Scottsdale Progress - 8.8.2021 by Times Media Group

Menzel seeks quarantine clarity / P. 13

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

NEIGHBORS.............20 Scottsdale group helping nonprofits.

Coyotes' EV site woes / P. 16

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Scottsdale complex’s rent hikes trouble elderly BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

ome elderly residents at a Scottsdale apartment complex believe management is using steep rent hikes and other tactics to force them out in order to free up units for renovations used to target higher-

Famed lighting company coming to Scottsdale.

ARTS................................29 School of Rock grads take to venues.

NEIGHBORS..........................................20 BUSINESS............................................... 23 SPORTS................................................... 26 ARTS......................................................... 29 FOOD........................................................30 CLASSIFIEDS........................................30

dollar tenants. Louise Lowther moved into a two-bedroom unit at the Denim Scottsdale apartment complex eight years ago. She got used to the annual rental increases, which were usually in the $50-$100 range. “Last year when Covid hit us, they upped mine by over $100 and I still stayed,” said

Lowther, who is 65 years old. But Lowther, who is reaching the end of her lease, is now searching for new housing after the latest round of increases saw her rent go up $500 to nearly $1,800 per month – more than double the $800 per month she paid

as superintendent here. Eventually joining her were concerned parents, teachers, staff and community members, many of whom had never met before.

Among them were Jann-Michael Greenburg and Patty Beckman, who have since been

see APARTMENT page 10

Group feels vindicated by Birdwell indictment BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

BUSINESS................... 23

Sunday, August 8, 2021

hen the Arizona Grand Jury indicted Denise Birdwell for alleged bid rigging and payoffs in the Higley Unified District, some Scottsdale residents felt vindicated over their efforts years ago to expose allegations of wrongdoing that led to her ouster in Scottsdale in 2018. Back in 2017 and 2018 they found evidence of procurement issues and alleged payoffs – some of which were cited in an Auditor General’s report presented to the grand jury in July. They also documented alleged mistreatment of teachers and staff that led to a mass exodus from the district, Rose Smith told the Progress. Smith – an SUSD graduate and former employee and grandmother to students – was one of the first locals to pull together public records about Birdwell’s alleged infractions

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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 Kathy Sgambelluri | 480-898-6500 | ksgambelluri@timespublications.com Director of National Advertising Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@scottsdale.org NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor Paul Maryniak | 480-898-5647 | pmaryniak@scottsdale.org Staff Writers Alex Gallagher | 843-696-6442 | agallagher@timespublications.com 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 | AUGUST 8, 2021

Scottsdale restaurant requiring vaccine proof BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

he award-winning FnB restaurant in Scottsdale is requiring guests to provide proof they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 before dining in. The announcement came amid a growing number of cases in Maricopa County and Scottsdale and an updated Centers for Disease Control recommendation that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors. “With the latest trends regarding the highly transmissible delta variant, we have decided for the good of all to add another layer of safety for our staff – who are fully vaccinated and still required to wear masks,” the restaurant announced. “Starting Wednesday August 4, you will be required to show proof of your coronavirus vaccination card, or a picture of it on your phone.” The restaurant closed its doors in March 2020 before the statewide shutdown in response to the first surge of the virus. Once protocols for re-opening were implemented, the restaurant began doing all it could to keep its staff and customers safe, including adhering closely to sanitation protocols. “Through this whole dynamic, we are learning a lot about COVID-19 and restaurants that have used safety and sanitation protocols thoroughly are going to continue to do so,” said Steve Chucri, president of the Arizona Restaurant Association and a Marciopa County supervisor. FnB’s statement recognized that not everyone may agree with the decision but indicated it is following the definition of “hospitality.” “Included in the definition of hospitality, therein lies a disposition to please, care, and entertain our guests,” the statement reads. “After the last year and a half, we extended that very treatment to our staff more than ever. Hospitality is not only caring about our team, or our guests, but the community at large.” It is easy to forget that restaurants are not just in the food and beverage

FnB Restaurant is apparently the first Arizona eatery to require proof of vaccinations for dine-in guests. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Phtoographer)

industry but are a member of the hospitality industry. “We have a saying in the restaurant industry where ‘we’re in the hospitality industry not the hostility industry,’” Chucri said Though hospitality is a key component of FnB’s success, it is the cuisine created by co-Owner/award-winning chef Charleen Badman that has generated a legion of regular customers. “I think that this particular restaurateur is a wonder chef, she puts out a great product and is well respected and I’m sure many of her followers and guest will embrace news while many may have some issues with it,” Chucri said FnB’s statement indicated an awareness of the polarization and controversies surrounding the vaccines, but added that its policy stems from a desire to keep staff and other diners safe. “We know some of you might not agree with our decision, but know it comes from a place of a deep desire to take care of you and our team,” the statement reads. FnB is currently the only restaurant in the state to require proof of vaccination. And despite the trend of some businesses and states requiring people

to be fully vaccinated to do certain things, Chucri does not believe that it will become the norm for restaurants. “While I have seen some restaurants make this announcement that they are going to check documentation to ensure that people are fully vaccinated, I believe that many will not,” Chucri said. Whether patrons agree with the new policy or not, FnB hopes that customers will continue to dine at the restaurant and feel safe in doing so. “As per usual, thank you for sticking with us during these uncharted times. We have come a long way with vaccinations, let’s not stop halfway,” the statement concluded. Chucri hopes that other restaurants will at least continue to uphold sanitation guidelines and keep clean. “We learn something new every day about COVID-19 and our best bet to continue to combat it is by keeping our restaurants clean and safe for our patrons,” Chucri said. FnB did not respond to a Progress request for comment. The restaurant offers dine-in by reservation only and take-out options. Those who wish to make a reservation or order take out can do so by visiting fnbrestaurant.com.

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BIRDWELL from front

elected to the SUSD Governing Board. Smith, fell less than 400 votes shy of being elected to the board in 2020. Each person had their own grievances that led them to take on Birdwell and the district in 2017. Some were concerned by issues with the procurement, design and reconstruction process at Hopi Middle School. It was ultimately revealed that the architect on that project, Brian Robichaux, was not licensed in Arizona and had a previous felony conviction for charging ADOT for a project that was not built. The Attorney General sued to halt construction on bond projects Robichaux worked on at Hohokam and Cherokee elementary schools, alleging he illegally attempted to influence another panel member on behalf of specific contractors, including CORE Construction. Robichaux, along with his architecture firm Hunt & Caraway, were later implicated in the Auditor General’s report for allegedly paying Birdwell $103,000 over several years while she steered bids to favored vendors during her terms at both Higley Unified and SUSD. Others were alarmed by alleged harassment and mistreatment of teachers and other district staff, including the plan in 2017 to force all teachers at Coronado High to reinterview for their jobs as a part of plan to revitalize the school. District stakeholders told the Progress that turnover among teachers, principals and other staff soared under Birdwell. The SUSD board ultimately found evidence that Birdwell had received two checks totaling $30,000 from Robichaux around the time she was hired by the district and voted to fire her in 2018. Those payments were also cited in the Auditor General’s report, which was used by the Arizona Attorney General’s office to obtain 18 felony indictments against Birdwell and additional indictments against three others. Birdwell, who has not been convicted of any crimes, is scheduled to go before a judge in Maricopa County Superior Court for an arraignment hearing this week. Many in the SUSD community group said that after three years with little communication from the Attorney General’s office, they did not believe charges would ever be brought against Birdwell, who will now go trial in Maricopa County Superior

From left, Jann-Michael Greenburg, Rony Assali, Karen Treon and Nikki Territo were members of an informal group of Scottsdale Unified parents, teachers, staff and community members who blew the whistle on alleged wrongdoing by former Superintendent Denise Birdwell four years ago. (Progress file photo)

Court. “I’m shocked that it came to fruition, and I’m thrilled,” Smith said. The group said their investigations during Birdwell’s tenure exposed more mundane, though still impactful, flaws at the district, including a failure by administrators to catch and correct wrongdoing. They said issues like former Chief Financial Officer Laura Smith signing off on contracts to her sister’s company – for which she pled guilty to two misdemeanor counts of conflict of interest in December – would have been caught by the district’s internal auditor if it had one at the time. SUSD’s board policies require an internal auditor to be hired by and report to the Governing Board, but the Progress found SUSD has not employed an auditor since at least 2018 and three previous individuals who served in the role since 2008 produced few reports. The board approved a contract earlier this year to contract with the City Auditor to provide those services to the district on a case-by-case basis. Parent Karen Treon said the district’s human relations department and governing board also did not flag Birdwell for hiring Louis Hartwell, her partner’s brother, as the district’s chief operating officer or address harassment against staff and teachers by Birdwell and others in leadership. “(The board) absolutely knew how abu-

sive she was to staff and others, and that’s one thing not captured in that indictment…But the way she treated people, the staff and teachers and classifieds in addition to the community, it was terrible,” Treon said. At one point in early 2018, the treatment of staff became so bad that Governing Board meetings would regularly last late until midnight because of the lengthy line of people participating in the public comment period, including teachers who would end of in tears at the microphone, Greenburg said. “Not because Birdwell would personally come in and make their lives miserable. But because of the totality of actions: either the principals she hired or fired, the administrative actions they took, or just the general culture and feeling of safety in our schools that this is a professional work environment where we value people was entirely gone,” he said. A half dozen members of the group who spoke with the Progress said they also feel the former governing doard held responsibility for Birdwell and ignoring warnings from the community. “All five of them were complicit in this,” Treon said, referring to former board members Barbara Perleberg, Pam Kirby, Sandy Kravetz, Allyson Beckham and Kim Hartmann. Perleberg, Kirby and Hartmann voted to hire Birdwell. Kravetz and Beckham start-

ed on the board shortly after she was hired in December 2016. According to the group, Smith presented packets to each board member in 2017 filled with documentation of alleged wrongdoing by Birdwell and others in district leadership that she compiled using public records she obtained from the district. Treon said a complaint was also filed with the state Attorney General that year. The group alleged that the former board dismissed the claims and in some cases forwarded complaints to Birdwell. Greenburg said some on the board were openly hostile to parents and community members who were bringing forward concerns. Beckham denied she and the other board members dismissed evidence of alleged wrongdoing by Birdwell. “Our board took action as soon as it was legally available,” she said in a text message to the Progress, referring to the unanimous vote to terminate Birdwell’s contract in 2018. Greenburg and others painted a different picture. They allege that the board did not act until the violations – namely the alleged payments from Robichaux and Hunt & Caraway – became too egregious to ignore. “Not a single board member from 2016 onward has ever apologized or said they were wrong or made a mistake,” he said. Whether the 2016 board should have known about Birdwell’s alleged indiscretions at Higley is still an open question. Articles published in the East Valley Tribune in 2014 show that Birdwell left Higley with glowing praise from some board members. Kim Anderson, then vice president of the Higley Unified Governing Board, told the Tribune she credited Birdwell for completing two new middle schools and creating a rigorous track for student success. But the Auditor General’s report also found that Birdwell was responsible for approving a convoluted financing scheme in 2012 to build those two new schools. That deal could cost that district $160 million over 40 years. The district is currently attempting to pass a bond package to pay off some of that debt. The scheme was legal on its face and it took the Attorney General and Auditor General nearly four years to produce the

see BIRDWELL page 8

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 8, 2021

BIRDWELL from page 6

report that led to the Grand Jury indictments connected to that construction deal. Most of the former board members who hired Birdwell did not respond to the Progress’ request to comment, including Perleberg, Kirby, Hartmann and George Jackson. Bonnie Sneed, who also served on that board that hired Birdwell, could not be reached for comment. Beckham, who took office in January 2017 shortly after Birdwell was named permanent superintendent, said that though she did not take part in the hiring process, Birdwell was recommended to the district by the Arizona School Boards Association, which was paid by the district to conduct its superintendent search in 2016. Heidi Vega, a spokeswoman for ASBA, confirmed the organization conducted a search for an interim superintendent before Birdwell was appointed in January 2016. She said the organization identified five candidates, including Birdwell, but did not make a recommendation on whom the board should hire. “The board considered candidates and made the decision who would be offered the opportunity to enter into contract negotiations,” Vega said. “There were no discrepancies and no records found; the report was clean,” she said. Vega said SUSD later selected the association to perform a search for a full-time superintendent, but that it never conducted the search. “A search agreement was drafted but never processed,” she said. “ASBA was advised that the district and the individual had come to terms for a long-term placement.” Most of those former governing board members have since returned to private life after their tenure on the board ended. Only Kirby, who led the charge to hire Birdwell and was also the only board member to vote against paying her $150,000 when she was terminated in 2018, remains involved in politics and now serves as first vice chair of the Arizona Republican Party. With Birdwell now set to go on trial, the Scottsdale group said they are proud of what they accomplished and hope the indictments serve as a disincentive to future

bad actors. “I hope that’s just a red flag to anyone who considers stealing our children’s public funding,” Smith said. “These indictments are a vindication for all of the people who worked tirelessly to expose the corruption, fraud, and greed that rocked HUSD, SUSD, tax payers, parents, teachers/staff and especially the children of the two districts,” parent Mike Peabody said. Treon said the indictments showed they were on the right track even after their allegations were dismissed in 2017 by others in the community. Treon said she noticed looks from other parents and staff when she brought her kids on campus. “A lot of us were personally targeted (by Birdwell)…it’s very personal to all of us and affected your relationships; I worried about my kids’ education.” Some members of the group, including Treon and parent Susan Hughes, were targeted by threats of legal action by Birdwell at the time. While on leave in 2018, Birdwell used district funds to hire an attorney to send cease and desist letters to Hughes and Treon. Birdwell later reimbursed the district for the cost following reports on the letters in local media. Treon said Birdwell also directed district staff to collect all of the emails she sent to the district in order to keep tabs on her. “I’ve had to process a lot of emotions, because it was a really hard time in all of our lives personally, it took a toll,” Treon said. Former Arcadia High School teacher Rony Assali, who left the district during Birdwell’s tenure, credited the entire group for remaining vigilant in 2017 and 2018 despite the impact it had on their personal and professional lives. “How lucky we were that there were lots of people involved,” he said. “Had it been one or two people, you just would have said I’m going to go somewhere else…You would pretty much just be disenfranchised from trying to right the wrong, because of the lack of action from everyone around you.” Still, Smith said the experience was not all bad. “I’m very grateful for the friendships that have come out of that. And to me that’s the silver lining in this whole thing,” she said.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 8, 2021

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 8, 2021

APARTMENT from front

when she first moved in. She said she wasn’t given any warning about the pending increase and only found out when she asked the front office after running into a neighbor who moved out after living in the complex for 20 years “Basically, they’re kicking me out,” Lowther said. The situation at Blue Denim, a 42-yearold complex at Osborn and Miller roads, isn’t unique as the median rental rate for a two-bedroom unit in Scottsdale has risen to $1,790 over the past year – almost exactly the rate Lowther would have to pay to stay in her current unit. Renters across Scottsdale and the country have seen rents skyrocket over the past year. Realtor.com reported, the median rent hit a new high of $1,575 in June, up 8.1 percent compared with last year. Rents in Scottsdale are rising even faster. Online rental marketplace Apartment List reported that the median rent for a two-bedroom unit in Scottsdale grew 23.4 percent over the past year, the fastest rate amongst comparable cities nationwide.

Increasing rental rates at the Denim Scottsdale apartment complex have some elderly residents concerned about how they will afford rent. (Progress file photo)

The median rent for those units in Scottsdale is now higher than any other city in the Valley, but other cities aren’t far behind. According to Apartment List, rental rates in all 11 of the largest Valley cities

increased by 20 percent or more over the past year. Even historically affordable cities like Phoenix and Glendale saw median prices for one-bedroom units increase to around

In 2019, 13.5 percent of Arizonans were living below the federal poverty level of $25,750 (for a family of four), compared with 10.5 percent nationally. This year the federal poverty level is $26,500. Even under the best of circumstances, rent is unaffordable for most low-wage workers, the report said, and addressing the long-term housing affordability crisis in this country requires increasing rental assistance to all who need it. In Phoenix, the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,449 – a 12 percent increase over July 2020 – according to Zumper, which analyzes active apartment listings. “In most places, $15 an hour isn’t a living wage," the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, told Cronkite News. “But it’s more than double where the floor is now. And we know that when you lift from the bottom, everybody rises. So we say $15 an hour now, and index it to inflation so that the wage floor will rise with the cost of the things everyone needs to survive.” Although raising the minimum wage to $15 would help lift people from poverty,

American workers deserve more, said Allynn Umel, national director of the Fight for $15 campaign. “Fast-food workers in Arizona and across the country face the mounting costs of rent, food, transportation, child care and so much more every single day,” he told Cronkite News in an email. “$15/ hr is the bare minimum that workers anywhere need to survive, which is why fast-food and other essential workers have been out in the streets marching and shouting for $15 for nearly nine years, including McDonald’s workers in Phoenix just this week.” Sen. Kyrsten Simena, Democrat of Arizona, is part of “a bipartisan working group negotiating a raise in the federal minimum wage, and is currently working with Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah) to craft bipartisan legislation,” her office said. In March, Sinema voted no on a provision for an incremental raise toward a $15 minimum wage. Her office noted her past support for “an indexed minimum wage in 2006, and supported the voter-approved state minimum wage increase in 2016.” While Sinema gave a thumbs-down, Sen..

$1,100 and two bedrooms increase to $1,350 or more per month, according to Apartment List. The rising rates put residents like Lowther in a difficult position as rental rates force them out of one complex with no guarantee they will find cheaper options elsewhere. Lowther said it’s not only the monthly payments that have her worried. She also does not have the first and last months rent saved up that she will need to put down for a deposit. “I can’t find any place to go,” she said. At the same time their rents were going up, residents at the Denim Scottsdale said complex amenities, including a pool, laundry facilities and on site grills, are regularly closed or not working and the complex's management takes weeks to fix issues. “I could have something broken and they’ll wait a week to 10 days, whatever they feel like,” she said. She also alleged her unit had a mold problem in her bathroom stemming from issues in a neighboring unit and mainte-

see APARTMENT page 18

Rents unaffordable for minimum-wage earners, study �inds BY EMMA ASCOTT Cronkite News

ull-time minimum wage workers can’t afford a two-bedroom apartment in any state, according to a recent report from affordable housing advocates, and with housing costs skyrocketing in Arizona, many workers are struggling. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s annual Out of Reach report, those workers in 93 percent of U.S. counties can’t afford a one-bedroom, either. In Arizona, workers would need to put in 73 hours a week to afford a two-bedroom rental. Excluding weekends, that’s 14.6 hours per day. Still, that’s better than the national average of 97 hours per week, the report said. The report defines affordability as the hourly wage a full-time worker must earn to spend no more than 30% of their income on rent. Workers would need to earn $24.90 per hour for a two-bedroom rental and $20.40 per hour for a one-bedroom. The average hourly worker earns $18.78 per hour, and the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, unchanged since 2009.

Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, gave a thumbs-up. Arizona’s minimum wage stands at $12.15 per hour, but advocates say it’s far from sustainable for the average worker. Leaders of Fight for $15 said workers have waited too long for a raise, and they’ll continue to strike and march in the streets to demand that lawmakers and employers hear their demands and guarantee a wage they can survive on. But experts warn there could be drawbacks to a $15 an hour minimum wage. Any attempt to remedy the situation with significantly higher minimum wages will benefit some while others will find fewer available positions or hours reduced, according to Dennis L. Hoffman, professor of economics at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. “Many employers today are having trouble finding workers even when wages are above minimum wage,” he said. “I believe that the labor market is undergoing significant changes in worker preferences for hours flexibility and type of work, including more options to work from home.”

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 8, 2021

Runway improvement on track despite wet going

areas of Scottsdale received between three and five inches of rain on one particularly wet weekend from July 19-22 –

well above the 0.76-inch average monthly rainfall seen in July in the Valley from 2011 to 2020.

To deal with the wet weather, crews at the airport pumped water out from the construction site and trenched areas and other pools of water to speed up the drying process. According to a release from the airport, these efforts allowed work to quickly resume on site and the first phase of construction on the runway is still schedule to be completed this month. The runway rehab project is funded by an $11 million grant awarded to the airport by the Federal Aviation Administration in June. It is the largest single federal grant ever awarded to Scottsdale Airport. Phase two – which will include repairs to the airport’s service roads – will start when phase 1 is complete and run through the end of August. It will not include any runway or taxiway closures. Phase three will include three nighttime closures in late September to complete striping on the runway and taxiways.

Karamargin acknowledged the vaccine is not yet available for anyone younger than 12, which is one of the reasons cited by some governing boards that have chosen to impose a mask mandate. But he said schools should still encourage those who are eligible to get inoculated. And Karamargin pointed out that the first district that defied the governor is Phoenix Union High School where presumably everyone on campus, faculty and students, can get the vaccine. Despite all that, Ducey has yet to actually seek a court order to enforce the anti-mask legislation. Instead, his press aide simply denies there is a problem. “We expect school districts to follow the law,’’ said Karamargin. He brushed aside questions about the fact that the statute does not take effect until Sept. 29. “The legislative intent is clear,’’ Karamargin said, noting that lawmakers inserted language that may or may not be

enforceable making the mask restriction retroactive until July 1. Karamargin said nothing has been foreclosed. “All options are on the table,’’ he said. But actually putting his own name on a challenge runs the risk of a judge concluding that the governor’s reading of the statute has no basis in law. So that leaves Ducey with only the attacks on the non-compliant school districts. Ducey’s refusal to back down is in sharp conflict with fellow Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, who said earlier this week he regrets signing a ban on mask mandates in schools. “Everything has changed now,’’ Hutchinson said. “And yes, in hindsight, I wish that had not become law.’’ Karamargin said that’s irrelevant. “The situation in Arkansas is very different,’’ he said. “Our vaccination effort here is far more successful.’’ Arkansas also has as many new daily infections as Arizona even though its

population is less than half as much. There is a lawsuit on the issue. That, however, involves a teacher at Phoenix Union High School District who is challenging the policy adopted by the governing board to require students, vaccinated or not, to wear a mask while indoors. A judge has set a hearing for this coming week to hear evidence. Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, noted on Twitter that lawmakers will be constructing a budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2022. “I will not be voting to fund any agency that defies law in the name of Covid panic,’’ she said. Townsend later acknowledged there are constitutional obligations for the state to fund public schools. But she told Capitol Media Services that does not tie the hands of lawmakers. “I am sure there are constitutional ways to do it,’’ Townsend said. “I don’t mean to completely defund,’’ she continued. “But financial sanctions must happen at this point.’’

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

rews are still on track to finish the first phase of a runway improvement project at Scottsdale Airport despite heavy rain across the city last month. The airport has been fully closed to all aircraft operations and flight training since July 6 to allow for the rehabilitation of the airport’s lone runway, which has not undergone a major rehab since it was first built in 1967, airport spokeswoman Sarah Ferrara told the Progress earlier this year. The city estimated the full closure would last approximately 45 days and end in mid-August. About two weeks into the project, construction crews from J. Banicki Construction – which was awarded a $10.8-million contract by the city in April – had to deal with heavy rain as monsoons struck across the Valley. According to Maricopa County, some

Despite heavy rain, Scottsdale Airport is still expected to reopen this month following after construction crews finish rehabilitating the airport’s lone runway. The airport has been closed to all aircraft operations since July 6. (Progress file photo)

Ducey assails districts’ mask mandates BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ov. Doug Ducey’s spokesman is taking verbal slaps slap at schools that his boss contends are violating a law on masking he signed. “They should spend less time on virtue signaling, encouraging students to break the law, and more time on encouraging people to get the vaccine,’’ said spokesman C.J. Karamargin of the half-dozen districts that have told faculty and students they need to wear a mask while indoor and on campus. Karamargin said he accepts the definition of “virtue signaling’’ to mean moral grandstanding or feigned righteousness. Asked if the governor believes schools are encouraging students to break the law, Karamargin replied, “They are imposing a mask mandate that is in violation of the law.” So a student at one of these districts who wears a mask is breaking the law?

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 8, 2021

CITY NEWS

SUSD chief seeks quarantine rule clarity BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

oncerned about a strong sense of confusion surrounding how schools should handle students who have had close contact with people diagnosed with COVID-19, Scottsdale Unified’s superintendent is asking county officials for more guidance. In a letter to the Board of Supervisors, Dr. Scott A. Menzel asked for “clarification with respect to public health measures in Maricopa County as they relate to ensuring our ability to keep our schools open for in-person learning.” SUSD is currently following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control for quarantining both students who have positive COVID-19 test results and those who have been in close contact with an infected individual. Noting that county health officials “recommend” quarantine, however,

Menzel said counties have the authority to order quarantines but that school districts don’t. “Given different interpretations around the authority related to having close-contact quarantine, specific language matters,” Menzel wrote. The letter comes as the Catalina Foothills and Peoria Unified school districts are in a war of words with Gov. Doug Ducey over their quarantine policies. Ducey said it is “unlawful” for the two districts to impose a 10-day quarantine on unvaccinated individuals who have had close contact with an infected person. Ducey is citing a state law that bans mask and vaccination mandates, though it says nothing directly about quarantine policies. Menzel wrote that if the county health department believes “that close contacts must be quarantined for the prescribed period of time as a way to mitigate potential uncontrolled

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spread of COVID on our campuses, we need that guidance to be clear and unequivocal.” “If the language remains ‘recommended,’” he continued, “we will be in the difficult position of conveying information to families without having a clear directive.” Menzel fears the confusion could be detrimental to the progress made to keep students safe since the declaration of a pandemic in March 2020. “This may result in individuals disregarding the recommendation, thereby potentially increasing spread of the virus,” Menzel wrote. “Given the current laws in Arizona, layered mitigation strategies are somewhat limited, and the quarantine and isolation protocols remain a last line of defense in order to ensure our students and staff are able to remain safe, healthy, and in school.” Meanwhile, Valleywise Health announced it is continuing to monitor the trend of increasing cases across BEFORE

the state. “As we continue to see the rise of COVID-19 cases throughout the state of Arizona, we’re starting to see an increase in the number of individuals that are requiring hospitalization once again,” said Dr. Michael White, chief clinical officer at Valleywise Health. New data released last Thursday by the county show Scottsdale Unified is being impacted by that same surge. Cases per 100,000 people rose from 135 a week earlier to 188 while positive new test results crept up from 11.9 percent to 12.8 percent. The readings are the highest the district has seen in nearly two months. “This current public health emergency has resulted in new challenges, and we rely heavily on guidance and direction from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health,” Menzel wrote. AFTER

see QUARANTINE page 18

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 8, 2021

Gig economy drivers struggle to make ends meet BY EMILY DISALVO News21

eter Young was napping between blood draws when his ringing phone woke him. He was lying in a hospital bed as part of a five-day clinical trial that required his blood to be drawn every two hours. It’s not a job most people sign up for eagerly, but for Young, 27, it seemed like a dream opportunity. His full time job is delivering food for Postmates. “This will pay a lot more for the time I am spending than rideshare,” Young said. “I’m in a hospital bed right now. That’s why I was napping – because I am physically beat up.” Young has been a part of the gig economy, working for rideshare and food delivery apps, for about four years. He used to drive for Uber and Lyft, but since the pandemic, he only has been delivering food. Although Young relies on the income from Postmates to survive, he said the job’s unreliability is taking a toll on his financial and mental well-being. “I can’t plan for the future. I can’t be confident in what income I will have in six months, and that is really stressful.” Gig workers are considered independent contractors rather than traditional employees, so they don’t receive such benefits as health insurance and retirement programs. Many, like Young, are freelance delivery workers or drivers called to service through such apps as Lyft and DoorDash. Gig work can give people flexibility and freedom, but some experts believe it also exposes them to inconsistent, low pay and the possibility of exploitation for the sake of customer convenience. The work became even riskier during COVID-19, which put thousands of people out of jobs. In response, efforts to unionize gig drivers are underway in several major cities. “While they don’t have long-term security from a particular organization and also a lot of the benefits the organizations provide people with, they exchange that for being able to have greater control over what kind of work they do when they do it and how they do it,”

Georgetown University Global Cities Initiative, said there is no independent data to support that. “This is a story that these companies like to tell because that’s an easier sell as opposed to one to say that actually there’s no data showing this vast majority of rides are produced by part-timers,” said Wells, who studies Uber drivers in the Washington, D.C., area. “In fact, it’s the opposite. The majority of drivers are like those in our study that are fulltime. They’re working really hard to support their families Rideshare and other gig economy drivers held protests across the country last month, de- and can’t make a go of it.” Some rideshare and food manding better wages. (Special to the the Progress) delivery workers say the app companies have all the power. said Brianna Caza, associate professor in come. “I don’t feel like I have control over the department of management at Uni“You don’t really make enough to make anything,” Young said. “They control the versity of North Carolina Greensboro. a living out of it,” McNamara said. “You flow of my day through an app. They can During the pandemic, many drivers for don’t really make enough to pay your pay different amounts at different times rideshare were unable to find work driv- rent to almost not even pay your utilities, a day. They can get me to work when ing for Uber or Lyft because of the risks because it’s going towards food, that’s they want me to work. And rather than of getting COVID-19. going towards gas, that’s going toward having more control of my job, I feel like On a call with investors in May 2020, car repairs.” I have no control over my job.” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi reported A spokesperson for DoorDash said 2 When he started driving for Uber and that COVID-19 had decreased business million delivery drivers joined the platLyft four years ago, the wages he earned the previous month by 80 percent. How- form from March through September were sustainable, Young said. He made ever, Khosrowshahi said 40 percent of 2020. about $130 in an eight-hour workday active rideshare drivers switched to the Some college students or recent colminus the price of gas, which was about Uber Eats platform in April 2020. lege graduates worked at DoorDash dur$20 per day. That averages out at $13.75 Jesenia Rodriguez drove for Uber and ing the pandemic to make spare cash. an hour. Lyft but stopped in March. She switched Wills Rice, a recent college graduate However, as time went on, the wages to DoorDash. from Scottsdale, said he enjoys the inYoung earned from Uber began to erode. “Due to the way they were paying, I come from DoorDash, but it isn’t his only Beth Griffith, executive director of the was risking myself for two or three dol- job and he has no dependents. Boston Independent Drivers Guild, said lars,” she said. “There’s some days where I could make the downward trend is industry wide. Rodriguez’s rent is subsidized through $130 in five hours, but there’s also times “They change the way they compenSection 8 housing, and she receives food where I could make $60 in five hours,” sate us, and it was done under duress, so stamps to feed herself and her son, but Rice said. “And I think if you’re someone in order for us to continue working even life has not been easy. She has deter- that’s relying on that to pay your bills, with arbitrations and things like that, evmined that not working at all is a bet- to feed your family, to do all that, I don’t ery time they decide they want to change ter option financially than returning to think it’s reliable enough because it’s DoorDash. based on when people are ordering food”. the contract, you have to agree to it,” said “I had to pick up in Walmart, three difMcNamara points to one delivery more Griffith, who drives for Uber and Lyft. Griffith said she was making a decent ferent orders for only $3 each,” Rodri- than 45 miles away where he netted $15 amount of money driving for Uber and guez said. “I have to put gas in the car and – with no tip. Lyft until the pay structure was updated if anything breaks down, I have to pay for A spokesperson for DoorDash reand she was forced to agree to the new it. Right now, I am not in that position.” ported that 85 percent of “Dashers” are terms. Uber got rid of a payment model During the pandemic, Chance McNa- students or have a full or part-time job. mara worked full time for DoorDash, Katie Wells, an Urban Studies Foundawhich he said didn’t provide a livable in- tion postdoctoral research fellow at the see GIG page 18

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 8, 2021

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 8, 2021

One of the locations the Coyotes are looking at for a possible move is the intersection Priest Drive and Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe. (Emily Carman/Cronkite News)

Coyotes' possible arena site in EV faces hurdles BY HENRY GREENSTEIN Cronkite News

t’s a short declarative phrase in the City of Tempe’s request for proposal, published July 22: “Finally, it will be respondent’s financial responsibility to remediate the land.” But taken together with a $70 million cost estimate presented in June, it represents a considerable fiscal and logistical burden for the Arizona Coyotes if they seek to develop a new stadium in the East Valley. The process of environmental remediation – removing contaminants from water and soil – for the 46-acre site northeast of Priest Drive and Rio Salado Parkway on the Salt River will be multifaceted. Judith Grant Long, a professor of sport management and urban planning at the University of Michigan, said she has seen reports of land costs become much more detailed during her time studying sports venues. But she added that the public might not have a desire to know the intricacies of these estimates. “People want to know it’s $70 million,” Long said, “but they don’t really want to know how much of that is soil-based, how much of it is water-

based, how much of it is trash-based, et cetera.” The Coyotes acknowledged in a statement on July 22 that it is looking at options for a new home, “given our determination to remain in the Valley for many years to come.” A geotechnical report prepared by Global Environmental Consulting in 2009, included with Tempe’s request for proposal, indicated that the area adjacent to the site (north of Hardy Drive) previously served as a sand and gravel mine. It also had landfill materials buried between 16 and 37 feet below the surface. “That’s where your trouble’s going to be,” said Chris Spengler, who helped lead remediation for Petco Park in San Diego. “The sand and gravel mining shouldn’t be too big of a problem unless they have underground storage tanks for fueling equipment and vehicles.” The underground situation is also not uniform throughout the land. For example, the report mentions variance in landfill materials between construction and household debris. “You can’t make a broad statement about the entire site,” said Bruce A.

see COYOTES page 17

CITY NEWS

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COYOTES �� 16

Keyes, of counsel at Foley & Lardner LLP in Milwaukee. “You really have to look at it piece by piece.” Keyes, who described himself as “completely fascinated by the development of sports facilities on landfills,” has represented several such projects in Wisconsin, including a baseball and entertainment complex (Ballpark Commons), a college sports facility and multiple soccer fields. Building on fill materials, as in Tempe, presents a veritable minefield of obstacles. Keyes said these include contamination, instability caused by decaying landfill mass, ongoing maintenance and potential methane gas emissions, which can become explosive if not remedied. Building a sealed facility like a hockey arena on top of a fill site could be particularly challenging on the methane front, he added. “Open-air and limited closed structures are really good for landfills,” he said. “The Coyotes are talking about something that’s an enclosed structure. That makes it more complicated,

not insurmountable.” Keyes explained that a hockey arena still doesn’t have a lot of small, confined spaces, which is good for avoiding potential accumulation and contamination. Given all these potential issues, the remediation process could be even more expensive than the $70 million forecast. Tim Kellison, a professor at Georgia State University who concentrates on sport in the urban environment, said going over budget is “inevitable” for this kind of project. He cited examples including Tropicana Field, which nearly tripled in land costs compared to its original estimate, according to a 1990 article in the Tampa Bay Times. “What tends to occur is an underestimation of just how badly the land is contaminated,” Kellison said. “and as a result, how much it will cost to actually do a good job cleaning up the site in a way that conforms with numerous environmental regulations.” Because stadium development projects are so wide-ranging in the scope and nature of their remediation (depending on what lies beneath the

surface), the land costs vary widely. Spengler said his Petco Park project, completed in 2006, cost $8 million over 45 acres. On the other hand, the proposed CalgaryNEXT development was forecasted in 2016 to require between $85 million and $103 million in Canadian dollars ($68 million and $83 million in U.S. dollars), putting it right in the neighborhood of the Tempe site. Long said $70 million to be paid entirely by the respondent seems high relative to the overall cost of this sort of development. She and Kellison, however, agreed that the city would likely repay this total in kind somehow, with contributions like help through the regulatory process or tax aid. “My suspicion is, because municipalities or local governments tend to usually pay at least some of the tab of site remediation or environmental cleanups,” Kellison said, “that if the respondent pays for it, they’ll be getting that money back elsewhere, in terms of maybe tax incentives and things like that.” Long added that having the respondent at least apparently pay for reme-

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diation could serve a public relations purpose for Tempe. “The local politicians will be able to say yes, we got this cleaned up by the private sector … but meanwhile that $70 million actually comes into the deal through another part of the budget,” she said, “because it’s just a lot of money relative to the project cost.” For Keyes, the prospective site atop landfill materials in Tempe means the continuation of a trend. “The fact that I’ve worked on a halfdozen of these in the last eight to 10 years, and it seems to be increasing – I just think we’re going to see more of that,” he said. He added that building on a fill site represents an advanced stage in a city’s development. ”As cities are growing up, they would have the dump on the edge of town,” Keyes said. “And that dump on the edge of town is now consumed by the city or the village. And so, it represents some of the last large expanse of land that you have that is available for these types of uses.” Proposals for development are due August 19.

LAURA BROCKEL, AU.D., CCC-A Doctor of Audiology Audiology Concierge Network Member

CITY NEWS

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GIG from page 14

known as the “numeric multiplier” and Lyft got rid of its model, “prime time,” in 2016. Under those models, Griffith would work the night shift, earning 1.5 or two times the daytime fare. Under the new plan, drivers were paid per mile and per minute, regardless of the hour. Uber in 2017 dropped its pay rates per mile to $1.75 from $2.15, and in 2019 to 60 cents from 80, according to accounts from drivers. Uber and Lyft do not publicly report data. Griffith and Young were unsure of the exact amounts but their estimates lined up with the amounts reported by other drivers. Lyft and Uber, which recently acquired Postmates, did not respond to requests for comment. “The vast majority of these jobs are extremely low paid and exploitative,” Wells said, “but it’s really, really hard to figure that out because the costs are so nebulous – like a spreadsheet of 20-some different factors to figure out, what do they get paid? “One of our drivers sort of said very early on, ‘My God, this makes McDonald’s

look like a simple job because at least you’re not Nicole Moore, an organizer for Rideshare Drivers United in LA, got involved with efforts to unionize rideshare drivers after becoming fed up with the declining pay. “There’s very little trust between drivers and the apps anymore,” Moore said. “They always spin things to make us think that we’re about to get something great when it’s something when they cut the mileage rate.” Moore and other drivers could see a pattern emerging, but realized they had no platform to negotiate or demand better rates. And, she said, some full-time drivers are frustrated because they receive no health benefits or paid time off. “The companies are really trying all over the country to deceive the public and drivers about their sweetheart deals, like a guarantee of flexibility, which is not a guarantee at all,” Moore said. This story was produced in collaboration with the Walter Cronkite Schoolbased Carnegie-Knight News21 “Unmasking America,” a national reporting project on the lingering toll of COVID-19 scheduled for publication in August.

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QUARANTINE from page 13

White also noted that the trend has indicated a growing positivity rate among people under age 50. “We continue to see this being a patient population that is skewing younger,” White said. Of those under 50 who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, White reported that 1-2 percent have been pediatric patients. “Throughout the pandemic we have seen children that have been infected and have required hospitalization,” White said. White was optimistic that there “has not been a marked increase in the number of children that have required hospitalizations here within Valleywise Health.” SUSD hopes that clearer guidance will not just help prevent an increase in the number of hospitalized children but will keep the staff and loved ones of students safe. “While it may be impossible for MCDPH to enforce every quarantine, with clear guidance, we can implement those requirements related to

APARTMENT from page 10

nance just plastered over it. Another resident accused management of dishonesty in an attempt to hold on to her security deposit and charge erroneous fees. Terri Brandow told the Progress that she had to threaten legal action to get her security deposit back when she moved units within the complex. She also had to threaten to call an attorney when management accused her of causing damage she claims did not exist in her old unit and attempted to charge her $1,300. “You bully up on people and some people will pay that,” she said. “I knew there wasn’t no damage, so I wasn’t about to pay it.” Lowther said the same management team, employed by Greystar, is often unsympathetic to residents worried about how the rising rents will impact their housing security. “The staff over there is very horrible, very rude,” she said. “They laughed at me because I can’t afford it.” Greystar did not respond to a question about the alleged behavior of on-site management staff towards residents concerned about rent increases.

participation in school,” Menzel wrote. “Any steps you can take to differentiate between what is required vs what is recommended will help us ensure we are doing our part to reduce the spread of COVID while students are on our campuses,” he added. White also encourages all residents to do their part to slow the spread of the disease. “We need to continue to advocate vaccination and masking in these situations so we can control the spread of this virus,” White said. “We do not want to see things that we saw earlier this year from that.” A county spokesman had no immediate comment on Menzel’s request. Scottsdale Unified is obeying the state ban on mask mandates while at least six districts in the state, mostly in Phoenix, have defied the law. The law does not take effect until Sept. 29 but Ducey has insisted it already is because it is retroactive to July 1. Scottsdale Unified is strongly recommending that parents have their children wear masks and federal law requires all students on buses to wear them.

Both Lowther and Brandow said they believe the rent increases and other behavior is part of a larger plan to boot older residents to make room for remodels. “(They) take the older, older people and tell them they’re remodeling but they can have another apartment to move to, but it’s a ridiculous amount more…it’s a way of forcing them out, you know?” she said. Lowther gave a similar account. “They told me they want to gut and remodel it so that’s their excuse (for the rent hike),” she said. In response to questions from the Progress, Greystar said the complex is under renovation and as leases end, older apartments are being upgraded. “The newly renovated units are being offered for rents consistent with similarly available units in the neighborhood,” according to the statement. “We continue to honor the term of all existing leases.” The company blamed untimely repairs on supply chain issues connected to the pandemic. Josh Hoffman, managing director for the BlueRock Residential REIT that owns the complex, did not respond to a request for comment.

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DeFusco Law arms 18 teachers with supply funds BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

eFusco Law firm awarded 18 teachers in the Scottsdale Unified School District $300 stipends to use toward school supplies this year. The Scottsdale firm does this twice a year and awards 10 teachers with stipends. But this year, the firm allocated additional funds to its effort through a recently settled claim referred to the firm by a Cocopah Middle School staff member. “This round was different,” said Bryn K. DeFusco, who founded DeFusco Law with her husband Andy in 2016. “We decided we would donate our fees back to the school district and we thought what better way than through

see SUPPLIES page 21

Bryn K. DeFusco has been offering $300 stipends to 10 teachers since 2018 but opted to award 18 teachers this year. (Courtesy of Greg Sexton)

Marcia DeMuro, who teaches advanced engineering and in the STEM lab at Cocopah Middle School, used her stipend to get new tripods and circle lights to assist with her video production classes. (Courtesy of Greg Sexton)

Giving Group makes big impact on charities BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

he Giving Group AZ is a philanthropic group that meets every 90 days to decide which charity to award a grand prize of $10,000 to. Consisting of over 110 members who contribute $100 every three months, the group has found that everything has gone according to plan despite the uncertainty and chaos brought on by the pandemic. “In 2017, we started the Giving Group AZ and it’s been going exactly according to plan,” the group’s founder Brain Yampolsky said. Yampolsky started out with a simple plan to get the group to 100 members, which took him about a year to achieve. “When you get 100 people together

Marking the award of the grand prize to Aid for Adoption of Special Kids in May 2019 are, from left, Mallory Reis, Julie Turko of Adoption of Special Kids, Brian Yampolsky, Alan Graham and Sasha Graham. (Courtesy of Brian Yampolsky)

and they each contribute $100, you get $10,000 that can make an impact on some local nonprofits,” he said. Through word of mouth and staying active on social media platforms like Facebook, Yampolsky has found a way to keep his group growing and maintain over 100 members. “Our recruiting has been 100 percent through word of mouth and social media,” Yampolsky said. “I started with friends in my closest circle and once I recruited them, I asked them for their help in finding new members.” Now that he has a consistent base, the challenge Yampolsky is faced with every 90 days is keeping members engaged and growing the group. “It’s a consistent effort to remind peo-

see GIVING page 22

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SUPPLIES �� page 20

the stipend program.” DeFusco Law, which represents accident victims and their families, started its Classroom Supply Stipend in 2018 and has since donated more than $25,000 for certified teachers to use. This year’s recipients are: Hohokam Elementary’s Susan Barnes and Chloe Flitton; Anasazi Elementary’s Dawndy Bendet; Coronado High’s Sara Cain and Marissa Palmer; Cocopah Middle School’s Marcia DeMuro and Carline Fried; Desert Canyon Elementary’s Katie Honeycutt; Chaparral High’s Malcolm Leinwhol and Noël Rosenthal; Echo Canyon K-8’s Lisa Port and Jennifer Wells; Tonalea K-8’s Dr. Paula Slamowitz, Alexandra Valenzuela and William Williams; Navajo Elementary’s Robin Wiley and Brandy Wilson; and Ingleside Middle School’s Rhonda Witherspoon. Malcolm Leinwhol, a biology teacher at Chaparral, plans to use his stipend to purchase Owl pellets, mitosis microscope slides, predator-prey lab manipulatives, as he feels “students learn science by doing science.” “With these supplies, more of my stu-

dents will be doing science,” Leinwhol said. His colleague Noël Rosenthal, who also teaches biology, used the money to purchase three skulls from the canine family to use as a visual aid when teaching about evolution. Rosenthal estimates the skulls will assist over 160 students in her classes this year and in the years to come. One teacher used the money to update her classroom and get supplies to buttress her curriculum. Wilson teaches 5th grade at Navajo and has already used the stipend to purchase three new wobble chairs – which she said her students love – along with some popit silicone discs to use as a tool to help with pronouncing multisyllabic words and consumable paper bags to use for projects. “I learned long ago that students get really excited to learn when learning is fun,’’ Wilson said. “I know on my teaching and planning side that this “fun” also engages the growing brain.” Wilson was not the only one to make some updates to her classroom. Slamowitz teaches social studies at Tonalea K-8 school and plans to use the sti-

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pend to purchase supplemental materials for her students to create hands-on learning activities. “This stipend was used to update some classroom decorations in my room to make my room more engaging for my students to learn in,” Slamowitz said. Other teachers, like Lisa Port of Echo Canyon K-8, used the stipend to load up on general supplies for middle school students and eliminate any stress that students may have about not having things they need. “It is one less stress the students will have. Middle school is hard enough without any extra worries,” Port said. “This will allow students to quietly come into my room to get what they need Robin Wiley, a kindergarten teacher at Navajo Eland not have to worry or become ementary School, bought some art supplies with the stipend she received from DeFusco Law. upset.” The stipend will also help re- (Courtesy of DeFusco Law) place a beloved figure that was used once before it was lost in a 2018 fire. lost in the fire at Navajo ElemenWiley plans to purchase a new puppet tary school. Kindergarten teacher Robin Wiley had to use for story time along with several purchased a puppet of The Little Old see SUPPLIES page 22 Lady from the book series that was only

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GIVING �� page 20

ple that are in the group to invite a friend or two,” he said. Yampolsky has also found that the group’s members generally fall into two categories: “The people that are involved in the group either want to just contribute to something that gives back, and others are involved with nonprofits and want a chance for their nonprofit to win our big prize.” No matter what category members fall into, they all enjoy voting on which charity should get the $10,000 grand prize. Four members are randomly selected to speak on behalf of their favorite nonprofit and the members get four minutes to speak. Most of the time, these members will bring a representative from that organi-

SUPPLIES �� page 21

art supplies. Beyond awarding several supplies, DeFusco Law also gave an unexpected prize by eliminating the burden of teachers using their own money to buy supplies. “For the first time in my 19-year career,

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 8, 2021

zation to speak. From there, every contributing member of the giving group casts a vote to select the charity they feel is worthy of the grand prize. Yampolsky describes the process as “a really fun way to have an amplified impact on the community.” Since the grand prize is $10,000 and each member donates $100, if there are more than 100 contributing members in the group, the group will divide up the remaining money and distribute it across the other three charities. “I think what is unique about our group is that you get to be a part of something that is having an impact on our community and when you hear nonprofits speaking every 90 days, you get an education of these amazing organizations,” Yampolsky said.

I was able to enjoy back to school shopping for my classroom without worrying about my wallet,” exclaimed Carline Fried, a 7th grade math teacher at Cocopah Middle School. DeFusco Law saw 70 teachers apply for the stipends this year and has plans to award at least five more stipends this

The most recent winner of the grand prize on May 28 was Go With the Flow, a non-profit that offers education and feminine products to young women. Previous grand prize winners have been the Homeless ID Project, which aims to help homeless people rebuild their lives by assisting them in getting an ID, and Desert Stages Theatre, which Yampolsky was actively involved with prior to starting the Giving Group AZ. In total, the Giving Group AZ has donated to 16 nonprofits since its inception and Yampolsky has found a common theme among each of the organizations. “There’s one consistent theme in all nonprofits, and that is they all need money,” He said. “This donation can mean the difference between being able to stay open and having to shut down.” Yampolsky hopes that message will

December. Though DeFusco has no limit to what the teachers can use the stipend money for, she does hope that the students benefit from the items purchased. “When we have happy teachers and our teachers are supplied, our kids will get educated well,” DeFusco said.

encourage people to become members of the Giving Group AZ and donate to all the nonprofits it works with. “If you can be a part of the donation, it takes a good thing and makes it a great thing,” He said. Yampolsky encourages new members to join via the giving groups website, tggaz.org and to attend the groups meeting later this month via Zoom. “We have a few non-members who go to our meetings and before the meeting is over, they will join just so they can vote on the winning charity,” he said. Next meeting

When: August 26 Where: Zoom Cost: Voting members must contribute $100 every three months Info: tggaz.org

She also hopes this will spur future donations to schools across the state. “My hope is that more businesses and community members will step up and want to help out local schools even if it’s not with this program,” DeFusco said. Information: defuscolaw.com

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BUSINESS 23

Business

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A family business since 1910, Hinkley’s Lighting produces outdoor and indoor custom and catalog lighting, fans and accessories. It is moving to Scottsdale this fall. (Special to the Progress)

Erik Nagli is giving airport hangers a shiny new look with his unique flooring system. (Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)

Airpark flooring company makes hangars shine BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Progress Staff Writer

rik Nagli was searching for a business to acquire when he came across Airpark-based Brilliant Epoxy Floors in 2018. It was a perfect fit. “I spent the better part of 10 years looking for a business that was vertically integrated, meaning you are the solution from the beginning to end,” said Nagli, whose resume is rich with experience in building materials and running large construction businesses. “If you’re reliant upon somebody else,

that’s where you get into trouble. I also wanted a company that had a great reputation.” Brilliant Epoxy Floors is a concrete restoration and epoxy coatings installation company that offers hangar flooring systems. The 27-year-old company provides consultations and epoxy flooring installation services for general aviation and privately owned hangars. “In the last several years, we’ve developed somewhat of a niche and become well-known for our work within aircraft

see EPOXY page 24

Hinkley’s turning on the lights in the Airpark BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Progress Staff Writer

inkley’s Lighting turned its lights on at its iconic Central Avenue store 70 years ago. This fall, the Phoenix fixture will close that location and move its operation to a bigger warehouse and showroom to 16049 N. Greenway Hayden Loop in Scottsdale. “We have had a fantastic journey here in this Phoenix building for the last 70 years, but it’s time to expand and move everything under one roof in a bigger and more sophisticated space,” says Michael Jackson, owner of Hinkley’s Lighting. “The last few years have been very good ones for us and now we are ready to offer our longtime customers and

friends a really cool space and experience at our newly expanded Scottsdale location.” To celebrate the move, Hinkley’s Lighting is hosting a progressive sale with 10 percent of all retail sales of in-stock merchandise benefitting Phoenix Children’s Hospital. “We’re doing 60 percent off in August and 70 percent off in September,” Jackson says. “Then we’ll have a black tag sale party, where some of the fixtures will either be free or by donation and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to PCH.” A family business since 1910, Hinkley’s Lighting produces outdoor and indoor custom and catalog lighting, fans and accessories. The company has a variety

see LIGHTS page 25

BUSINESS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 8, 2021

EPOXY �� page 23

hangars,” said Nagli. “While we attribute our success within the aviation industry to several factors, one of the reasons we get referrals and repeat business is that we understand the rigorous demands placed upon a hangar floor. We know which coating system to use, how to properly prep the surface, and how to professionally install the coatings so that the floor not only looks amazing but is able to stand up to harsh conditions.” According to Nagli, aircraft hangars have several requirements that separate them from traditional commercial and industrial environments. His company offers coating systems that meet those needs. “Choosing the right flooring for a hangar is critical,” he said. “It can literally impact the efficiency and success of an operation, as well as the safety of those in the environment. “The difference that separates us is we’re vertically integrated. We do all the prep. Our techs are trained in every facet of the coating business.” Since Nagli purchased the company, he has doubled business, especially on the commercial side. He partners with Sher-

win Williams to train and provide Brilliant Epoxy Floor’s staff with the latest cuttingedge technologies. They also jointly warranty all floor installs. “Scottsdale Airpark was built in the early 1990s,” he said. “It was built with aggregate. The coating can’t stick to it. This is well known in the Airpark. “We did Southwest Jet, which is the largest FBO operator in the Airpark. We are able to prep the concrete correctly and educate them on our process; why one guy can charge $3.50 a square foot and the other is $2.50 a square foot.” Nagli said there are reasons for this. It comes down to preparation, the quality of the materials used, the quality of the technician. “We focus on that pretty heavily,” he said. The flooring used within hangars must have excellent compressive strength to withstand the weight and mass of an aircraft, while being flexible. It must also resist chemicals, fuels, corrosive liquids, waxes and other substances commonly used within hangars. Superior high-wear properties are required so the flooring can resist scratches and abrasions. Finally, the flooring must be protected

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against staining that can be caused by hot tires coming in off the runway “For these reasons, resinous floor coating systems have long been a preferred specification for aircraft hangar floors due to their durability and performance factors,” Nagli said. “Epoxy resins combine with the concrete, creating a continuous layer and a surface that is stronger than concrete alone. This increased strength dissipates the load and increases the weight bearing capacity and durability of the concrete base, all while remaining flexible under stress.” Within aircraft hangars, high-gloss epoxy systems in neutral colors, such as white or gray, are typically specified to improve available light and brighten the facility. In addition to showcasing the aircraft, the use of lighter colors and high-gloss finishes creates light reflectivity, which provides illumination above and underneath the aircraft, as well as better visibility to spills, items or debris on the floor. While epoxy floors are often specified for hangars, according to Nagli, not all epoxy floors are the same. He explained that the overall quality of the floor depends on several factors, including choosing the right coatings for the space, the quality

level of the epoxy coatings, the proper restoration and preparation of the concrete surface, and the skill level of the coating installers. “Each part of the process is important, but if I had to pick just one variable that separates an ordinary epoxy floor from a Brilliant floor, it would have to be the way we prep the surface,” Nagli said. “After removing existing coatings, we industrial diamond grind or shotblast the concrete, which creates an ultrasmooth surface that’s ready for a smooth application of coatings. Surface preparation is the key to getting a floor that both shines and performs.” Nagli also attributes the quality of the company’s end-product to its use of commercial-grade coatings and the expertise of its in-house installers. “Our technicians are expert craftsmen; they undergo extensive training and are very skilled in surface preparation and coating system installation,” Nagli said. “We have the best team in the business.” Brilliant Epoxy Floors has recently installed hangar coating systems for Southwest Jet Center and several private clients,

see EPOXY page 25

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The Arizona Corporation designated CenturyLink asCommission an Eligible Telecommunications CenturyLink asCarrier an within Eligible Telecommunications its service area for universal service Carrier within its service area for basic universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s local service rates purposes. CenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential voice lines are $18.47 per month for residential and voice linesservices are $18.47 perpermonth business are $35.00 month. and business Specific services perrequest. month. rates are will be$35.00 provided upon Specific rates will be provided upon request. Hinkley's represents more than 500 major lighting manufacturers. (Special to the Progress)

LIGHTS �� page 23

of resources for finding antique lighting fixtures from castles, villas, old temples and estates throughout the world. They make these unique fixtures of the 18th and early 19th centuries available to customers refurbished or modified to fit their desired décor. From modern, contemporary and traditional, Hinkley’s represents more than 500 major lighting manufacturers domestically and internationally. For those seeking a bespoke option, the team at Hinkley’s can create or custom-fabricate a design from scratch, using elements inspired by another light fixture or an off-the-shelf option to coordinate with any architectural style or furnishings. These aren’t typical lamps. Chandeliers, lamps and luminaries, as well as candlesticks and sconces can be created. “I like the creative part of the business,” he says. “I like to do things that are unique, which is what we do. “We’re different in that way. We draw

EPOXY �� page 24

and recoated the Great American Hangar in Scottsdale Airpark. Nagli’s work isn’t limited to the Airpark. Brilliant Epoxy Floors has collaborated with Intel and Honeywell. A Seattle native, Nagli moved to the Valley, where he studied automotive at Universal Technical Institute in Avondale. He had plans to work in that industry, but he shifted toward building and served as corporate executive vice president of a lumber yard.

something for you, make it for you and it’ll only be at your house and nowhere else. You can tell the story of how it was created and how it was made just for you. I’ve always enjoyed people. I’m a people person. Everybody’s different, even with managing employees. I love everyday challenges.” A graduate of Central High School, Jackson started with Hinkley’s Lighting when he was 14. His sister married into the family and his brother-in-law hired him part time. After high school, Jackson started working full time and has been there for 45 years. “I started as a back-room guy,” he says. “Now, I can sell it to you, wire it, install it and do the whole thing, if I need to.” Hinkley’s Lighting

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Lifeline program as any individual or group of whofor livethe together at the sameofaddress A household isindividuals defined purposes the and share income and expenses. service Lifeline program as any individual orLifeline group of not transferable, andthe onlysame eligibleaddress consumers individuals whois live together at may enroll in the program. Consumers who and share income and expenses. Lifeline service willfully and make false order to obtain is not transferable, onlystatements eligibleinconsumers or broadband service can be may enroll inLifeline the telephone program. Consumers who punished by fine or imprisonment andobtain can be willfully make false statements in order to barred from the program.

Lifeline telephone or broadband service can be punished by fine andarea, canplease be If youor live imprisonment in a CenturyLink service barred from the callprogram. 1-800-201-4099 or visit centurylink.com/ lifeline with questions or to request an application

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SPORTS & RECREATION

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Javen Jacobs aspires to be a great Sabercat He saw his blockers make a wall and followed them. He created space between his defenders using his stiff arm. His agiln Oct. 23, 2020, the eyes of high ity allowed him to quickly cut back toschool football fans across the wards the end zone. The result of his athcountry were on Scottsdale. leticism was a 50-yard punt return for the ESPN was nationally televising a game game’s first touchdown. between Saguaro and Hamilton – one of “It was kind of like tunnel vision,” Jathe country’s top programs. Those tuning cobs said. “My parents after the game in saw the Huskies win 13-7 in a defen- told me the whole side of the stadium for sive battle. Saguaro just erupted and it was electric. They also witnessed the talent of Sa- To know that I did it on the biggest stage guaro’s Javen Jacobs. possible, it felt good.” With the score tied at zero near the Electric is a way to describe Jacobs. Acend of the first quarter, Jacobs came out cording to coach Jason Mohns, the rising onto the field with the punt team. As he senior is a playmaker, so much so that he caught the ball and sprinted to his left, he doesn’t see Jacobs as a true wide receiver demonstrated why he is one of the top re- or a true running back. Instead, he concruits from Arizona in the Class of 2022. siders Jacobs a “hybrid” of the two because of his unique skill set. Those qualities were on display against Hamilton. He racked up 80 yards in the air, 55 on the ground and successfully completed a 37-yard pass. An All-State Punt Returner during the 2020 season, Jacobs finished the year with 886 allpurpose yards, 392 receiving yards and 290 rushing yards to help the Sabercats go 5-1. Holding nine offers from programs such as Arizona State, Colorado and Northern Arizona, Jacobs in early June attended The Opening, a premier seven-on-sevJacobs looks up to his older brother, Josiah, a defensive en tournament for top back at Sacramento State. The two push each other and high school prospects. have set goals to both one day make it to the NFL. (Courtesy While in Manhattan Javen Jacobs) Beach, California, his BY DREW SCHOTT Progress Staff Writer

Saguaro athlete Javen Jacobs has quickly become one of the Sabercats’ best playmakers on both sides of the ball, a role he welcomes as he aspires to be the program’s next great player. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff)

play made a statement. “It should be an eye-opener to some of these college coaches,” Mohns said. “He’s got some good opportunities, but nowhere near the opportunities that he’s deserving of. “He can be a running back. He can be a third-down back. He can line up in the slot. He can line up outside. There’s no doubt in my mind that Javen Jacobs is one of the best players in the country.” Analysts from Rivals.com and 247Sports complimented his skill for making plays while open or closely guarded, as well as his ability to escape defenders. Performing against some of the best high school athletes in the country, Jacobs called attending The Opening “a lifetime experience.” While performing over the tournament’s three days, his philosophy was to

play his game and not pay attention to the rankings of players around him. He achieved this by showcasing his talent to those in attendance. “I feel like I can win one-on-one every time I line up against somebody,” Jacobs said. “I say it as humble as possible, but that’s just truly what I believe and how I feel. And I backed it up as well.” Mohns believes that Jacobs isn’t as highly ranked because his versatility in Saguaro’s offense does not lock him into playing one position. Yet this doesn’t affect Arizona’s 22nd-best recruit. Following The Opening, he tweeted “Stars don’t mean nothing, the best of the best couldn’t cover me this weekend so what does that mean?” While Jacobs works hard to increase

see JACOBS page 27

SPORTS & RECREATION

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JACOBS �� page 26

his skill on the gridiron, he also helps his teammates do the same. Mohns, who praised Jacobs for his accountability, respect, discipline and success in the classroom, called him a leader by example because he is one of Saguaro’s best players and hardest workers. Earlier this summer, the Sabercats traveled to Carlsbad, California for a threeand-a-half-day trip that included seven practices. According to Mohns, multiple players were sore and had to miss practice. But not Jacobs. He didn’t miss a single snap. “He puts on the hard hat and brings a lunch pail every day,” Mohns said. “You never have to worry about him having a bad attitude.” Jacobs not only returns to Saguaro as a leader and the team’s leading rusher and receiver. He returns to continue telling the story of the Jacobs family on the gridiron. His brother Josiah, a defensive back at Sacramento State, played at Saguaro after transferring from Basha during his freshman year. Josiah and Javen are bonded by a goal of making it to the National Football League.

As a result, the two train hard against one another when Josiah is back from college. Javen is also motivated to play for his brother, who suffers from Type 1 diabetes and was instrumental in acclimating him to the Saguaro football family. “He inspires me,” Javen said. “He’s always been around and so that was hard for me to deal with when he left. I had to grow up and he helped me grow up as well when he was away. Since he was in sixth grade, Javen knew he wanted to attend Saguaro after watching Sabercats star Christian Kirk, now a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. He looked up to Kirk’s journey, as well as the success of Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy. Now that he is in their position, he hopes to put it all out on the field during the 2021 season and create a longstanding legacy. Senior quarterback Ridge Docekal believes Jacobs’ play will help him achieve his goal. “Every game, he leaves it all out on the field,” Docekal said. “No matter how bad he’s hurting or how tired he is, he’s always gonna push forward and give you that 100 percent effort.”

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HOW IT WORKS Loss of erection power starts with your blood vessels. Specifically, the inside layer called the endothelium where nitric oxide is made. The problem is various factors THICKEN your blood vessels as you age. This blocks availability causing the nitric oxide “glitch.” The result is difficulty in getting and sustaining a healthy erection. How bad is the problem? Researcher shows the typical 40-year-old man absorbs 50% less nitric oxide. At 50, that drops to 25%. And once you pass 60 just a measly 15% gets through. To make matters worse, nitric oxide levels start declining in your 30’s. And by 70, nitric oxide production is down an alarming 75%. Primal Max Red is the first formula to tackle both problems. Combining powerful nitric oxide boosters and a proven delivery mechanism that defeats the nitric oxide “glitch” resulting in 275% better blood flow. There’s not enough space here to fully explain how it works, so Dr. Sears will send anyone who orders Primal Max Red a free special report that explains everything.

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THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. RESULTS MAY VARY

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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School of Rock prepares students for live shows BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

he School of Rock Scottsdale is beginning to see many of its students and alumni live out their dream of playing Valley venues again. The franchise has been educating the future rockers of the world since 1998, long before the hit �ilm came out. Michelle Worley has been with School of Rock Scottsdale since 2014, two years after it opened, and has seen several musicians embark on playing at some of the state’s top venues. “These kids come in wanting to be a rockstar and the lessons are meant to build on their character,” Worley said. “All you have to do is build con�idence and those who want to become rock stars will become such.” One of the �irst students to become a rock star was Meghan Herring, who was the second student to sign up at the Scottsdale location and formed the alt-punk band Doll Skin with three other students she met at the school. “If I didn’t have School of Rock, I would be a completely different drummer,” Herring said. Since she joined the school, Herring has played with its house band and works as an instructor and studio coordinator when she is not on the road or in the studio. “Doll Skin was one of our �irst alumni that would help with ‘Rock 101’ camp and has always given back to us which has really inspired other students to do more,” Worley said. “Rock 101” is where students learn basic performing skills coupled with an expansion on their music abilities. “Before we got to perform, we all took ‘Rock 101,’ which is basically beginners performing on stage in front of parents,” said Joey Romano, the drummer in the 2 Loud Band.

The 2 Loud Band, which includes guitarist Reno Lock, drummer Joey Romano, vocalist Vedder Ellis and bassist Andrew Horlick, are graduates of the School of Rock Scottsdale and will be playing at the Marquee Theatre on Aug. 28. (Courtesy of Rachel Elisha)

Michelle Worley takes a break at School of Rock in Scottsdale.

(Pablo Robles/Progress

Staff Photographer)

After graduating from “Rock 101,” the students then move on to the performance program, working with each other as the learn the music from rock legends like Led Zeppelin, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Rush, Guns N’ Roses and many more. During that program, many bands are

formed and begin to start booking their own shows. It is also where students and learn the ins and outs of the music industry. “Booking a gig is the easy part but getting your band ready to be seen is the hard part,” Worley said. However, the instruction at the school of

rock prepares these students to play a rocking show. “The School of Rock gives us great tips on how to play live and gives us an environment where it is encouraged to perform in front of people,” student Zippy Dale James said. Beyond teaching students how to be good performers, the school teaches them to be good people. “School of Rock doesn’t just teach you how to play an instrument but teaches you how to function at shows properly and be professional,” Herring said. Students also get the opportunity to work with musicians who have toured all over the world, like Herring. “The kids get really starry-eyed when they work with these touring musicians,” Worley said. “It’s also cool that these kids can watch videos of these musicians on YouTube and listen to them giving advice.” Other students also like being able to pick the brain of the rock stars who have graduated. “It’s exciting to talk to them about their experiences as touring musicians and to ask them how to play better,” James said. The students also get advice to confront any nervousness about an upcoming show. “I always tell them to make sure they look like they’re having a good time and to show personality,” Herring said, adding that she reminds students of a piece of advice she received from School of Rock Music Director Shane Baskerville: “No matter how many people are in the crowd, play like there’s 1,000 people or 10,000 people there.” Despite all the expert advice the students receive, it is the support from their friends and loved ones that drives these students forward, Worley said, adding: “Season after season of hard work, dedication and encouragement from their teachers, peers and parents is what helps them succeed.”

FOOD & DRINK

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | AUGUST 8, 2021

Public Notices

NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL HEARING

With JAN D’ATRI Progress Contributor

Grilled Ahi makes for great salad

here is the classic Salade Nicoise with its lovely composition of tuna, tomatoes, sliced eggs, olives, potatoes, haricots verts and anchovies - or variations thereof. The tuna is generally canned, and there is very little in the way of lettuce leaves. Then, there is the more updated trend, the Ahi Tuna Salad, with its delicate strips of seared fresh ahi tuna, arranged in overlapping slices and serve on a bed of lettuce often with a wasabi-soy- mustard drizzle or honey ginger vinaigrette. Combine the best of both salads, add a rainbow of color and crunch, and you have a hearty, healthful main meal dish with the unusual twist of For the salad: 4-6 oz fresh Ahi Tuna steak, carefully cut in 1-inch cubes Sea salt and course ground pepper 2-3 tablespoons olive or avocado oil 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half 1 ripe avocado, cubed 1/2 small red onion, sliced paper thin 1/2 cup red pepper, diced 1/2 cup yellow or orange pepper, diced 4 medium tomatillos, quartered 3-4 cups arugula (or Mesclun or Spring Mix) 1/2 cup no shell pepitas (pumpkin seeds), roasted and salted* (See Jan’s notes) 1/2 cup wasabi green peas* 1/2 cup Marcona almonds* (or blanched and toasted raw almonds) For the dressing: 1/2 cup olive, avocado or grape seed oil 1/3 cup rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons orange juice 1 tablespoon lime juice 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced (optional) 1 garlic clove, minced Dash of hot sauce 1/8 teaspoon salt

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN the City Council of the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, will hold a public hearing on August 24, 2021, at 5:00 P.M. The City Hall Kiva Forum (Kiva) is open to the public during City Council meetings at a reduced capacity. Seating in the Kiva will be available on a first come, first served basis. 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. Instructions on how to provide Public Comments will be provided on the posted agenda 1-UP-2021 (Christian Brothers Automotive) Request by owner for 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. 6-GP-2019 (District at 9400 Shea) Request by owner for a non-major General Plan amendment to the City of Scottsdale General Plan 2001 to change the land use designation from Commercial to Mixed-Use Neighborhoods on a +/- 11-acre site located on the south side of E. Shea Blvd. east of N. 92nd Street (217-36-001P, 217-36-001M and 217-36-001N). Staff contact person is Doris McClay, 480-312-4214. Applicant contact person is Felipe Zubia, (480) 429-3065. 16-ZN-2019 (District at 9400 Shea) Request by owner to rezone from Commercial Office Planned Community District (C-O PCD) and Highway Commercial Planned Community District (C-3 PCD) to Planned Unit Development Planned Community District (PUD PCD) on a +/- 11-acre site located on the south side of E. Shea Blvd. east of N. 92nd Street (217-36-001P, 217-36-001M and 217-36-001N) to allow for a maximum of 219 new residential units with a development plan. Staff contact person is Doris McClay, 480-312-4214. Applicant contact person is Felipe Zubia, (480) 429-3065.

fresh tuna served, not in slices, but rather in cubes to get the sear on all sides. If your New Year’s resolution is to eat healthy and somewhat preservative-free, the Grilled Ahi Tuna Salad is your creative and crunchy kick starter in a bowl! Directions: If using raw almonds instead of marcona almonds, blanch almonds in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Drain and remove skins. Pat dry. In a small skillet over medium high heat, roast almonds in enough oil just to coat the almonds until lightly toasted, about 3-4 minutes. Sprinkle with a little salt. Set aside. Brush the tuna steak with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and press into steak. Cut steak into one-inch cubes. Heat oil in skillet and cook cubes on high heat until seared on all sides. about 2 minutes. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, avocado, red onion, red pepper and yellow pepper, tomatillos, arugula or greens, pepitas and wasabi peas, almonds and tuna cubes. In a food processor, blender or with a whisk, mix together dressing ingredients until well combined. Drizzle dressing over salad and gently toss. Add salt and pepper as needed. Jan’s Notes: I found pepitas and wasabi peas at Whole Foods and Sprouts. Marcona almonds can be found at Whole Foods, Aj’s Fine Foods, and select grocery stores.

2-ZN-2021 (McLaren Scottsdale) Request by owner for a Zoning District Map Amendment from Industrial Park (I-1) and Industrial Park Conditional (I-1 (C)) to General Commercial (C-4) zoning on a +/3.4-acre site located at 7881 East Gray Road. Staff contact person is Katie Posler, 480-312-2703. Applicant contact person is John Berry, 480-385-2727. 4-UP-2021 (Heliport for Ty Jenkins) Request by owner for a Conditional Use Permit for a new heliport on a +/- 1.2-acre site with Industrial Park (I-1) zoning located at 15827 N. 80th Street, to serve Unit 4. Staff contact person is Katie Posler, 480-312-2703. Applicant contact person is Jim Larson, 602-9559929. 5-UP-2021 (Heliport for PEM Real Estate Group) Request by owner for a Conditional Use Permit for a new heliport on a +/- 1.2-acre site with Industrial Park (I-1) zoning located at 15827 N. 80th Street, to serve Units 1 and 2. Staff contact person is Katie Posler, 480-312-2703. Applicant contact person is Jim Larson, (602) 955-9929. 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 Karen Hemby 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 (1-800-3678939) MAY CONTACT THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7620).

Published: Scottsdale Progress, Aug 8 2021 / 40443

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WE ARE OVERSTOCKED…

CLEARANCE

Spencers has been saving you money for over 48 Years. We provide the Best Products, at the Lowest Prices and Our Customer Service is Terriﬁc! We are locally owned and operated. When you shop Spencers your hard earned cash stays in OUR COMMUNITY!

58” 4K UHD SMART TV • 2 HDMI Inputs • Airplay2 Built-In

WASHER • 3.5 Cu. Ft. • Porcelain Tub • 700 RPM Spin Speed

NTW4500XQ CLOSEOUT

1000’s OF ITEMS IN STOCK FOR FAST DELIVERY

UN58TU7000

RANGE • 4.8 Cubic Foot Capacity • Self Cleaning Oven • Smooth Top • Proudly Made in USA WFE505W0HS CLOSEOUT

• Integrated Control Styling • Premium Nylon Racks • In Door Silverware Basket • Energy Star Qualiﬁed WDF520PADM

2350

• Normal Wash Cycle (on dial) • Heated Dry On/Off (on rocker) • Standard Upper Rack

12 MONTHS NO INTEREST**

• 2 Glass Adjustable Shelves • LED Lighting • Independent Temperature Controls CRH10SW

REFRIGERATOR

• 25 Cubic Foot Capacity • Spill Proof Glass Shelves • Humidity Controlled Drawers WRS325SDHZ

BUYS ALL 3 PIECES DRYER

• • 4.5 Cu. Ft. Capacity • • • 10 Wash Cycles • • Smart Care

7.5 Cu. Ft. Capacity 10 Cycles 9 Options Steam Sanitize

299 599 EACH

HDA2000TWW CLOSEOUT

FRONT LOAD WASHER

WF45T6200AW

DVE45T6200W

ST **

• Large Crisper Drawer

$ DISHWASHER

MONTHS NO INTERE

TOP MOUNT REFRIGERATOR

499 $429

449

DISHWASHER

12 BFTF2716SS

NO MATTER WHERE YOU SEE IT, READ IT, OR HEAR ABOUT IT, SPENCERS IS GUARANTEED TO BE A LOWER PRICE!

STAINLESS STEEL 23 CU. FT. SIDE BY SIDE • Deli Drawer • Crisper Shelves

• LED Lighting

949

FFSS2314QS CLOSEOUT

** NO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL IN 12 MONTHS. $799.00 Minimum Purchase Required Minimum Payments Required 30.79% APR If the promotional balance is not paid in full by the end for the promotional period or, to the extent permitted by law, if you make a late payment, interest will be imposed from the date of purchase at the APR noted above. This APR is as of 7/4/2019 and will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Your card agreement, the terms of the offer and applicable law govern this transaction including increasing APRs and fees and terminating the promotional period.

Arizona’s largest independent p dealer! “It’s Like Having A Friend In The Business” Check Out Our Website

WWW.SPENCERSTV.COM OPEN DAILY 9AM-9PM | SATURDAY 9AM-6PM | SUNDAY 11AM-5PM

HOUSE IN S R E C SPEN PLANS PAYMENT BLE AVAILA Due to current circumstances, some items may be out of stock stock.

Scottsdale Progress - 8.8.2021

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