For The Best Scottsdale
Via Linda and Granite Reef Senior Centers will benefit from infrastructure investments on November 5th ballot.
(SCOTTSDALE) — Forget about ASU versus UofA or Saguaro against Chaparral. The For The Best Scottsdale Campaign in favor of Questions 1, 2 and 3 in Scottsdale is bringing together the two sides of one of the fiercest rivalries — the bridge players at the Via Linda and Granite Reef Senior Centers.
The campaign in favor of the three Scottsdale questions on the November 5th ballot is bringing together those bridge players from the two senior centers for the For The Best Scottsdale Bridge Championship.
The events, which will be held October 7th and October 15th, will give ultimate bragging rights to the winning players and teams. They will also highlight how important Questions 1, 2 and 3 on the November 5th ballot are for Scottsdale’s senior centers.
The events will feature food, drinks and music including performances by Elvis and Frank Sinatra.
The Seniors showdown is also part of For the Best Scottsdale’s unique and unifying campaign that has brought together past political adversaries as well as a geographically and diverse coalition to support the three questions on the November 5th ballot. A unanimous Scottsdale City Council and Mayor Jim Lane as well as former mayors Mary Manross and Sam Campana all back the three questions.
That kind of unity is no small feat in Scottsdale, where voters have not passed a major bond program since 2000.
“While the two senior centers have an intense bridge rivalry, we hope they agree when it comes Questions 1, 2 and 3. The infrastructure program before voters make needed and important investments in both the Via Linda and Granite Reef Senior Centers. We are very excited to bring together two senior centers for this unique event,” said Paula Sturgeon, co-chair of the For The Best Scottsdale Campaign and a bridge player herself.
Both centers will be expanded if voters approve Questions 1, 2 and 3 so they can keep up with increasing demand and they can keep offering services and programs to Scottsdale’s seniors. The Granite Reef Center will also be expanded and will get new and needed adult day care services, so Scottsdale families have more options to care for loved ones.
“Scottsdale was recently ranked as one of the best places in the entire country to retire. Our two senior centers offer essential services and programs to our residents and are part of what makes Scottsdale a special community,” said Sonnie Kirtley. Kirtley is a senior citizen, one of the founders of COGS (the Coalition of Greater Scottsdale) and a strong supporter of Yes Votes on November 5th.
Players from the two senior centers will settle their rivalry with bridge events on October 7th at the Granite Reef Senior Center and October 15h at the Via Linda Senior Center. Both events will run from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. There will also be free food and drinks and information about Questions 1, 2 and 3 on the November 5th ballot.
The three questions invest $319 million in 58 projects in all parts of Scottsdale including the two senior centers. Under the plan, there will be improvements and renovations at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, the Cactus and Eldorado pools, McCormick-Stillman Railroad, Pinnacle Peak Park and Appaloosa Library. New fire stations will get built. The City Jail will be renovated, and police stations will get new bullet proof glass.
The bond program is also fiscally responsible. Secondary property taxes, which fund the city bonds, are expected to go down even if all three questions pass, according to the City Treasurer’s Office. That is because of the retirement of previous bond obligations and rising property values in Scottsdale.
AARP Arizona, the Scottsdale Fire Fighters Association, Police Officers of Scottsdale Association, Coalition of Greater Scottsdale, Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce, Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS, Scottsdale Fraternal Order of Police as well as an expansive roster of community and neighborhood advocates have endorsed all three questions.
You can see all the projects here: https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/elections/bond-2019-project-list.
“We know how important the bond questions are for Scottsdale’s seniors, families and first responders. We are also committed to running a unique and unifying campaign focused on bringing together disparate and diverse constituencies and community advocates. Our bridge tournament shows just how committed our campaign is to invest in Scottsdale and its future,” Sturgeon said.