Axon-backed bill to cancel Scottsdale election on HQ complex sparks Republican infighting
Axon brought a mobile tactical simulator to the Arizona Capitol on March 4, 2025, as part of its effort to back legislation that would stop a ballot referendum in Scottsdale brought by residents opposed to the company's plans to build a 74-acre campus near the Loop 101 and Hayden Road. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror
Republican lawmakers fought with each other Wednesday over a proposal that would strip away the right of Scottsdale voters to challenge the sprawling headquarters project for law enforcement technology company Axon.
An earlier Axon-backed GOP effort to make it impossible for all Arizonans to let local voters challenge development projects at the ballot box failed to gain traction, so the company's allies in the legislature pivoted instead to a proposal that would disenfranchise just Scottsdale's voters.
The House International Trade Committee signed off on a bill last month that would bar Scottsdale voters from heading to the polls to decide the fate of Axon's planned 74-acre campus near Hayden Road and the Loop 101. In addition to the company's headquarters, the development would also include 1,900 apartments and a luxury hotel.
The Arizona Constitution gives residents the right to refer matters to the ballot.
Local activists, backed by a signature-gathering effort linked to a California labor union, gathered more than 25,000 signatures to send the rezoning decision made by a lame-duck city council — the votes for the project came from councilors who had been voted out of office — to the ballot in a voter referendum, which must happen by November 2026.
The measure that lawmakers advanced on Wednesday would cancel that election. It says that any municipality with between 200,000 and 500,000 residents — Scottsdale had 241,000 residents in the 2020 census — must 'allow hotel use and multifamily residential housing' for land zoned like the Axon parcel 'without requiring any type of application that will require a public hearing' if certain criteria is met.
Rep. Joseph Chaplik, R-Scottsdale, said he and other Scottsdale lawmakers were not brought to the table on the proposed legislation. He unsuccessfully tried to amend the measure, leading to lengthy debate on the House floor.
'Not one Scottsdale representative, all nine of us, was involved in this,' Chaplik said.
Rep. Tony Rivero, R-Peoria, who sponsored the strike-everything amendment at Axon's behest and chaired the committee that heard it, said that he reached out to Chaplik 'several times.' He also claimed that the referendum campaign was orchestrated by 'outside special interest groups,' a line that Axon and its supporters have repeatedly used.
Chaplik has been strongly opposed to the efforts to undermine the Scottsdale election, and has gotten into heated arguments at the Capitol with Axon CEO Patrick Smith about the legislation, something he made note of during floor debate of Senate Bill 1543.
Chaplik claimed he was 'assaulted, accosted and threatened' by Smith at the legislature, and that his colleagues had 'handed over the keys' to Smith and his lobbyists in order to let them sway lawmakers.
Last month, Axon held a large press conference on the House lawn that included a large number of their employees, technology, food and more where lawmakers were seen rubbing elbows with Axon's C-suite and lobbyists.
Rivero claimed that the bill is not specific to Axon but could not name a single other project that it could apply to, and he admitted that Axon brought the legislation to him.
'Yes, I was approached by Axon, but I am approached by many groups,' Rivero said when Rep. Pamela Carter, R-Scottsdale, asked him where the legislation originated. 'I have no history with Axon, I have no history with their leadership. I met them about a month ago.'
Rivero said the reason he sponsored the legislation was because of the economic impact that Axon and similar companies leaving the state would have. Although the bill is in response to Scottsdale's Axon referendum, he said that the issue 'goes beyond Scottsdale.'
That didn't satisfy Chaplik.
'Where is the respect for me and my colleagues in Scottsdale that oppose this bill?' Chaplik asked when explaining one of his several amendments that failed to be added. 'Folks, there is a red button on your desk. I hope that a few of you use it once and a while.'
Chaplik's amendments included requiring that the international campus have its workers work on-site, change the amount of housing meant for workers from 20% to 50% and more.
All were rejected.
The bill cleared floor debate on an informal vote and is now cleared for a formal roll-call vote. If it passes the House, it would go back to the Senate for a final vote.
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
18 minutes ago
- CNBC
Why Elon Musk turned against Trump's $5 trillion mega tax and spending bill
President Donald Trump is pushing to pass a sweeping tax and spending bill by July 4, but the proposal is already sparking fierce internal GOP debate. The bill combines 2017 tax cut extensions with new Trump-era proposals, including deductions on American-made auto loans and changes to child tax credits. But not everyone is on board. Elon Musk has launched a high-profile feud with Trump over the bill, and key Republican senators are warning that the bill could add trillions to the national debt.
Politico
23 minutes ago
- Politico
Energy powerhouse to Republicans: Don't ‘take renewables off the table'
The head of the one of the nation's largest power providers said he agrees with Republicans on the need for the United States to bring back domestic manufacturing and to win the AI race. But the GOP bid to repeal clean energy tax credits, attack China using trade rules and boost the nuclear and coal industry will make their goal to dominate in energy impossible. NextEra Energy Chair and CEO John Ketchum told the POLITICO Energy Summit on Tuesday that the anticipated surge in power demand over the next 20 years could make the country vulnerable to energy shortages and reliability problems if 'we take renewables off the table.' 'We cannot afford to do that. If we do that, we will lose the AI race, and we will bring this economic expansion in the United States to a screeching halt,' said Ketchum, whose FPL utility subsidiary is the power provider for President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida. High costs and long timelines to build new natural gas and nuclear plants — both of which GOP members have championed — mean neither source will be able to meet the growth in demand until 2032 or later, Ketchum said, so policy needs to companies like his can tap into a variety of energy sources. 'Our job at NextEra is to get electrons on the grid, I don't care what flavor they are,' he added. 'I don't care if it's renewables, gas or nuclear, I have to get electrons on the grid to accommodate all of the demand that we see in this country and do it at a reasonable cost.' NextEra is the nation's biggest owner of natural gas-fired power plants and the world's leading generator of electricity from wind and solar power. On the House Republicans' megabill, he said that the 'foreign entity of concern' provisions that disqualify projects from receiving any tax credits if they have ties to China are 'unworkable' and impossible to comply with. When it comes to meeting America's needs, Ketchum said Republicans need to focus on equipment at a 'component level' and design a policy that is feasible for manufacturing companies to abide by. Relying on coal is not the answer either, Ketchum said. Trump has signed sweeping executive orders to try to boost coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, including drawing on emergency powers to reinvigorate a coal industry that has been struggling for decades because of tightening environmental regulations and competition from less-expensive natural gas and renewables. For Ketchum, Trump's bid to revive coal is 'not going to make a dent.' He pointed out how many coal facilities have already been retired and how costly it is for consumers and utility companies to depend on coal for energy. 'The train has already left the station on coal,' he said.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The Latest: Trump defends National Guard deployment as protests spread to other cities
President Donald Trump is defending his decision to send Another 2,000 National Guard troops along with 700 Marines to Los Angeles, escalating a military presence local officials and Gov. Gavin Newsom don't want and the police chief says creates logistical challenges for safely handling protests. Additional protests against immigration raids are expected to continue in other cities Tuesday. Here's the latest: Head of Marine Corps says battalion is in LA, ready to respond but has not engaged The commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric Smith, said the battalion deployed to Los Angeles is already there and ready to follow the orders from the U.S. Northern Command, but clarified they have not yet been called to respond. Smith testified at a budget hearing before senators that those Marines are trained for crowd control, and they would have shields and batons as their equipment. He said they have no arrest authority, and are only there to protect federal property and federal personnel. When asked by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumental, a Connecticut Democrat, about the danger that Marines would use lethal force that could result in injuries and deaths, Smith said he had faith in them. 'I am not concerned. I have great faith in my Marines and their junior leaders and their more senior leaders to execute the lawful tasks that they are given.' Texas authorities appeared to use chemical irritants to disperse a crowd in Austin Texas Gov. Greg Abbott posted on social media that 'more than a dozen protesters' were arrested by city and state police in Austin. 'Peaceful protesting is legal,' Abbott, a Republican, posted on X. 'But once you cross the line, you will be arrested.' Hundreds of protestors organized by the Austin chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation gathered near the Capitol on Monday, and moved toward the federal building that houses an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office. State officials had closed the Capitol to the public an hour earlier than usual head of the demonstration. In Dallas, hundreds of demonstrators gathered for a rally on a city bridge for several hours before police later determined the rally to be 'unlawful.' Dallas police said one person was arrested and charges were pending. Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis rails against California officials' handling of protests DeSantis has often clashed with California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who like DeSantis is a term-limited governor with national ambitions. 'You don't have the right to just simply opt out of federal immigration law. And I think what's happened in California is they're a sanctuary state. They've taken the position really uninterrupted for many, many years that they can just ignore the law, they don't have to cooperate. Well now you have the law being applied,' DeSantis said at a Florida Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. DeSantis said law enforcement officers in Florida are ready to crack down if demonstrations there boil over into riots. 'The minute you cross into attacking law enforcement, any type of rioting, any type of vandalism, looting, just be prepared to have the law come down on you,' DeSantis added. 'And we will make an example of you, you can guarantee it.' Hegseth refuses to provide lawmakers details on costs of sending Marines to Los Angeles In a back an forth with the defense appropriations subcommittee's top Democrat, Hegseth refused to answer basic questions on the cost of deploying Marines to Los Angeles, instead falling back on political talking points. In a series of questions on the news that Marines would be sent to Los Angeles, House Appropriations defense subcommittee ranking member Rep. Betty McCollum told Hegseth 'this is a deeply unfair position to put our Marines in,' she said. 'There's no need for the Marines to be deployed.' McCollum asked what the cost of the deployment would be. Hegseth deflected on the costs, attacked the decisions of the previous Biden administration instead and talked about illegal immigration. 'Could the Secretary please address the budget' McCollum asked him. Hegseth again refused to acknowledge McCollum's question and attacked the politics of the past administration again. McCollum took back her time and Hegseth was instructed by the committee chairman to provide the costs in writing instead. California Democrats accuse Trump of inciting unrest Democratic members of California's congressional delegation are accusing President Donald Trump of creating a 'manufactured crisis' in Los Angeles with his orders to send in thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines. 'It's a deliberate attempt by Trump to incite unrest, test the limits of executive power and distract from the lawlessness of his administration,' said Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who organized a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday morning. Rep. Jimmy Panetta said that Trump's decision to send in the military was designed to 'give him the image and give him the fight and give him the pictures that he wants.' Panetta said the delegation would stand with peaceful protesters, but those who are not peaceful are going to pay the consequences. Rep. Nancy Pelosi contrasted Trump's actions now with his handling of the Jan. 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol when law enforcement officers were being beaten. 'We begged the president of the United States to send in the National Guard. He would not do it,' Pelosi said. Trump links protests in Los Angeles to home rebuilding after wildfires Trump said his decision to 'SEND IN THE TROOPS' to Los Angeles spared the city from burning to the ground like thousands of homes after wildfires this year. He wrote on his social media site that people want to rebuild, and that the federal permitting process is 'virtually complete on these houses.' Trump claimed that 'the easy and simple City and State Permits are disastrously bungled up and WAY BEHIND SCHEDULE!' and blamed California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. 'People want to rebuild their houses. Call your incompetent Governor and Mayor, the Federal permitting is DONE!!!' he wrote. Pentagon draws up rules on possible use of force by Marines The Pentagon was scrambling Monday to establish rules to guide U.S. Marines who could be faced with the rare and difficult prospect of using force against citizens on American soil, now that the Trump administration is deploying active duty troops to the immigration raid protests in Los Angeles. The forces have been trained in deescalation, crowd control and standing rules for the use of force, Northern Command said. But the use of the active duty forces still raises difficult questions. The Marines are highly trained in combat and crisis response. But that is starkly different from the role they will face now: They could potentially be hit by protesters carrying gas canisters and have to quickly decide how to respond or face decisions about protecting an immigration enforcement agent from crowds. According to a U.S. official, troops will be armed with their normal service weapons but will not be carrying tear gas. They also will have protective equipment such as helmets, shields and gas masks. ▶ Read more about the Pentagon's guidelines for the Marines Los Angeles' image is scuffed since ICE raids and protests, with World Cup and Olympics on horizon This isn't the image Los Angeles wanted projected around the globe. Clouds of tear gas wafting over a throng of protesters on a blocked freeway. Federal immigration agents in tactical garb raiding businesses in search of immigrants without legal status. A messy war of words between Trump and Newsom. Photos captured several Waymo robotaxis set on fire and graffiti scrawled on a federal detention center building, while videos recorded the sounds of rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades hitting crowds. In a city still reeling from January's deadly wildfires — and with the World Cup soccer championships and the 2028 Olympics on the horizon — Mayor Karen Bass has been urging residents to come together to revitalize LA's image by sprucing up streets, planting trees and painting murals so LA shows its best face to nations near and far. 'It's about pride,' she's said. 'This is the city of dreams.' ▶ Read more about the impact of the protests Guard deployment is a nearly unprecedented escalation The deployment appeared to be the first time in decades that a state's National Guard was activated without a request from its governor, a significant escalation against those who have sought to hinder the administration's mass deportation efforts. Protesters clasp hands in front of a line of California National Guard, Monday, June 9, 2025, at a Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo Jae Hong) The last time the National Guard was activated without a governor's permission was in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to protect a civil rights march in Alabama, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. In a directive Saturday, Trump invoked a legal provision allowing him to deploy federal service members when there is 'a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.' Early protests remained peaceful On Monday, thousands flooded the streets around City Hall for a union rally ahead of a hearing for arrested labor leader David Huerta, who was freed a few hours later on a $50,000 bond. Huerta's arrest Friday while protesting immigration raids has become a rallying cry for people angry over the administration's crackdown. He is the president of the Service Employees International Union California, which represents thousands of the state's janitors, security officers and other workers. Early protests had a calm and even joyful atmosphere at times, with people dancing to live music and buoyed by Huerta's release. Protesters linked hands in front of a line of police officers outside the downtown federal detention center where Huerta was being held. Religious leaders joined the protesters, working with organizers at times to de-escalate moments of tension. There was a heavy law enforcement presence in the few square blocks, while most in the immense city of some 4 million people went about their normal business on peaceful streets. Trump sends Marines and more National Guard members to Los Angeles Another 2,000 National Guard troops along with 700 Marines are headed to Los Angeles on orders from President Donald Trump, escalating a military presence local officials and Newsom don't want and the police chief says creates logistical challenges for safely handling protests. An initial 2,000 Guard troops ordered by Trump started arriving Sunday, which saw the most violence during three days of protests. Monday's demonstrations were far less raucous, with thousands peacefully attending a rally at City Hall and hundreds protesting outside a federal complex that includes a detention center where some immigrants are being held following workplace raids across the city. Trump has described Los Angeles in dire terms that Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom say are nowhere close to the truth. They say he is putting public safety at risk by adding military personnel even though police say they don't need the help. Newsom called the deployments reckless and 'disrespectful to our troops' in a post on the social platform X. ▶ Read more about the deployment of more National Guard members The Associated Press
