By Julie Pace, Town Councilmember Thanks to the hard work and diligence of Paradise Valley Mayor Mark Stanton and Town Manager Andrew Ching, our beloved PV Post Office, which has been around for more than 60 years, is being removed from the closure list after the United States Postal Service informed the town of their plans to shut it down. … Read More
Arizona Democrats Take a Much Needed New Direction with Election of New Chair
By Alexander Lomax It has been an absolutely wild (and not in a good way) 2025 for the Arizona Democratic Party. After a vote of state committee members showed that they desired a real change, they voted out their previous Chair and voted in a relative outsider, Robert Branscomb II. But what followed was an absolute mess: he fired nearly … Read More
Don’t We Have Anything Better to Protest?
By Ronald Sampson In a world where inflation is crushing middle-class families, schools are struggling with chronic teacher shortages, and students are falling behind in basic reading and math skills, what has mobilized the activist parents of Scottsdale? A state legislator’s unfortunate hot-mic moment where she described a district employee as “morbidly obese.” Yes, really. Over 1,500 people signed a … Read More
BREAKING NEWS: Special Scottsdale City Council meeting scheduled for Friday, Sept. 12 regarding SB 1543
Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky is calling a special City Council meeting at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12 at City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., to address next steps regarding Senate Bill 1543. The Sept. 12 special Scottsdale City Council meeting will address one item: 1) Possibly authorizing the Interim City Attorney, and/or his designees, to proceed as instructed in the … Read More
An AP&G Exclusive: An Interview with Former Paradise Valley Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner
Thank you Mr. Mayor for taking the time to chat with us. You’ve been such a long time at the helm, three entire terms, that we all have been really looking forward to hearing about what you learned. Looking back on those three terms, what problem in Paradise Valley was hardest to solve and why? The challenges were constant. I … Read More
Will the Scottsdale City Council Listen to the Voters or Spit in Their Faces?
Today, the Scottsdale City Council will be at a crossroads with a critical vote; it will decide if it will proceed with litigation against newly-created state law that stole our ability to determine our own fates. You may remember how Axon decided to circumvent your desire and the desires of the over 25,000 voters who wanted to bring their apartment … Read More
Guest Editorial: Crunch Time
By Bob Littlefield Dear Friends: At tomorrow’s Scottsdale City Council meeting Councilmembers will decide if they will sue to reverse the bad legislation that, if is allowed to go into effect, will nullify the referendum signed by 26,000+ Scottsdale voters who want a say in whether Taser-maker Axon will be allowed to build the largest apartment complex in Arizona history … Read More
Guest Editorial: Dubauskas Beats Lawfare
By Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas Dear Friends, We are winning! Last week, the AZ Bar dismissed a frivolous complaint made against my license to practice law in the state of Arizona. Yes – incredibly, lawfare has come to Scottsdale City Council – and WE WON! The AZ Bar found that I acted in “good faith.” Your conservative majority is extremely effective and has accomplished … Read More
Guest Editorial: Fighting Scottsdale’s New Enemies
Dear Friends: In last week’s newsletter I described how those of us who are fighting to protect Scottsdale’s special character and high quality have a new enemy, state government! Over the last few years our legislature and governor have passed legislation that, among other outrages, attempts to cancel the Axon apartment referendum, forces so-called “Accessory Dwelling Units” on Scottsdale, forces Scottsdale to … Read More
Guest Editorial: Bad Policy Decisions Prevented!
By Betty Janik In 2021, General Plan 2035 was approved by Scottsdale citizens, the first one in 20 years after previous unsuccessful attempts. This was accomplished with contributions from numerous citizens and visionary council members. The current Council wanted to make significant changes to GP 2035 and classify them as a minor amendment – which would only require four votes … Read More