Could bill avert Axon vote?

Yahoo

10-02-2025

Feb. 10—After a certified signature drive allowing Axon's City Council-approved plan to be decided by voters, Taser magnate Rick Smith repeated threats to leave Scottsdale — and take hundreds of high-paying jobs with him.
But Smith was heartened Feb. 5 with the addition of language to Arizona Senate Bill 1352: "The approval by the legislative body of an application for rezoning pursuant to this section is an administrative act and is not subject to the filing of a referendum petition by a person or organization."
This would seem to supersede the effort of former Councilman Bob Littlefield's Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Exceptions group, which had its signature drive to put Axon's new headquarters surrounded by 1,800 apartments/condos and a hotel on the 2026 ballot.
Approved out of committee by a 5-2 vote, SB 1352 still has a long way to go to become law — including a signature from Gov. Katie Hobbs, who has wielded the veto pen frequently against Republican-backed bills.
Even so, Smith applauded Sen. David Gowan (R-Sierra Vista) for adding language to the bill Smith said "will safeguard responsible economic development and protect against special interest groups weaponizing the referendum process."
The Axon leader said the bill is aimed at "preventing opponents from using 'death by referendum' to snuff out job-creating projects."
An amendment makes the bill retroactive to June 30, 2024 — which would wipe out the TAAAZE referendum push.
An obdurant Littlefield called the new language "blatantly unconstitutional" and "a full-on assault on the right of citizens to hold their municipal governments accountable."
Indeed, if the bill becomes law, Littlefield said he will challenge it in court — and Smith has said if he is delayed in bringing his live-work-play campus vision to life, he has plenty of suitors and will take Axon and its high-paying jobs elsewhere.
In many cities, the potential departure of a large and growing employer would be grounds for widespread anxiety.
It's a different story here, with nearly a quarter of the population at or over retirement age. And, compared to those residents working in Scottsdale, twice as many work outside the city.
And the latest unemployment estimate for Scottsdale was 2.7% — well below the national average of 4.1%.
On top of that, tech companies and other newcomers plan to hire thousands in Scottsdale over the next few years.
Councilman Barry Graham, who with Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield voted against Axon's rezoning request in November, stressed he is not anti-Axon.
"No one wants Axon to leave," Graham said.
"But if they choose to, our job market will remain strong."
Councilwoman Solange Whitehead, who three months ago with the majority voted in favor of Axon's plan, disagreed with Graham again.
"I think the Axon jobs would be tough to replace," she said.
"This is a terrific company."
While Smith's lingering threat to leave his hometown certainly could hurt its ranking, Scottsdale is basking in the glow of a No. 1 job market.
WalletHub — which, it can be argued, never met a survey topic it didn't like — recently released its "Best Cities for Jobs (2025)" list.
Topping the list, just ahead of Pittsburgh: The West's Most Western Town.
"Scottsdale is the best city for jobs in 2025," according to WalletHub, "in large part because it boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, which demonstrates that most residents have no trouble finding work."
The survey compared 180 U.S. cities "across 31 key indicators of job-market strength."
Factors ranged from job opportunities per job seeker to employment growth to the monthly average starting salary.
While Chandler was not far behind Scottsdale at No. 7 and Tempe also cracked the top 10, Phoenix was way down on the list at No. 68.
Axon No. 6 here
Axon founder/CEO Smith told City Council his expansion plans for the Taser maker would help make Scottsdale "the next Austin."
Austin was ranked 10 spots below Scottsdale on WalletHub's list, coming in at No. 11.
With 1,752 workers in Scottsdale, according to city data, Axon is certainly a formidable employer.
Even so, it is dwarfed by HonorHealth, which, according to the city, employs 7,459 in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale's second leading employer is Vanguard, with 3,133 employees here.
The city of Scottsdale has 2,719 employees, just behind Scottsdale Unified School District, which has 2,753 workers.
Longtime Scottsdale staple General Dynamics employs 2,565.
Trailing Axon on the Scottsdale jobs list: Mayo Clinic, 1,559; Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort, 1,510; CVS Health, 1,345; and Nationwide Insurance, 1,284.
If Axon does make good on its threat to leave Scottsdale, the hole could be partially filled by ASM.
According to a news release, the Dutch-based semiconductor supplier "is investing $300 million in its new Scottsdale facility and plans to add 500 new high-paying jobs."
Those new jobs would add to the 800 people ASM currently employs in Arizona, meaning the company would have 1,300 workers in Scottsdale.
As Whitehead posted in September, after a development deal with the company was approved, ASM' "beautiful 'green' campus will employ 500+ engineers and other technology related professionals."
Axon impact
On Nov. 19, before Scottsdale City Council approved Axon's request for rezoning to allow for some 1,800 residential units and a hotel, as well as a new headquarters, Economic Development Director Teri Killgore gave a presentation.
Kilgore noted a $1.3 billion investment by Axon on the corporate campus.
The Axon plan, she stressed, fits right in with the city's goal of "attract and retain high-quality jobs."
With a slide emphasized her pitch, Kilgore said approving Axon's request:
"Worldwide leading technology company will stay and continue to grow, attracting top tech talent and serving as a premier facility."
Kilgore noted Axon has plans to nearly double its workforce.
More jobs coming
Meanwhile, another employment hub is hitting North Scottsdale.
Exalt Health at One Scottsdale Medical — just across the Loop 101 from Axon and ASM — is a new post-acute care rehabilitation center.
The company "will bring approximately 200 jobs to this 48-bed location," according to a publicist.
The facility will provide physical, occupational and speech therapy services.
"This new facility will enable us to extend our high-quality, patient-centered care to more individuals in
need of rehabilitation services, helping them recover and regain their independence," said Jeff Crawford, an Exalt Health executive.
One Scottsdale is a 120-acre mixed-use development which plans — in addition to 2,000 residential units and 400 hotel rooms — nearly 3 million square feet of office space, which could mean scores if not hundreds more jobs.
The Parque is another potential home for high-skilled job seekers.
Though still to have its design approved, the Parque is — like Axon — a planned live-work-play corporate campus. Billionaire CrowdStrike founder George Kurtz purchased the site of the former amusement park CrackerJax and successfully pitched his plan to Scottsdale City Council in October 2023.
With 1,200 apartment/condos and a hotel approved, the Parque is certainly in the "mega development" category — but unlike Smith, Kurtz faced no opposition to his vision.