Scottsdale Progress - 5.23.2021 by Times Media Group

2 local lawyers make the cut / P. 2

Aviation real estate winner / P. 18

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

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Scottsdale rioters ran, but can’t hide BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

NEIGHBORS.............. 16 She makes history for Scottsdale Elks Lodge.

ARTS................................20 Scottsdale galley to auction rare Warhol painting.

Sunday, May 23, 2021

early a year after hundreds of rioters ransacked Scottsdale Fashion Square and surrounding properties, Scottsdale Police are still tracking down participants and recovering stolen goods. Last May 31, hundreds of people descended on the mall area, breaking windows, stealing from shops and even firing weapons inside the mall itself.

The crowds only grew as the night went on, with some officers estimating upwards of 1,000 people were involved at the riot’s peak. The riot continued into the early morning hours as participants broke into the mall and nearby stores, causing over $1

Champions!

million in damage. The incident – which took place at the height of nationwide protests against police violence against Black people following the

see RIOT page 12

Facebook post sparks discussion of racism here BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

FOOD................................21 The Herb Box is pulling up stakes.

NEIGHBORS...........................................16 BUSINESS................................................18 SPORTS....................................................19 ARTS.........................................................20 FOOD......................................................... 21 CLASSIFIEDS.........................................22

n online disagreement on a Scottsdale school group’s Facebook has sparked a community discussion on race and institutional racism. The argument focused on SB 1532, which passed along party lines in the State House and was amended by Rep. Michelle Udall, R-Mesa, to include a stipulation im-

see PTO page 8

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Desert Mountain High School's baseball team won its first 5A State Championship since 2013 last week, beating Sunrise Mountain. For a look at the stars and the game, see page 19. (Zac BonDurant/Progress Contributor)

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CITY NEWS

An edition of the East Valley Tribune Scottsdale Progress is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Scottsdale. To find out where you can pick up a free copy of Scottsdale Progress, please visit www.Scottsdale.org. CONTACT INFORMATION Main number 480-898-6500 | Advertising 480-898-5624 Circulation service 480-898-5641 Scottsdale Progress 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282 Publisher Steve T. Strickbine Vice President Michael Hiatt ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Display Advertising 480-898-6309 Classifieds/Inside Sales Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@scottsdale.org TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@scottsdale.org Advertising Office Manager Lori Dionisio | 480-898-6309 | ldionisio@scottsdale.org Director of National Advertising Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@scottsdale.org NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor Paul Maryniak | 480-898-5647 | pmaryniak@scottsdale.org Managing Editor Wayne Schutsky | 480-898-6533 | wschutsky@scottsdale.org Staff Writers Kristine Cannon | 480-898-9657 | kcannon@scottsdale.org Photographers Pablo Robles | Probles@scottsdale.org Design Veronica Thurman | vthurman@scottsdale.org Production Coordinator Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 | production@scottsdale.org Circulation Director Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@scottsdale.org Scottsdale Progress is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegratedmedia.com

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

Scottsdale lawyers advance in high court process BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

wo Scottsdale residents are among the seven nominees Gov. Doug Ducey will have to choose from to fill a vacancy on the Arizona Supreme Court. But the selection won’t boost his influence on the high court as he is naming a replacement for a justice he previously appointed. The Commission on Appellate Court Appointments nominated the seven after interviewing 11 applicants for the slot vacated by Andrew Gould, who quit last month to make a bid as a Republican in next year’s state attorney general race. Ducey is constitutionally required to choose from that list. That list of nominees includes Scottsdale residents Cynthia J. Bailey and David D. Weinzweig. Bailey, a judge since last year on the state Court of Appeals, is a Republican. Weinzweig, a Court of Appeals judge since 2018, said he started out as a Republican, became a Democrat in 2004 and has been politically independent since 2014. That issue of political representation is significant as the commission, in sending nominations to the governor, is constitutionally limited to no more than 60 percent from any one party. In including the two independents and one Libertarian panel members came as close as they could at 57 percent. Other nominees include: David J. Euchner, Pima County public defender and a registered Libertarian; Kathryn H. King, a Republican in private law practice; Jennifer M. Perkins who has been on the Court of Appeals since 2017 who is a Republican; Adele G. Ponce, a judge at Maricopa County Superior Court and a Republican; Patricia A. Starr, also a Maricopa County Superior Court judge who was a Democrat

Arizona Court of Appeals Judges Cynthia Bailey and David Weinzweig, both Scottsdale residents, are among the seven nominees to fill a vacancy on the Arizona Supreme Court. (Progress file photos)

until 1999 when she became a political independent; Prior to 1974 all justices and judges were chosen by direct election, just like other politicians. A constitutional amendment approved that year set up a “merit selection’’ process, where applicants for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and, initially, only Pima and Maricopa counties are reviewed by special screening panels. Those panel must send the governor at least three names from which he must choose. Since that time the system has been expanded to Pinal and Coconino counties. Judges stand for election on a retain-orreject basis. If anyone is turned out of office, something that has rarely happened, the process of filling that vacancy starts over again. Ducey now has 60 days to make his choice. While whoever the governor picks will replace a Ducey nominee, his control over the high court was cemented in 2016 when the Republican-controlled legisla-

ture agreed to his request to expand the court from five members to seven. That came despite arguments by everyone on the court at that time, from all political sides, that the workload did not necessitate more justices. As a result, Ducey has been able to name five justices to the court: Gould, Clint Bolick, John Lopez, James Beene and Bill Montgomery. In signing that 2016 law, the governor rebuffed questions of whether he was “packing’’ the court. “That’s just wrong,’’ he said. Ducey pointed out that this is different than the federal system, where a president picks whoever he or she wants, subject only to Senate confirmation. Instead, he is required to make his selection from the nominees of the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments. What Ducey did not say, though, is that the public members of that commission -- two-thirds of the panel -- are gubernatorial appointees, with the balance named by the State Bar of Arizona.

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

Scottsdale parking code changes leave some unhappy BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

cottsdale City Council approved a number of measured changes to the city’s parking code for apartments, hotels and offices. While the changes could result in more required parking at new apartments and offices downtown, they likely won’t satisfy some local merchants and property owners who have sought beef-up requirements for years over concerns that developments are eating into the public parking supply. The code changes were approved on a 5-1 vote on May 18 and increase required parking for most new apartment and condo projects. In downtown Scottsdale, required parking will increase from one space per studio or one-bedroom unit to 1.25 spaces per studio and 1.3 per one-bedroom. Requirements for units with two or more bedrooms were reduced from two spaces per unit to 1.7 spaces per twobedroom unit and 1.9 spaces for units with three bedrooms or more. A new stipulation requires a guest space for every six units for most new multifamily projects. Council took a slightly different tact with smaller downtown projects, applying those new ratios and guest parking requirements only to those with more than 20 units. For developments of 20 units or less, the code requires no guest parking and maintains the existing ratios of one space for units with one bedroom or less and two spaces for units with more than one bedroom. Councilwoman Solange Whitehead said the reduced requirement for those projects will allow smaller property owners to redevelop their properties without facing an insurmountable cost burden. She said this would address community concerns about height and density increases downtown by bringing in a mixture of unique, smaller projects. The changes will likely find pushback from many of the downtown merchants and property owners who first sought a review of the parking code years ago.

City Council approved a slew of parking code changes for new apartment, hotel and office developments. (Progress file photo)

They turned in a petition 16 months ago with the signatures of 130 stakeholders asking for more substantial parking requirements. The petition, also supported by the Coalition for Greater Scottsdale, called for one guest parking spot for every four units and increased ratios of 1.5 spaces for one-bedroom units; two spaces for two-bedroom units; and one additional space for each additional room. “It’s a well-known fact that our downtown area is a major revenue generator and it is an embarrassment that tonight the city council ignore their experience,” COGS Executive Director Sonnie Kirtley told Council. Before Council even considered the exception for small-property owners, merchants like gallery owner Bob Pejman told the city reduced requirements for larger apartment units negated the impact of increasing requirements for 1-bedroom units and studios. “This is essentially a wash, and ends up with the same parking space count given an equal mix,” Pejman wrote staff. Councilman Tom Durham said the city needs to find a balance between adequately parking projects without requiring too much costly parking that would go unused. “We definitely don’t want to over park because that is money which can go to-

wards beautifying the project and improving the project …but we also want to require that a project adequately parked and that’s a very fine line, which is probably impossible to attain,” Durham said. According to Durham, Council received a separate petition from other local property owners and businesses in favor of keeping the current code. A week before the vote, Whitehead and Durham met with a handful of them. Property owners Eric Marvin and David Free said they were both planning smaller multifamily developments on their properties in Craftsman Court but the increased parking requirements, if applied to all downtown projects regardless of size, could pose a financial hurdle. Even with the changes, small apartment projects downtown could actually end up facing stiffer parking requirements. That’s because Council also removed an existing exception under the downtown overlay that allowed property owners to add up to four units to a property without adding any additional parking. Council retained a similar exception for commercial expansions, but reduced the parking exception from 2,000 to 1,000 square feet. Council also tackled hotel and office

requirements. It lessened the base parking requirements on new hotels from 1.25 spaces per room to 1 space per room. According to city staff, this brings the city closer to industry standards that suggest 0.84 spaces per room are all that are necessary due to the proliferation of rideshare services. The city will also continue to allow downtown hotel developers to request lower parking requirements, but decreased the exception that can be approved by staff from 20 to 10 percent. Under the new code, hotels will also be required to provide adequate parking for additional commercial uses, such as conference centers or restaurants. Council included an exception for the first 2,000 square feet of commercial uses – down from the 5,000-square-foot exception first recommend by city staff. On the office front, the city maintained its existing requirement of one space for every 300 square feet, but created a new category specifically for call centers requiring one space for every 200 square feet. The new rule was designed to address concerns that call center employees are parking in public spots reserved for shoppers and tourists. But several merchants and property owners who spoke to the Progress said that problem is actually an issue related to a lack of enforcement of existing rules that require all developments – including hotels, offices and apartments – to provide all required parking free of charge. Some property owners are charging for parking in spite of this rule, causing employees and tenants to opt for public parking, said Randy Grant, the city’s development executive director. Bryan Cluff, a Scottsdale city planner, said the city is sending notices letter to local hotels, apartments and office buildings informing of the rule and the need to provide parking free of charge. French Thompson, owner of French Designer Jeweler, said the parking problem issue will only get worse. “The petition never asked anybody to fix the existing parking issues…It only

see PARKING page 14

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

D’Backs come to Coronado High’s aid BY DYLAN WILHELM Cronkite News

any high school students spend as much time on football fields, baseball diamonds or volleyball courts as they do in the classroom. Coronado High School Athletic Director Anthony Miller and Dons baseball coach Don Spaniak wanted to give their baseball and softball athletes facilities the best and safest environments possible. But improvements aren’t cheap. So they asked the Arizona Diamondbacks for help. And for a second consecutive year, Coronado was awarded the Diamondbacks’ “Chase Your Dreams” grant, a gift from the organization’s charitable foundation created to help support local high school baseball and softball programs. The baseball and softball programs at Coronado each received $5,000 to be used for any facility upgrades the

school needed. Among the improvements Coronado made to the baseball field are new backstop padding and padded dugout railings, windscreens for the outfield and laser leveling of the playing surface. All the enhancements were aimed at improving safety for the players, which the school considered its No. 1 priority. “I needed to know that our kids were safe out here,” Miller said. Prior to the upgrades, there was nothing shielding the dugout from foul balls and nothing stopping players from running into the metal support poles. During his time as an assistant coach in Illinois, Spaniak said he saw a player hurt in that exact scenario, so adding the padded railings in front of the dugout was a priority. After receiving the grant, Spaniak put dozens of hours of work into the field to make sure that the field and facilities would be ready when high school baseball resumed. “We’ve done everything we can to

build a facility that the kids would be proud of,” Spaniak said. The athletes have taken notice, not only of the upgrades themselves, but the effort and commitment made by Spaniak to the program. “He was still out here doing everything he could,” said senior infielder and pitcher Destination Salazar. “He’s been doing a lot of work. He’s a great man; we’re very happy to have him. He’s a great dude, and I can’t wait to see what he does with the program years down the line.” Spaniak and Miller each credited the other, with Miller noting the work that Spaniak put into making the facilities what they are today, and Spaniak voicing appreciation for Miller’s support in the project. And everyone affiliated with the project is appreciative of the Diamondbacks for giving schools like Coronado an opportunity to upgrade facilities for student-athletes. “For them to support a program like

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us two years in a row … That’s helped our coaches on a level that will probably never be matched again, and they are unbelievably grateful.” Miller said. While some high school athletic programs across the country are focused on state championships and producing Division I prospects, Spaniak and his staff are more interested in helping their players get the most out of their high school experience. “That’s not even in my mind," Spaniak said of championship trophies. Instead, Spaniak is just focused on building a respectable program that serves Coronado’s student athletes, and he believes the facility upgrades will bring more of them out. “(It’s) kind of like, if you build it, they will come. That’s our process right now,” Spaniak said. “I tell these guys, ‘You know, baseball is going to end for you at some point. Don’t have any regrets. Go do things. Put yourself out there and have fun with your friends.’”

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

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CITY NEWS

PTO from front

posing fines of up to $5,000 on teachers who don’t present both sides of controversial topics. Critics argued the bill would open up the flood gates and require teachers to cite debunked conspiracy theories, such as those about 9/11 terrorist attack. Shortly after the bill was passed, a parent posted in the “SUSD Teacher Support” Facebook group, deriding the bill for its potential to harm teachers.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

In response to that post, Desert Canyon Elementary PTO Vice President Kiki Dupey said she supported teachers but was also in favor of the bill because it would stop teachers from injecting opinion into their teaching and prevent the use of critical race theory. Critical race theory is a decades-old academic concept that examines racism as a social construct that is embedded in institutions like the legal system and education, according to Education Week. Dupey later posted that she does not

believe institutional racism exists and “What I do believe is that minorities victimize themselves and blame it on others.” She’s not alone in her opposition to CRT. About a week after those comments were made, around 100 people from across the Valley attended an SUSD Governing Board meeting to voice opposition to critical race theory. Superintendent Scott Menzel told the Progress the district’s curriculum does not include CRT and there are no plans

to adopt that content. Not all the comments on the Facebook page opposed CRT. “Our children are learning about racism in practice, whether it is on the syllabus or not,” said one parent. “All the pushback regarding it has been by those same groups of people who hold the power which is why they have such little desire to actually try to solve it.” She added, “Inferring that minorities are victims is an extreme downplaying

see PTO page 10

SUSD board recesses amid meeting chaos BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

he Scottsdale Unified Governing Board abruptly ended its meeting last week after dozens of parents refused to wear masks in compliance with district rules. More than 100 people from across the Valley showed up at the May 18 meeting intent on protesting critical race theory. Critical race theory, or CRT, is an academic concept that is not a part of any adopted SUSD curriculum, Superintendent Scott Menzel said. The group gathered outside Coronado High School holding signs that read “Stop racism, stop hate, stop critical race theory.” The signs also listed the name of Freedom Works, a national conservative advocacy group. As the standing-room-only crowd made its way into the meeting hall, board President Jann-Michael Greenburg asked everyone to wear a mask. He said the board would not start the meeting until everyone wore one or relocated to an overflow room where people could safely distance from each other. The request was met with shouts and jeers from some. The standoff continued for another 15 minutes before the board quickly voted to recess following brief comments from Menzel. “It’s really disappointing to me that on a night where we had intended to celebrate so much student success, we have had people in this room who refused to comply with the school district’s expectations for masks,” Menzel said.

A standing room only crowd packed into the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board meeting on May 18. The board ultimately voted to shut down the meeting after dozens of parents refused to wear masks. (Progress file photo)

Greenburg said several students and staff who were scheduled to be recognized for their achievements had left because they felt uncomfortable. “If I were in your home, I would follow your rules,” he said. “If you come here, please follow ours. It’s really not so hard.” Greenburg said it was also a safety issue. There were four Scottsdale Police officers on site at the event. Greenburg said when the officers attempted to remove some people, they were “becoming belligerent and based on that, our head of security reported to us that it’s not going to be possible to get people to comply or to leave peacefully.” Some parents who spoke with the Progress said they felt the cancellation was an attempt to stop them from speaking out against critical race theory and the district’s masking policy. The district sent a letter to parents days before the meeting stating it was planning

to make masks optional next school year. Most of the individuals who spoke to the Progress said they felt the district and board were not being transparent with curriculum decisions related to critical race theory. Critical race theory is a decades-old academic concept that examines racism as a social construct that is embedded in institutions like the legal system and education, according to Education Week. But, more recently, it has become a catch-all term for almost any pro-diversity policy and has led to backlash in many state legislatures, including in Arizona. Though no curriculum decisions were on the meeting agenda, some parents said they wanted to use the public comment period to express their concerns about recent district decisions. “People are up in arms over the curriculum,” parent Amanda Wray said. Specifically, Wray said she believed

the district did not properly solicit parent feedback before the board adopted a new SAVVAS English Language Arts curriculum for high school students on April 20 that she believes includes critical race theory. Parent Amy Carney felt the same way. “They adopted the new 9-12 SAVVAS curriculum ELA and they say it’s culturally responsive, which is the same thing as critical race theory,” Carney said. “It’s pitting people against each other. It’s divisive.” But Menzel said that is not the case. “The board has not considered, nor has it been recommended, that CRT be a part of the district-approved curriculum and any statement to the contrary is false,” Menzel said. Menzel said he believes the issue arose because Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, a member of Savvas’s Culturally Responsive Learning Advisory Board, has written on critical race theory. But, he said CRT is not included in the English Language curriculum adopted by the district in April. “From my research – and I won’t say that it’s completely exhausting – but from what I’ve seen so far, I don’t believe Gloria Ladson-Billings was part of the development of the English language arts,” he said. “Critical race theory is focused on questions about the interaction of race and our systems and structures in the country; a very different topic that’s not covered in our English language arts curriculum or standards.” As of press time, the district had not announced a date to resume the recessed meeting, but Menzel said it would likely occur early this week.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

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of real trauma immigrants are facing today. Real trauma Asian Americans are facing today. And African Americans are facing as well, among many other things” Advocates said that denying the lived experiences of minority children can cause harm. Kiana Sears, president of the East Valley NAACP and a member of the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board, said these types of comments can have a detrimental impact on students of color. “Mental health and wellbeing have everything to do with acceptance, belonging, inclusion,” she said. Menzel said the district is aware of Dupey’s comments and has met with her to discuss the issue. “Our district is committed to the dignity and worth of each individual,” he told the Progress. “We are constantly working to ensure that our schools are safe and welcoming learning environments for our diverse student population. The comments that were made do not reflect the position or perspective of Scottsdale Unified School District.” The Desert Canyon PTO also issued a similar statement. “Our school community is committed to developing global citizens and teaching our students to support and learn from one another. We remain steadfast in our work together to create an inclusive, respectful, and kind environment at Desert Canyon Elementary School,” according to the statement. PTO Co-President Laura Weeshoff said “the PTO is a volunteer position open to school parents. Any statement made by a PTO board member does not reflect the opinion of the PTO, nor the school itself.” Weeshoff said Dupey continues to serve on the PTO as co-vice president of special projects. In response to a request from the Progress, Dupey provided a brief statement. “Racism should be fought against at every opportunity,” she wrote. “My wish is for our special community to come together for the good of our kids.” Dr. Neal Lester, the foundation professor of English and founding director of Project Humanities at Arizona State University, said a factual look at Ameri-

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

“It’s kind of victim blaming that looks at things through the lens of individuality and individualism instead of looking at the fact that the very foundation of this country was not inclusive of everybody in this country. For people who deny that systemic racism exists, how do you explain Jim Crow?” can history is all that is needed to find real examples of institutional racism. “It’s kind of victim blaming that looks at things through the lens of individuality and individualism instead of looking at the fact that the very foundation of this country was not inclusive of everybody in this country,” he said. He added, “For people who deny that systemic racism exists, how do you explain Jim Crow?” Sears said comments that focus on blaming the victims of institutional racism rather than the systems that perpetuate it miss the point. She pointed to the Holocaust, slavery and displacement of Native Americans as examples of ways ideology can embed within those systems to disenfranchise minority populations. “Everyone is created equal, but everyone is not treated equal,” she said. “The systems that we live in, abide by and support sends messages that we’re not equal.” Research and data show racism has a real impact on the lives of people of color and other marginalized groups in America, including children. The U.S. Government Accountability Office analyzed discipline disparities at schools nationwide in 2018 and found that Black boys comprised 15.5 percent of all public-school students but accounted for 39 percent of suspensions. In 2020, a Progress analysis of SUSD disciplinary records found that between 2017-2018 and 2019-2020, Black students accounted for about 5 percent of the total student population

Arizona State University professor Dr. Neal Lester said, “you have to look backwards in order to move forward.” (Progress file photo)

but 11 percent of the suspensions. Hispanic students made up about 23 percent of all students but received 31 percent of the suspensions. The same data showed white students accounted for 63 to 64 percent of the entire SUSD student body but only received 51 percent of the suspensions. After that story published, Dr. Cynthia Bochna, SUSD’s director of Assessment and Accountability, took issue with the Progress’ analysis, which used methodology similar to the one used in the GAO study. “I don’t see a huge discrepancy with Black and Hispanic being over-represented in the data,” she said. A district spokesman told the Progress that SUSD is now reviewing academic achievement and discipline data to determine if there is any disproportionate connection between the two, according to an SUSD spokesperson. Some parents who spoke with the Progress said they want to dispel the notion that racially-motivated animus doesn’t exist in their community. In 2019, a biracial family in northern Scottsdale found a racist photo taped to their door, according to a report by a local TV news station. The couple lives in the McDowell Mountain Ranch neighborhood located about a mile from Desert Canyon Elementary. Former Cocopah Middle School principal Lance Huffman said he had to confront incidents of racism when he was

SUSD Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel is committed to community-wide discussions issues related to race and equitable treatment of all students. (Progress file photo)

in charge at the school a few years ago, including an incident in which a student called an African American peer the “n-word.” Shortly after the presidential election in 2016, he said a group of students laughed at a Latino student and told him “now you’re going to have to go back to Mexico.” Huffman found that student, a seventh grader, crying in the counselor’s office. “He was bewildered,” Huffman said. “I think he told us he was like third generation American citizen…but like he was most struck by the fact that these were his friends.” He said it is important to address those issues head on rather than pretend they don’t exist. "I think that it’s already true that students of underrepresented populations might feel unsafe at school…It does not help that their mental health or mental sense of safety or even their physical sense of safety to ignore the realities of race and how it has impacted our culture and our society,” Huffman said. Lester said combating these inequities requires all communities – not just people of color – to address race and institutional racism. And he said that reality extends beyond skin color. “When I’m talking about systemic rac-

see PTO page 14

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

RIOT from front

murder of George Floyd – was organized via social media under the guise of a protest. However, the gathering quickly devolved into chaos and had little in common with other protests – such as a 1,000-person social justice march that took place in downtown Scottsdale weeks later. The social media post that triggered the riot seemed to express a desire to impact a largely white, affluent community like Scottsdale. “I don’t care whether you riot or peacefully protest,” the post read. “Time for action is NOW.” But, around 15 minutes after participants began peacefully marching around the mall, someone started breaking windows near the Camelback underpass. Within minutes, people could be seen running in all directions, breaking windows and running out of stores with merchandise. “This whole bag is full…and I broke into the cash register,” said one man after emerging from a broken window at Urban Outfitters. Police acknowledged that not all in attendance participated in the stealing. “While some may have indeed come to join what they believed would be a peaceful protest, what occurred was neither peaceful, nor a protest,” a department statement said. “It was a riot that saw several dozens of individuals collectively damaging property at and near the mall, breaking into businesses and stealing the interiors.” Scottsdale Police say 58 arrests have been made, including 12 the night of the riot. The defendants faced a variety of charges depending on their alleged involvement, ranging from misdemeanors for unlawful assembly to felonies for theft and firing guns inside the mall. The department has also recovered around $241,000 worth of stolen merchandise. Most recently, the department announced on April 20 it had arrested a 20-year-old man and 41-year-old woman on felony charges. The woman allegedly attempted to sell over $6,000 worth of items stolen from the Mont Blanc store. Detective J.T. O’Meara of Scottsdale Police’s property crimes unit is the primary detective on the case, but he said officers

Scottsdale Police detectives have made - and are still making - a concerted effort to track down looters from last year's riot around Scottsdale Fashion Square and recover stolen merchandise. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

On May 31, 2020, hundreds of individuals broke into stores in and around Scottsdale Fashion Square mall. (Progress file photo)

throughout the department were involved in responding to and investigating the riot. He said after the incident, the department’s burglary unit spearheaded the investigation. With store managers’ help and security camera footage, they began identifying suspects. O’Meara said that task was complicated by the pandemic. “Some of the challenges with that was obviously a lot of people were wearing masks…so it made it quite difficult with that aspect,” he said. The night of the riot, the Progress re-

ported that a large portion of the participants in the riot were young people. Eight of the 58 arrests involved minors. A week after the riot, Scottsdale Police Lt. Chris DiPiazza told a group of nearby property owners, “I know for a fact Desert Mountain kids were rioting in our mall; our high school kids were rioting in our mall.” Of the two dozen cases that have gone to trial, 18 were under 25. With that demographic in mind, social media has also played a huge role in the investigation. O’Meara said officers found images and

videos on sites and apps like Snapchat, Youtube and Facebook showing participants documenting their activities that night or posing with stolen items. “We track these websites and if someone posted there and they show themselves either holding property or just even trespassing in the mall, then we went back to then and try to figure out what exactly their role was,” he said. A Progress analysis of city and county court records shows 24 of 58 arrests have gone to trial so far. Three of those individuals have since had the charges dropped and another three agreed to plea deals with city prosecutors. Trials are ongoing in city or county Superior Court in the remaining 18 cases. Scottsdale City Court deals with misdemeanors and petty offenses while individuals facing felony charges are tried in Superior Court. Scottsdale Police spokesman Officer Kevin Watts told the Progress that most of the cases that have yet to reach trial are dealing with felony charges and have yet to reach the courtroom due to COVID19-related delays in the court system. “Those are taking forever to get through,” he said. “COVID has a lot to do with it, so like a year before we even see it moving forward is completely ordinary right now.” Watts said charges have not been dismissed in any of the pending county cases. The city dismissed charges last year against Youtube star Jake Paul, the most high-profile individual cited for participating in the riot. Paul initially faced misdemeanor criminal trespass and unlawful assembly charges, but the City Attorney dismissed those charges last summer. According to the department’s statement, the city dropped the charges against Paul and his friends Arman Izadi and Andrew Leon to facilitate a federal criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI. “The FBI is investigating allegations of criminal acts surrounding the incident at Scottsdale Fashion Square in May, 2020,” spokeswoman Jill McCabe said last year. Paul confirmed since deleted videos that an FBI raid on his California mansion last summer was connected to the riot. Since that time, no federal charges have been filed against Paul. McCabe did not

see RIOT page 13

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

RIOT from page 12

respond to a request to comment on the status of the investigation. Scottsdale PD faced significant blowback from some local residents and shop owners in the wake of the riot for a perceived failure to get the situation under control, especially after rumors swirled that city officials ordered police to stand down during the riot. In July, the department issued a report that denied the rumor, though it acknowledged it was not prepared to deal with the sheer size of the riot. “I was on the scene on May 30, 2020, and was the highest-ranking officer present, and I never gave a stand down order during the entire night/morning,” former Scottsdale Police Chief Alan Rodbell wrote. The report stated police were aware of social media posts calling for a riot at Fashion Square as early as 3 p.m. May 30, and the department coordinated with Fashion Square to close the mall early. The department mobilized 84 officers to patrol the mall grounds – which covers 2.8 million square feet– with additional units on standby.

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That is over three times the numbers officers on duty on a typical night in District 2, which includes the mall. The department’s intelligence unit had expected 45-55 people. The department blamed the false intelligence on the way the post calling for the riot was shared online – using screenshots that made it difficult to track impressions using traditional metrics like retweets on Twitter or shares on Facebook. “The posts then appear to be totally independent and must be discovered on an individual basis. It is also important to mention that while we can perform keyword searches, these search functions do not work when dealing with images,” the report says. According to the department, it made a strategic decision to keep the rioters isolated in the mall area to avoid spillover into nearby neighborhoods. “Moving the rioters would have been a huge mistake,” he said. “To the east, you had the Entertainment District, where armed citizens sat on rooftops to defend their property.” Officers also scrambled to protect occupied residential properties near the mall,

including Optima and Scottsdale Waterfront that were targeted by rioters. The report showed Scottsdale Police put out a call for help as the gathering began at 10 p.m. to the state Department of Public Safety but that request was denied because DPS was already aiding Phoenix Police with protests. Scottsdale PD received help from other East Valley police departments after a call at 10:13 p.m. In response to Scottsdale’s call for assistance, the Sheriff’s Department and police departments in Chandler, Mesa and Tempe sent a total 126 officers throughout the night. DPS ultimately sent 10 troopers as well. The report determined that “mass arrest plans were not prudent as they would render a large number of our officers unable to respond to priority and emergency situations” but the department committed to continue efforts to track down suspects after the fact. In the months since the incident, the department has made good on that and officers and detectives are still attempting to track down more rioters. O’Meara said the statute of limitations on most felony crimes in Arizona is seven

years and the burglary unit is using the stolen merchandise itself in an attempt to track down participants. Much of the high-end stolen goods like watches, jewelry and luxury handbags include serial numbers that the department can track. If the department gets a hit on a stolen item being sold at a pawn shop, it can then attempt to track down the seller. “For example, if somebody pawns a Montblanc watch, and we get a hit on a serial number, one of the first things we do is we research that particular person and then we go back and we look at the Montblanc video to see if we can recognize that person in the store,” he said. But even when the department tracks down a stolen item, the case is not a slam dunk, because many of those items may have changed hands multiple times. “Some of the things we’re running into is that it is a year old, so when we’re following some of the stolen property that may have been sold…it might not be the person that actually stole it,” O’Meara said. “It might’ve been handed down or given away…it might be somebody that had no idea it came from the mall.”

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Lawmakers, Ducey plan big income tax cut

op aides to Gov. Doug Ducey are defending the $1.5 billion cut in tax collections and bailout of the wealthiest as “modest and responsible.’’ Matt Gress, the governor’s chief finance officer, said the deal Ducey has negotiated with Republican legislative leaders will still leave plenty of money for new and expanded programs. He said these – ranging from road improvements and cash for new schools to new body cameras for Department of Public Safety officers – all can be accomplished even with the tax cuts that will largely benefit the wealthy. “It’s a down payment on Arizona’s future,’’ said Daniel Scarpinato, Ducey’s chief of staff. He said that Arizona needs to enact aggressive income tax cuts to ensure that Arizona attracts new business and gets firms to expand here. Scarpinato said all this can be done because the state has more money than anticipated.

He brushed aside questions of whether cutting this much in income taxes based on current economic conditions creates the hazard of having to cut programs and services the next time the economy goes south. “We’re being very conservative in both revenue projections but also on ongoing spending,’’ he said. Scarpinato said the state is counting on more than $200 million a year in new sales tax revenues once Arizonans get to start wagering on professional and college sports. And the state also is benefiting from a relatively new levy that Arizonans are paying when they purchase items online. He also insisted that while the state has gotten about $4 billion in federal cash due to COVID-19, it is not building those into the budget. Instead, it is being used for one-time expenses. But that’s not exactly true. For example, the plan calls for putting $1 billion in federal dollars into expanding child care for the needy to wipe out the current “wait list’’ of people seeking state help. That leaves the question of what hap-

pens to those people who were getting child care once the cash runs out. What makes all this crucial is that the tax cuts in the deal are effectively permanent: Because of constitutional constraints, it would take a nearly political impossible two-thirds vote of the House and Senate to rescind them once they are in place if tax collections collapsed. The plan starts with that 2.5 percent flat tax for everyone, collapsing a progressive structure with rates as low as 2.59 percent and as high as 4.5 percent. That makes those in the top category the big winners. But they benefit a second way. Voters decided in November that earnings above $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for married couples should be subject to a 3.5 percent surcharge. The Ducey-GOP plan, however, effectively cuts that to no more than 2 percent. The schools will still get the money that Proposition 208 was designed to generate. But that will come out of state coffers rather than the pockets of the wealthy. Scarpinato was unapologetic. “The governor wants to see the state move forward from an economic develop-

ment standpoint,’’ he said. And that, he said, includes protecting small businesses. “Why wouldn’t we let Arizonans keep more of their hard-earned money?’’ he asked. The spending side of the package is a kind of laundry list of priorities. For example, there’s $100 million in “pavement protection’’ for targeted roads in the 13 rural counties. The plan also calls for salary increases for “targeted positions’’ at certain state agencies, like DPS officers, adult and juvenile corrections officers, child safety caseworkers and staffers at the Department of Water Resources. There’s $65 million for what’s been called the “new economy initiative.’’ This expands an existing program to provide cash to universities to graduate more students in what the governor has said a critical high-demand industries like coding, artificial intelligence and “entrepreneurism.’’ Rural community colleges would get $28 million, with additional dollars for

PARKING from page 4

PTO from page 10

with administrators and board members Libby Hart-Wells and Julie Cieniawski. The district has also conducted teen town halls at Coronado, Chaparral and Desert Mountain high schools. “The district is committed to listening to student voice, understanding their concerns and taking steps to ensure that our school campuses provide high-quality learning opportunities in an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging,” according to a statement from the district. Sears said she was appalled by the changes to SB 1532, which she said will negatively impact teachers’ ability to accurately teach history in the classroom. “I’m appalled, disgusted, disappointed, and I’m just outraged that our legislators would even attempt to, and actually put on paper, legislation that prohibits freedom of speech and knowledge,” she said. Udall said the bill would address concerns by some parents that children are being taught things that are not true.

“While there are many outstanding teachers in our schools, there are a handful that try to teach students what to think instead of how to think,’’ Udall said. “Propaganda and one-sided political ideology should have no place in our classroom.” But Lester said it is not a matter of presenting different opinions but accurately teaching all of American history. He said it is imperative that people acknowledge the realities about the history of the U.S., including that the founding fathers “didn’t imagine (democracy) for everybody, including women.” “Those are facts. That’s not my opinion,” Lester said. “So, I think the way to address that is to look at this factually, which means you have to look backwards in order to move forward.” Sears agreed, arguing acknowledgment of past ills like slavery and Native American genocide are a necessary part of addressing systemic racism. “If you can’t acknowledge, you can’t change it,” she said.

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

asked for one thing: an increase of the parking code to have the new developments be self-parked,” Thompson said. Not all downtown stakeholders agreed with that argument, though. At the meeting with Durham and Whitehead, property owners said they believe the code is adequate. Carter Unger, downtown developer and property owner, said he believes the only complaints are coming from areas on in the Arts District and Old Town that do not have their own parking. “It seems like we’re trying to get multifamilies to subsidize buildings that got rid of their parking or didn’t add it,” he said. Council is likely not done looking at downtown parking. Councilwoman Tammy Caputi asked that Council review the parking again in six months to see what other targeted solutions it could implement to further address any issues.

ism is not just about race… It’s about ability; it’s about age; it’s about religion; it’s about gender; it’s about sexuality; it’s about all those things that are not part of the mainstream,” Lester said. SUSD has taken some steps to address equity for all students in recent years, though those efforts have been slow moving and thus far borne little result. In the last month of his tenure, former SUSD Superintendent John Kriekard convened an equity and inclusion committee to discuss issues related to race and equitable treatment of all students. Menzel, who took over the district last June, committed to continuing that effort. But the committee has only met a few times over the past year due to the pandemic, according to a district spokeswoman. It has not presented any recommendations to the Governing Board since convening last year. Menzel has convened an internal superintendent’s committee on the topic

see TAX page 15

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

TAX from page 14

Pima and Maricopa community colleges for STEM programs: science, technology, engineering and math. At the K-12 level, the state will provide an extra $50 million for special education students. It also contains a new plan to evaluate incoming kindergartners to know where they are in reading, with the idea of putting resources where needed. The state also will pay down some debt, put more cash into maintenance of state prisons and close down the prison at Florence, the oldest in the state. Also in the plan is $25 million for “forest health.’’ That includes sending 720 inmates out to clear hazardous vegetation. And there’s also $200 million in the budget to find more water for the state – eventually. The idea is to start putting money aside that can be used essentially to purchase water in the future. That could include desalinization plants. But aides to the governor also foresee the possibility of having water brought into Arizona from the Missouri River, meaning, at the very least, constructing a pipeline.

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Scottsdale Elks Lodge leader is a history-maker BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

istory has been made at Scottsdale Elks Lodge #2148 with the election of its youngest woman as Exalted Leader for the �irst time in its 60year history. Anna Mineer elected as the 2021-2022 Exalted Ruler, becoming also the youngest woman to be elected to that position in the history of the entire West District, which consists of 12 lodges. “It’s really exciting,” said Mineer, who has been a member of the Lodge for four years. “Our lodge is very progressive.” Until 1995, the Elks had traditionally been an all-male fraternal order. But now, Scottsdale Elks Lodge #2148 welcomes an increasing number of female members. “People don’t think of the Elks Lodge and think of me, a young female, being the ER,” she continued. As ER, which is similar to the president of an organization, Mineer leads the lodge’s of�icers, committee chairs and members in supporting people and organizations in need. Mineer’s goals include continuing to raise funds to support various local charities, particularly veterans’ and children’s charities. “I am honored to serve this amazing organization and continue to raise funds to support our local charities,” Mineer said.

Anna Mineer recently made history as the youngest female Exalted Ruler of the Scottsdale Elks Lodge #2148. (Scottsdale Elks Lodge #2148)

“Our members are unbelievably generous and after the trials of 2020, I know we are all ready to get back out into the community. Our charitable efforts focus on veterans and children in need; however, Elks are here to assist the entire community.” For Mother’s Day, the Lodge hosted an event where moms ate for free while others paid $10 for the meal. The money raised bene�ited Scottsdale nonpro�it Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, which helps homeless families return to independence. For Memorial Day, they’re working with the local chapter of PTSD Foundation of

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America, a residential program that provides whole-person treatment for combat veterans suffering from combat-related PTSD. “Last year was obviously really dif�icult for everyone. We weren’t able to get out there. So, this year, we are doing a heavy focus on our charity work because now we’re able to get back to regular business. We can help these charities that have been shut down by COVID or have not received the donations they would normally get,” Mineer said. The lodge also has a handful of events already scheduled for the rest of the year, including their annual Christmas shopping event for underprivileged Scottsdale school children, and their annual charity ball. “We’re trying to keep it super-local to bene�it our community and let people know who the Elks are,” Mineer said. Established in 1868 in New York City, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is a nonpro�it organization that provides charitable services to help build stronger communities. The Elks organization invests in local communities through programs that “help children grow up healthy and drug-free, meet the needs of today’s veterans, and improve the quality of life.” In fact, the order spends more than $80 million every year on “educational and patriotic community-minded programs” that bene�it children, veterans, and others in need. Scottsdale Elks Lodge #2148 is one of nearly 2,000 lodges in the country. It was established in 1960 and is dubbed “the original and still friendliest lodge in Arizona.” Located off 64th and Oak streets, #2148 has volleyball courts, a kitchen, an outdoor patio with horseshoes, and a lounge with shuf�leboard, a bar, pool tables, pinball machines, a dart board, large screen TVs, a jukebox and more.

Plus, it’s bursting with history: This particular Elks Lodge is the only one that was part of a former WWII POW Camp. It housed German prisoners of war, and it was reportedly responsible for the largest escape of German POWs during WWII. “It’s very different than what people think of an Elks Lodge,” Mineer said. For example, a common misconception about the Elks is members have to be a veteran. “And you don’t,” Mineer said. “It’s a great community to be a part of. Our lodge also has the youngest average age in our district.” One of Mineer’s responsibilities as ER is to ensure the Lodge welcomes new members, and so far, she’s done just that – and then some: In April, it added 32 new members. “It is way more than is normal for us,” Mineer stressed. “We’ve actually done really well with recruitment.” “We’re de�initely seeing more younger females, and that’s why I wanted to get this story out,” Mineer said. “I wanted people to understand that it’s not what you would expect when you think of an Elks Lodge.” Mineer credits the lodge’s growth to its many features and amenities, as well as their charitable efforts. “When someone comes in, they’re shocked by what they see,” Mineer said. “It’s just a very young, fun crowd. We have a lot to offer when it comes to a place that is comfortable and you’re giving back to charity at the same time. “ Members widely range in age, from 21 to over 90. “That’s what makes it such a great community is there’s every age, every interest,” Mineer said. “It’s a full mixing pot.” The lodge is so well-received, they currently have more than 100 people who have applied that have yet to be initiated. Information: elks.org; Facebook: Elks Lodge 2148

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

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Airpark �irm scores big with aviation real estate BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

hen the pandemic hit last spring, certain industries took a nosedive, from the restaurant and hotel industries to airlines and more. But the one industry that soared was real estate and not solely residential. For Scottsdale-based Leading Edge Real Estate, the pandemic also led to an increase in commercial, aviation and ranch real estate business. “Other than just a couple months early in the pandemic and lower of�ice space demand, we actually saw our business pick up for commercial, aviation, and ranch real estate,” said Aron Brow, Leading Edge Real Estate co-founder and associate broker. Leading Edge Real Estate is a fullservice real estate �irm with decades of specialized experience in several areas, including aviation real estate, which saw the biggest boost in business amid the pandemic. “The extra demand for private aviation helped the aviation real estate industry from sales to leasing,” said Brow, who brings more than 20 years of aviation and real estate experience to the team. According to Brow, people who may have traveled �irst class now travel on private aircraft. This led to an acceleration of the aviation real estate industry. “Along with the real estate, we also manage aviation fuel farms and due to the additional �lying, we’ve seen an increase in fuel usage,” Brow added. Leading Edge Real Estate has specialized experience in aviation and airport real estate. “From gross weights to wingspans and taxiways to fuel farms, we speak the language of aviation,” Brow said. Its aviation team has a combined pro-

other people and ongoing government restrictions,” Brow said. As for residential real estate, Leading Edge Real Estate experienced an increase in sales – and across the spectrum, too, from affordable condos to multimillion-dollar homes. “Although residential real estate is a small part of our business, we added a new residential agent to our company,” Brow said. And while the pandemic led to an overall drop in demand for commercial real estate, Leading Edge Real Estate actually saw a pick-up in business. Leading Edge Real Estate said its biggest gains this year in the aviation real estate space. It leased more than 500,000 square-feet of Larry Brow, designated broker and co-founder; Stephanie Lanman, senior associate; and Aron Brow, aviation hangar and of�ice associate broker and co-founder of Leading Edge Real Estate team in Scottsdale. (Leading Edge Real Estate) space – even bigger than last year’s largest leasing, fessional aviation experience of more “Just like the rest of the U.S., we got rewhich consisted of nearly than 70 years and more than 50,000 ally good at online meeting platforms, 350,000 square feet of aviation hangar �light hours. and in the event someone wanted to and of�ice space. “From the �irst client meeting to the meet in person, we respected their per“We always seem to have a continu�inal closing or lease signing, each team sonal space. Where others might have ous stream of other sales and leasing member is involved so there is never a given up from lack of contact, we kept opportunities as well,” Brow said. lapse in service or loss of momentum to- following up on deals to make sure they With business steady, so far, this year ward the ultimate goal of getting a deal were on track and completed,” Brow ex- for Leading Edge Real Estate, Brow said done in the most expeditious manner plained. the team’s goal is to continue to serve that bene�its the client,” he said. Leading Edge Real Estate also saw in- their clients with the same consistent According to Brow, “one of the hard- creased demand in other categories. and knowledgeable service they’ve est aspects of continuing business dur“From what we’ve seen, COVID-19 has come to expect from the company. ing the pandemic was how to interact only accelerated demand for ranch “We’ve always strived to maintain a with customers and clients to keep deals real estate, mainly because people are high level of service and to always opmoving.” looking to escape more populated ar- erate with our clients’ best interests in But technology helped — and even eas and have a place they can retreat mind,” he said. gave the company an edge. with their friends and family away from Information: edgeaz.com

SPORTS & RECREATION

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

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Moeller, Kath lead Desert Mountain to 5A baseball title BY ZACH ALVIRA Progress Sports Editor

esert Mountain junior catcher Luke Moeller was looking for a bit of an escape from a heartbreaking reality when he entered the 5A state baseball championship with his team. His grandfather, Jim, had just passed away two days prior. While the Wolves’ ultimate goal has always been to capture the state championship a year after the pandemic forced the cancellation of the season, the ability to win it for Moeller’s grandfather was added motivation. “We really wanted to have this game, have it for Jim,” Desert Mountain senior shortstop Wes Kath said. “Also, for our seniors last year, it’s a big win for them, too.” With his grandfather looking over him, Moeller drove in three total runs and helped break the game open for the Wolves in the fourth inning. An exclamation point of sorts by Kath in the sixth sealed it. Desert Mountain, the No. 3 seed in the 5A Conference tournament, went on to beat �ifth-ranked Sunrise Mountain 6-1 Tuesday afternoon at Tempe Diablo Stadium to win its �irst baseball championship since 2013. “I just wanted to go out and do the best I could and do it for him because he wanted to be here with my grandma,” said Moeller, who wrote his grandfather’s initials on the back of his hat ahead of Tuesday’s championship game. “He followed the whole season. I couldn’t be more happy to play that well for him and I know he’s watching down on us right now.” Moeller �inished 2-for-3 at the plate and helped Desert Mountain junior pitcher Toby Haarer tame a Sunrise Mountain team that averaged nearly eight runs per game this season. In a way, it was redemption for the junior right-handed pitcher. The last meeting between the two teams on May 5 was won in nine innings by Sunrise Mountain. The Mustangs, facing

Desert Mountain captured the 5A baseball state championship Tuesday afternoon at Tempe Diablo Stadium, beating Sunrise Mountain 6-1. (Zac BonDurant/Progress Contributor)

Wolves’ Haarer, recorded eight hits and six total runs in two innings against him. Haarer realized he had an opportunity to redeem himself on the grandest of stages in Arizona high school baseball and told the Desert Mountain coaching staff he wanted the ball on the mound to start the championship game. He delivered. Despite hitting four total batters on the day, Haarer maintained control of the game. He allowed four hits in 6 1/3 innings and one run which came after he was called for a balk in the third inning. He also recorded three total strikeouts. “(Haarer) said on Saturday, ‘coach, that’s my ball I’m going to get this done,' Desert Mountain head coach Ryan Dyer said. “I couldn’t be more proud of Toby tonight. He did everything you’d ask of a guy who wants the ball.” Desert Mountain’s bats started to come alive early on in the �irst. After Kath was walked, a single to short soon after resulted in an errant throw to �irst. It was the only error of the game for either team, but it proved to be costly for Sunrise Mountain.

One batter later, Moeller drove in the Wolves’ �irst run of the game. Desert Mountain’s next run came two innings later as Cooper McKee doubled to left �ield. In the fourth, the Wolves blew the game open with a three-run inning -- two of which off the bat of Moeller. “I think I always knew I de�initely could, it was just if I was going to let the pressure not impact me,” Moeller said of his impact at the plate. “I think I did a really good job before the game and even throughout just staying calm and reminding myself it’s a team game and if I do something wrong, I know I’ve got another guy that’s going to back me up. “They did that today and it’s an awesome experience.” Desert Mountain has been led all season by Kath. The senior standout and probable �irst-round pick in July’s MLB Draft batted .456 with 20 RBI and 10 home runs heading into Tuesday’s championship game. He �inished his high school career with 21 RBI after he was walked with the bases loaded in the fourth and 11 homers after his sixthinning blast.

Kath was also called upon in the top of the seventh with Desert Mountain just two outs away from the title to take over for Haarer on the mound. He struck out the �irst batter he faced before giving up a double to left �ield. Then, however, he forced a line out to left to seal the game. “There was no other person in America that could go on the mound at that point,” Dyer said. “That’s a storybook ending for a storybook career in high school, and this is just the start of a lot of great things for Wes Kath.” Kath embraced his coaches and teammates, often with trophy in hand. He rushed over to the Desert Mountain faithful that made the short trip from Scottsdale to watch the Wolves capture the title. To him, it was a culmination of two years of hard work since the pandemic took away his junior season. “Coming back from the COVID year last year, this meant everything,” Kath said. “This is my family. I’m just super excited for my team, for the fans and for this school.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

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Scottsdale gallery to auction rare Warhol painting BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

or 40 years, Valley rocker Alice Cooper completely forgot he had a vibrant, red and black-hued acrylic Andy Warhol original rolled up and stored away in his garage. It wasn’t until four years ago that he rediscovered the silkscreen – Warhol’s 1964 “Little Electric Chair” from his “Death and Disaster” series – thanks to the late actor Dennis Hopper. Now, Cooper is �inally putting the piece up for auction at Larsen Gallery and Larsen Art Auction in Old Town Scottsdale. “This silkscreen was given to me during some crazy years, and I had completely forgotten I even owned it,” Cooper said. The perfectly preserved painting will go for auction on Oct. 23 during the annual Fall Larsen Art Auction. It’s estimated the piece is worth anywhere from $2.5 to $4.5 million; and if it sells for the latter, it will become the highest-selling painting in the state. The painting that currently holds the title is a Thomas Moran painting that sold for $4.1 million at Scottsdale Art Auction in 2001. According to Scott Larsen, co-owner of Larsen Gallery, “Little Electric Chair” was examined and authenticated by Richard Polsky, who has spent decades specializing in exhibiting, buying and selling paintings by the leading pop artists, including Warhol. Larsen said he and wife-co-owner, Polly Larsen, were “thrilled” when they heard Cooper was considering their gallery for the sale. “We’re very con�ident that we can get it sold,” Scott said. “The art auction market is pretty hot right now. So, we’re very vocal. We’re going to give it our full, and we’re going to have fun doing it, too.” Larsen Art Auctions have historically

almost forgotten about it – let’s let someone else really enjoy it.” Cooper met Warhol in the early ‘70s while living in New York City. They became friends at the famous Max’s Kansas City, a nightclub and restaurant that served as a gathering place for musicians, poets, artists, and even politicians before shuttering in 1981. “It was just when I was becoming the scourge of rock n’ roll – and of course that attracted the whole Warhol crowd,” Cooper said. “It was a very surreal time.” Warhol, who would take photographs or make Alice Cooper selected Larsen Gallery in Old Town to auction off his original 1964 Andy Warhol movies of friends, seemsilkscreen. Gallery co-owner Scott Larsen, right, said he and wife and co-owner, Polly Larsen, are ingly always had a crowd of people around him all “thrilled” to be chosen. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer) the time, Cooper recalled. “And my girlfriend Cindy Lang was really connected into that group,” he added. We took it out and had it looked at with the Lang gifted Cooper “Little Electric Chair” intention of displaying it. But then I just decided it was when they lived in New York. time to move on, time to release it to the world. I ﬁgured, “Little Electric Chair” is based on a press I’d had it for all this time and had almost forgotten about photo from the 1950s of the death chamit – let’s let someone else really enjoy it. ber at Sing Sing prison, where Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for consold more than 90 percent of lots offered to Dennis Hopper who said he was selling spiring with the Russians. with registered bidders from most every a couple of his Warhols,” Cooper said. “I Warhol used source material from newsstate and more than 40 different countries. said, ‘Wait a minute, I think I have a War- papers and police photo archives for his For Cooper’s piece, the gallery will do- hol somewhere.’” Death and Disaster series from 1964-65. nate a portion of its commission to his So, Cooper went digging around, and “I don’t have any emotional connecnonpro�it Solid Rock Foundation, which there it was in his garage – in perfect tion to it, to be honest with you,” Cooper offers support to local teenagers. condition. said. “I mean, it was sitting in my garage The piece spent a year at the Rock & Roll “We took it out and had it looked at with for 30 years.” Hall of Fame in Cleveland. the intention of displaying it,” Cooper conFor more information or to register Cooper has Hopper, of “Easy Rider” tinued. “But then I just decided it was time to bid for the 2021 Larsen Art Aucfame, to thank for that. to move on, time to release it to the world. tion, visit larsenartauction.com or “One day a few years ago, I was talking I �igured, I’d had it for all this time and had call 480-941-0900.

FOOD & DRINK

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

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The Herb Box prepares to move to new digs BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

ore than 25 years after she opened The Herb Box’s �irst location, Susan Wilcox is returning to her roots. Originally opened at the Agua Caliente Shopping Center on 69th Street and Shea Boulevard in 1995, The Herb Box will relocate its northern Scottsdale restaurant this summer from DC Ranch to Shea Boulevard – just one complex over. “Was it intentional? No. Serendipitous,” owner Wilcox said of the new location. Slated to open in early June, The Herb Box’s new 6,000-square-foot space will boast a larger kitchen than the DC Ranch restaurant’s, as well as an expansive patio, a gourmet marketplace, ample indoor and outdoor seating and two private event spaces. The new location will also serve as home to The Herb Box’s corporate of�ice, housing the company’s multimillion dollar event planning and catering business, as well as house the company’s main catering kitchen. “Our new location on Shea ... has a lot of personal meaning to me,” Wilcox said. “It feels like a homecoming, and I wanted to create an environment that conveys that same feeling — an inviting space where people instantly feel at home, comfortable and at ease.” The Herb Box will open at 7 Thousand Shea, a space Wilcox has kept an eye on for a few years. “I run in that neighborhood, and I’ve just been running and watching and running and watching. It’s just how my life operates,” Wilcox said. Wilcox describes the new Herb Box as a “blending of the restaurant with the catering company,” meaning, the new location will have even more culinary of-

The Herb Box, owned by Susan Wilcox, closed its DC Ranch location on May 2 and will open a new restaurant on Shea Boulevard in early June. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

ferings on the ever-changing menu. “We’re going to have this really awesome gourmet deli case, and it’s going to have Arizona native grains and salads that are really fresh, fun, and unique. In that case, we’ll be changing throughout the season to what’s available as well. There’ll be hot soup and paninis and muf�ins,” Wilcox said. As for the gourmet marketplace, patrons can shop signature menu items, as well as grab-and-go hot and cold dishes, handmade pastries, bottles of wine and

seasonal products from local purveyors. The new Shea location’s interior will feature a Southern aesthetic, incorporating lots of wainscoting, textured wallpapers and a soothing color palette. Like the Old Town restaurant, the new Herb Box location will have two private event spaces. However, what sets the new location’s private dining rooms – dubbed the Thyme Room and the Sage Room — is they’ll each have their own private patio. Both event spaces are available for

booking now with capacity of up to 75 guests and �lexible con�igurations based on group size. “It is the culmination of our extensive hospitality experience, and I can’t wait to welcome all of our amazing guests who have continued to support us throughout the years,” Wilcox said. The Herb Box began as a catering company inspired by Wilcox’s desire to offer high-end catering and exemplary client service. Since it opened 26 years ago, the company has expanded to include two restaurant concepts and a multi-milliondollar full-service catering and event planning business. Wilcox decided to open a new Herb Box location not only because the catering company continues to expand, but also because they needed a larger kitchen. “And I’m a sucker for retail environment, so I’m blending those two things together,” she said. Owned by Denver-based DPC Companies, 7 Thousand Shea is a mixed-use 145,000 square foot development in Scottsdale. Upgrades to 7 Thousand Shea started in 2018. “They just got done renovating the center. It’s beautiful,” Wilcox said. The Herb Box’s DC Ranch location’s last day of operation was May 2, in preparation for the opening of the new location at 7000 E. Shea Blvd. In addition to offering all current DC Ranch team members the opportunity to relocate with the restaurant, The Herb Box will be hiring for 20 positions at the new Shea location. Those interested in applying can send an email to info@theherbbox.com. “It’s feels like home,” Wilcox said of the new restaurant. “We’re super excited.” Information: theherbbox.com

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 23, 2021

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NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL HEARING

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, will hold a public hearing on June 08, 2021, at 5:00 P.M. Until further notice, City Council meetings will be held electronically. While physical facilities are not open to the public, City Council meetings are televised on Cox Cable Channel 11 and streamed online at ScottsdaleAZ.gov (search "live stream") to allow the public to listen/view the meeting in progress.

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3-UP-2021 (Belles Nashville Kitchen Live Entertainment) Request by owner for approval of a Conditional Use Permit for Live Entertainment at an existing establishment on a +/-5,579square foot site with Downtown Retail Specialty Type-1 Downtown Overlay (D/RS-1 DO) zoning located at 7212 E. Main St. Staff contact person is Ben Moriarity, 480-312-2836. Applicant contact person is Mike Haley, (602) 300-4006.

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4-UP-2016#2 (T-Mobile PH30920 – Granite Reef Church) Request by owner for renewal of a Conditional Use Permit for an existing Type 4, Alternative Concealment Wireless Communication Facility (WCF) concealed within a 45-foot tall church steeple, with associated ground mounted equipment located a 2.76+/- acre property at 4425 N. Granite Reef Road with Singlefamily Residential (R1-7) zoning. Staff contact person is Keith Niederer, 480-312-2953. Applicant contact person is Declan Murphy, (602) 326-0111.

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Public Notices

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, will hold a public hearing on June 9, 2021, at 5:00 P.M in Scottsdale, Arizona. Until further notice, Planning Commission meetings will be held electronically. While physical facilities are not open to the public, Planning Commission meetings are televised on Cox Cable Channel 11 and streamed online at ScottsdaleAZ.gov (search “live stream”) to allow the public to listen/view the meeting in progress. Instructions on how to provide Public Comments will be provided on the posted agenda. 1-UP-2021 (Christian Brothers Automotive) Request for approval of a Conditional Use Permit to allow for Vehicle Repair on a +/- 1.05-acre site with Central Business (C-2) zoning, located at 8700 E. Thomas Road. Staff contact person is Jeff Barnes, 480-312-2376. Applicant contact person is Jeffrey Rybarczyk P.E., (480) 559-8368. 15-ZN-2020 (Greenbelt 88) Request by owner for a Zoning District Map Amendment from Planned Neighborhood Center Planned Community District (PNC PCD) to Planned Unit Development (PUD), including a development plan with amended development standards for building setbacks for a mixeduse center including 288 multi-family dwelling units and approximately 25,000 square feet of commercial floor area on a +/- 7-acre site located at 3308 - 3370, 3388 N. Hayden Road. Staff contact person is Bryan Cluff, 480-312-2258. Applicant contact person is George Pasquel III, 602-230-0600. For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov search "Scottsdale Planning Case Files" or in your URL search bar you can type in https://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/bldgresources/Cases/ A COPY OF A FULL AGENDA, INCLUDING ITEMS CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS IS AVAILABLE AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT THE FOLLOWING: Online at: http://www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/Boards/planning-commission CHAIRMAN Attest BRONTE IBSEN Planning Specialist

6-TA-2020 (Marijuana Text Amendment (Prop. 207)) Request by the City of Scottsdale to amend the Zoning Ordinance (Ord. No. 455), Section 1.403 (Additional conditions for specific conditional uses), Section 3.100 (Definitions), Section 6.803 (Use Regulations) of the Special Campus (S-C) District, and Article XI (Land Use Tables). Staff contact person is Greg Bloemberg, 480-312-4306. Applicant contact person is Greg Bloemberg, 480-312-4306. 1-GP-2021 (Scottsdale General Plan 2035; Case 1-GP-2021) Request by City of Scottsdale to adopt a new General Plan in order to revisit and revise the community's long-term objectives and land development policies, for future growth, development and redevelopment, and to add new and amend existing General Plan elements. General Plan 2035 is intended to comply with State law requiring cities to adopt new, or readopt, a General Plan every ten (10) years. Applicant contact person is Erin Perreault, 480-312-7093. For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov search "Scottsdale Planning Case Files" or in your URL search bar you can type in https://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/bldgresources/Cases/ A COPY OF A FULL AGENDA, INCLUDING ITEMS CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS AND ANY MEETING LOCATION UPDATES, IS AVAILABLE AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT THE FOLLOWING: Online at: https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/council/meeting-information/agendas-minutes CHAIRMAN Attest Chad Sharrard For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY MAY REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION BY CONTACTING THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7620). REQUESTS SHOULD BE MADE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE, OR AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO ALLOW TIME TO ARRANGE ACCOMMODATION. FOR TTY USERS, THE ARIZONA RELAY SERVICE (1-800-367-8939) MAY CONTACT THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7620). Published: Scottsdale Progress, May 23, 2021 / 38509

For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY MAY REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION BY CONTACTING THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7767). REQUESTS SHOULD BE MADE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE, OR AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO ALLOW TIME TO ARRANGE ACCOMMODATION. FOR TTY USERS, THE ARIZONA RELAY SERVICE (1800-367-8939) MAY CONTACT THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7767). Published: Scottsdale Progress, May 23, 2021 / 38528

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