Tourism promotion delivers strong return, strengthens Scottsdale’s reputation

From Experience Scottsdale A recent study confirms that strategic tourism promotion is not only driving visitation to Scottsdale but also strengthening the city’s reputation and generating significant economic benefits for residents. The City of Scottsdale and Experience Scottsdale commissioned leading tourism research firm Longwoods International to evaluate the effectiveness of Experience Scottsdale’s marketing efforts. The study found that for every … Read More

Scottsdale at 75: A Diamond Forged in Desert Light

Seventy-five years ago this June, a patch of sun-baked Arizona scrubland with 2,032 souls and barely a half-square mile to its name became an official municipality. Nobody could have predicted what it would become. That is the Scottsdale story: humble origins giving way to something genuinely extraordinary. The area’s bedrock dates back 1.8 billion years, and Indigenous peoples called it … Read More

Guest Editorial: Scottsdale Apartments QnA

By Councilwoman Solange Whitehead Protecting Scottsdale’s Character My job is to protect Scottsdale—not to cast meaningless “no” votes for political theater. My record of stopping bad development is unmatched. Just as importantly, I’ve negotiated better projects and helped transform blighted, crime-attracting properties into vibrant destinations. I’ve also changed rules and improved the baseline for development: Adopted building codes that reduce … Read More

Scottsdale’s Water Security Began Decades Ago

By Thyra Ryden-Diaz, PE, MPA – Scottsdale Water Interim Senior Director Recent discussion surrounding Scottsdale’s purchase of additional Long-Term Storage Credits prompted understandable questions about the City’s long-term water strategy. Water is one of our most valuable resources, and Scottsdale has planned for decades to assure the supply. The most important thing residents should know is this: the City Council … Read More

The Colorado River Is Running Out of Time. So Is Scottsdale.

By Ronald Sampson The seven states that share the Colorado River have now blown through two consecutive deadlines to renegotiate water-sharing rules. They missed November 2025. They missed February 2026. With the existing federal guidelines expiring this fall, the U.S. Department of the Interior is increasingly likely to impose its own interim framework on the basin, whether the states agree … Read More

A Message from Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield

  Dear Friends, First and foremost, I thank all of you for the support, ideas, and concerns you have given me over the past 12 years that I have served you on City Council. Thank you so very much for this opportunity to serve our fair city! I am termed out this year and will miss this wonderful opportunity to … Read More

Scottsdale’s New E-Bike Safety Zones Get It Right

Scottsdale is drawing some new lines in its parks, and they make sense. The city announced pedestrian safety zones that will prohibit e-bikes and other motorized devices in high-traffic sections of Chaparral Park, Mountain View Park, and Scottsdale Ranch Park. Signage and dedicated e-bike parking will mark the new no-ride areas, giving riders a clear place to park before walking … Read More