OPINION

Send your opinions to opinions@scottsdale.org

Scottsdale.org l @ScottsdaleProgress /ScottsdaleProgress

Scottsdale’s General Plan update moves forward

Kavanagh bullied SUSD board, insulted teachers

BY MAYOR DAVID ORTEGA

Progress Guest Writer

Iam proud of Scottsdale’s General Plan 2035. On June 8 my council colleagues and I will be asked to formally adopt this document that begins:

“Scottsdale will continue to be an exceptional Sonoran Desert experience and premier international destination, where our Western heritage is valued. Our diverse neighborhoods foster outstanding livability, social connectivity, healthy lifestyles and a sustainable environment. Scottsdale will thrive by attracting and retaining business centers of excellence that encourage innovation and prosperity.

And that is just the start.

After scores of public meetings, hundreds of hours of discussion, eight Council work study sessions, and countless public comments, together, we have crafted our vision of Scottsdale.

“Scottsdale has a reputation as an inclusive community, with natural desert beauty, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, high quality design standards, a vibrant downtown, world-class events and resorts, and diverse arts and culture venues.”

With the passage of the anti-discrimination ordinance, we have elevated our reputation as a community that values and respects one another.

“Scottsdale offers a variety of multigenerational lifestyle choices that are responsibly planned, connected and supported by appropriate infrastructure and services. Neighborhood life promotes well-being and public safety via reliable municipal services.”

And in the face of adversity, Scottsdale withstood pandemic challenges with grit, consistent with our uni�ied vision.

“Scottsdale will continue to thrive by supporting existing small businesses and fostering a pro-business environment, so that all businesses can grow and choose to locate in Scottsdale to leverage technology; and accelerate innovation and creativity, buoyed by a knowledge-based workforce.”

Scottsdale core values embrace the past as we step forward into the future.

“Scottsdale will respect and be sensitive to the history and legacy found in the heart of Old Town, in designated Historic Preservation neighborhoods, at archeological sites, in the equestrian community and within cultural and architectural resources, which de�ine our Sense of Place.”

These highlights are segments of the community-wide effort that created Scottsdale’s new General Plan, which guides the physical development of Scottsdale and acts as a blueprint to enhance our community aspirations. Every voter in Scottsdale will ultimately have the most important role when the plan goes to the ballot in November.

It is impossible to thank everyone individually for their tireless efforts and recognize each staff member who assembled our collective voices, but I will say it here – thank you to every person who contributed to this most important effort.

This is our plan, for our city. Together, we are Scottsdale, Arizona – the one and only one in the world.

Letters

Iwatched the SUSD school board meeting on May 24, and while I really don’t want to overshadow the achievements of the students, I just had to write something about (Rep. John) Kavanagh's public comment.

It was absolutely disgusting.

First and foremost, Critical Race Theory is not taught in schools and is not on the board’s agenda. The whole purpose of his comment was pointless in the �irst place.

But it made me mad that an elected of�icial came to the school board meeting with the sole purpose to discredit the social justice movement and to gaslight people.

The way that he described it too is a total discredit to our teachers, especialKavanagh talks about this like all we do all day is sit in circles and label ourselves as “oppressed” or “oppressors” and then bully each other about it.

ly the social studies teachers.

Kavanagh talks about this like all we do all day is sit in circles and label ourselves as “oppressed” or “oppressors” and then bully each other about it.

It’s at times like these I hate titles. “State Representative Kavanagh” is a title, and so it carries some weight. But John Kavanagh has absolutely no right or credibility to be talking about what happens in the classroom because I’m not sure if he’s tried stepping into a history classroom in his 10 years “serving” our district.

Rather, it’s us, the students and the teachers, that know what happens in the classroom. And it’s not at all the stuff he said.

My teachers are extraordinarily compassionate and do their best to teach these subjects in a way that tries not to shield the injustices and violence, with an emphasis on the fact that what this country has done in many instances is wrong.

But having a state representative equate the social justice movement to Marxism is so, so, so bigoted. These kinds of people want to teach “both sides” to racism. And then try to hide their racist beliefs by calling the thing that teaches about racism racist. It’s so twisted.

In our schools, there is a majority of students who are accepting and understanding of all people from all walks of life, no matter what. But unfortunately, that’s not everyone. I’ve heard bullies say or do things that are shockingly racist or misogynistic or homophobic and then laugh it off like it’s nothing. That needs to change. The least we could do is have a state rep who’s not one of those bullies. Daniel Marchant, Desert Mountain High Class of 2021

Is your heart trying to tell you something?

Those odd sensations, a fl uttering feeling in your chest, erratic heartbeats? The fact is, irregular or abnormal heartbeats, known as arrhythmia, aren’t normal at all, and they defi nitely aren’t to be ignored. It could be atrial fi brillation or other heart rhythm disorders—conditions that may cause the electrical impulses of the heart to happen too fast, too slowly, or erratically, when left undiagnosed and untreated.

The fi rst step in protecting yourself is a heart health checkup with one of our heart rhythm experts at the Dignity Health Heart Arrhythmia Center – Chandler Regional Medical Center. Now’s the time to schedule a consultation with our experts. Call 480-728-5500 or visit LearnAboutArrhythmia.org.