By J. Graber | Scottsdale Independent
Mayor David Ortega took it on the chin from fellow city council members as well as members of the public over a perceived road diet on Thomas Road during the Scottsdale City Council meeting June 13.
The council discussed and voted 4-3 to purchase several easements on Thomas Road between 56th and 73rd streets in order to do some work to make the road compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The move is a precursor to repaving the road, but a crowd of about 15 people feared the meeting was about removing a lane of traffic in order to make a bike lane — sometimes referred to as a road diet.
When Ortega tried to keep speakers to talking about the easements, the crowd jeered and shouted “Let him speak” and “free speech.”
