Guest Editorial: A Giant Step Backwards for Scottsdale

By Betty Janik At the last Scottsdale Council meeting of 2025, the Bloc majority consisting of Council Members Graham, Dubauskas, Kwasman, and Littlefield, voted to make significant changes to public comment guidelines.  These changes include: Elimination of public comment at the beginning of Council Meetings. Reduction of public comment to one session at the END of the meeting. Increase the … Read More

Celebrating Excellence: The 39th Annual Sterling Awards Showcase Scottsdale’s Best

For 39 years, the Sterling Awards have stood as the gold standard for recognizing business excellence in Scottsdale. Produced by the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce, the awards recognize leadership within the local business world and honor organizations that help build a vibrant and prosperous community through business leadership. The 2025 honorees announced last month at the Embassy Suites by … Read More

Scottsdale Art Week Unveils Honoree Lineup, Opening Night Vernissage Details Ahead of March 19 – 22, 2026, Celebration

Four-Day International Art Fair Returns to WestWorld of Scottsdale This Spring With 120 Galleries From 15 Countries With galleries from across the country and around the world converging and a slate of esteemed honorees ready to step into the spotlight, Scottsdale Art Week presented by Scottsdale Ferrari returns to WestWorld of Scottsdale March 19 – 22, 2026. It all kicks off with an … Read More

Scottsdale’s Public Comment Changes: A Mixed Bag for Resident Engagement

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

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

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

Scottsdale’s Finest Tradition: Blackout Wednesday Lives Up to Its Name (and We’re Not Judging)

Ah, Blackout Wednesday…or as the more refined among us prefer, “Drinksgiving.” The unofficial drinking holiday drew massive crowds to Scottsdale and Phoenix bars on Thanksgiving Eve, with venues like Coach House reporting their busiest night of the year. If you ventured anywhere near Old Town Scottsdale last Wednesday evening, you witnessed a heartwarming American tradition: college students reuniting with high … 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