolutely not. But if the people talking the loudest aren’t at least comparing it to our current situation and wondering if this is an improvement over that (or an improvement over the alternative: no funds dedicated to our parks), then there’s a good chance that they’re bad faith actors, more interested in gaining followers and clout or attempting to make a name for themselves politically then considering the best interest of the city.

With just five days remaining until Arizona’s 2024 primary election, let’s take a closer look at how Republicans and Democrats are performing across the state.

Focusing first on the Republicans, a total of 1,156,580 GOP ballots have been requested. Of these, 1,089,498 are from registered Republicans and 67,082 from Independents. These numbers surpass the total requests from both 2020 and 2022, which were 1,035,288 and 1,059,348, respectively. Currently, Republicans have a 32.7% ballot return rate, while Independents have a 49.2% return rate, resulting in an overall return rate of 33.7%.

At this stage in the election, GOP ballot returns across the state are ahead of 2022 but are behind 2020. In 2020, returns at this time were 426,571, compared to 375,714 in 2022. So far in 2024, a total of 389,458 GOP ballots have been returned.

Now looking at the Democratic side, total ballot requests stand at 1,063,267, with 1,008,909 from Democrats and 54,358 from Independents. This exceeds the totals from both 2020, which had 1,044,288 requests, and 2022, which had 1,041,271 requests. Democrats are returning their ballots at a 29.4% rate, while Independents are returning at a 48.9% rate, resulting in an overall return rate of 30.4%

At this stage in the cycle, Democratic returns are lagging behind both 2020 and 2022. In 2020, Democratic returns were 439,383, and in 2022 they were 368,745. Both figures are notably higher than the current returns in 2024, which stand at 322,984.

By Scottsdale City Councilmember Tom Durham

What’s the truth about “road diets?” It’s really pretty simple. The current City Council has approved one – and only one – road diet. The residents asked for something to be done about the dangerous conditions on 68th Street. 68th Street is mostly two lanes, but it expanded to four as it went north. This transition created problems as cars sped up and switched lanes. This section of 68th Street had three times the number of accidents as an average Scottsdale street and ranked in the top 7% for accidents per mile. Tragically, there were two pedestrian fatalities in recent years. To address the issue, City staff held neighborhood outreach where neighbors agreed to the plan.

The work on the road included dedicated turn lanes and protected pedestrian crossings, all of which made the street safer. There was plenty of room because 68th Street was below 40% capacity. Police and fire personnel confirmed that narrowing the road would not present access issues.Read More

With six months to go until Election Day 2024, Democrats hold a slight edge over Republicans in the State.For President, the Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden leads Republican former president Donald Trump by a slim 38.8% to 38.1% margin. Independent Robert F Kennedy Jr. has 13.5% support. 8.1% reported as being undecided.

In the US Senate race, presumptive Republican nominee Kari Lake trails Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego, the presumptive Democratic nominee, 48.1% to 43.9%. 6.3% of voters are undecided.

Pollster George Khalaf had this to say about the latest results, “With Election Day 2024 a little under 6 months away, the races for President and US Senate in Arizona are a toss-up. As we get closer to Election Day, it will be interesting to note what happens to the support currently given to Robert F Kennedy Jr and if President Biden or Former President Donald Trump pick up more of his current supporters. One thing remains clear, all eyes will be on Arizona and the outsized role our state will play in shaping the direction of the Nation.”

This poll of 550 likely general election voters was conducted by live phone survey that collected 46.0% of the results from live caller landlines and 54.0% from live caller cell phones. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.26% with a 95% confidence interval. Respondents were weighted on a number of different demographic figures based on prior general election voter turnout figures. The poll was conducted from April 27th – April 29th, 2024. The questions released are verbatim from the survey provided to respondents. Toplines and demographic data can be found here. Crosstabs for this survey can be found here.

Photo Credit: The Hill

Here are the Arizona Progress and Gazette, we love to cover the weird world that is Arizona politics. Not many states are pure swing states, which brings with it an incredible amount of attention. And perhaps no race other than the Presidential race will be more watched than the specter of a three-person cage match to represent Arizona in the US Senate alongside Sen. Mark Kelly.

Campaign viability is almost always tied to fundraising, and with that in mind we received some clarity as to where the candidates stand in the way of their 2023 Q4 financial statements. And so far, it’s Advantage Gallego.

According to those Q4 reports, Rep. Ruben Gallego brought in $3.3 million and sat with $6.5 in cash at the end of the year. Compare this with Kari Lake, who brought in $2,1 million but with no cash-on-hand numbers available at the time of writing. Incumbent Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s numbers were not available at the time of writing.

Perhaps most notable with the fact that 99% of Gallego’s contributions were under $200. That means that he has been able to build an incredible breadth and scope of donors nationally, ones that he will be able to go back to time and time again until the election, as opposed to max donors who are tapped out until after the primary election.

All of this is a relative pittance in what is certain to be one of the most important races in the country however, especially considering the extremely tight lead that Democrats have in the Senate. For context, a stunning $236 million was spent in the 2022 US Senate election; in all fairness, over half of that was spent by outside groups, but regardless, the bar of competitiveness for a US Senate race starts around $30 million or so, so the early numbers matter but are not critical.

While Gallego’s strength is obvious, a big question will be Kari Lake’s ability to fundraise. During her run for Governor, she eschewed the necessity of traditional fundraising, relying instead on earned media and a strong social media presence. As a result, she was soundly defeated by Katie Hobbs in the fundraising race. While the national Republican party will likely come to her support unless Sheriff Mark Lamb makes it a competitive primary, she must demonstrate that she has learned a lesson from her failure in her gubernatorial race.

But of course, the big elephant in the room is whether or not Sinema will vie for another term in the face of low favorability ratings. But until then, she is certain to utilize her influence and power to raise huge chunks of money to assist her in whatever her next step is.

Connect Maricopa, the official campaign in support of the Proposition 400 renewal, formally launched today with a coalition of business, community, and public sector leaders advocating for the extension of the transportation funding measure. The effort is led by Pam Kehaly, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona; Mesa Mayor John Giles; Maricopa County Supervisor Jack Sellers; Mike Hoover, CEO of Sundt Construction; and Jim Kenny, CEO of El Dorado Holdings.

In 1985, Maricopa County voters overwhelmingly passed a 20-year half-cent sales tax dedicated to transportation infrastructure. It was renewed in 2004 with the passage of Proposition 400 which invested in highways, streets, and transit. The funding is set to expire December 31, 2025, without renewal. The extension of Proposition 400 was referred to Maricopa County voters by the Arizona Legislature and will be on the November 2024 ballot.

“The renewal of Proposition 400 is an integral part of Maricopa County’s continued economic growth and the overall success of the region,” said Pam Kehaly, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. “Investing in critical transportation infrastructure will allow the region to appropriately plan for future growth so residents can travel with ease and not experience the burden of long commute times. I am proud of the coalition of business and community associations that are actively supporting this effort and we look forward to sharing our message with Maricopa County voters.”

“Since the passage of Proposition 400, Arizona has become one of the top 6 states for economic momentum,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles. “The regional half cent sales tax has allowed the county to grow responsibly and build a comprehensive transportation network to support Maricopa County residents. This continued investment is critical for future economic development and ensuring Maricopa County residents have access to a variety of transportation options that best meet their needs.

”The Connect Maricopa Executive Committee consists of key business, economic development, and community organizations that understand the importance of investing in the Valley’s critical infrastructure:

• American Council of Engineering Companies of Arizona
• Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Arizona Chapter of the Associated General Contractors
• Arizona Multihousing Association
• Arizona Realtors Association
• Arizona Rock Products Association
• Arizona Trucking Association
• Greater Phoenix Chamber
• Greater Phoenix Economic Council
• Greater Phoenix Leadership
• Home Builders Association of Central Arizona
• NAIOP Arizona
• Valley Partnership