By Councilwoman Solange Whitehead On the surface, Avala Scottsdale (Modus Companies) and Old Town’s AC Marriott Hotel (PEG) don’t appear related. But both followed a similar path—and show what happens when a Council negotiates hard and delivers prosperity for all in Scottsdale. Both projects are in highly desirable locations—though in Scottsdale, that’s every site. Avala, a single-story, net-zero energy rental … Read More
Top Events Ask City of Scottsdale To Deny Residential Density Increases Next To WestWorld
Dear Mr. Caton: Here we go again, unfortunately. For over a decade this group has organized to oppose inappropriate development proposals, especially residential ones, proximate to WestWorld. The premise is no different than what countless cities do when protecting other major economic assets, especially airports. In the case of WestWorld a recent city commissioned economic impact report showed the annual … Read More
The Axon Question That Still Needs an Answer
By Alexander Lomax An Unfinished Investigation By now, most Scottsdale watchers are familiar with the broad strokes of the Lamar Whitmer matter. Whitmer, who served as Mayor Lisa Borowsky’s Chief of Staff, was let go in March following a 65-day city investigation that examined seven categories of alleged misconduct. Five of the seven allegations were substantiated. Two were not. It … Read More
Guest Editorial: We’ve Only Just Begun
By Bob Littlefield Dear Friends: For over a year coverage of the attempt by Axon to build a massive apartment complex in Scottsdale has dominated local media. Yet despite all this attention there is a huge amount of misinformation in the publics’ mind about what is the status of that situation. This misinformation is coming from the proponents of the … Read More
The Elephant That Wasn’t in the Room: What Mayor Borowsky Didn’t Say
Mayor Lisa Borowsky delivered her State of the City address last Thursday with plenty to say about internal turmoil, staff departures, and the need for a Charter Review Committee. She spoke of accountability, transparency, and honoring the authority of voters. What she conspicuously didn’t mention? The single most contentious issue that has dominated Scottsdale politics for the past year: the … Read More
TAAAZE/Scottsdale Neighbor File Lawsuit Challenging A “Memorandum Of Understanding” Related To Axon’s Giant 1,200 Unit Multi-Family Housing Project Near Hayden And The 101
A complaint has been filed in Maricopa County Superior Court challenging the legality of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Axon and the City of Scottsdale that claims to allow Axon to build a 1,200-unit housing project near Hayden and the 101 in Scottsdale. The complaint was filed January 26th by TAAAZE (Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions), Bob Littlefield, … Read More
TSMC’s $197 Million Land Purchase: Another Pillar in Arizona’s Tech Ascendance
Arizona’s transformation into a global semiconductor powerhouse gained further momentum this week when TSMC Arizona secured 900 acres near Loop 303 and Interstate 17 at an Arizona State Land Department auction for $197.25 million. This isn’t just another real estate transaction: it’s a definitive statement that the world’s largest chipmaker is cementing North Phoenix as a critical hub for advanced … Read More
Guest Editorial: Axon Lawsuit Updates.
By Bob Littlefield Dear Friends: Happy New Year! I want to start off 2026 by insuring everyone is up to speed on the status of our effort to stop Axon from building one of the largest apartment complexes in Scottsdale history against the express wishes of the vast majority of Scottsdale residents. To recap; at the November 17th City Council … Read More
Profiles in Courage: When Mayors Choose Constituents Over Corporate Pressure
By Alexander Lomax Sometimes the measure of leadership isn’t found in what you approve, but in what you have the courage to oppose. The contrast between Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke’s decisive rejection of an unpopular AI data center and Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky’s handling of the unpopular Axon development reveals two fundamentally different approaches to serving constituents when corporate interests … Read More
Fresh Hope for South Scottsdale: Sprouts Coming to Papago Plaza
Long ignored within the city’s politics and growth, South Scottsdale is finally getting its moment in the sun. Sprouts Farmers Market has confirmed plans to open a new location at Papago Plaza, at the southwest corner of McDowell and Scottsdale Road, with an expected opening in late 2025. For residents of this often-overlooked neighborhood, the announcement is more than just … Read More