Health, wellness guide inside / P. 14
S&V Italian doubles up / P. 26
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
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Citizens can’t speak at City Council meetings BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor
NEWS ................................ 8 Axon deal sails through Council.
NEIGHBORS ............20 Scottsdale woman marks 105.
Sunday, August 30, 2020
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arlier this year, the pandemic forced local governments to move public meetings online in the wake of public health guidelines aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19. But months after the pandemic first hit Maricopa County, Scottsdale is the only
Many bars here get no shutdown reprieve
large Valley city that has not restored some form of live public comment at City Council meetings – a move that has drawn criticism from some residents and local officials. Currently, Scottsdale residents who want to address Council can only submit written comments via email or the city’s website. Of the 10 largest cities in Maricopa County, Scottsdale is the only one that does not offer a call-in or in-person public comment
option during City Council meetings. Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale and Peoria all offer in-person commenting with limits on the number of people who can enter the building at any one time. Other cities – including Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert, Glendale, Tempe and Surprise – allow residents to sign up prior to their council
see PUBLIC COMMENT page 6
BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
BUSINESS .................. 23 Harkens reopens movie houses.
NEIGHBORS .........................................20 BUSINESS .............................................. 23 OPINION ................................................ 24 ARTS .........................................................25 FOOD ....................................................... 26 CLASSIFIEDS ........................................27
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sea of neon-green protest signs bobbed and bounced among the crowd at the State Capitol two weeks ago with chants of “Let us pour!” and “Open one, open all!” as the “Not Our Last Call Rally” pushed for the reopening of Series 6 and 7 bars. And not all the roughly 300 bar owners, bartenders and patrons who joined that rally will be happy with the state Department of Health Services’ reprieve issued last week that gave gyms, water parks, fitness centers and movie houses a green light to reopen as
Andrew Bloom REALTOR®, Senior Partner Andrew@BVOLuxury.com VOTED #1 SCOTTSDALE REAL ESTATE TEAM FOR 2018
James Brower owner of Coach House in Scottsdale, a Series 6 bar, attended the “Not Our Last Call Rally” on Aug. 20. “We participated to increase awareness to the unfairness of the closure of 6/7 licensed businesses,” he told the Progress. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)
the level of COVID-19 transmissions continued a downward trend in Maricopa County and much of the rest of Arizona. Only bars that serve food can reopen – and
not only at half capacity but with tables and more than chips and pretzels on the menu.
see BARS page 12
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