The [Valley metro light rail] system is also a reflection of the neighboring community. So, in other words, if it sucks, it sucks because of the people it serves. Wow. I’m sure it won’t surprise any ScottsdaleCitizen readers how I feel about light rail, but this is icing on the cake. Here’s some of my […]
Extra lane on Loop 101 in Scottsdale won’t end traffic congestion
Scottsdale Transportation Director Paul Basha said…“We spent $100 million for 10 miles of freeway to stay congested. It (Loop 101) was an ‘F’ before, and it’s still going to be an ‘F’,” Basha said. “We spent $100 million for 10 miles of freeway to stay congested.” He does go on to say: Simply adding more […]
Campaign finance law-violating Realtors are at it again
A few days ago, the Scottsdale city clerk notified 2016 candidates that the National Association of Realtors out of Chicago had donated a staggering $72,000 to their favorites in our city election: An Independent Expenditure Notification form has been filed with this office by the National Association of Realtors Fund. The notification reports independent expenditures […]
Mesa Hopes New ASU Campus Spurs Downtown Growth
Cities across the Valley are looking inward these days, refocusing resources and money on creating attractive downtowns. Now, Mesa city officials are hoping a deal with Arizona State University will jump start their downtown’s growth. Voters will have their chance to approve the potentially $160 million dollar project to build a new ASU campus in […]
OPINION: Some on Scottsdale City Council are getting it right | Scottsdale Independent
Councilmember Klapp — also a member of the consultant class — may be viewed as an enigma; however, this time she got it right. She knows a person’s word is their bond and I trust she will continue to stand with the over 250 small business owners in the downtown area of Scottsdale, in their […]
Old Town Scottsdale proprietors call into question fixed-rail push
We need to have this conversation about connectivity to the rest of the Valley. But in the last 10 years, like it or not, Light Rail is a success story. City Council member (and incumbent candidate) Virginia Korte Rail transit will never earn enough from riders to cover its costs. Valley Metro estimates that […]
A Possible Scary Future for Downtown – Light Rail
Bob Pejman sent this email earlier today. The Old Town Merchants Association is passing around a petition for signatures to stop the inclusion of “Light Rail” in the [Scottsdale] Transportation Master Plan that will get voted on by Council in a few months. The attached flyer is also being passed around by Old Town Merchants. […]
Kingston Trio: The MTA
A wise ScottsdaleCitizen called me this morning to tell me that all the continuing press for light rail by Linda Milhaven, Virginia Korte, Suzanne Klapp (the latter two up for reelection this fall), Jim Derouin (shill), etc., reminded him of the old Kingston Trio song “MTA.” Referencing the KT song might make you think I’m […]
One-Way Civility
I had an interesting exchange last night with Virginia Korte toadie Jim Derouin, who butted into a Facebook conversation between me and another acquaintance which never really got started. The other fellow asked me how I felt about Korte and Linda Milhaven abandoning their efforts for an LGBT anti-discrimination city ordinance. The other fellow didn’t […]
Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right
Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, Here I am, stuck in the middle with you. Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan of the band Stealers Wheel Yesterday was a strange one. In the morning I was accused of being a “big global warming guy,” and in the afternoon I was “against public […]