Alexander Barouch

By Benjamin A. Longbottom. Water Woes in Rio Verde Foothills. Most of Arizona is experiencing some level of drought. In a wealthy suburb north of Scottsdale, the drought is revealing latent problems associated with decades of poor urban planning. Rio Verde Foothills (“RVF”) grew rapidly out of the desert beginning in the 1980s, relying initially on pumped groundwater for household water and landscape irrigation. Later, when wells ran dry, Scottsdale city officials agreed to deliver water to the suburb on large tanker trucks, charging RVF residents by the gallon. The community grew and developed on the assumption that these deliveries would continue. On November 1, 2021, however, Scottsdale announced that it would cut off all water deliveries to those living in RVF, effective at the end of 2022. Scottsdale officials…

By Miranda Martinez. For decades, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) has prohibited its student-athletes from accepting money in an effort to preserve amateurism—the pillar upon which the NCAA aims to differentiate itself from professional sports. Top NCAA Division I schools generate nearly $8.5 billion in annual revenue; however, less than 7% of that revenue goes to athletes in the form of scholarships or living expense stipends. Student-athletes are barred from sharing in the profits in the name of amateurism. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, “[w]hile intercollegiate sports are often described as student activities undertaken by amateurs, the economic reality is that athletic departments have developed into complex commercial enterprises that look far more like professional sports organizations.” The tension between amateurism and professionalism reached its peak…

By Maria McCabe. Here we are, approaching the third year of a global pandemic. COVID has killed over 915,000 Americans, left others with “long COVID,” and has had devastating effects on student learning outcomes. We likely have many months ahead of masking, quarantining, and testing and we—as a nation—cannot seem to decide on the role of government in addressing this once-in-a-century crisis. Since the COVID-19 vaccines were rolled out last year, data has shown the vaccines are safe and effective at preventing serious illness from COVID-19. Yet only approximately 68% of eligible Americans and 73.5% of eligible Arizonans are fully vaccinated. In an attempt to increase the number of vaccinated American workers, the Biden administration announced a vaccine mandate last September that would compel employers with at least 100 employees…

By Abigail Knox. In light of recent controversies and conspiracy theories, Arizona’s legislature is working through a flood of election-related bills, from changes to polling procedures to constitutional amendments regarding direct democracy provisions. In the spirit of Arizona’s 110th statehood day, a look at our history reminds us of our state’s character and provides us with insight for the future. The Constitutional Convention and Direct Democracy* Arizona’s journey to statehood was heavily influenced by progressive and populist movements. Democrat George W. P. Hunt was elected as President of Arizona’s constitutional convention. It was clear that Hunt and his progressive colleagues were passionate about direct democracy. Among the many measures the convention sought to memorialize were the initiative, referendum, and recall. These provisions reserve power to the people; they enable the…