Latest news with #ScottsdaleCityCouncil
Axios
19-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Hobbs signs bill to cancel election over Axon HQ zoning
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed legislation Friday scrapping a scheduled election next year that challenged zoning for Axon's proposed headquarters in Scottsdale. Catch up quick: The Scottsdale City Council last November approved the company's rezoning request for a building near Hayden Road and Loop 101 that would include 1,900 apartments and a hotel. Opponents of the apartments specifically, with support from the organized labor group Worker Power, collected enough signatures to put the issue on the 2026 general election ballot. The intrigue: Axon CEO Rick Smith has said the apartments are critical to the project and threatened the Taser maker would leave Arizona if the special election proceeded. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wrote on X earlier this month that his state would welcome Axon. What they're saying: Smith called the bill-signing a "defining moment for Scottsdale, and for the state of Arizona" and "a bold step forward for Arizona's economy." "This legislation ensures that Arizona remains competitive in attracting high-impact global headquarters projects, providing the tools needed to create high-wage jobs and drive innovation at scale," he said in a statement. Hobbs did not comment on the bill. The other side: Opponents said the bill was driven by special interests and disenfranchised Scottsdale voters. Context: The bill would force cities with populations between 200,000-500,000, including Scottsdale, to allow apartments and hotels on the campus of an international business headquarters on land zoned for light industrial use. What we're watching: The Scottsdale City Council, with a current majority that opposes Axon's plans, could sue to block the legislation from taking effect.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hobbs sides with Axon over Scottsdale voters, signs bill to cancel election challenging HQ project
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 Gov. Katie Hobbs has signed legislation to give law enforcement technology company Axon a carve-out in state law that will let it avoid voter review of its planned massive headquarters and housing project in north Scottsdale. Axon came to the Capitol in 2025 aiming to bar voters in every city and town in Arizona from being able to challenge zoning and development decisions. But that bill failed to garner enough support, so the company and its allies pivoted instead to merely stripping away the right of Scottsdale voters to challenge the police weapons manufacturer's HQ project near Hayden Road and the Loop 101. In addition to the firm's international headquarters, the project will include a luxury hotel and roughly 1,900 apartments. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX With Axon pledging to leave Arizona if the election was allowed to stand — Scottsdale voters are notoriously anti-development — their bill earned support from a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers who feared the homegrown firm would leave for another state. The Scottsdale City Council and every legislator from the city vociferously opposed the bill — and there are concerns the measure is unconstitutional — but Hobbs signed Senate Bill 1543 late Friday, along with a slew of other bills. The Scottsdale City Council had been urging residents to reach out to Hobbs asking her to veto the bill and had previously stated on social media that Hobbs had refused to meet with them after the bill passed out of the Senate. The Arizona Constitution gives residents the right to refer matters to the ballot. 'Today marks a defining moment for Axon, for Scottsdale, and for the state of Arizona. I am incredibly grateful to Gov. Katie Hobbs for signing SB1543 into law, and to the many Arizona legislators, business leaders, and community members who stood behind this important measure,' Axon CEO Rick Smith said in a written statement. 'The hundreds of Axon team members and Scottsdale residents who made their voices heard played a critical role in shaping this outcome — and I offer my thanks to each of them.' Axon has been lobbying aggressively for lawmakers to scrap the local election. Last month, the company held a large press conference outside the House of Representatives that included a large number of employees, technology, food and more, as lawmakers rubbed elbows with Axon's C-suite and team of lobbyists. 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. With the legislation that was signed by Hobbs, even if voters overwhelmingly disapprove of the project, it would be protected by the legislation. The measure 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. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Axon wins legislative battle to scrap Scottsdale vote on controversial headquarter project
Photo by Bayne Froney | Cronkite News With a single signature, Gov. Katie Hobbs could give law enforcement technology company Axon a carve-out in state law that would let it avoid voter review of its planned massive headquarters and housing project in north Scottsdale. Axon came to the Capitol aiming to bar voters in every city and town in Arizona from being able to challenge zoning and development decisions, but settled instead for merely stripping away the right of Scottsdale voters to challenge the police weapons manufacturer's HQ project near Hayden Road and the Loop 101. With Axon pledging to leave the state if the election was allowed to stand — Scottsdale voters are notoriously anti-development — their bill earned support from a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers who feared the firm would depart. The Scottsdale City Council and every legislator from the city vociferously opposed the bill, and there are concerns the measure is unconstitutional, but the state Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 1543 on April 15, and it now awaits a decision from Hobbs. 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 to Gov. Katie Hobbs' desk 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. Hobbs seems likely to sign the bill. 'Governor Hobbs is committed to keeping and bringing in businesses that create jobs and boost our economy,' Hobbs spokesman Christian Slater said in a statement to the Arizona Mirror. 'We are closely watching SB 1543 and are actively working with stakeholders and legislators to ensure the best outcomes for all Arizonans.' Slater did not respond to questions about whether the governor believes legislation benefiting Axon outweighs the constitutional rights of Scottsdale voters. A representative for Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said they had 'no comment' on the legislation, and responded to follow-up questions by 'pointing out' recent awards the office had won for election administration. Scottsdale City Councilman Barry Graham said that he and other city councilors have requested meetings with Hobbs and have sent her a 'veto request letter' signed by the full city council. 'All options are on the table to protect Scottsdale residents from dangerous legislation that threatens their constitutional rights and freedom to locally zone and plan their community,' Graham said in an email to the Arizona Mirror. 'This legislation is not just about one city. It is about preserving the rights of all Arizona communities to govern themselves in ways that reflect their unique identities and aspirations,' the letter sent to Hobbs and shared with the Mirror said. 'Scottsdale's residents deserve to have a meaningful voice in shaping the future of their city — not to have that voice silenced by sweeping state legislation.' The city in a press release Wednesday is also urging Scottsdale residents to contact the Governor's Office about the legislation, calling it a 'serious threat to local democracy.' 'It could be and very likely is a violation of what is called the 'special law provision' of the Arizona Constitution,' constitutional law attorney Paul Eckstein told the Mirror. The special law provision of the Arizona constitution prohibits laws from being enacted that impact certain things including 'granting to any corporation, association, or individual, any special or exclusive privileges, immunities, or franchises.' However, Eckstein said that the bill could be 'elastic' enough that it may not be in violation. Ultimately, he said, it will take a legal challenge to determine whether the legislation is constitutional. 'It is a shame, I would say, that we would sell our souls and make a Faustian bargain with a company at the expense of probably the premiere provision in the Arizona Constitution. We wouldn't have a constitution, we wouldn't be a state, if the right to referendum hadn't been included as a broad right in our state,' Eckstein said. In 1910, Arizona voters ratified what would become the state's constitution, including in it the right to referendum. In 1912, the year Arizona became a state, voters used that right to approve the first ballot initiative, which gave women the right to vote. Senators opposing SB1543 brought up similar concerns when voting on the legislation. 'This is voter suppression on steroids,' Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said. 'This bill also appears to be special legislation, which violates the Arizona Constitution.' Kavanagh, whose district includes much of Scottsdale, also criticized the declaration in the bill that catering to Axon is a matter of 'statewide concern.' 'Could anyone explain to me why a bill that only affects four cities is a matter of statewide concern? Is there something special I don't see?' Kavanah said while explaining his no vote. For supporters of the bill, keeping Axon in Arizona was more important than disenfranchising voters in Scottsdale. 'At the end of the day, we have a homegrown business that was established here, that became worldwide, and we have other states that are looking to take them,' said Sen. David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista, who sponsored the earlier failed Axon legislation. Some Democratic members said their support came down to 'affordable housing' — Axon says it will build 1,900 apartments, with one-third of them reserved for company employees and law enforcement — and pushing back against 'NIMBY' culture in Scottsdale. But that rationale fell short for Sen. Lauren Kuby, D-Tempe, who urged her colleagues that the 'affordable housing' was not enough to disenfranchise voters. 'Lets make no mistake about this: This is special interest legislation that undermines the will of the voters,' Kuby said. 'It's not about apartments, it is not about how we grow our cities, it is about the will of the voters and how we can take away the express will of the voters.' Axon celebrated the passage of the legislation, and in a press release thanked the bill's supporters and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the state's largest business advocacy group and a major contributor to political campaigns across the political spectrum. 'It helps ensure that Arizona remains competitive for valuable economic development opportunities,' Axon's statement read. 'And this legislation brings real solutions to the state's housing supply crisis, creating more places to live in the Valley at a time when affordability and availability are out of reach for too many Arizonans.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Axios
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Scottsdale council looks to emulate Trump policies on DEI and return-to-work
The Scottsdale City Council will consider ending programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and will weigh forcing city employees to fully return to in-office work at its Tuesday meeting. Why it matters: The council, which tacked further toward the right with the November election of a new mayor and several new council members, is taking inspiration from some of President Trump's most controversial policy proposals. State of play: The first ordinance would prohibit city funds from being used for city programs and initiatives that promote DEI. This includes the city's Office of Diversity and Inclusion, which has been around since 1998 and supports the city's Human Relations Committee, employee resource groups and the city's scholarship program for students with disabilities. The ordinance also would require the city to hire and promote employees solely based on merit. The return-to-work ordinance would require city executives to determine timelines to cease remote-work options for their employees. Between the lines: The proposals were added to the agenda at the behest of new Council Member Jan Dubauskas and at least three other elected officials, city spokesperson Holly Peralta told Axios. Dubauskas and fellow Council Member Adam Kwasman, also elected in November, have been particularly vocal about the DEI policy proposal. What they're saying:"You can't walk into Scottsdale City Hall without being bombarded with DEI. This poison will be rooted-out of our beautiful city. No matter one's race, orientation or creed, we value content of character," new Council Member Adam Kwasman posted to X on Jan. 23 with photos of fliers advertising the city's diversity campaign dubbed "Scottsdale for All." The other side: Council Member Solange Whitehead, who's served since 2019, is leading the charge against both ordinances. "Telling the world that we don't value everyone is bad for Scottsdale. Consider the impacts on tourism alone," Whitehead said in a campaign email responding to the DEI proposal. She told the Scottsdale Progress the work-from-home order would have negative consequences on recruitment and retention.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City of Scottsdale council members vote to end DEI practices
The Brief The Scottsdale City Council voted on Tuesday to eliminate DEI practices in its hiring. FOX 10 made several attempts to talk with council members about why this was added to the agenda, but no one responded. Scottsdale residents appear to be split on whether DEI should be used when hiring within city government. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The Scottsdale City Council voted to eliminate DEI programs and "ensure city employees are hired, evaluated, and promoted based on merit." Residents are split on the issue, and council members refused to provide clarity before the meeting on why this was on their Feb. 11 agenda. The backstory A lot of people were crammed into city hall on Tuesday night, and everyone had an opinion on DEI. Before the meeting, not one council member would speak about why they put this on the agenda, or how this program adversely impacts the city of Scottsdale. What they're saying The idea of getting rid of diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Scottsdale elicits fiery responses. "DEI was implemented, in fact, so that mediocre white men couldn't hire more mediocre white men," Christopher Owens, founder and CEO of CultureHub said. Scottsdale council members think, according to the meeting agenda, erasing the city's DEI efforts will benefit residents by ensuring its employees are hired and promoted based on merit. As the agenda item reads, "Ensure city employees are hired, evaluated, and promoted based on merit, protecting City of Scottsdale employees from unlawful and anti-meritocratic forms of discrimination, and ensuring that residents and taxpayers are served by the most qualified city employees." Here's what some had to say about the issue: "I don't mind if people are different nationalities and different ethnicities, but they got to be equally qualified." "There's no proof that DEI is not merit-based." Dig deeper FOX 10 wanted to ask council members to explain why they decided to take a vote on eliminating the programs and staff of the city's diversity department, which includes Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations, but after numerous calls and emails, the item's originator, councilman Adam Kwasman, refused to speak. Scottsdale Vice Mayor Jan Dubauskas ran away when FOX 10 approached her. Checking X though, a post from Kwasman read, "You can't walk into Scottsdale City Hall without being bombarded with DEI. This poison will be rooted-out of our beautiful city. No matter one's race, orientation or creed, we value content of character." "If you thought that Scottsdale was white now, wait until the weekend when this kicks in," Owens said. He says DEI programs are meant to open doors, not just for people based on the color of their skin, but for white women, who make up a majority of the city's population. "If you don't want us, it's fine. You're not hurting us. You're simply exposing yourself for who you are, which is what most of us knew in the first place," Owens said. Vote Ends DEI More than 40 people were signed up to speak during public comment, and they had a one-minute limit instead of the usual three, per Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky. By 7:45 p.m., the council voted to end DEI, 5-2. The Office of Diversity has been in place in Scottsdale since 1998. After Tuesday's meeting, that is not the case anymore. Some at the meeting said their voices were not being heard. Two council members called for a work study to be done looking at the DEI programs. Instead, it was a 5-2 vote to eliminate DEI. The city's diversity department is also responsible for Americans with Disabilities Act oversight, anti-discrimination, and Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations in the city. Three of the council members that voted to remove DEI were just elected with their terms starting last month. Once that vote was made to remove DEI from the city of Scottsdale, what was standing room only quickly cleared out, with many people chanting "shame on you." A lot of that group gathered outside and talked about recalling some of these council members. Of the 47 people that spoke during public comment, only two of them were in favor of removing DEI. Click to open this PDF in a new window. Big picture view President Donald Trump ordered that all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) staff be put on paid leave and eventually be laid off, part of his efforts to eliminate affirmative action within the federal government. The announcement came following the executive order signed on his first day in office that mandates a sweeping dismantling of the federal government's diversity and inclusion programs. This could include everything from anti-bias training to funding for minority farmers and homeowners. The sweeping executive order rolls back legislation dating back to the 1960s and it could have widespread impacts for the more than 2.4 million federal workers.
