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.
What is the best way to preserve Scottsdale’s quality of life?
I believe our quality of life is a mix of great city services, maintained infrastructure, beautiful open spaces and outdoor actives, as well as private amenities like shopping, dining, and the year around world class events. To preserve this, we have to make sure investments continue to come into the city so that we grow and not decline.
Scottsdale has had a number of impactful elected leaders. Who do you think was the most impactful?
My favorite would be Mayor Jim Lane who I’m proud to say has endorsed my campaign. Mayor Lane served during tough times including the financial crisis and Covid. Under his leadership what made Scottsdale great, he was able to make it better and have the Scottsdale we have today. He protected the western affluent character Scottsdale is known for while bring in business and new development that positively added to the city and its economy.
Do you support or oppose the To Protect and To Preserve ballot measure?
I support protect and preserve. I believe it’s our obligation to maintain the open spaces we have, including parks in South Scottsdale and our famous perverse. This maintenance is something we must do no matter what and will have to pay for, so a sales tax would be best as it will lessen the burden on Scottsdale citizens and share that burden more quality with non-residents from around the valley and country who come to visit. I’d also like to add that I believe this is a completely new tax and verse allowing the current one to expire to zero, it will be well worth to cost to citizens.
Do you support or oppose the Permanent Base Adjustment ballot measure?
Yes I do support, though a chief concern of mine is spending and ensuring our spending is within reason and not wasteful. I’m also concerned with council not having the tools they need to make sure the city is properly funded and that services will always be of high quality for citizens.
What is your favorite guilty pleasure restaurant?
Hard question concerning the options we have in Scottsdale, But id have to say Citizen Public House. I regularly crave their Chopped Salad.