Local Politics

Phoenix Mayor's Top Aide Facing Possible Domestic Violence Charges

More bad news for Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon​Joe Villasenor, a senior assistant to Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his wife December 15, according to a police report obtained by New Times.Villasenor is currently on "personal leave," according to his direct s ... More >>

David Cavazos, Phoenix's New City Manager, May Owe His Job to a Plugged-In Developer

Lake Havasu City Councilman Says He's "Just a Little Jewish" When it Comes to City Manager's Contract

VIN NewsLake Havasu City Councilman Lee Barnes​At a meeting to discuss whether or not to fire Lake Havasu City Manager Richard Kaffenberger, a member of the city council had an interesting excuse for how he handles city finances.He's just a little too Jewish.At least that's what Councilman Lee Bar ... More >>

Bill Gates -- Not That Bill Gates -- Is New Phoenix City Councilman

This is not your next councilman ... but they do share a name. Governor Jan Brewer may have little-to-no-clout with her fellow Republicans at the Statehouse -- she's had to sue them just to get their budget proposal (and even that didn't work). But Brewer still, apparently, has clout at Phoenix Ci ... More >>

Frank Fairbanks to Retire as Phoenix City Manager; Will Leave Job in November

This just in from the City of Phoenix -- Frank Fairbanks, who has been City Manager for nearly 20 years, is retiring. The country's fifth-largest city will begin a nationwide search for his replacement. The city put out a long news release about this notable change in administration: Longtime ... More >>

Phoenix City Council Squabble: Name-Calling Follows Alleged Push for Police Chief's Dismissal

Sal DiCiccio Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio says fellow Councilman Mike Nowakowski committed an "illegal act" by suggesting to a city official that the police chief be fired.Nowakowski has responded by calling DiCiccio a "liar."The Arizona Republic's Scott Wong covers the city soap opera today ... More >>

Saudi Arabia to New Times: 10 Out of 10 Males on Junket is "Coincidence;" Offers "All Female Mayors" Trip

Image: Wikimedia CommonsWe just received word from the Saudi Arabian embassy following our inquiries about the all-male junket of U.S. Mayors in which Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon taking part.Interestingly, we hadn't e-mailed the embassy (though perhaps, in hindsight, we should have). Rather, our ... More >>

Joe Arpaio Returns to Guadalupe, with an Army of Deputies to Watch His Back

Arpaio fields a question from the Guadalupe town council. I was close enough to smell his Old Spice... Just how many deputies does it take to protect Sheriff Joe Arpaio? 50? 100? 200? Yes, Arpaio did return to Guadalupe to address the town council Thursday night, almost a year after terrorizin ... More >>

Guadalupe Redux: Will Joe Arpaio Return to the Scene of the Crime, or Punk Out? (w/Update)

"Watch out, Arpaio's coming..."As I reported in last week's Bird column, Guadalupe's lickspittle Mayor Frankie Montiel has invited Sheriff Joe back to his square-mile town for Thursday's town council meeting, and perhaps a meal of Mexican seafood. Arpaio's return comes one year after the MCSO ... More >>

Mayor Phil Gordon Kills Plan to Give Self Two More Years

  Saying it was a "distraction," Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon has asked supporters to back off a plan that would have kept him in the mayor's office until 2014. The plan, first revealed by New Times in this blog, would have consolidated municipal elections in Phoenix. Currently, half th ... More >>

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon to Fly in Vintage B-17 Bomber

Look, up in the sky! It's the mayor! Despite a crash landing in September while trimming a tree, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon will climb aboard a WWII-era bomber on Thursday for an exhibition flight. A new release by the mayor's office doesn't state any particular purpose for the flight, but th ... More >>

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman isn’t afraid to step on a few toes as he waltzes into his second term

Guadalupe made it clear that Joe Arpaio’s attacking anyone with brown skin

Fifteen years after the Squaw Peak Pots debacle, the Phoenix art community rallies around a public-art project

Gary Peter Klahr sues Mayor Phil Gordon over attempt to alter PHX PD Operations Order 1.4.3.

Jarrett Maupin storms the Mayor's office, demands Phil "Goober" Gordon leave Democratic Party

Leveled?

Proposals on their way to the Phoenix City Council could put the historic warehouse district in jeopardy

Wanted: Armed and Dangerous

As the FBI chases polygamist Prophet Warren Jeffs, work continues 24/7 on his religion's foreboding new Texas capital

T.G.I.F.

Is the party over?

Vote For Me Or I'll Shoot This Dog

Just Kidding. But Phoenix City Council candidate Jessica Florez is trying to soften her tough-girl image.

The Invisible Man

Phil Gordon will be the next mayor of Phoenix. Why doesn't anybody care?

Off Color

Skip Rimsza and Mike Johnson race into another controversy

Cause for Complaint

Why didn't Phoenix officials take a councilman's concerns more seriously?

A Fly In The Anointment

A coup at Phoenix City Hall

On Thin Ice

Scottsdale may think it's fixing Los Arcos Mall. But it's really paving the way for a Coyotes arena in Glendale.

Furious George

Is Scottsdale ready for four more years of political scrutiny from George Zraket? It all depends on who you ask.

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf Man?

Cave Creek rabble-rouser-cum-newspaper-publisher Don Sorchych has the town running scared

'Hood Winked

Phoenix neighborhoods revitalization efforts run into trouble at City Hall

The Check Republic

City officials sidestep rules to avert New Year's Eve entertainer boycott

Muzzle Puzzle

Why did City Hall keep a new police policy toward illegals quiet until after the election?

Skipping to Re-election

Three men and some babies, or how Phoenix is choosing its next mayor

Lodging Complaints

The best-run city on Earth may turn the Marriott rip-off into a cause celebre

Four Bore Years

No credible challengers in the mayor's race; might as well Skip it

A Fortune Runs Through It

Tempe has long given the impression its Rio Salado project costs $45 million. The actual taxpayer tab could surpass $200 million.

Block Botch

Neighborhood group prints a cop's racist comment, then the city clams up

Deconstructing the Phoenix Mountain Preserve

More than a decade ago the creators of the mountain preserves nailed down their boundaries. Now a new generation of city staffers isn't sure they exist.

Slummin' in Scottsdale

With his new residence built atop his antique shop, John Mollard thought he was set for life. He couldn't have imagined that the same city that encouraged him to build his home was laying plans to declare his neighborhood a blight, seize his property and

Sam I Am

How a baton twirler from Filer, Idaho, grew up to be Scottsdale's Mayor Sam Campana

Fire Truculence

Is it a case of rogue firefighters or meddling city managers? Whatever it is, the Phoenix Fire Department isn't used to the scrutiny it's getting from City Hall.

Horndog Jim

"I've Been Had"

Councilwoman Frances Barwood, facing a recall over her vote on the Sumitomo plant zoning, now claims she was misled by the mayor

Councilectomy

Politics: A Smelly, Puking Habit

Mayor Rimsza urges reticent council to embrace local antitobacco enforcement

Lines of Power

Mesa residents claim a Tempe councilwoman's home is being spared from high-tension lines--at their expense

Parking Mirage

City pretends that parking garage next to stadium is not a favor to Colangelo's Diamondbacks

REINVENTING MAG

THE COUNTY WANTS TO DISBAND IT. THE CHAIRMAN SAYS IT JUST NEEDS BETTER SPIN CONTROL. BUT MANY PROBLEMS AT THE VALLEY'S REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY COULD BE SOLVED BY COMMON-SENSE REFORM.

CITY COMPLICITYPHOENIX'S CITY STAFF AND COUNCIL DID THEIR SHARE TO KEEP VOTERS FROM HAVING A VOICE IN STADIUM

LIBERAL TO A FAULTA LONG-RUNNING POLITICAL FEUD HAS BROUGHT DEMOCRATIC SOUTHWEST PHOENIX LITTLE BUT INTRIGUE, PARANOIA--AND A GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION

DEARTH WATCH

PHOENIX'S MAYORAL CAMPAIGN OFFERS NEITHER INSPIRING VISION NOR CONCRETE PROPOSALS. WHAT IT OFFERS IS SKIP OR LINDA.

SIGNS OF DISSENT BETHANY HOME ROAD PROTEST FINALLY GETS A REACTION FROM CITY HALL