Every city has a few people whose fingerprints are everywhere, even though most residents never learn their names. Jim Bruner is one of those people in Scottsdale. With this piece, we launch a new series celebrating the men and women who built the city we enjoy today. Consider it our Honor Roll, the Arizona Progress & Gazette Hall of Fame. … Read More
Plaza Companies CEO Sharon Harper to Headline The Vault, Scottsdale Community Bank’s Executive Speaker Series, Oct. 14
Exclusive Series Brings Bank Members Closer to the People, Decisions and Ideas Driving Business Across the Valley From helping transform nearly 13 million square feet of Arizona real estate to advancing some of the state’s most important business and economic development efforts, Sharon Harper has spent decades influencing how Arizona grows and does business. This fall, Scottsdale Community Bank clients … Read More
Mayor Lisa Borowsky builds consensus as Scottsdale City Council moves forward with large water user ordinance
From the Office of Mayor Lisa Borowsky A proposal championed by Mayor Lisa Borowsky to strengthen oversight of new large water users advanced Tuesday when the City Council directed staff to draft a new ordinance governing high-water-demand projects. The action follows a council work study carrying examining regulatory options for future developments and business operations with significant water demands as … Read More
Op-Ed: Barry Graham and Scottsdale City Manager Greg Caton Need to Go
By Larry Heath It’s hard not to notice that the 2024/25 newly elected Council majority ran through Scottsdale quicker than the Germans ran through France in World War II. Things moved so fast; plans must have been in place to attack Axon Enterprises and scuttle the planned roundabout at Scottsdale and Dynamite Roads. They also appear to have hired a henchman for City Manager – Greg Caton. Under his reign, credentialed … Read More
Guest Editorial: Scottsdale’s Foundation and its Future, 75 years and beyond
By Vice Mayor Maryann McAllen Recently I attended a reception for the book, “Hands-on History , Residents Reflect on Scottsdale’s 75 Years”. It was filled with the Who’s Who of Scottsdale. Former Mayors, local business leaders, and civic volunteers, all of whom had a hand in shaping our beautiful city. The guests included many of the 75 writers who shared … Read More
He Asked for Water. He Got Shot.
By Alexander Lomax Picture the scene. A man selling window washing rolls through a gated north Scottsdale community on a Segway. It is a hot desert afternoon, and he knocks on a door to ask for water. In most places, that story ends with a glass of water. Here, it ended with a bullet in his back. What Police Say … Read More
Op-Ed: Councilman Barry Graham Kept His Word
By Janet Kaufman, Scottsdale resident We moved to Scottsdale because we love this city. We needed a councilman who would put residents before special interests — and keep his word. Barry Graham has been that councilman. He works with colleagues and builds coalitions. He does not go along to get along. Barry’s record speaks for itself. He protected our water … Read More
Guest Editorial: Our Preserve Deserves Respect
By Carla, Preserve Pioneer There are lots of big things going on right now but sometimes it’s important to pay attention to the smaller details as well. What am I talking about? Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the natural treasure that defines our city, has been demoted to an item of lesser importance. In the past, when referring to our Preserve, … Read More
Apache Junction Figured It Out. Why Can’t Scottsdale Unified?
By Ronald Sampson Nobody expected Apache Junction to teach Scottsdale a lesson in public education yet here we are. While Scottsdale Unified debates which neighborhood schools to close, Apache Junction Unified has quietly done something clever: it stopped treating families who use Empowerment Scholarship Accounts as a lost cause. Instead, it started treating them as customers. What Apache Junction Built … Read More