By Councilmember Solange Whitehead The City’s foremost responsibility is public safety. Scottsdale has over 1,000-lane miles and our traffic engineers are tasked with improving traffic flow and keeping those using the roads safe. Over the past few weeks, residents have written with concerns about road diets because the language in the Transportation Action Plan is ambiguous, there are no timelines, … Read More
Artificial Intelligence Scams Hitting Scottsdale: Do You Need to Worry?
The further development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been one of the biggest tech stories, perhaps even one of the biggest societal developments, of the last 12 months. The development and usage of ChatGPT, the software that threatens to leave Google search in the dust with its nuanced and detailed ability to answer queries, has proven to be potentially disruptive … Read More
Guest Editorial: Good News for Local Zoning, Public Safety and More
By Councilwoman Solange Whitehead
Guest Editorial: Road Diets: To Be or Not to Be
By Councilwoman Betty Janik On March 21, City Council approved lane reductions (Road Diets) for 68th Street from Osborn north to Indian School. This continues to spark controversy. Over 30 individuals spoke at the meeting representing both sides. I have received hundreds of emails with about 85% in opposition to lane reductions. I also spoke to several icons of Scottsdale … Read More
Recent Arrest Demonstrates the Importance of STR Regulation
The battle for local control and municipalities and their attempts to reign in the excesses of short-term rentals (STRs) has turned into one of the most important issues across all of Arizona and is due to become a major platform piece for political candidates of all stripes in 2024 (we’ve spoken extensively about it, you can get up to date … Read More
Does Scottsdale Have Its Own Impending Financial Crisis? 2019 Bond Vote Now Causing Problems
To say that it has been a tumultuous past few weeks in the financial markets in America would be an understatement. The dramatic collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, the main banking institution for much of the tech and start-up industry, was directly followed by the regulatory seizure of Signature Bank, which represented the 2nd and 3rd largest bank failures in … Read More
The New Battle Lines with the Rio Verde Foothills Water Crisis Emerges: the City of Scottsdale v. Maricopa County
For a few moments, we thought that the Rio Verde Foothills water crisis was mostly resolved. We thought we had turned a corner, and that an agreement had been largely agreed upon. But to the detriment of the citizens of the Foothills and to the benefit of the pundits who appreciate good stories to write about, the story is clearly … Read More
Mayor Ortega Capitulates on Rio Verde Water Crisis, but Work is Left to Do
Public outrage has a way of swaying politicians. So does looking around and seeing that you’re on an island with a particular view. Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega apparently has learned this firsthand, and it seems to have shifted the conversation regarding the most notable and controversial topic so far this year. After public disagreement and obstinance, it now seems as … Read More
Guest Editorial: Protecting Your Natural Resources
By Councilman Barry Graham
Guest Editorial: A Fabulous February Recap
By Councilwoman Solange Whitehead