Mayor Ortega: So predictable — outsider dark money is attacking Scottsdale

So predictable, outsider dark money is attacking Scottsdale! They want to blade Old Town and encroach into the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

They would weaken our family-friendly neighborhoods, cause gridlock in our streets, strangle our tourism, cripple Scottsdale Arts culture and over-burden infrastructure. Together, we must vote yes on Prop. 463 — Scottsdale General Plan 2035.

Dark money wants chaos, by spreading falsehoods they insult our intelligence.

Every business, or organization, HOA and household, has a five-year and 10-year horizon. Having guiding principles and vision to know our past, present and aspirational future is why Scottsdale is such a great place. Hundreds of residents and stakeholders spent thousands of hours, with staff in full public view to craft general plan 2035.

Outsider dark money is attacking general plan 2035 from the shadows.

General plan 2035 is not a tax increase. In fact, financial diligence and steadfast accountability are written into GP-2035. Outsider dark money spreads lies, because they want to exploit and ruin the attributes which make Scottsdale so blessed.

Who are the likely suspects in dark money? At the city council meeting on Aug. 26, 2021, an apartment lobbyist testified that they will bring “50,400 new apartments to Scottsdale.” Then spoke a second time to, “Object, (complain) that the water and sewer rate increases did not suit us.”

As mayor of Scottsdale, I pushed back. “Did I hear you right, bring 50,400 apartments? — that is 100,800 new renters to our city of 250,000?” “And for the record, we are not going to subsidize the apartment builders one dollar for water and sewer fees!” I retorted.

Coincidentally, outsider dark money went into motion to attack Scottsdale.
General plan 2035 is not optional, but mandatory under Arizona law. All other cities around us, are required to reach out, listen to all stakeholders and draft a general plan. Dark money wants to manipulate, to own Scottsdale.

Scottsdale GP-2035 has 24 Elements including new sections for tourism, the Preserve and sustainability, which are not in the original general plan 2001, adopted 20 years ago.

Dark money is trying to scuttle our best effort to balance critical economic vitality, transportation, parks and recreation, desert preservation, Old Town character and so many other essentials.

Outsider dark money wants to sow confusion by attacking our Scottsdale confidence!

To be clear, every councilmember helped to write the General Plan 2035. We worked tirelessly, in public and when finished, our council voted unanimously, including Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield, for GP-2035.

Then in a separate action, the council as co-authors, voted, again, unanimously to put GP-2035 on the November ballot.

Outsider dark money does not want community planning, honesty, or reason to follow Arizona law.

Scottsdale is required to update the general plan every 10 years. Dark money sees GP-2035 as an obstruction. They are attacking me, Mayor Dave Ortega, but I am fearless. Dark money is working with Summit Consulting, their political operatives. But they do not realize that falsehoods will backfire.

I urge every resident, please vote yes on Proposition 463 — Scottsdale General Plan 2035.

Tell outsider dark money you are dead wrong. We are all part of Scottsdale success.

Editor’s Note: David D. Ortega is mayor of Scottsdale.