ScottsdaleCitizen

21/08/2024

It appears that Solange feels safe from having this tax-and-spend millstone hung around her neck, since she doesn't have to stand for re-election for another two years. But some taxpayers have a long memory, so she's going to be another member of the one-term club, along with Betty and Tom. Betty already conceded, and Tom is hanging on by his fingernails. So, they've thrown a bone to their handlers.

Caputi is smart enough to know that voting for this tax would be the final nail for her. Of course, we all know that her track record shows she'd have voted for it twice, were it not for the upcoming election.

Ortega is handing the election to Borowsky (love the new-and-improved glamor shots on the campaign signs, Lisa).

18/08/2024

Why can't we trust our mayor and city council with more tax dollars? Aug. 20 city council meeting "consent agenda" (meaning no discussion) includes approval of a $20,000 subsidy from the Tourism Development Fund (which comes from bed tax) for Relentless Beats’ “Super Unnatural,” a Nov. 1-2 electronic music festival/dance party featuring Fatboy Slim and the Martinez Brothers, at WestWorld (a taxpayer-owned facility) with admission of $135/head... so not exactly non-profit.

16/08/2024

https://www.scottsdalecitizen.com/2024/08/16/vote-no-on-scottsdales-prop-490/

Budget, City Council, Election, Media, Preserve, Public Safety, Taxes Vote NO on Scottsdale’s Prop 490 August 16, 2024 No Comments Image by © Rubberball/Corbis I don’t post here on the old blog very often, as social media (evil as it is) has broader circulation with less effort (See https://www...

11/07/2024

This guy is an idiot. And he’s an idiot for trying to tell you how smart he is. Lastly, if you vote for him, you too are an idiot.

09/07/2024

Obviously, crime pays. Did Linda Milhaven work with Stumpf?

27/06/2024

'His work is a compendium of humanity's defeat at the hands of venture capital.'

20/06/2024

Don’t EVER make the mistake of looking at new car prices on Facebook.

19/06/2024

Mitsubishi Montero with roof rack, and brush guard. Anyone?

12/06/2024

It’s ironic that the Republic hides the article behind a paywall, but… it’s been clear to me for some time that the AZ Bar exists to protect the profession rather than the public. If the AZ Supreme Court approved this change, it will be a further step in the wrong direction.

07/06/2024

While no one was looking, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Kristen Culbertson DISMISSED the following counts against disgraced former Scottsdale Unified School District (and Higley Unified School District) superintendent Denise Birdwell, at the request of the state AG's prosecutor, Todd Lawson:
Conspiracy, Fraudulent Schemes/Artifices, Procurement Code Violation, Fraudulent Schemes/Concealment x 3, Public Money-Custodian Violation x 2, Public Official-Conflict of Interest x 5, Department of Revenue Violations x 2.
There are three counts remaining, but it isn't clear to me from the minute entry announcing the dismissal which they are, or why the other charges were dismissed. Case number is CR2021-001791

07/05/2024

Former mayor Mary Manross: "Yet at the Protect and Preserve Scottsdale Task Force meetings, Mr. Smith lobbied to have up to half of the sales tax go to the arts. He did not raise any concerns until after the task force decided not to include the arts in their recommendations to city council." She's got a point.

Smith and his wife are heavily entrenched in the hierarchy at the Scottsdale Cultural Council (rebranded as "ScottsdaleARTS"). I'll remind you that it's a private corporation which has a no-bid city contract, with no deliverables, AND gets a massive, multi-million dollar cash subsidy every year.

Beyond that, Smith has a history as a fair-weather friend of the taxpayers. Like when he opposed the $20 million subsidy to the PGA and $2 million to Phil Mickelson; but then turned his back when taxpayers sued to stop it.

Having said all that, Manross isn't snow-white in this regard, either. If she was so concerned about all the budgetary issues she raises. All of the expenditures she proposes to be supported by these new taxes should have been dedicated in the budget when the capital assets were originally acquired.

And inflation is only a justification if our tax revenue has remained flat; which it definitely has not.

Further, what about all of the things Manross championed during her tenure as being "good for Scottsdale"? Where's the "good" if it doesn't help pay for items like those proposed?

https://www.scottsdale.org/opinion/opinion-voters-can-make-scottsdale-special-lower-taxes/article_ce3fd4fe-0983-11ef-a20c-3f3f6b18cdc5.html

07/05/2024

Please tell me that Birdwell & Company aren't going to get away with it, Attorney General Kris Mayes.

MINUTE ENTRY
On March 22, 2024, Defendant Aller (002) filed a “Rule 16.4 Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Probable Cause for Indictment; or, Alternatively, Motion to Reconsider denial of Second Motion To Remand.” Defendant Nielsen (003) filed a joinder on April 24, 2024. Defendant Birdwell (001) joined on May 1, 2024. Thus far, the Court has not received a response from the State.
IT IS ORDERED directing the State to file a response to Aller’s (002) March 22, 2024, Rule 16.4 Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Probable Cause for Indictment; or, Alternatively, Motion to Reconsider denial of Second Motion To Remand, no later than May 16, 2024, with a courtesy copy to chambers and counsel via email.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED any replay shall be filed no later than May 24, 2024, with a courtesy copy to chambers and counsel via e-mail.

05/05/2024

Sadly, COGS has once again sacrificed clarity on the altar of diplomacy.

16/04/2024

"Never vote to tax yourself." (A former friend).

The City of Scottsdale is ramping up marketing for new taxes for which they hope you'll vote this November.

They empaneled a group of gullibles to haggle over how the new tax money will be spent. The Q&A marketing materials they've published mostly consist of "you pay less in taxes than citizens in neighboring cities, so you should pay more, and you should like it." Well, in a city with a thriving tourist economy, isn't that the way it should be? The exact same argument has been used to raise our water rates.

One thing that seems to be missing from the fluff is the actually ballot language. That's all that matters, folks. To the extent that our spend-and-tax mayor and city council feel constrained at all in their corporate welfare, the actual ballot language provides the guardrails.

This started out as (or was initially presented as) a way to finance maintenance of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. But a whisper of new taxes is like blood in the water, and pretty soon every bottom-feeding shark in town is circling City Hall looking for a snack.

The Preserve--and in fact, all of our capital assets--should have ongoing maintenance programmed into the budget at the time the assets are acquired. But like the phantom parking space extortion in downtown, the money seems to fall into a black hole from which it never escapes. And where is that new parking garage? It's being 'studied'!

Do yourself a favor, and read the city's propaganda with a critical eye. And make your voice heard via the election information pamphlet that will be mailed out, by submitting a written argument to the City Clerk.

Arguments are Due: 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 7, 2024.
Cost: $100 for each argument by cash or check. The amount must be exact for cash. For checks, please make payable to the City of Scottsdale.

What to Submit to the City Clerk
1. Original Signed Argument
2. Payment
3. Electronic version of the argument in Word or Google Docs format submitted to the City Clerk: [email protected]
The Clerk’s Office is unable to accept portable data storage media, such as a USB drive.

Argument Requirements
Length: An argument cannot exceed 300 words in length, which includes the title, if any. The 300-word count excludes the filer’s name, title, address, and phone number.

Sponsor Information: Person(s) signing shall identify themselves by giving their residence or post office address and a telephone number. Only the city and state of residence will appear in the pamphlet.

Sworn Statement: Each argument shall contain the sworn statement of each person sponsoring it.
• Sponsored by an Organization: The sworn statement of two executive officers is required.
• Sponsored by a Political Committee: The sworn statement of the committee’s chair or treasurer is required.

Sworn Statement Examples
Example 1:
I declare (or certify, verify or state) under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed on (date)
Signature(s)

Example 2:
I certify under penalty of perjury that the information provided about the signer(s) and sponsor(s) identified above is true and correct.
Executed on (date)
Signature(s)

10/04/2024

I guess Lisa Borowsky’s mayoral campaign just got roofied. https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/scottsdale-dancer-some-customers-champagne-spiked-strip-club-under-investigation-skin-bones-cabaret-dream-palace

10/04/2024

READY! FIRE! AIM! I'm no fan of pro sports grifting, but DO isn't doing the taxpayers any favors by shooting off at the mouth.

05/03/2024

Operation THURSDAY commenced 80 years ago today into Burma. The men of the US 1st Air Commando Group launched the first ever aerial invasion of enemy-held territory. The 1ACG would eventually become the modern-day 1st Special Operations Wing of the USAF. Scottsdale's own Charles Poston joined the 1ACG when they replaced their P-51A Mustangs with P-47 Thunderbolts. Sadly, Charles passed recently, but the legacy of the 1ACG lives on. http://www.scottsdaletrails.com/2021/10/07/100-years-old-scottsdales-charles-poston/

29/02/2024

And these are just the dumb criminals. Imagine how much the smart ones have stolen.

29/02/2024

That’s some crazy looking circulation down there, my Tucson friends!

28/02/2024

If you didn't read to the end, you wouldn't have seen that this is a, “Construction Manager at Risk” contract. That means "no-bid" folks.

And what's not said is that if our genius city contracting folks aren't better with this than other recent fiascos (Civic Center), it won't be fixed-cost. Therefore, it's going to balloon to a ridiculous level after the contractor "finds" it to be more challenging than originally asserted.

There’s a lot of money in sewage.

28/02/2024

In today’s Shocking News: Apples and Trees.

26/02/2024

Because this is more important than the $1+ BILLION budget deficit and other pesky annoyances.

22/02/2024

And many are uninsured or under-insured, leaving the rest of us to pick up the tab.

A new study shows that nearly 8,000 e-bike riders sought hospital care for head injuries in 2022. It's a huge increase and the majority of the injured riders were not wearing helmets.

20/02/2024

More pro sports welfare.

16/02/2024

"He was a visionary. He was a genius."

08/02/2024

The second best way to kill a public works projects is to study it. The BEST way, is to postpone the study.

01/02/2024

Denise Birdwell update: No trial today; postponed for at least 90 days.

In a minute entry dated 24 Jan 2024, the court says:

Pending is Defendant Aller’s (002) Motion to Dismiss related to statute of limitations arguments. Defendants Birdwell (001) and Nielson (003) joined the motion and reply.

This supplemental briefing was not completed until January 10, 2024. Thus, this Court will take the pending motions under advisement as of that date.

IT IS ORDERED vacating the in-person Complex Case Management Conference and Final Trial Management Conference set for January 26, 2024.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED vacating the master calendar trial setting for February 1, 2024.

IT IS ORDERED converting the January 26, 2024, Complex Case Management Conference to a non-appearance hearing. Counsel shall provide a written status update and file same with the Court in lieu of the in person hearing.

Court staff will contact counsel to reschedule dates shortly, and counsel shall confirm whether the Defendants are willing to waive time. More than likely, the Court will aim to reschedule the CCMC in 60 days, and the FTMC/trial in 90 to 120 days.

25/01/2024

Short-term rentals continue to be a menace.

A Scottsdale neighborhood has seen loud parties due to a short-term rental, and residents want politicians to act. For more Local News from KPHO: https://...

05/01/2024

And in more Arizona school news: ex-SUSD superintendent Birdwell is set for trial starting February 1st.

https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/docket/CriminalCourtCases/caseInfo.asp?caseNumber=CR2021-001791 https://www.scottsdalecitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/birdwellc.png

04/01/2024