Faith leaders seek signs' removal / P. 14
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS.............................. 04 Skysong developer eyeing greater heights.
ARTS ................................ 30 Symbol of a balanced journey at new hotel.
FOOD .............................. 32 Chef's two restaurants cover many tastes.
NEIGHBORS ........................20 BUSINESS ............................. 27 OPINION ..............................29 ARTS ....................................30 FOOD & DRINK................... 32 CLASSIFIEDS .......................34
Scottsdale grads scored big/ P. 9
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Sunday, June 23, 2019
City Attorney to probe NoDDC campaign money BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor
T
he Scottsdale City Attorney will take a closer look at allegations levied against the NoDDC political action committee and its founder Jason Alexander after the City Clerk found reason to believe campaign �inance violations may have occurred. Former Councilman David Smith lodged a complaint with the Scottsdale City Clerk’s of�ice in May alleging a number of violations the NoDDC PAC and individuals associated with the group, including Alexander, Rebecca Holmes and Mike Norton. Many of the complaints arise out of an
alleged commingling of funds between NoDDC Inc. and NoDDC PAC. NoDDC Inc., a now defunct Arizona nonpro�it, was dissolved in December 2018. NoDDC PAC, organized in October 2018, is the most recent itineration of an associated political action committee. A previous entity called NoDDC PAC, also headed by Alexander, was active from September to December 2016. Both organizations were prominent in the �ight against the Desert Discovery Center, later Desert Edge, development that was effectively quashed by the passage of Proposition 420 in November 2018. The complaint included allegations that monies donated to the NoDDC Inc. non pro�it
were funneled to the NoDDC PAC without proper documentation. Smith also alleged that some of the money may have been used to cover personal expenses for Alexander and Norton — both listed as directors of the nonpro�it — and to make donations to City Council candidates in violation of state law. The City Clerk found no evidence that Norton, who was involved with the NoDDC nonpro�it but not the political action committee, committed any violations. The same cannot be said for Alexander or the NoDDC PAC. City Clerk Carolyn Jagger referred the
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Agency, city team up to help the needy here
BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
R
oss Heyl, coordinator of Scottsdale’s Beat the Heat program and city social worker Kelly Van Wave met at southern Scottsdale resident Helga Charbonneau’s home one day to deliver a Beat the Heat goodie bag �illed with drinks, snacks, toiletries, notepads and pens, a book of stamps and a $35 grocery gift card. The moment she grabbed the handles of the reusable tote bag, Charbonneau was overcome with emotion. “When something like this comes along out of the blue, I sit here and cry,” she said, her eyes welling up with tears. “Every time I have received these gifts, it’s like Christmas in July.”
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City social worker Kelly Van Wave and Ross Heyl, coordinator of the Beat the Heat program, often encounter moving displays of gratitutde from the seniors they help. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographert)
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