Sports bar hits new heights / P. 39
Living it up with the Charros / P. 30
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF SCOTTSDALE) | scottsdale.org
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS ............................... 16 Papago re-do creates planning rift
NEIGHBORS ............... 29 He's a hero at Anasazi Elementary
ARTS................................. 36 They're just not exhibits to her
NEIGHBORS ........................ 22 BUSINESS ............................. 32
OPINION .............................. 33
ARTS ....................................36 FOOD & DRINK...................39 CLASSIFIEDS .......................42
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Scottsdale mayor open to regional text ban BY JIM WALSH AND WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Staff
S
cottsdale Mayor Jim Lane is hoping that the State Legislature finally passes a bill to combat texting while driving. If it doesn’t, Lane is open to discussing a plan set forth by the mayors of Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler to study a regional crackdown. Like other city officials throughout Arizona, Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke and Mesa Mayor John Giles two weeks ago said
they may reluctantly consider ordinances if the state fails to act and pursue a regional approach such as one already in force in the Tucson area. Last week, Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels agreed that while a statewide ban makes more sense, she and other town officials would try to work with other area municipalities on a regional approach. Lane, who said he has not yet been approached by his East Valley counterparts, showed a similar reluctance. “I am much more for a standardized thing than a bunch of municipal rules …
so everyone is working on the same page,” Lane said. Still, Lane said, “I guess I would entertain (a regional ban) if the state is not able to do something.” Hartke and Giles were buoyed by passage of Phoenix Republican Sen. Brophy McGee’s bill, which would only allow motorists to use a cell phone by using Bluetooth or other hands-free methods. Amid a sad trail of crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by texting motorists, the
see TEXTING page 6
Shop owner indicted in jewelry scheme BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor
T
he owner of downtown retailer Scottsdale Jewels is one of several Valley merchants indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to the alleged sale of counterfeit Native American jewelry they claimed was genuine. The indictment, filed in late February, names Scottsdale Jewels owner Waleed Sarrar along with several Phoenix and San Antonio jewelry retailers and the Philippines jewelers who allegedly manufactured the fake jewelry. Arizona Corporation Commission records show Sarrar owns Scottsdale Jewels, located on Brown Avenue in Old Town, with his brother, Ferdos Sarrar, who is not named in the indictment. Sarrar faces 29 counts in the indictment, including charges of mail fraud, conspiracy, wire
see JEWELRY page 11
Andrew Bloom REALTOR®, Senior Partner Andrew@BVOLuxury.com VOTED #1 SCOTTSDALE REAL ESTATE TEAM FOR 2018
Tourists continue to visit Scottsdale Jewels, which remains open in Old Town Scottsdale with multiple pieces of turquoise jewelry in the front window. (Photo by Wayne Schutsky)
(480) 999-2948 www.BVOLuxuryGroup.com