While we are still in 2023 and Scottsdale’s municipal elections will be held in 2024, now is the time for candidates to begin to announce their candidacies and build up their campaign apparatus. We already have had a few interesting announcements from potentially formidable candidates, and recently we came across the announcement of another. Justin Laos recently announced that he … Read More
Mayor Dave Ortega and the Inevitability of his Re-Election
By Alexander Lomax It is nearly a year away from election season, and making predictions this far out is a complete fool’s errand nearly all of the time. And yet, here I am playing the fool with a strong degree of confidence: Mayor Dave Ortega is all but certain to win re-election. How can I say this so confidently? Of … Read More
Guest Editorial: Scottsdale’s Allure: Negotiating Exceptional Development
By Councilwoman Solange Whitehead Scottsdale’s world class status can be attributed to our multi-generational commitment to preservation and design excellence in our built environment. The Waterfront, pictured above, showcases both priorities. In 2003, Mayor Mary Manross and the Council approved the project. By trading height for public open space, the approval transformed vacant, blighted land into one of Scottsdale’s most … Read More
Scottsdale Draft Sustainability Plan Being Examined: What Should We Look Out For?
Last year, Scottsdale voters voted in favor of adopting the Scottsdale General Plan 2035 last year, a significant win for Mayor David Ortega (considering that a decade previous, it did not pass), although it came far from a mandate with only a 5 point win. But a win is a win, and soon thereafter the work began to start to … Read More
Lessons For Scottsdale: A Proposed New Hospital Flagstaff Went On Life Support Long Before A Public Vote
When Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) sought to move seven miles south to the Fort Tuthill area, they may have expected some pushback but nothing like the avalanche of opposition that forced a public vote that would see more than 70% of Flagstaff voters rejecting the idea no November 7th. The Flagstaff City Council vote in June to rezone 100 acres … Read More
The WM Phoenix Open Furthers its Status as a Premier Event Even More with Announcement
You almost certainly know all about the WM Phoenix Open, the iconic golf tournament at TPC Scottsdale. The pro golf tour party of the year…maybe even the party of the year in the city. It needs no other introductions. And yet somehow they are managing to outdo themselves with a recent announcement. The tournament recently announced easily one of the … Read More
Guest Editorial: Thanksgiving Appreciation
By Councilwoman Betty Janik To Our Scottsdale Community, Thanksgiving is time to reflect on all the things for which we are grateful. I am grateful for the wonderful staff, hundreds of dedicated volunteers, and our thoughtful citizens. We all work together to make Scottsdale a model of excellence. It is truly a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family, … Read More
It’s Official: Tammy Caputi Not Challenging David Ortega for Mayor
Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega will be facing what could be a tough re-election campaign next year, with a number of strong known and potential candidates looking to unseat him. However his path towards re-election looks as though it will be a bit easier with a recent announcement. In a reversal from what was long rumored but ultimately found to be … Read More
Not the Headlines Banner Health Needs: Controversy Continues to Follow Them
Regular readers are likely aware of the Banner Health saga here in Scottsdale, but for those who are not…the synopsis is that Banner Health is attempting to build a large hospital complex in North Scottsdale, in an area that is already well serviced by existing hospital facilities. It has little community support for the project and has gotten significant heat … Read More
Guest Editorial: Exciting News!
Scottsdale is special. Really special. It’s why we’ve invested here and built our lives here. Residents choose to live in Scottsdale because of its unique character and high quality of living. The beauty of the architecture. The culture. The cleanliness. The preserves. The natural beauty. That indescribable Scottsdale feeling. But we’re all tired of seeing some Council members vote against … Read More