By Alexander Lomax After a marathon five-hour meeting that ended at 10 p.m., the Scottsdale City Council voted 4-3 to implement significant changes to how residents can participate in council meetings. The decision has sparked debate about transparency and accessibility in local government. So what changed? In what supporters frame as an expansion of public access, the council increased the … Read More
Guest Editorial: Treating Your Money As If It Were Our Own
By Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas Dear Friends, In business and in our personal lives, we seek the best deal – the biggest bang for our bucks. And, we shake our heads at cushy government contracts. This week, Scottsdale City Council faced that exact situation. We are working to revitalize our Old Town area. And one aspect of it is a $1.3M … Read More
In Defense of Imperfect Democracy: Why Public Engagement Matters
By Alexander Lomax Former Scottsdale City Councilmember Tammy Caputi recently raised concerns about proposed changes to the city’s Rules of Council Procedure, scheduled for consideration on December 2. Her message has sparked an important conversation about what it means to truly engage with residents, even when that engagement is messy, time-consuming, or uncomfortable. The proposed amendments would restructure public participation … Read More
Guest Editorial: Mayor Borowsky’s ‘Resident-First’ Mask Slips Off
By ScottsdaleVoter 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 … Read More
Guest Editorial: Elections Lawsuit Update: Victory! And District 2 News…
By Supervisor Thomas Galvin Hello Neighbors, As we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, I’m reminded of how fortunate we are to live in a such a safe and thriving community. We own a special debt of gratitude to our veterans, sheriff’s deputies, and all our first responders who bravely serve and protect us. May this season bring peace, joy, … Read More
Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky Channels Pinocchio
By Alexander Lomax Facing an onslaught of negativity for crafting a capitulation rather than a compromise with Axon over its massive apartment plan on Monday night, Mayor Lisa Borowsky sent out the press release below. After getting booed yesterday at the Palo Verde Republican Women’s meeting I get the attempt at spin. Unfortunately, our reliable sources are able to debunk … Read More
Guest Editorial: Welcome to Axonville!
By Bob Littlefield Dear Friends: At last night’s Scottsdale City Council meeting the pro-Axon majority – Mayor Borowsky and Councilmembers Kwasman, Whitehead and McAllen – totally sold out to Axon at the expense of Scottsdale residents. They gave Axon everything they wanted, and more! Here are the highlights (I should say lowlights) of last night’s votes: Axon was gifted 600 and … Read More
What Last Tuesday’s Elections Tell Us About Next Year’s Elections in Arizona
By Ronald Sampson Last Tuesday wasn’t just a good night for Democrats; it was a blueprint for what could be coming to Arizona in 2026. Across the country, Democrats secured decisive victories in Virginia and New Jersey governor’s races, with Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill winning by comfortable margins while campaigning heavily on economic issues and cost of living. In … Read More
Leadership Lessons: When Maricopa County Stood Up to Corporate Power and What Scottsdale Can Learn From It
This week, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors delivered a masterclass in political courage. Led by Supervisor Debbie Lesko, the board voted 5-0 to reject Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad’s request to develop a massive 4,000-acre freight rail facility near the rural community of Wittmann. The decision wasn’t about opposing economic development; it was about standing up to a corporate … Read More
A Big Splash in Scottsdale Politics: A Local Stand-out Announces Run for City Council
By Ronald Sampson Scottsdale City Council has been a bit…contentious recently. With plenty of battles amongst members, it has nearly been asking for cooler heads. And it was with perhaps perfect timing that that request was answered. Longtime Scottsdalian Raoul Zubia recently announced that he will be running for city council next year. He brings decades of dedicated service to … Read More