Spotlight
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.
1
Letter: THE CASE AGAINST MARIJUANA
- Tom McGorray, Northwest side
I believe that recreational Marijuana use can have negative effects on the brain, body, and mental health.
Recently, Biden’s DOJ lowered Marijuana to a schedule three drug, akin to tylenol, without the DEA’s approval.
Heavy marijuana use during young adulthood, when the brain is still developing, may impair cognitive function, such as memory, learning, attention.
Marijuana use can increase the risk of developing psychosis, a mental illness
While not everyone who uses marijuana will become addicted,
regular use can lead to dependence, making it difficult to quit.
Marijuana use can impair coordination and reaction time, which can increase the risk of accidents and injuries.
Marijuana use during pregnancy can increase the risk of
problems with the baby's development,
There are 24 states that have already legalized recreational marijuana.
Marijuana can definitely impair your ability to drive safely.
I think it's important to remember that driving under the
influence of marijuana is illegal everywhere. There are legal limits in blood
concentration while driving, similar to DUI laws for alcohol.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
2
Letter: Biden condemns protests, only after mounting political pressure
- Langhorne Bilby, Marana
Anti-Israel protests on college and university campuses have become more violent over the last days and weeks, but there was silence about it from President Biden. It was only after mounting political pressure that he finally came out and publicly denounced it on May 2, a day after widespread arrests of students on campuses across the country. These college and university rioters are the same ones that Biden would provide billions in tax payer funded debt relief to. He desperately needs their vote in November and the White House must have been in conflict over denouncing their rioting, thus the delay. It may be a lost cause as they are already ticked off at him for supporting Israel, more so now because of his signing recent legislation providing more military funding to them as the war continues. I have no doubt though that Biden campaign schemers will devise some plan to further bribe students into voting for him. Maybe pressuring prosecutors across the country to dismiss charges against them.
Langhorne Bilby
Marana
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
3
Letter: Democracy
- John (Jay) Van Echo, PE, West side
Recently Mr. Trump posted a video to his social media suggesting a second term for him would create a "unified Reich" in America. Seriously, this is crazy. I am outraged. All should be outraged. And it's not like he hasn't referred to Nazi Germany in the past and his infatuation with Hitler. "Those who don't know history are bound to repeat it." He does not know history, we do. My father served in the Navy during World War II to extinguish this autocracy. Many of our fathers and mothers did so too. Over 400,000 American Forces lost their lives in this serious endeavor, not to mention the 6 million Jewish lives lost. We need to remember the lost lives of all and the history of where autocracy could take us. Vote for democracy. Vote for freedom. Please do not vote for autocracy.
John (Jay) Van Echo, PE
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
4
Letter: You don't know Fascism
- Ernest Saccani, Foothills
Re: Letter of May 20 "The Fabricators"
The writer refers to Trump's famous "cleaning fluid" speech of 4-23-'20 in the WH Briefing Room. Google it and watch for yourself how Trump revealed the possibility to his naive loyalists of injecting disinfectants into one's body to avert the virus.
(Dr. Birx, WH Coronavirus Response Coordinator was stunned} In fact, his participation during the pandemic (under his watch) was responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of American lives. In his article, the writer is more obsessed with blaming "liberal media" (his words) than reflecting on the consequences of Trump's statements at the press briefing.
Past letters from the writer depict someone educated, experienced, socially engaging, and thoughtful. He could be well served by studying Fascism; it's genesis, development, and consequences. I've reminded readers to believe in Trump's philosophy and ideology for governance because they align with Mussolini and Hitler. Please pay attention; a Trump election would effectively end representative democracy and endanger our world.
Ernest Saccani
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
5
Letter: GOP Embraces Election Fraud
- Scott Lukomski, Northeast side
Why is it that the GOP, both locally, statewide, and nationally, has not taken the opportunity during the last 3 plus years to contribute to the improvement and integrity of the election system? Rather they've continued to denigrate this system even though there has been no proof of election fraud. There's been plenty of time to help assure that the next elections are beyond question. The GOP has not seen fit to help do so.
And now, with the 2024 elections on the horizon, many GOPers are already posturing to be able to deny the election results if they're not favorable. By any measure this is not just non-productive and undemocratic, but a hallmark of fascism. If you look closely, historically, you can see that the path to authoritarianism is being paved by the GOP. Election denial is just one facet of that effort to undermine democracy. Election fraud stirs the pot.
Scott Lukomski
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
6
Letter: Healthcare Frustrations
- Sarah Lee-Davisson, MD, Northwest side
A patient who was frustrated with a delay in testing recently told me “I now understand why Medicare pays you all less yearly”. The people suffering from broken healthcare are undoubtedly the patients, but doctors and nurses are not OK either. Unless we attend to this fact, none of us will be assured of getting healthcare when we need it the most. I have personally seen 4 excellent surgeons close our practices due to rising costs/inflation coupled with yearly cuts in reimbursem*nt. I recently went to DC to meet with legislative staff of Senators Sinema and Kelly to share my story and how it affected the patients that had depended on me for 16 years in Oro Valley. Unfortunately, my experience is not isolated. There are many opportunities for improvement in US Healthcare, but most immediately, we must support adequate Insurance payments to assure adequate healthcare staffing in our communities.
Sarah Lee-Davisson, MD
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
7
Letter: Creativity Void
- Kenneth Haber, Northwest side
Congratulations Justice Alito. You have convincingly demonstrated precisely how devoid you are of creativity. Was...." my wife did it"..... the best you could do. My son's ,,, *the dog ate my homework " ... was less original but more creative. We did not have a dog.
Kenneth Haber
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
8
Tucson Speaks out: May 23 letters of the day
- Updated
Biden condemns protests — under pressure
Anti-Israel protests on college and university campuses have become more violent over the last days and weeks, but there was silence about it from President Biden. It was only after mounting political pressure that he finally came out and publicly denounced it on May 2, a day after widespread arrests of students on campuses across the country. These college and university rioters are the same ones that Biden would provide billions in taxpayer funded debt relief to. He desperately needs their vote in November and the White House must have been in conflict over denouncing their rioting, thus the delay. It may be a lost cause as they are already ticked off at him for supporting Israel, more so now because of his signing recent legislation providing more military funding to them as the war continues. I have no doubt though that Biden campaign schemers will devise some plan to further bribe students into voting for him. Maybe pressuring prosecutors across the country to dismiss charges against them.
Langhorne Bilby Marana
AZ Star article Maui climate refugees
Re: the May 7 article “Couple looks for new start in Tucson as ‘climate refugees’.”
Come on! There had been a tropical storm off the coast of Maui, which was not uncommon. The mountains there can create a funnel effect for wind. Yes it was dry, but the two major factors in that devastating Lahaina fire were the Hawaii Electric Power company not powering down its lines soon enough with downed lines causing fires and fired brush underneath the lines not having been removed. Multiple civil suits, including by Maui County officials, have been filed against the company for failing to maintain its infrastructure. Additionally, water was not readily available as a native Hawaiian state official in charge of water release to the area refused to initially provide it out of DEI concerns as it might disproportionately harm local taro farmers. This devastating Maui fire had more to do with human errors than climate change!
Janice DeAngelo
Tubac
Creativity void
Congratulations Justice Alito. You have convincingly demonstrated precisely how devoid you are of creativity. Was “my wife did it” the best you could do? My son’s “the dog ate my homework” was less original but more creative. We did not have a dog.
Kenneth Haber
Northwest side
Healthcare frustrations
A patient who was frustrated with a delay in testing recently told me “I now understand why Medicare pays you all less yearly”. The people suffering from broken healthcare are undoubtedly the patients, but doctors and nurses are not OK either. Unless we attend to this fact, none of us will be assured of getting healthcare when we need it the most. I have personally seen four excellent surgeons close our practices due to rising costs/inflation coupled with yearly cuts in reimbursem*nt. I recently went to DC to meet with legislative staff of Senators Sinema and Kelly to share my story and how it affected the patients that had depended on me for 16 years in Oro Valley. Unfortunately, my experience is not isolated. There are many opportunities for improvement in U.S. Healthcare, but most immediately, we must support adequate Insurance payments to assure adequate healthcare staffing in our communities.
Sarah Lee-Davisson, MD
Northwest side
Should be front page news
Re: the May 19 article “Violent-crime trend encouraging, not cataclysmic.”
Why was the above Star editorial not on the front page? This was not only good news, but it also refuted false facts being circulated by the Goldwater Institute. I understand that the original piece was on the op-ed page, however it was an essay purporting to be factual and not just an opinion piece. We have to assume that the Goldwater Institute was spreading misinformation in more news sources other than the Arizona Star. This article on the front page (or at least page 1 of the Tucson Region section) would have had more exposure than the Opinion page.
Reporting the inaccuracy in the same location as the original falsehoods is an editorial decision, but I believe newspapers and other news outlets should be more aware of their duty to report facts to readers of the whole paper. This editorial was not an opinion.
Cindy Soffrin
Northeast side
Length of green arrow
Re: the May 20 letter “Traffic lights.”
I agree that changing the turn signal to a (red-green arrow) was and is a great idea. My only problem is the length that the green arrow is on. They did not adjust the time. I use the intersection Grant and Craycroft several times a week and have seen many wrecks. But the turn lane can get very long during rush hours, and maybe 4-5 cars can get through on the green arrow and as many as 3-5 turn after it has changed yellow and then red. Sometime taking three light changes to make your left turn. The city really needs to adjust the length of the green arrow.
Daniel Ford
East side
You don’t know Fascism
Re: the May 20 letter “The fabrications.”
The writer refers to Trump’s famous “cleaning fluid” speech of April 23, 2020, in the WH Briefing Room. Google it and watch for yourself how Trump revealed the possibility to his naive loyalists of injecting disinfectants into one’s body to avert the virus.
Dr. Birx, WH Coronavirus Response Coordinator, was stunned, in fact, Trump’s participation during the pandemic (under his watch) was responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of American lives. In his article, the writer is more obsessed with blaming “liberal media” (his words) than reflecting on the consequences of Trump’s statements at the press briefing.
Past letters from the writer depict someone educated, experienced, socially engaging, and thoughtful. He could be well served by studying Fascism; its genesis, development, and consequences. I’ve reminded readers to believe in Trump’s philosophy and ideology for governance because they align with Mussolini and Hitler. Please pay attention; a Trump election would effectively end representative democracy and endanger our world.
Ernest Saccani
Foothills
Ousting of judges
As I read about how certain organizations are going to work on ousting judges King and Bolick. I find it interesting that they want to oust only them. I have been voting since 1968 and I have always voted to oust every judge up for retention. My personal opinion is that judges should not be elected or appointed to lifetime positions (including local, state, federal judges). Under the current system even judges that are rated low by the various legal groups are almost always retaining their positions.
If voters just voted for removal of all judges up for retention, we would have younger and more energetic lawyers being appointed or elected to the bench.
I know a lot of voters just ignore voting for the judges because they know so little about their record on the bench. They need to be aware that they are voting to give the judges a lifetime appointment and vote to remove them from the bench.
James McLin
East side
Democracy
Recently Mr. Trump posted a video to his social media suggesting a second term for him would create a “unified Reich” in America. Seriously, this is crazy. I am outraged. All should be outraged. And it’s not like he hasn’t referred to Nazi Germany in the past and his infatuation with Hitler. “Those who don’t know history are bound to repeat it.” He does not know history, we do. My father served in the Navy during World War II to extinguish this autocracy. Many of our fathers and mothers did so too. Over 400,000 American Forces lost their lives in this serious endeavor, not to mention the 6 million Jewish lives lost. We need to remember the lost lives of all and the history of where autocracy could take us. Vote for democracy. Vote for freedom. Please do not vote for autocracy.
John (Jay) Van Echo, PE West side
GOP embraces election fraud
Why is it that the GOP, both locally, statewide, and nationally, has not taken the opportunity during the last three plus years to contribute to the improvement and integrity of the election system? Rather they’ve continued to denigrate this system even though there has been no proof of election fraud. There’s been plenty of time to help assure that the next elections are beyond question. The GOP has not seen fit to help do so.
And now, with the 2024 elections on the horizon, many GOPers are already posturing to be able to deny the election results if they’re not favorable. By any measure this is not just non-productive and undemocratic, but a hallmark of fascism. If you look closely, historically, you can see that the path to authoritarianism is being paved by the GOP. Election denial is just one facet of that effort to undermine democracy. Election fraud stirs the pot.
Scott Lukomski
Northeast side
A common-sense rebuttal
Re: the May 22 letter “Palo Verde trees a blazing.”
Please consider that not all Tucson citizens celebrate the yellow blooms each spring. I offer this:
Tissue
When spring arrives
after winter gloom,
and feathers tickle your nose,
like pepper to sweeping broom,
let’s be wise and sensible,
and not quick remedy assume.
better to buy boxes of
of, of, of,
ti, ti, ti- shoo!
nebbermind,
tumbody plede
padd duh dissue.
John E. Irby
Southeast side
9
Letter: Cut Plastic Production Now to Save Coral Reefs
- Alice Whittenburg, West side
An article in Saturday’s Daily Star, “Coral bleaching near record across world,” reports that ocean heating has gone “crazy haywire,” causing damage to coral reefs. Climate change is described as the major cause of this unprecedented warming.
Though most people know that fossil fuel use is the leading driver of climate change, few are aware that the production of plastic is a big part of the problem. But a 2021 analysis by Beyond Plastics stated that, in the U.S., the plastics industry will make a greater contribution to climate change than coal-fired power by 2030. Beyond Plastics founder Judith Enck says, "… plastic produces greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of its life cycle. To provide context, if plastic were a country, it would be the world’s fifth largest greenhouse gas emitter…."
Since plastics harm the oceans in other ways, too (by 2050 it’s estimated that plastic waste will outweigh fish in the world’s oceans), it makes sense to cut plastic production now.
Alice Whittenburg
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
10
Letter: Eli Crane
- Patrick Allen, Northwest side
Interesting when you want to send a comment to representative Eli Crane the web-site asks you for a zip code. When I entered the zip code 85742 it rejected the zip code because it was outside the district. When I went to Eli Crane's web-site it stated he was from Cortaro, AZ. I looked up real estate in Cortaro, AZ and the first six listings were from 85742. Makes you wonder why a representative can live outside the district represented.
Patrick Allen
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
11
Letter: Trump and Clorox
- Barbara Toohey, Foothills
Thank you, Loyal Johnson, for writing the letter I've wanted to write about Trump espousing drinking or injecting Clorox to fight off COVID. I heard or read his original speech and he did not say that, but I didn't know how to find his original words. I remember laughing at the time because I had thought at about that time, " Wouldn't it be great if we could just drink something that could kill germs inside our bodies." I was not thinking of Clorox or anything else...just wishful thinking. Please stop saying/ implying Trump was advocating such a thing!
Barbara Toohey
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
12
Letter: Change
- Cindy Bordelon, Downtown
Be the change you wish to see in the world is attributed to Mahatma Gandhi who in fact said we but mirror the world. What we see in the mirror today in our politics is darkness and chaos, and it is spreading like a contagion.
To be the change, how about members of Congress acting with decorum and treating each other with respect instead of acting like mean girls in high school, acting in the best interests of their constituents instead of showing up at a criminal trial to score points with the former President, and checking their egos at the door instead of thirsting for power?
We should leave the world in a better place for those who come after us. Are we doing this? Politics should not be a blood sport. We need to step back from anger, sowing chaos, name calling, and sycophancy to nurture our democracy instead of tearing it down. Let’s hope it’s not too late.
Cindy Bordelon
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
13
Letter: It's the thought that counts
- Deb Klumpp, Oro Valley
Hey, did you know? Trump didn't tell people to ingest Clorox - he merely floated the suggestion that it might be a possible Covid remedy, along with some sort of internal light therapy. (Re: letter "The Fabrications"). When the blowback erupted, he then claimed his remarks were made to "prank" reporters. Previously, he asked weather experts about detonating an A-bomb into hurricanes. Another prank for reporters? Such lightbulb ideas clearly show me that a dunce cap would be a good replacement for Trump's MAGA hat. As calls came in to poison control centers, execs from Clorox and Lysol felt the need - legal and moral - to issue statements to NOT ingest cleaning chemicals. They were obviously aware of the slavish willingness of MAGA sheep to embrace whatever Donald utters, no matter how crazy. For any "leader" to vocalize absurd and dangerous thoughts of ingesting bleach, or to promote other quack remedies (hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin) shows a disturbing lack of basic intelligence and science knowledge. Besides criminality, intellectually unfit for any office.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
14
Letter: Ethical Cannons must apply to SCOTUS
- Kathy Krucker, Midtown
The Supreme Court is in an ethical abyss. The public must have confidence that SCOTUS rulings are made with impartiality and adherence to the bedrock of our Constitution that no one is above the law.
Justice Thomas’s wife actively colluded with January 6 insurrection leaders. Justice Alito flew an upside-down American flag at his home shortly after January 6. This flag desecration is symbolic of support for the insurrection.
The Senate must pass legislation requiring SCOTUS to follow the ethical cannons that ALL other jurists in the country must follow. This requires recusal when a jurist has a conflict of interest in a case. Thomas and Alito have blatant conflicts of interest and must recuse themselves from all cases involving January 6 and the former President.
Since Chief Justice Roberts is incapable of enacting ethics reform in his Court, the Senate must stop their dithering and restore the public’s confidence in SCOTUS. The institution will not survive if the Senate does not act.
Kathy Krucker
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
15
Letter: USPS
- chris pinhey, Foothills
I read the editorial on the Postal Service needing more money. I am older, but I still have most of my bills paid electronically. I pick up the mail every day and most of it is advertisem*nts, catalogues and requests from charities that I have already donated to. The amount of mail that I actually open is very small. It appears to me that the USPS could easily go to a 5 day work week. That would save lots of money and save me from walking down to the mailbox so often.
chris pinhey
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
16
Tucson Speaks out: May 22 letters of the day
- Updated
Smart meters
Re: the May 19 article “Tucsonans to get smart water meters at no charge.”
New smart water meters for Tucson Water is a cost of providing water. Individuals need to take responsibility for water leaks and conservation. I received one of the new meters after ours failed and discovered it would not work with the Flume device we had purchased along with a number of neighbors. It sends an email when there is a leak. The device supposedly works with 95% of meters, but not this one! Tucson Water would not install a meter that worked with our device. If one develops a leak, it needs immediate attention. Contacting Tucson Water is the worst experience ever! Usually days while the water is running! New smart meters being installed for elimination of meter readers I understand. Trying to call this a water reduction plan with their communication system is a joke. And Tucson Water still hasn’t paid back the millions owed Pima County residents for the illegal water fee increase!
Dave Locey
Foothills
Be the change
Be the change you wish to see in the world is attributed to Mahatma Gandhi who in fact said we but mirror the world. What we see in the mirror today in our politics is darkness and chaos, and it is spreading like a contagion.
To be the change, how about members of Congress acting with decorum and treating each other with respect instead of acting like mean girls in high school, acting in the best interests of their constituents instead of showing up at a criminal trial to score points with the former President, and checking their egos at the door instead of thirsting for power?
We should leave the world in a better place for those who come after us. Are we doing this? Politics should not be a blood sport. We need to step back from anger, sowing chaos, name calling, and sycophancy to nurture our democracy instead of tearing it down. Let’s hope it’s not too late.
Cindy Bordelon
Downtown
Loop’s front door is downtown
Stores, lodging, and health facilities south of the Rillito and east of Alvernon Way will never be the front door to the 137-mile Chuck Huckelberry Loop. Maybe a northern or foothills side door, but the front door is at the Santa Cruz River at West Congress Street. That’s near where the Spanish pioneers built the Tucson Presidio in the late 1700s.
David Carter
Downtown
5-day USPS?
Re: the May 19 article “Postal service asking for another taxpayer bailout.”
I read the editorial on the Postal Service needing more money. I am older, but I still have most of my bills paid electronically. I pick up the mail every day and most of it is advertisem*nts, catalogues and requests from charities that I have already donated to. The amount of mail that I actually open is very small. It appears to me that the USPS could easily go to a 5-day work week. That would save lots of money and save me from walking down to the mailbox so often.
Chris Pinhey
Foothills
Ethical canons must apply to SCOTUS
The Supreme Court is in an ethical abyss. The public must have confidence that SCOTUS rulings are made with impartiality and adherence to the bedrock of our Constitution that no one is above the law.
Justice Thomas’s wife actively colluded with January 6 insurrection leaders. Justice Alito flew an upside-down American flag at his home shortly after January 6. This flag desecration is symbolic of support for the insurrection.
The Senate must pass legislation requiring SCOTUS to follow the ethical canons that ALL other jurists in the country must follow. This requires recusal when a jurist has a conflict of interest in a case. Thomas and Alito have blatant conflicts of interest and must recuse themselves from all cases involving January 6 and the former President.
Since Chief Justice Roberts is incapable of enacting ethics reform in his Court, the Senate must stop their dithering and restore the public’s confidence in SCOTUS. The institution will not survive if the Senate does not act.
Kathy Krucker
Midtown
Palo Verde trees a blazing
The Palo Verde trees are blooming
bright, bright yellows streaming.
They raise their hands in contemplation
to the God of all creation.
The Cardinal birds’ choir is singing
with varied notes of song and praise.
Calling all to worship the creator
to ponder God’s presence in yellow throbbing ecstasy.
The golden trees are really a blazing
with fire from on high.
They are burning, but not burnt,
an invisible hand all embracing.
An inner whispering voice calls out.
Take off your shoes,
You are standing on holy ground.
Be still and know that I am God.
Tomas o Cathalain
East side
Protecting our city
As a Tucson resident I am pleased to know that Congressman Juan Ciscomani’s efforts to pass the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act will help keep our city safe. The Act calls for increased penalties for anyone who leads the U.S Border patrol in high-speed pursuits that result in a death within 100 miles of the border. The Act is named after Agent Raul Gonzalez, Jr., a Border Patrol agent who was killed pursing illegal aliens evading capture. From what I’ve read on the news, Tucson has become a hotspot for cartel connected illegal activity. It’s imperative that more is done to deter criminals from putting our families’ lives in danger. By voting for the Act, Congressman Ciscomani has made it clear that Places such as Tucson will not be taken advantage of by people who disregard the law. The Act would require the D.O.J to report the number of cases that are prosecuted under the Act; a major win for accountability.
Joseph Lacayo
West side
Left-turn arrow
When I moved to Tucson in 2007 the major traffic lights were left turn first. It seemed odd to me, but I got used to it quickly, and found it better than the ending left turn I had grown up with in the Midwest.
Why don’t we go back to left turn first? It would eliminate people inching out into cross-traffic lanes in anticipation of the yellow, and wondering if the driver coming at you was going to stop or run the red light. If you don’t make the left turn arrow, you know you have to wait until the next round. No inching out, no running red lights, no blockage to oncoming traffic, no nasty crashes.
Jan Lane
Midtown
Trump and Clorox
Re: the May 20 letter “The fabrications.”
Thank you, to the letter writer for writing the letter I’ve wanted to write about Trump espousing drinking or injecting Clorox to fight off COVID. I heard or read his original speech and he did not say that, but I didn’t know how to find his original words. I remember laughing at the time because I had thought at about that time, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could just drink something that could kill germs inside our bodies.” I was not thinking of Clorox or anything else ... just wishful thinking. Please stop saying/implying Trump was advocating such a thing!
Barbara Toohey
Foothills
Voting in future elections
We have several elections coming up soon, a primary in July and a general election in November. On the ballot for the general election there will be one or more initiatives that will affect the way we vote in future elections. As we consider these initiatives, let’s be careful that we don’t vote to restrict our voting options. For example, HCR2033 is a bill designed to cement the status quo in our State Constitution. It will appear as an initiative for us to vote on in the November election. Many of us are not happy with the way elections are being run in the state of Arizona. But this initiative will make it very hard for us to change or reform the way we hold elections. Vote no on HCR2033. Let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot by voting to eliminate even the possibility of improving election procedures in the future.
Sally Lee
Foothills
Let’s protect our public schools
Republican legislators in Arizona, with the connivance of the State Superintendent of Public Schools, Tom Horne, appears to be attempting to destroy Arizona’s public schools. They are doing this through the ESA (Empower Scholarship Accounts) voucher program that allows families, regardless of income, to send their children to private schools and have the State pay for tuition fees, books, backpacks, and other materials. Families that homeschool their children can receive up to $7000 per child to spend on curriculum as well as things such as bounce houses or ski trips.
Under the banner of “school choice,” the ESA voucher program diverts critically needed funds from our public schools and does a disservice to the majority of Arizona’s children.
Thomas Hestwood
Oro Valley
It’s the thought that counts
Re: the May 20 letter “The fabrications.”
Hey, did you know? Trump didn’t tell people to ingest Clorox — he merely floated the suggestion that it might be a possible COVID remedy, along with some sort of internal light therapy. When the blowback erupted, he then claimed his remarks were made to “prank” reporters. Previously, he asked weather experts about detonating an A-bomb into hurricanes. Another prank for reporters? Such lightbulb ideas clearly show me that a dunce cap would be a good replacement for Trump’s MAGA hat. As calls came into poison control centers, execs from Clorox and Lysol felt the need — legal and moral — to issue statements to NOT ingest cleaning chemicals. They were obviously aware of the slavish willingness of MAGA sheep to embrace whatever Donald utters, no matter how crazy. For any “leader” to vocalize absurd and dangerous thoughts of ingesting bleach, or to promote other quack remedies (hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin) shows a disturbing lack of basic intelligence and science knowledge. Besides criminality, intellectually unfit for any office.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Cut plastic production now to save coral reefs
Re: the May 18 article “Coral bleaching near record across world.”
This article reports that ocean heating has gone “crazy haywire,” causing damage to coral reefs. Climate change is described as the major cause of this unprecedented warming.
Though most people know that fossil fuel use is the leading driver of climate change, few are aware that the production of plastic is a big part of the problem. But a 2021 analysis by Beyond Plastics stated that, in the U.S., the plastics industry will make a greater contribution to climate change than coal-fired power by 2030. Beyond Plastics founder Judith Enck says, “… plastic produces greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of its life cycle. To provide context, if plastic were a country, it would be the world’s fifth largest greenhouse gas emitter….”
Since plastics harm the oceans in other ways, too (by 2050 it’s estimated that plastic waste will outweigh fish in the world’s oceans), it makes sense to cut plastic production now.
Alice Whittenburg
West side
Eli Crane
Interesting when you want to send a comment to representative Eli Crane the web site asks you for a zip code. When I entered the zip code 85742 it rejected the zip code because it was outside the district. When I went to Eli Crane’s web site it stated he was from Cortaro, AZ. I looked up real estate in Cortaro, AZ and the first six listings were from 85742. Makes you wonder why a representative can live outside the district represented.
Patrick Allen
Northwest side
17
Letter: Cat calling during house oversight committee session
- Mary Jo Swartzberg, SaddleBrooke
Has it escaped anyone’s attention that some elected leaders have forgotten why they are in office? Further, have some of our elected leaders misplaced any knowledge about professional decorum? To wit – Marjorie Taylor Greene’s comments (May 16) regarding Representative Jasmine Crockett’s eyelashes, and insinuating that Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez does not “have enough intelligence” to debate her. Unfortunately, there was enough lobbing of barbs to go around, with Crockett commenting on a “bleach blond bad built butch body” – clearly a veiled reference to Greene’s physique.
Perhaps it would do well to remind our elected leaders of why they are in office. But, better still, perhaps they need to hear these words by Bruce Lee: Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.
Mary Jo Swartzberg
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
18
Letter: Class warfare
- E. Kathy Suagee, Benson
Bumper sticker: "It's only called class warfare when we fight back.”
For me, fighting back means electing people who will work for solutions that equalize education, health care, job opportunities and tax laws, empowering working Americans to compete with the 1% of individuals and corporate powers growing richer every year.
It means supporting President Biden’s plan to raise taxes on ultra-rich and corporations so that people in my tax bracket aren’t carrying alone the weight of keeping our nation afloat.
It’s not following an autocrat who brags about never paying taxes; who ran up the national debt to record levels; who openly declares he wants to be a dictator.
We may never get another chance to vote. People waving their alternative flags and advocating revolution seem to believe that only those on the other side will lose. Wrong! In a dictatorship, everyone’s rights are taken.
For me, the war is in holding tight to our Democracy and defending it against domestic enemies like Trump.
E. Kathy Suagee
Benson
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
19
Letter: Israel/Palestine solution
- Aston Bloom, East side
On May 12th, Brent Harold wrote a balanced, compelling article about campus protests now versus then. He ended by saying, "If not the oft-proposed and oft-defeated two-state solution, what?" The book "Beyond the Two-State Solution" by Jonathan Kuttab has an excellent answer to that most important question. He is a well-known international human rights attorney, having practiced in the U.S., Palestine, and Israel. In a mercifully concise 100 pages, he lays out practical solutions to all the inevitable questions regarding how a one-state solution can work for the benefit of all, including how a government can work without quashing the rights of whichever group happens to be in the minority. Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb writes on the cover, "Some are trapped by the past. This book opens the gate to the future." I highly recommend this wonderful book to everyone!
Aston Bloom
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
20
Letter: Democratic political prosecution of Trump
- Gary Kordosky, West side
In the May 17 letter to the editor of the above title the author mentioned a litany of reasons she believed Trump was being unfairly treated by the justice system blaming democrats across the board for the current trial of Trump in New York. Interestingly, the letter failed to say anything about the bias of republicans who have done just the opposite. For example, Judge Cannon, appointed by Trump, and presiding over the case of Trump's crime of hoarding classified documents at Mar-a Lago first slow walked the case and has now indefinitely postponed the trial, once scheduled for May 20. The author says nothing about the current Supreme Court, three members of which were appointed by Trump, moving to take the case of Trumps desire to have total immunity from prosecution for any crimes he has committed in office including the insurrection he fostered at the capital on January 6, 2021 and then slow walking that case so Trump cannot be tried before the November election. Fair Justice?
Gary Kordosky
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
21
Letter: Kennedy for President
- Nathaniel Felton, East side
I am voting for Robert F Kennedy, Jr, and urging all voters to do the same. I am doing this because I think both major political parties need a time-out to figure out what it is that each believes in. The four years of a Kennedy term will barely affect the country, but it will give the older generation of politicians time to move off the stage and a younger generation the opportunity to formulate a plan for the future. As Kennedy will not have a major party supporting him, the seat of power will be in Congress. Without a President to support or fear, those 435 men and women will either work together or fail. We have heard that some in Congress would prefer it to fail. But the majority will want to show the voters of 2026 and 2028 that their party can work for the American people. So, in November let’s give Joe and Donald gold watches and thanks for their service. Vote Kennedy!
Nathaniel Felton
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
22
Letter: Which America Do You Want?
- Rachel Rulmyr Ed.D. Retired Educator, Oro Valley
Biden is Building Investments in America:
-His Infrastructure Law has created millions of jobs for 56,000 projects in 4,500 communities across the nation.
-fixing 165,000 miles of roads and 9,400 bridges.
-improving 450 ports and 300 airport terminals.
-funding 1,400 drinking water and wastewater projects and replacing millions of toxic lead pipes.
-adding thousands of low and zero emission buses.
-funding to clean up contaminated sites.
-improving the electrical grid and funding 12,000 miles of high-speed internet infrastructure.
Trump’s Plans of Destruction for America:
“As dictator on day one I will throw out Biden’s Infrastructure Law and extend thetax cuts for the wealthy and corporations,” knowing it will add $4 trillion to our deficit.
Republicans killed the badly needed bi-partisan Immigration Bill on Trump’s say, then blamed the Democrats.
Now they plan to create database of pregnant women allowing the government to track, intimidate, coerce, and prosecute women.
Building up America or destroying it?
I choose Biden's America
Rachel Rulmyr Ed.D. Retired Educator
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
23
Letter: Democracy is on the Ballot
- Patricia Hale, Northwest side
I hope to be able to vote in the 2028 election. If trump is elected, that election might look a lot like Putin's latest election. It's ridiculous to believe that America can survive an authoritarian and all his supporting bad-faith actors.
The insurrection on January 6th was about putting trump back in office after he lost the election and lost 60 legal cases protesting the election. If he wins in 2024, with his minions filling all the appointed positions in America, and folks like Matt Gaetz and Andy Biggs filling cabinet positions, you can bet that the America we know and love, will look like Hungary under Viktor Orbán or Russia under Putin. No January 6th will be needed next time to keep trump in office. A trump VP will not certify the votes. Elections will be sent back to the red states and in a NY minute, trump will be "re-elected" in 2028.
Take trump literally and seriously. He admires dictators and wants to be one.
Patricia Hale
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
24
Tucson Speaks Out: May 21 letters of the day
- Updated
Creating a community of compassion
A community of compassion cares about all members of the community, human and animal alike, feels a responsibility to promote animal welfare, and does not permit the retail sale of animals from commercial breeders who are only in business to supply pet stores. Pets in these facilities often spend their entire lives in dirty, crowded cages for the sole purpose of producing as many animals as possible for the retail pet trade. These facilities also produce animals that are often sick and need expensive veterinary treatment. Pet stores that obtain animals from these facilities are not an asset to our community.
Instead, a community of compassion encourages pet consumers to adopt pets from shelters or rescue groups, thereby saving animals’ lives, reducing the cost to the public of sheltering animals, and reducing the risk of spreading disease.
More than 440 other cities, counties, and states have already passed laws to stop the retail sale of pets sourced from commercial breeding facilities. It’s time for Arizona to do the same.
Jeanette Baker
Oro Valley
Oppose legislation dictating zoning
The Arizona State Senate has passed legislation (HB2720 17-11) that would require Tucson and other communities to allow short-term rental units to be constructed where a single-family unit is allowed. This state requirement would override any community planning and increase groundwater usage outside of local control. This is not about discrimination or any such related concern, it is about eradicating community planning and essentially dictating increased growth and groundwater usage. The Arizona state government is essentially AWOL on groundwater management and now wants the authority to override any efforts by local communities to manage available water resources. Citizens are encouraged to contact Governor Hobbs to reject this legislation. Tucson does not need the Legislature’s assistance in managing our community.
Roger McManus
East side
Democracy is on the ballot
I hope to be able to vote in the 2028 election. If Trump is elected, that election might look a lot like Putin’s latest election. It’s ridiculous to believe that America can survive an authoritarian and all his supporting bad-faith actors.
The insurrection on Jan. 6 was about putting Trump back in office after he lost the election and lost 60 legal cases protesting the election. If he wins in 2024, with his minions filling all the appointed positions in America, and folks like Matt Gaetz and Andy Biggs filling cabinet positions, you can bet that the America we know and love, will look like Hungary under Viktor Orbán or Russia under Putin. No Jan. 6 will be needed next time to keep Trump in office. A Trump VP will not certify the votes. Elections will be sent back to the red states, and in a NY minute, trump will be “re-elected” in 2028.
Take Trump literally and seriously. He admires dictators and wants to be one.
Patricia Hale
Northwest side
City pool schedule should prioritize children
Dear Editor:
The City of Tucson is forgetting its children. The city’s recently revealed pool schedule reduces hours for children’s summer swimming at many city pools. For instance, the popular, shaded Reid Park recreation pool will not be open at all on Fridays and Saturdays. Amphi pool will only be open a total of nine hours per week. Catalina pool — located midtown in an underserved area — will not be open to children this summer. (Yes, only adults will be swimming at Catalina pool.) Several city pools will be open for reduced hours only three days per week. In Tucson’s blistering heat, this will leave Tucson children — and most notably children from low-income families — with fewer opportunities for outside summer recreation. Before the City Council votes on its budget next week, I hope that it makes different and difficult decisions that prioritize Tucson children this summer.
Suzanne Rabe
Midtown
Which America do you want?
Biden is building investments in America:
His Infrastructure law has created millions of jobs for 56,000 projects in 4,500 communities across the nation.
Fixing 165,000 miles of roads and 9,400 bridges.
Improving 450 ports and 300 airport terminals.
Funding 1,400 drinking water and wastewater projects and replacing millions of toxic lead pipes.
Adding thousands of low and zero emission buses.
Funding to clean up contaminated sites.
Improving the electrical grid and funding 12,000 miles of high-speed internet infrastructure.
Trump’s plans of destruction for America:
“As dictator on day one I will throw out Biden’s infrastructure law and extend the tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations,” knowing it will add $4 trillion to our deficit.
Republicans killed the badly needed bipartisan immigration bill on Trump’s say, then blamed the Democrats.
Now, they plan to create a database of pregnant women, allowing the government to track, intimidate, coerce, and prosecute women.
Building up America or destroying it?
I choose Biden’s America.
Rachel Rulmyr Ed.D. retired educator
Oro Valley
Trump and justice
Re: the May 17 letter “Democrats’ political prosecution of Trump.”
The author mentioned a litany of reasons she believed Trump was being unfairly treated by the justice system, blaming Democrats across the board for the current trial of Trump in New York. Interestingly, the letter failed to say anything about the bias of Republicans who have done just the opposite. For example, Judge Cannon, appointed by Trump and presiding over the case of Trump’s crime of hoarding classified documents at Mar-a Lago, first slow-walked the case and has now indefinitely postponed the trial, once scheduled for May 20. The author says nothing about the current Supreme Court, three members of which were appointed by Trump, moving to take the case of Trump’s desire to have total immunity from prosecution for any crimes he has committed in office, including the insurrection he fostered at the capital on Jan. 6, 2021, and then slow-walking that case so Trump cannot be tried before the November election. Fair Justice?
Gary Kordosky
West side
Kennedy for president
I am voting for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and urging all voters to do the same. I am doing this because I think both major political parties need a time-out to figure out what it is that each believes in. The four years of a Kennedy term will barely affect the country, but it will give the older generation of politicians time to move off the stage and a younger generation the opportunity to formulate a plan for the future. As Kennedy will not have a major party supporting him, the seat of power will be in Congress. Without a President to support or fear, those 435 men and women will either work together or fail. We have heard that some in Congress would prefer it to fail. But the majority will want to show the voters of 2026 and 2028 that their party can work for the American people. So, in November let’s give Joe and Donald gold watches and thanks for their service. Vote Kennedy!
Nathaniel Felton
East side
Class warfare
Bumper sticker: “It’s only called class warfare when we fight back.”
For me, fighting back means electing people who will work for solutions that equalize education, health care, job opportunities and tax laws, empowering working Americans to compete with the 1% of individuals and corporate powers growing richer every year.
It means supporting President Biden’s plan to raise taxes on ultra-rich and corporations so that people in my tax bracket aren’t carrying alone the weight of keeping our nation afloat.
It’s not following an autocrat who brags about never paying taxes; who ran up the national debt to record levels; who openly declares he wants to be a dictator.
We may never get another chance to vote. People waving their alternative flags and advocating revolution seem to believe that only those on the other side will lose. Wrong! In a dictatorship, everyone’s rights are taken.
For me, the war is in holding tight to our Democracy and defending it against domestic enemies like Trump.
E. Kathy Suagee
Benson
Should be Conover’s last term
Re: the May 19 article “Flip-flop on Taylor marks Conover’s term.”
I was a “former administration” prosecutor for 39 years. (150 jury trials; 2000 Grand Jurors advised; 0 bar complaints.)
Tim Steller writes that Laura Conover’s flip-flop over Taylor marked her first term. What really marks her first term: Conover is the only Pima County Attorney to face State Bar diversion for serious conflict violations.
From the beginning, Conover had a serious conflict: She believes that Taylor should be compensated and sought to exonerate him. This effort was to the detriment of Pima County, her client. She then backed off of exonerating Taylor because she feared a State Bar complaint. That decision was a clear ethics violation to the detriment of Louis Taylor. Faced with this obvious conflict, what should she have done? Stayed out of both the civil and criminal cases.
One of the real marks of her first term: We have a Pima County Attorney with questionable ethics. This should be her last term.
Paul Lauritzen
West side
Bechtol for Dist. 4 Supervisor
It is months before election day, but I have had the opportunity to meet with Vanessa Bechtol, candidate for Pima County Supervisor District 4, several times over the last few weeks. Here is a candidate who understands what’s important to her constituents, including water conservation, affordable housing, and workforce development. Her 20 years of non-profit leadership, including her current position with Visit Tucson, her participation in the Greater Tucson Leadership program, the Civic and Political Leadership Academy, and being a working mom, gives her a perspective that is far different from the current supervisor. He has voted twice to not certify election results and just recently voted against the approval of a prosperity initiative for the county, addressing a wide range of opportunities to make Pima County a better place for everyone. I urge voters in Dist. 4 to give Bechtol their strong consideration for Supervisor this fall.
Mark Hanna, retired TUSD counselor and former Pima Community College Governing Board member
Northeast side
Israel/Palestine solution
Re: the May 12 article “Campus protests now versus then.”
Brent Harold wrote a balanced, compelling article about campus protests now versus then. He ended by saying, “If not the oft-proposed and oft-defeated two-state solution, what?” The book “Beyond the Two-State Solution” by Jonathan Kuttab has an excellent answer to that most important question. He is a well-known international human rights attorney, having practiced in the U.S., Palestine, and Israel. In a mercifully concise 100 pages, he lays out practical solutions to all the inevitable questions regarding how a one-state solution can work for the benefit of all, including how a government can work without quashing the rights of whichever group happens to be in the minority. Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb writes on the cover, “Some are trapped by the past. This book opens the gate to the future.” I highly recommend this wonderful book to everyone!
Aston Bloom
East side
Left-turn problem
I have a suggestion about the left-turn light situation. Other cities use underground sensors similar to the cable used to count cars crossing over it. When the light turns green for the left-turn traffic, the sensor takes over and determines that no more cars are running over it, and turns the light back to red.
That way, all left-turn vehicles go through the light, and you have no red-light runners.
The sensor could be like these ring sensors that sense motion but in this case lack of motion. When it determines a lack of motion for a period of time it turns the light red.
I use the Craycroft and Grant left turn lanes and many times have to sit through three lights before I can turn left.
This should fix it and would not cost a lot of money, but should save lives.
Kosd Salgado
Northeast side
Catcalling during House committee session
Has it escaped anyone’s attention that some elected leaders have forgotten why they are in office? Further, have some of our elected leaders misplaced any knowledge about professional decorum? To wit — Marjorie Taylor Greene’s comments (May 16) regarding Representative Jasmine Crockett’s eyelashes and insinuating that Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez does not “have enough intelligence” to debate her. Unfortunately, there was enough lobbing of barbs to go around, with Crockett commenting on a “bleach blond bad built butch body” — clearly a veiled reference to Greene’s physique.
Perhaps it would do well to remind our elected leaders of why they are in office. But, better still, perhaps they need to hear these words by Bruce Lee: Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.
Mary Jo Swartzberg
SaddleBrooke
25
Letter: Mexico cracking down on migrants to help Biden re-election
- Ardel Francis, Northwest side
Recently, President Biden reached out to President Obrador of Mexico to discuss the border. Obrador has been using his Army and National Guard along the border to deter "migrants" from entering America. There have been reports of abuse of "migrants" by the Mexican Army and National Guard. This comes as polling shows illegal immigration to be a top policy issue for voters going into November. There has been historic illegal immigration under Biden with over 7 million having entered the country. Biden has dismal polling for his handling of the border. He has had over three years to contact Obrador to do something about the border, but waited until an approaching election to do so. The
reason for Obrador's cooperation is because of a promise passed on to him from Biden last December by Sec. of State Blinken and DHS Sec. Mayorkas to do future legalization and citizenship for millions of Mexican nationals illegally in the country. Obrador campaigned in 2018 on not doing America's "dirty work" on immigration.
Ardel Francis
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
26
Letter: SCOTUS
- Dave Glicksman, Northwest side
In a May 4th letter (The Hypocrisy of Neil Gorsuch) the writer suggested that it may be time to expand the US Supreme Court to offset the Justice who claims that 'by stating that the actions of the court would take on Trump's immunity would be "a rule for the ages"', but overturned Roe vs Wade, a prior court's ruling made in 1973.
We can achieve a better solution in November if the Democrats regain control of Congress and maintain control of the Senate. Then impeach Gorsuch and Kavanaugh too. He lied during his confirmation hearing. Then replace them with Jurists who will protect, not abolish our rights, like voting.
The election in November is crucial to maintain the Constitution, the Republic and the rights of the people, Trump has boasted what he would if elected and it is scary.
Dave Glicksman
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
27
Letter: MAGA's choice
- Cindy Doklan, Midtown
In 2024, Republicans handed their party leadership to the Trump family and their MAGA minions, they wanted to “vacate” the House Majority Leader (again), and turn their focus to (wait for it…) Tik Tok. Republicans blocked Immigration legislation, made us suffer through a long tortuous, and deadly delay in helping Ukraine, and Republican House Majority Leader has become the least stable job in the country.
Republicans declared the Secure the Border Act as “dead on arrival.” Their incessant messaging about US border conditions, crime and drugs disappears from the airwaves, even as border states continue to cry for help. Along with Republican delay of aid to Ukraine, they send a clear message to Americans, Ukraine, NATO, and Putin: Trump controls the Republican Party. Americans and our allies don’t matter.
Republicans instead focus on Tik Tok, an application that they know even less about than human reproduction. They made choices. We need to make ours.
Cindy Doklan
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
28
Letter: Absence of election fraud is a main issue
- Ted Ranney, Foothills
I saw a survey where over 50% of Republicans believe our elections are not totally fair. Despite intense scrutiny and legal pressure there is NO evidence of systemic issues. I think there would be evidence if there was a problem. Why do so many people believe a factless story? DJT is unable to accept losing so he fictionalized it. He now says he won't accept losing in 2024 either. To those who like to quote gas prices in 2018 as justification for putting him back in charge, what about his inability to accept losing an election? January 6th where people died was his fault - no fake election scandal, no rally. No rally, no deaths. He said he wants to pardon these conspiracists. Why, on earth, does it make any sense to reelect such a person? The cowardly senate republicans should have impeached and ended this sordid chapter.
Ted Ranney
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
29
Letter: EV Alternative
- Godfrey Trowbridge, Northeast side
Someday, we'll all be driving electric vehicles, which should help slow climate change. Until then, what can we do? Back in the 70's, the federal government responded to the fuel shortage by imposing a nationwide 55 mph speed limit. If this were done today, I estimate a reduction of 300 million tons of CO2 each year in the US. However, back then, this law was hugely unpopular and largely ignored, even though consequences were fairly immediate - more frequently waiting in 45-minute lines for gas. Would people today be willing to slow down to save the planet?
Godfrey Trowbridge
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
30
Letter: White House For Sale
- Jean Meconi, North side
Former President Trump promised executives at a recent Mar-A-Largo event that if they donated a billion dollars to his reelection, he would rescind environmental regulations, open vast swaths of public land and waterways to drilling and mining, increase natural gas exports, and halt EV initiatives. As an extra sweetener, he would enact sweeping business tax cuts.
The Oil Industry will be ready on day one of the new Trump presidency. They are drafting executive orders for Trump to sign in fear of his chaotic second term. They’ll make sure that Trump delivers.
The first Trump term didn’t deliver on infrastructure, didn’t bring back manufacturing, didn’t solve the border crisis, didn’t reduce the national debt, didn’t decrease the trade deficit, and didn’t reign in lobbying or drain the swamp. But the Trump policy you can count on is quid pro quo politics.
Jean Meconi
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
31
Letter: Better off now? Yup!
- Tim Helentjaris, Northwest side
A recent writer bemoaned that Trump haters were unable to recognize they were better off under his leadership. I beg to differ but recognize that we both can be right, if your world view derives primarily from listening to the ironically-named Truth Social or America’s Pravda/Fox, then you might feel that you were better off then. But the writer omitted a couple of significant events that happened on Trump’s watch. First, President Drink-Bleach’s incompetent leadership directly led to covid killing more Americans than Hitler, a problem that continues today with his follower’s mistrust of our Public Health Service. Second, Trump incited rioters to attack our Capitol on Jan 6th in order to overturn an election and keep himself in power despite him losing. As such, Trump represents a clear, existential threat to our Democracy, especially since he has said that he would do it again. So, looking to repeat this farce again, me not so much?
Tim Helentjaris
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
32
Letter: Facing the Climate Crisis
- Jan Freed, Downtown
Is it cheaper to ignore climate change or to face it boldly, as we did the Nazis in WW2?
Recent estimates (by Deloitte economists) put BAU at 14.5 trillion dollars in the U.S. from climate extremes (and health issues) by 2050, but a gain of 3 trillion dollars if we transition to clean energy. Global estimates are 39 trillion dollars per year as the price of indifference. Look it up.
Regulations and tax credits are a powerful first step. They will protect the next generation.
We can take the next step (just as powerful as the regs) if we charge polluters a per ton price and rebate all fees to citizens as a cash-back. No federal outlays required! No harm to citizens.
Should we elect candidates who will move forwards or backwards on this, the greatest threat facing humanity?
Jan Freed
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
33
Letter: The Red Tie Entourage
- Mary Zimmerman, SaddleBrooke
It would be hilarious if it weren't so scary to watch Trump sycophants show up at his trial all dressed alike. Instead of brown shirts they were all dressed like their dear leader in blue suits and red ties. It was disturbing to listen to the Speaker of the House, a self avowed Christian, undermining the legal system to defend a narcissistic corrupt man who cheated on his wife with a p*rn star. This should certainly be a warning that there will be no one in a second Trump presidency who will defend the rule of law. All the guard rails will be gone, and Trump will do exactly what he wants.
Read Project 2025 if you have any doubts.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
34
Letter: Too much Trump exposure - Offer something else.
- Sheldon Metz, Northeast side
A pompous, uneducated fool destroyed the life I cherished until 2015. As an older American approaching 80. I was born before TV, social media and the Internet. We had rotary phones and party lines (look it up), safe house parties and the freedom to walk safely down the street.
Today, there is no hour in the day, free of that pouting, snarling, grotesque face and hideously repulsive voice spouting lies, blaming an “unfair justice system” for "illegal persecution." HE DID THE CRIMES! Many of his supporters KNOW IT, yet vote for him anyway. Why? Look at him. He is a pathetic loser who probably had to PAY his son Eric to come to court for "display." So far, I suppose, Melania has refused his payments. But...?
I'm probably not alone in despising this 24/7 media coverage. Every pundit, conversation, opinion and word is repetitious. We weren't perfect but, our "American Experiment" has been at greater risk since 2016.
Call the networks. Tell them to offer something ELSE.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
35
Letter: THE FABRICATIONS
- Loyal M Johnson Jr, Oro Valley
The liberal media repeatedly states that President Trump encouraged people to inject Chlorox. This is a fabrication and even an out-and-lie. If you watch the video which can be found on the internet, the speech occurred during a meeting where the President and coronavirus taskforce were present. He noted that ultraviolet light and Chlorox reportedly kill the Covid virus on contact. He looked over at his advisors and asked if it was possible to utilize either of these methods internally. He did not suggest it should be used, only asked his advisors if it was in the realm of possibility. The liberal media, as they have done so many times, cherry-picked the speech. Th media will twist stories, select certain damming works, and basically prevaricate to support their singular point of view. And, unfortunately, many of your readers continue to spout this untruth. You are going to have to do your own research if you want the whole truth. Or, be a sheep.
Loyal M Johnson Jr
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
36
Tucson Speaks Out: May 20 letters of the day
- Updated
Mexico cracks down on migrants
Recently, President Biden reached out to President Obrador of Mexico to discuss the border. Obrador has been using his Army and National Guard along the border to deter “migrants” from entering America. There have been reports of abuse of “migrants” by the Mexican Army and National Guard. This comes as polling shows undocumented immigration to be a top policy issue for voters going into November.
There has been historic undocumented immigration under Biden with over 7 million having entered the country. Biden has dismal polling for his handling of the border.
He has had over three years to contact Obrador to do something about the border but waited until an approaching election to do so.
The reason for Obrador’s cooperation is because of a promise passed on to him from Biden last December by Sec. of State Blinken and DHS Sec. Mayorkas to do future legalization and citizenship for millions of Mexican nationals illegally in the country.
Obrador campaigned in 2018 on not doing America’s “dirty work” on immigration.
Ardel Francis
Northwest side
Facing the climate crisis
Is it cheaper to ignore climate change or to face it boldly, as we did the Nazis in WWII?
Recent estimates (by Deloitte economists) put BAU at 14.5 trillion dollars in the U.S. from climate extremes (and health issues) by 2050, but a gain of 3 trillion dollars if we transition to clean energy. Global estimates are 39 trillion dollars per year as the price of indifference. Look it up.
Regulations and tax credits are a powerful first step. They will protect the next generation.
We can take the next step (just as powerful as the regs) if we charge polluters a per ton price and rebate all fees to citizens as a cash-back. No federal outlays required! No harm to citizens.
Should we elect candidates who will move forward or backward on this, the greatest threat facing humanity?
Jan Freed
Downtown
Too much Trump — offer something else
A pompous, uneducated fool destroyed the life I cherished until 2015. As an older American approaching 80. I was born before TV, social media and the Internet. We had rotary phones and party lines (look it up), safe house parties and the freedom to walk safely down the street.
Today, there is no hour in the day, free of that pouting, snarling, grotesque face and hideously repulsive voice spouting lies, blaming an “unfair justice system” for “illegal persecution.” He did the crimes! Many of his supporters know it yet vote for him anyway. Why? Look at him. He is a pathetic loser who probably had to pay his son Eric to come to court for “display.” So far, I suppose, Melania has refused his payments. But…?
I’m probably not alone in despising this 24/7 media coverage. Every pundit, conversation, opinion and word is repetitious. We weren’t perfect but, our “American Experiment” has been at greater risk since 2016.
Call the networks. Tell them to offer something else.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Better off now? Yup!
A recent writer bemoaned that Trump haters were unable to recognize they were better off under his leadership. I beg to differ but recognize that we both can be right, if your world view derives primarily from listening to the ironically named Truth Social or America’s Pravda/Fox, then you might feel that you were better off then.
But the writer omitted a couple of significant events that happened on Trump’s watch. First, President Drink-Bleach’s incompetent leadership directly led to COVID killing more Americans than Hitler, a problem that continues today with his followers’ mistrust of our Public Health Service.
Second, Trump incited rioters to attack our Capitol on Jan. 6 in order to overturn an election and keep himself in power despite losing. As such, Trump represents a clear, existential threat to our democracy, especially since he has said that he would do it again.
So, looking to repeat this farce again, me not so much?
Tim Helentjaris
Northwest side
SCOTUS
Re: the May 4 letter “The hypocrisy of Justice Neil Gorsuch.”
The writer suggested that it may be time to expand the U.S. Supreme Court to offset the Justice who claims that by stating that the actions of the court would take on Trump’s immunity would be “a rule for the ages,” but overturned Roe v Wade, a prior court’s ruling made in 1973.
We can achieve a better solution in November if the Democrats regain control of Congress and maintain control of the Senate. Then impeach Gorsuch and Kavanaugh too. He lied during his confirmation hearing. Then replace them with Jurists who will protect, not abolish our rights, like voting.
The election in November is crucial to maintain the Constitution, the Republic and the rights of the people, Trump has boasted what he would do if elected and it is scary.
Dave Glicksman
Northwest side
White House for sale
Former President Trump promised executives at a recent Mar-A-Largo event that if they donated a billion dollars to his reelection, he would rescind environmental regulations, open vast swaths of public land and waterways to drilling and mining, increase natural gas exports, and halt EV initiatives. As an extra sweetener, he would enact sweeping business tax cuts.
The oil industry will be ready on day one of the new Trump presidency.
They are drafting executive orders for Trump to sign in fear of his chaotic second term. They’ll make sure that Trump delivers.
The first Trump term didn’t deliver on infrastructure, didn’t bring back manufacturing, didn’t solve the border crisis, didn’t reduce the national debt, didn’t decrease the trade deficit, and didn’t rein in lobbying or drain the swamp. But the Trump policy you can count on is quid pro quo politics.
Jean Meconi
North side
EV alternative
Someday, we’ll all be driving electric vehicles, which should help slow climate change. Until then, what can we do? Back in the 70s, the federal government responded to the fuel shortage by imposing a nationwide 55 mph speed limit. If this were done today, I estimate a reduction of 300 million tons of CO2 each year in the U.S. However, back then, this law was hugely unpopular and largely ignored, even though consequences were fairly immediate — more frequently waiting in 45-minute lines for gas. Would people today be willing to slow down to save the planet?
Godfrey Trowbridge
Northeast side
Absence of election fraud a main issue
I saw a survey where over 50% of Republicans believe our elections are not totally fair. Despite intense scrutiny and legal pressure there is no evidence of systemic issues.
I think there would be evidence if there was a problem. Why do so many people believe a factless story? DJT is unable to accept losing so he fictionalized it. He now says he won’t accept losing in 2024 either.
To those who like to quote gas prices in 2018 as justification for putting him back in charge, what about his inability to accept losing an election? Jan. 6 where people died was his fault — no fake election scandal, no rally. No rally, no deaths. He said he wants to pardon these conspiracists.
Why, on earth, does it make any sense to reelect such a person?
The cowardly Senate Republicans should have impeached and ended this sordid chapter.
Ted Ranney
Foothills
Traffic lights
Thanks to the Tucson Police Department for changing the blinking yellow traffic lights to green arrows.
I drive daily through the intersection of River Road and First Avenue, and in the past, have done so with great trepidation. I witness an accident at least once a week, several involving multiple vehicles.
Furthermore, I could not count the number of people I have seen run red lights, encouraged by blinking yellow. Now I am cruising calmly and confidently through the streets of Tucson, no longer worried about dying in a car crash.
Cheryl Lockhart
Foothills
MAGA’s choice
In 2024, Republicans handed their party leadership to the Trump family and their MAGA minions, they wanted to “vacate” the House Majority Leader (again) and turn their focus to (wait for it…) TikTok. Republicans blocked Immigration legislation, made us suffer through a long tortuous, and deadly delay in helping Ukraine, and Republican House Majority Leader has become the least stable job in the country.
Republicans declared the Secure the Border Act as “dead on arrival.” Their incessant messaging about U.S. border conditions, crime and drugs disappears from the airwaves, even as border states continue to cry for help. Along with Republican delay of aid to Ukraine, they send a clear message to Americans, Ukraine, NATO, and Putin: Trump controls the Republican Party. Americans and our allies don’t matter.
Republicans instead focus on TikTok, an application that they know even less about than human reproduction. They made choices.
We need to make ours.
Cindy Doklan
Midtown
Campaign commercials
Once again, we are inundated with cleverly prepared advertisem*nts selling a political agenda.
Locally, we have Ruben Gallego, a Democrat like Gavin Newsom or Adam Schiff, running for the Senate with the qualifications of being ex-military and little other real work experience.
Nationally, we have Joe Biden running for President with the qualification of 20% inflation since taking office.
Maybe the increase was expected, but Joe Biden believed that the voters had deep pockets, so the price increases would not be a problem.
How many price increases would it take for Biden to understand inflation is a problem for the average ‘Joe’?
I admit that I am a conservative thinker. I am capable of identifying nonsense in commercials and I am also impacted by the loss of purchasing power. I want a change that will improve things for most of the citizens. I oppose most of the Democrat candidates, because we need to get tough on crime again. I’m tired of hearing “Defund Police” from supporters of criminals.
Loran Hanco*ck
Northwest side
Donald Trump
The 10 Commandments under Donald Trump — canceled!
Larry Gray
SaddleBrooke
The fabrications
The liberal media repeatedly states that President Trump encouraged people to inject Clorox. This is a fabrication and even an out-and-lie.
If you watch the video which can be found on the internet, the speech occurred during a meeting where the President and coronavirus taskforce were present. He noted that ultraviolet light and Clorox reportedly kill the COVID virus on contact.
He looked over at his advisors and asked if it was possible to utilize either of these methods internally.
He did not suggest it should be used, only asked his advisors if it was in the realm of possibility. The liberal media, as they have done so many times, cherry-picked the speech. The media will twist stories, select certain damning words, and basically prevaricate to support their singular point of view.
And, unfortunately, many of your readers continue to spout this untruth.
You are going to have to do your own research if you want the whole truth. Or be a sheep.
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
AZ Daily Star’s ‘cartoon’ section
I believe the AZ Daily Star’s Letters to the Editor (LTE) section is its great cartoon section. Every day, I read the hate-filled letters from Democrats attacking Trump.
It has now gotten to the point of being “cartoonish.” Comparing Trump to Hitler, calling him a dictator and authoritarian, that if elected he would start a “blood bath.” Was Trump ever president? I almost fall off the sofa every morning laughing, reading these cartoonish letters. It’s Trump “derangement syndrome” on steroids now, propagated by the Star. And hey, everything is so “blue” here that we have a “red” Republican Ciscomani in the House of Representatives. And, discriminated conservative writers should just “get over it” as other minority populations have gotten over their being discriminated against.
It really is hilarious reading the same repetitive attacks on Trump. I thought Democrats were more creative than what I boringly read every day. I will just keep laughing myself silly every morning reading the Star’s LTE “cartoon” section.
Gusher Adams
North side
The red tie entourage
It would be hilarious if it weren’t so scary to watch Trump sycophants show up at his trial all dressed alike.
Instead of brown shirts they were all dressed like their dear leader in blue suits and red ties. It was disturbing to listen to the Speaker of the House, a self-avowed Christian, undermining the legal system to defend a narcissistic corrupt man who cheated on his wife with a p*rn star.
This should certainly be a warning that there will be no one in a second Trump presidency who will defend the rule of law. All the guard rails will be gone, and Trump will do exactly what he wants.
Read Project 2025 if you have any doubts.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
37
Letter: Freedom and responsibility
- Steven Lesh, East side
It is difficult to have patience with people who complain about the erosion of their personal freedoms when governments are finally taking action to stop the destruction of our planet’s habitability. Allowing the fossil fuels-powered Industrial Revolution to kick into high gear with coal, oil and gas generation of electricity and gas-powered transportation was a huge mistake. It violates the physical laws that govern our world. Even readers who, like Donald Trump, believe global warming is a Chinese hoax, don’t protest the laws of gravity by jumping off cliffs.
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon that had been safely sequestered beneath the earth’s surface for hundreds of millions of years. That carbon stays in the atmosphere for hundreds, maybe thousands of years preventing increasing amounts of the sun’s energy from being reflected back into space.
The fastest possible transition to renewable energy sources will allow us to preserve the benefits of the Industrial Revolution without killing our planet.
Steven Lesh
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
38
Letter: Presidential Election
- Frank Montez, East side
It is a done deal. Only one of Trump's criminal trials will be completed before the 2024 Presidential election. The SCOTUS has stalled the DC election interference with its stalled ruling of the boundaries Of Presidential immunity. Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee has stalled an obvious case of Trump willfully taken Top Secret documents and then obstructing the effort by the government to retrieve them These efforts by the by the above are actually the work of a "deep state "in our judges and courts to protect to protect a Presidential Candidate; who orchestrated an insurrection on January 6th,2021. The people's institutions of the judiciary have failed it's citizens! It is up to us ; the will of the people to rid ourselves of a narcissistic megalomaniac threat to our democracy Donald J. Trump (defeated Presidential candidate in 2020). Frank E. Montez Veteran 32 year ARNG.
Frank Montez
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
39
Letter: I'm Just Wondering
- Nancy Jacques, Northeast side
What’s special about campus Israel/Palestine protests requiring daily headlines since 4/18? Columbia protest fostered 100 arrests. With 36,000 students: 0.277 percent. Why protests now, end of semesters? Why not months ago?
Don’t get me wrong! The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is horrific, a place that experienced over 60 percent food insecurity prior to Hamas attacking. US arms have been involved in response. But why not outrage when the US did NOT support Ukraine’s many requests FOR arms against Russian invasion, which has killed 20,000 civilians, 444,000 soldiers? Why no screaming at Congress to help them? If Russia wins, it’s certain not to stop there. What happens next?
Where was outrage over Syria and 677,000 deaths? Or Yemen’s 377,000 deaths? What and who woke students up?
I respect protests. I participated in the largest war protest in history: Iraq. And massive climate change and women’s rights protests. But press like this? What’s the intent? Just wondering.
Nancy Jacques
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
40
Letter: Quit whining
- Larry Fleischman, North side
Trump complains that his hush money trial is interfering with his ability to campaign. If true, Trump has no one but himself to blame.
He repeatedly tried to delay the trial, including an attempt to move it to federal court without a basis, two attempts to remove the judge, and a dozen other attempts to delay.
This is in keeping with his overall strategy to delay all of the pending cases until after the election. Had he truly wanted the American people to learn how not guilty he is of all of this before we vote he could have already resolved most of the cases.
Instead, it's been delay after delay. Sort of odd for such an innocent and unfairly accused defendant.
Larry Fleischman
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
41
Letter: Where is the world's humanity?
- Maureen Salz, Oro Valley
Every pro-Palestinian protester, and those who support them, should have to watch Sheryl Sandberg’s documentary Screams Before Silence which testifies to the brutal sexual violence committed by Hamas on October 7. Interviews of multiple eyewitnesses, released hostages, first responders, medical and forensic experts and survivors, ALL bear witness to the women and girls who were raped, mutilated and murdered. This happened to people on the land of a sovereign nation, in people’s private homes and at a music festival for no other reason except that the state of Israel exists. Where is the world’s humanity for Israel?
Maureen Salz
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
42
Letter: Not Voting is Not an Option
- John Crittenden, Oro Valley
I was aghast to read George Will’s column of May 10 “In Defense of Not Voting”. Many of us voters do wish we would have a different choice come this November. But we’re stuck with Biden and Trump. It’s a given that the MAGA world will turn out for Trump. Non-MAGA Republicans, under the misguided assumption that a Trump victory will further Republican principles, will vote Trump. And some number of Independents will do the same. That leaves Democrats, Democrat-leaning Independents, Independents who fear the Trump agenda, and Republicans who see a Trump defeat as the only way to wrest control of their party from this wannabe dictator. This group MUST VOTE. Withholding your vote for Biden as a protest simply increases the chance that Trump will squeak by the Electoral College. If you think your one vote won’t matter I offer you the 2020 election results in Arizona and Georgia.
John Crittenden
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
43
Letter: Was it better four years ago?
- David Hatch, Southeast side
RE: The letter of May 5th "HATE TRUMP CLUB"
The writer paints a rosy picture of how things were under the ex-pres.
At the end of his letter, the writer asks voters to remember to ask "is our country better off now than it was four years ago?"
Does he have a short memory, or is he ignoring facts on purpose?
Four years ago our country was under the siege of covid 19, hospitals were overflowing, and like many others, I had to confine myself to my bedroom to keep from spreading the disease.
And in April of 2020 the unemployment rate was 14.7%.
And we had a president who suggested that it might be helpful to drink bleach. He didn't volunteer to be first though did he?
NO ! I do not belong to the HATE TRUMP CLUB!
I belong to the LOVE A GOOD LEADER club.
David Hatch
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
44
Letter: What If?
- Cal Rooker, Southeast side
Israel withdrew all military and civilians from Gaza in 2005. Hamas was voted into power by the Palestinian people in 2006.
What if:
• Hamas had spent their time, money and efforts to develop a vibrant economy to benefit the people instead of building their military forces, conducting raids, and firing missiles indiscriminately into Israel over the years since then?
• Hamas had not invaded Israel on October 7th supported by a barrage of 3,000 rockets, slaughtering civilians and raping and mutilating women, killing 1,139 civilians and taking 250 men, women, and children hostages?
• Gaza civilians had vacated areas of Gaza as directed by the Israeli IDF before the IDF began military operations?
• Hamas had not used hospitals and the tunnels below as military command and control centers?
• Egypt had accepted and welcomed Palestinian civilians in coordination with Hamas to provide safe havens for civilians?
• The basic tenants of each faith, basic respect and common sense had prevailed?
How many civilian deaths would have been avoided?
Cal Rooker
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
45
Letter: Your money or your democracy
- Dennis Winsten, Northeast side
I see many letters supporting a change in the presidency. Most focus on transient annoyances like oil and food prices and inflation, in general. So, those writers so concerned with their pennies are, apparently, willing to transform our almost 250 years old democracy to an autocracy overseen by an impeached and indicted individual. There are things much more important than money, freedom for example.
Dennis Winsten
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
46
Tucson Speaks Out: May 19 letters of the day
- Updated
Freedom and responsibility
It is difficult to have patience with people who complain about the erosion of their personal freedoms when governments are finally taking action to stop the destruction of our planet’s habitability. Allowing the fossil fuels-powered Industrial Revolution to kick into high gear with coal, oil and gas generation of electricity and gas-powered transportation was a huge mistake. It violates the physical laws that govern our world. Even readers who, like Donald Trump, believe global warming is a Chinese hoax, don’t protest the laws of gravity by jumping off cliffs.
Burning releases carbon that had been safely sequestered beneath the earth’s surface for hundreds of millions of years. That carbon stays in the atmosphere for hundreds, maybe thousands of years, preventing increasing amounts of the sun’s energy from being reflected back into space.
The fastest possible transition to renewable energy sources will allow us to preserve the benefits of the Industrial Revolution without killing our planet.
Steven Lesh
East side
Arizona is the worst
Re: the May 2 article “AZ ranks 49th for access to adult mental health care.”
This is one of two articles in the May 2 paper that noted Arizona currently ranks 49th in K-12 funding for public schools and 49th for access to adult mental health care. It’s depressing how often we hear this.
In 2023, Arizona was ranked 46th in healthcare for women due to the low percentage of women with healthcare providers and a 22% increase in women’s mortality and 48th in health care for children due to the high percentage of uninsured children and the low percentage in early childhood education.
In 2020, Arizona was rated the worst state to live in with an F in quality of life, health, and inclusion, noting a lack of health resources with a mere $79 per person spent on public health, among the lowest in the nation. We were ranked the fourth-most dangerous state for pedestrians and second in road rage killings and injuries.
Want a better state with the health care and public schools we desperately need? Voting for Democrats will deliver them.
Jacolyn Marshall
Oro Valley
Was it better four years ago?
Re: the May 5 letter “Hate Trump club.”
The writer paints a rosy picture of how things were under the ex-pres.
At the end of his letter, the writer asks voters to remember to ask, “is our country better off now than it was four years ago?”
Does he have a short memory, or is he ignoring facts on purpose?
Four years ago, our country was under the siege of COVID-19, hospitals were overflowing, and like many others, I had to confine myself to my bedroom to keep from spreading the disease.
And in April of 2020 the unemployment rate was 14.7%.
And we had a president who suggested that it might be helpful to drink bleach. He didn’t volunteer to be first though did he?
NO! I do not belong to the hate Trump Club!
I belong to the Love a Good Leader Club.
David Hatch
Southeast side
Where is the world’s humanity?
Every pro-Palestinian protester, and those who support them, should have to watch Sheryl Sandberg’s documentary “Screams Before Silence,” which testifies to the brutal sexual violence committed by Hamas on Oct. 7. Interviews of multiple eyewitnesses, released hostages, first responders, medical and forensic experts and survivors, all bear witness to the women and girls who were raped, mutilated and murdered. This happened to people on the land of a sovereign nation, in people’s private homes and at a music festival for no other reason except that the state of Israel exists. Where is the world’s humanity for Israel?
Maureen Salz
Oro Valley
Arizona can’t afford to lose more doctors
Arizona has long experienced a doctor shortage. According to the Arizona Public Health Association, Arizona currently has a shortage of 560 primary care physicians alone, with an estimated shortage of 1941 doctors by 2030.
Arizona is one of the fastest-growing states in the country yet ranks 42nd nationally in the number of physicians.
A recent NPR report stated that medical school students considering residency are avoiding Arizona because of the abortion ban. They want comprehensive training and worry that “state fights over abortion access have created uncertainty for pregnant patients and their doctors. That uncertainty has also bled into the world of medical education.”
Physician residents tend to settle within 100 miles from their residency. If they don’t train in Arizona, it’s highly unlikely that they will practice here.
Let’s keep our graduating medical students and residents. This November, vote to enshrine abortion access and reproductive rights into the Arizona constitution.
By protecting women’s health care, you will be protecting your own.
Carla Andrews Ohara
Northwest side
Not voting is not an option
Re: the May 10 article “In defense of not voting.”
I was aghast to read George Will’s column. Many of us voters do wish we would have a different choice come this November. But we’re stuck with Biden and Trump. It’s a given that the MAGA world will turn out for Trump. Non-MAGA Republicans, under the misguided assumption that a Trump victory will further Republican principles, will vote Trump. And some number of Independents will do the same. That leaves Democrats, Democrat-leaning Independents, Independents who fear the Trump agenda and Republicans who see a Trump defeat as the only way to wrest control of their party from this wannabe dictator. This group must vote. Withholding your vote for Biden as a protest simply increases the chance that Trump will squeak by the Electoral College. If you think your one vote won’t matter, I offer you the 2020 election results in Arizona and Georgia.
John Crittenden
Oro Valley
Imagine ...
What could Arizona’s public schools do with an additional $1 billion a year?
Consider: the current school voucher system costs Arizona taxpayers over $800 million; the Tuition Support Organization tax credits cost an additional $200-plus million a year. Private and parochial schools, the beneficiaries of these tax dollars, do not have to administer state mandated tests nor report test results, do not have to publish budgets or financial reports and their administrative salaries are a mystery.
No one knows what we are getting for our tax dollars. But imagine what public schools could do with it. Perhaps get out of the bottom five states in teacher salaries and per-student expenditures? Repair failing facilities? Improve students’ health and safety?
Elections are coming up. Is it time to end decades-long efforts to eviscerate public in favor of private and parochial education?
Choose wisely.
Todd Ackerman
Foothills
Quit whining
Trump complains that his hush money trial is interfering with his ability to campaign. If true, Trump has no one but himself to blame.
He repeatedly tried to delay the trial, including an attempt to move it to federal court without a basis, two attempts to remove the judge and a dozen other attempts to delay.
This is in keeping with his overall strategy to delay all of the pending cases until after the election. Had he truly wanted the American people to learn how not guilty he is of all of this before we vote, he could have already resolved most of the cases.
Instead, it’s been delay after delay. Sort of odd for such an innocent and unfairly accused defendant.
Larry Fleischman
North side
U of A Faculty Senate Chair and antisemitism
Pennsylvania President Magill and Harvard President Gay both lost their jobs because they did not explicitly say that calling for the genocide of Jews would necessarily violate their code of conduct on bullying or harassment. University of Arizona Faculty Senate Chair, Professor Leila Hudson at first refused to issue a statement condemning antisemitism. Then, surprisingly she issued a document on May 10, in part, “I reject antisemitism personally as a grieving Palestinian American.” Her statement is qualified by her status and diminishes the credibility of her letter. She writes, “Let there be no doubt that antisemitism — like all forms of bigotry, racism, supremacism, intimidation, harassment, and violence — has no place on our campus or in our culture.” Professor Hudson never points out code of conduct violations from the protesters that are antisemitic. Instead, she points to the “chilling of legitimate speech and the “disproportionate Police and institutional violence against protesters,” to excuse abusive language by the protesters. That is not legitimate speech and reveals her implicit bias. She should resign.
Richard Harper
Northeast side
I’m just wondering
What’s special about campus Israel/Palestine protests requiring daily headlines since April 18? Columbia protest fostered 100 arrests. With 36,000 students: 0.277%. Why protests now, end of semesters? Why not months ago?
Don’t get me wrong! The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is horrific, a place that experienced over 60% food insecurity prior to Hamas attacking. U.S. arms have been involved in response. But why not outrage when the U.S. did not support Ukraine’s many requests for arms against Russian invasion, which has killed 20,000 civilians, 444,000 soldiers? Why no screaming at Congress to help them? If Russia wins, it’s certain not to stop there. What happens next?
Where was outrage over Syria and 677,000 deaths? Or Yemen’s 377,000 deaths? What and who woke students up?
I respect protests. I participated in the largest war protest in history: Iraq. And massive climate change and women’s rights protests. But press like this? What’s the intent? Just wondering.
Nancy Jacques
Northeast side
Your money or your democracy
I see many letters supporting a change in the presidency. Most focus on transient annoyances like oil and food prices and inflation, in general. So, those writers so concerned with their pennies are, apparently, willing to transform our almost 250 years old democracy to an autocracy overseen by an impeached and indicted individual. There are things much more important than money; freedom, for example.
Dennis Winsten
Northeast side
What if?
Israel withdrew all military and civilians from Gaza in 2005. Hamas was voted into power by the Palestinian people in 2006.
What if:
Hamas had spent their time, money and efforts to develop a vibrant economy to benefit the people instead of building their military forces, conducting raids, and firing missiles indiscriminately into Israel over the years since then?
Hamas had not invaded Israel on Oct. 7 supported by a barrage of 3,000 rockets, slaughtering civilians and raping and mutilating women, killing 1,139 civilians and taking 250 men, women, and children hostages?
Gaza civilians had vacated areas of Gaza as directed by the Israeli IDF before the IDF began military operations?
Hamas had not used hospitals and the tunnels below as military command and control centers?
Egypt had accepted and welcomed Palestinian civilians in coordination with Hamas to provide safe havens for civilians?
The basic tenets of each faith, basic respect and common sense had prevailed?
How many civilian deaths would have been avoided?
Cal Rooker
Southeast side
Uncertainty
Like you, I have no idea what health issues I might face between now and next February. Whatever happens, should they prove serious, even life-threatening, I am secure in the knowledge that skilled doctors will be there for me.
That is not the case for anyone between the ages 12 and 50 who finds herself pregnant, with or without her consent, with or without healthcare, with or without financial means.
Unlike me, our doctors will not be there for her throughout her nine months of uncertainty, unless her death is imminent and even then her doctor must contemplate how close to dying must she be before he’s protected. As a result, maternal death rates are 62% higher in states with abortion bans.
The CDC reports 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the US are preventable given the right care at the right time. It is shameful that is not the case in Arizona.
One thing is certain. Your vote can change that.
Jacolyn Marshall
Oro Valley
Presidential election
It is a done deal. Only one of Trump’s criminal trials will be completed before the 2024 presidential election. The SCOTUS has stalled the DC election interference with its stalled ruling of the boundaries of Presidential immunity. Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, has stalled an obvious case of Trump willfully taking top secret documents and then obstructing the effort by the government to retrieve them. These efforts by the by the above are actually the work of a “deep state” in our judges and courts to protect to protect a Presidential candidate who orchestrated an insurrection on Jan. 6th, 2021. The people’s institutions of the judiciary have failed its citizens! It is up to us; the will of the people to rid ourselves of a narcissistic megalomaniac threat to our democracy Donald J. Trump (defeated Presidential candidate in 2020).
Frank E. Montez,
Veteran 32-year ARNG
East side
47
Letter: Trump's Unfitness
- Don Ries, Southeast side
The former President has shown himself unfit for the office in 2 simple ways. He seems to have lied about being too cold in the courtroom, as none of the other people in the court have made a similar complaint. If he lies about such a mundane matter, how can we trust him about anything else? If he is telling the truth, then it is even worse. We have a 77-year-old candidate for the most powerful position in the world who doesn't know what to do about being cold except complain. My five-year-old children knew what to do in such a situation, and it wasn't to whine about it.
Don Ries
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
48
Letter: What I hate.
- Jeff Rayner, SaddleBrooke
I do not hate Trump, he is not worth the passion.
I do hate the many things he has brought to our country. I cannot list them all;
The way his supporters think about and treat anyone who does not worship Trump.
The fact that over 1 million died from COVID. Remember him ignoring the existing epidemic reaction plans ? Also, delaying for months to expedite the development of vaccines.
The way too many of his supporters now lie as an acceptable way to gain whatever suits them.
The loss of confidence in many institutions, by politicizing them directly.
The lack of civility in many of his followers, specifically, assaults on school boards and local governments.
The promotion of white nationalism, and bigotry.
I hate the many malevolent things he has done. How bad does it have to get before his supporters see what he really is and a future would be with him as a president?
Jeff Rayner
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
49
Letter: Re: the May 6. article “Local opinion: How about a little autocracy?”
- Roger Ulrich, Northwest side
In response to Gerald Farrington's article "How about a little autocracy?", my response to Gerald is that there is no such thing as as a "little" autocracy. His facetious comment about finding the "right autocrat" historically has demonstrated this to be an oxymoron. Overall jesting about such a thing as he is doing is not even funny.
Roger Ulrich
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
50
Letter: Who is the criminal?
- Bruce Hilpert, North side
As a patriotic American, I am appalled at the response of many universities and President Biden to the college campus demonstrations. At the University of Arizona, police used tear gas and rubber bullets to attack a group of students who were peacefully assembling in violation of a curfew regulation. Talk about over-reaction!
Yes, a curfew violation is illegal but the response was totally out of proportion. Meanwhile, our government is complicit in the war crimes that Israel commits regularly against the citizens of Gaza. The Geneva Convention forbids genocide (see its definition) and collective punishment of innocent civilians.
Remember, the civil rights movement began with illegal acts of integration in public spaces. Sadly, our government now stands with Gov. Wallace and “Bull” Conner.
Bruce Hilpert
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
51
Tucson Speaks Out: May 24 letters of the day
- Updated
Miserable roads
Most roads in Tucson are, as we all know, just miserable. Granted, there are attempts to fix them, but even when a street is resurfaced, the cover deteriorates quickly within a few years, and soon, the old potholes are right back again (look at Tucson Blvd.). In my humble opinion, there is a fundamental flaw in our entire system. Instead of working on maintaining our infrastructure, the government spends most of its money on widening Grant or Broadway, which is not really needed but costs huge amounts of money. Here is my simple suggestion: Due to our extreme weather conditions, cracks easily appear. If those are not taken care of, they quickly widen, expand, and then potholes appear. If we spent more time, effort, and money on maintenance, we could save millions of dollars in the future. Ask a dentist about preemptive care of teeth, then you know what the city ought to do with its roads. Improve the conditions of our roads now and save much in the future.
Albrecht Classen
Midtown
Is woke propaganda the norm at UA?
Re: the May 15 letter “Israeli training of US police.”
This letter is both silly and dangerous. Silly accusations against the Tucson police department, as if it were a branch of the Tel Aviv police. The emeritus prof tries to taint our police by saying they trained in Israel. I trust the Tucson police, whether they had training in Israel or not. The dangerous part of his propaganda is the false charge of Israel using rubber bullets against peaceful protesters. The peaceful protesters the professor noted “used more than 3,600 Molotov co*cktail attacks, 100 hand grenade attacks and 600 assaults with guns or explosives during the first intifada” alone. That is in addition to 160 suicide bombings carried out by Palestinians. The shame here is propaganda coming from a professor teaching our young at a public institution. Finally, he makes it sound as Israel developed rubber bullets, that honor goes to the English, using 120,000 against Irish protesters during the Troubles. Where was your outrage then?
Andrew Katz
Green Valley
MLB sloppiness
Being a devoted MLB fan, I’m wondering how the management of all MLB clubs are just ignoring the fact that these players are mentors to young men and women who strive to be in the game. Excessive jewelry causes harm/ and or fly in faces. Long head and facial hair take away the clean-cut aspect. Uniformity in the teams’ uniforms seem to differ from every player. If the foreign players are that good over our USA players, please have them speak English.
Communication is essential. Shortening the playing season would keep the games from delays/cancellations, due to winter weather.
The physical stamina, appearance, and dedication to this baseball profession makes all the difference in player and leadership performance and responsibility.
Respect the game. Respect the player. Respect the coaches/managers and all those behind the scenes who come into your home for entertainment.
Clean it up!
Phyllis Bowcott
Northwest side
Right problem, wrong solution
Republicans are concerned that non-U.S. citizens are corrupting our elections by voting in them, and they want to make that more illegal than it already is. It is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections, and it is also illegal for them to donate to campaigns.
Non-citizens voting in our elections is not the problem, the problem is campaign and PAC contributions made by corporate entities. These are easy conduits for foreign interests wishing to influence our elections. To the foreign interest, what does it matter than they can’t cast their measly one vote in an election, when they can pump thousands of dollars into the campaign of their choice? The money is untraceable when laundered properly through a willing PAC or corporation.
John McConnaughey
Oro Valley
Now on sale
Given the transactional nature of the modern Trumpublican party, I’d like to place my order ... er ... bet, in the spirit of Barr, Haley, oil execs and long red ties everywhere.
Even though I’ve known for decades about the misdeeds and self-centered dishonesty of Donald Trump and believe him to be not worthy of any public office at any level, I pledge that I’ll:
vote for him in 2024 for $10 million USD;
tell others I voted for him for an additional $50 million;
suggest others might vote for him for another $100 million; and
take back all the unfavorable things I’ve said about him for $500 million.
All cash package deal. Non negotiable. All payable in advance, the funds will be distributed to actual charities, of my choosing. I reserve the right to renege, with no penalties, on any promises I’ve made, after completed payments.
Bruce Kaplan
Northwest side
Alito’s stance?
Just what is Justice Alito’s stance on our Constitution, when he aligns himself with those favoring an insurrection? The insurrection was a Trumpian act, fitting of a group that has a sociopath as their hero. But Trump’s stance is clearly fascist, for those of us who have studied fascism in detail. It seems more than ironic that a SCOTUS justice would support an insurrection that attempted to tear down the Constitution that he was sworn to protect. How can a justice adjudicate on Constitutional matters of the court, when he supports an unconstitutional uprising? I highly suspect that Alito is aligned with Trump’s fascist policies. His pro-insurrectionist flags at his home and beach house should be a clear reminder of his abandonment of our Founders’ principles. In most cases, the ascent of fascism is brought about by filling key positions in the existing system with fascist acolytes, including the courts. That sort of radicalism has no business in the Supreme Court. He must be removed.
Steve Rasmussen
Foothills
Clean energy is the key
Re: the May 21 article “Biden is a better choice on environment.”
Mike Carran’s op-ed about investments in American infrastructure and clean energy technology reminded me of another period of American growth and prosperity.
Remember Alan Greenspan’s giddiness in the late 1990s when the stock market kept rising, the job market surged and global trade was expansive? That boom was largely due to investments in technology, particularly computers.
We’re experiencing a similar economic boom now — generated by the transition from fossil fuel to clean, renewable energy. Globally, investments in clean energy technology, from semi-conductors to solar and wind, increased 75% last year over the year before. The BIL, IRA, and the CHIPS and Science Act is creating 1,000’s of new jobs for Tucson, manufacturing lithium iron batteries, semiconductors, data centers, digital services.
There’s no going back to black lung disease or the poverty of Appalachia. Investors want zero carbon emissions, cleaner air, and a stable climate. Treasury Secretary Yellin deserves recognition for her steady hand in developing a forward-looking economic policy.
Jane Conlin
Oro Valley
Your children’s future is at stake in November
If elected, Trump will preside over the world’s second largest producer of greenhouse gases. His embrace of climate denial and fossil fuels, and vow to roll back climate research and clean energy programs, will come just as our window for evasive action is narrowing. Without significantly expanding efforts to reduce greenhouse gases over the next 10 years, Earth’s average temperature is likely to reach 2 deg. C above pre-industrial levels by 2050. Trump will be long gone when coastal Florida is succumbing to rising sea level and heat is making the southern tier of the U.S. progressively uninhabitable. People who fail to see what’s coming will ultimately be driven from homes they can’t sell and their equity will evaporate. Already, areas of the West and Midwest are running out of groundwater for agriculture and drinking water as reservoirs dry. Sound familiar? The ultra-wealthy will easily relocate, but where will you and your children be in 25 years? Biden is the only choice come November.
Christine Flanagan
West side
52
Letter: Mike Johnson, trump subservient
- Jack Graef, SaddleBrooke
Mike Johnson’s support of aid for Ukraine was not only support of Ukraine’s survival, but it was actually support of our Democracy. For an instant, Johnson flashed legislative legitimacy (unlike his Republican stablemates who don’t understand the significance of a Putin success in Ukraine, and our commitment to the defense of our NATO allies). However, legitimacy was fleeting. Johnson reverted to his acolyte form, fearful of trump’s vengeance if he doesn’t toe the line should trump be re-elected. Johnson’s pilgrimage to New York to rant trumpish blather in front of the trial courtroom, along with a bunch of fellow acolytes (and VP hopefuls vying for trump’s smile), is no different than the homage paid to trump by his deposed predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, who, after condemning trump for orchestrating his attempted coup on January 6, crawled to Mar a Lago to beg for forgiveness.
Jack Graef
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
53
Letter: Trivia Question
- Gary Hammond, SaddleBrooke
To The Editor:
A question -- why is the GOP "Veepstakes" competition similar to a limbo contest? Because the winner will be the one who can go the lowest.
Gary Hammond
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
54
Letter: Now on sale
- Bruce Kaplan, Northwest side
Given the transactional nature of the modern Trumpublican party, I’d like to place my order... er... bet, in the spirit of Barr, Haley, oil execs and long red ties everywhere.
Even though I’ve know for decades about the misdeeds and self-centered dishonesty of Donald Trump and believe him to be not worthy of any public office at any level, I pledge that I’ll:
* vote for him in 2024 for $10 million USD;
* tell others I voted for him for an additional $50 million;
* suggest others might vote for him for another $100 million; and
* take back all the unfavorable things I’ve said about him for $500 million.
All cash package deal. Nonnegotiable. All payable in advance, the funds will be distributed to actual charities, of my choosing. I reserve the right to renege, with no penalties, on any promises I’ve made, after completed payments.
Bruce Kaplan
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
55
Letter: Clean Energy is the key
- Jane Conlin, Oro Valley
Mike Carran’s op-ed about investments in American infrastructure and clean energy technology reminded me of another period of American growth and prosperity.
Remember Alan Greenspan’s giddiness in the late 1990’s when the stock market kept rising, the job market surged and global trade was expansive? That boom was largely due to investments in technology, particularly computers.
We’re experiencing a similar economic boom now – generated by the transition from fossil fuel to clean, renewable energy. Globally, investments in clean energy technology, from semi-conductors to solar and wind, increased 75% last year over the year before. The BIL, IRA, and the CHIPS and Science Act is creating 1,000’s of new jobs for Tucson, manufacturing lithium iron batteries, semiconductors, data centers, digital services.
There’s no going back to black lung disease or the poverty of Appalachia. Investors want zero carbon emissions, cleaner air, and a stable climate. Treasury Secretary Yellin deserves recognition for her steady hand in developing a forward-looking economic policy.
Jane Conlin
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
56
Letter: Your Children's Future is at Stake in November
- Christine Flanagan, West side
If elected, Trump will preside over the world's second largest producer of greenhouse gases. His embrace of climate denial and fossil fuels, and vow to roll back climate research and clean energy programs will come just as our window for evasive action is narrowing. Without significantly expanding efforts to reduce greenhouse gases over the next 10 years, Earth's average temperature is likely to reach 2 deg. C above pre-industrial levels by 2050. Trump will be long gone when coastal Florida is succumbing to rising sea level and heat is making the southern tier of the U.S. progressively uninhabitable. People who fail to see what's coming will ultimately be driven from homes they can't sell and their equity will evaporate. Already, areas of the West and Midwest are running out of groundwater for agriculture and drinking water as reservoirs dry. Sound familiar? The ultra-wealthy will easily relocate, but where will you and your children be in 25 years? Biden is the only choice come November.
Christine Flanagan
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
57
Letter: Alito's Stance?
- Steve Rasmussen, Foothills
Just what is Justice Alito’s stance on our Constitution, when he aligns himself with those favoring an insurrection? The insurrection was a Trumpian act, fitting of a group that has a sociopath as their hero. But Trump’s stance is clearly fascist, for those of us who have studied fascism in detail. It seems more than ironic that a SCOTUS Justice would support an insurrection that attempted to tear down the Constitution that he was sworn to protect. How can a justice adjudicate on Constitutional matters of the court, when he supports an unconstitutional uprising? I highly suspect that Alito is aligned with Trump’s fascist policies. His pro-insurrectionist flags at his home and beach house should be a clear reminder of his abandonment of our Founders’ principles. In most cases, the ascent of fascism is brought about by filling key positions in the existing system with fascist acolytes, including the courts. That sort of radicalism has no business in the Supreme Court. He must be removed.
Steve Rasmussen
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
58
Letter: MLB Sloppiness
- Phyllis Bowcott, Northwest side
Being a Devoted MLB Fan, I'm wondering how the management of all MLB Clubs are just ignoring the fact that these players are mentors to young men and women who strive to be in the game. Excessive jewelry causes harm/ and or fly in faces. Long head and facial hair take away the clean-cut aspect. Uniformity in the Teams' uniforms seem to differ from every player. If the Foreign players are THAT good over our USA players, please have them speak English.
Communication is essential. Shortening the playing season would keep the games from delays/cancellations, due to winter weather.
The physical stamina, appearance, and dedication to this Baseball profession makes all the difference in player and leadership performance and responsibility.
Respect the Game. Respect the Player. Respect the Coaches/Managers and all those behind the scenes who come into your home for entertainment.
Clean It Up!
Phyllis Bowcott
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
59
Letter: Is woke propaganda the norm at U of A?
- Andrew Katz, Green Valley
Charles Smith's letter of 5/15 is both silly and dangerous. Silly accusations against the Tucson police department, as if it were a branch of the Tel Aviv police. The emeritus prof tries to taint our police by saying they trained in Israel. I trust the Tucson police, whether they had training in Israel or not. The dangerous part of his propaganda is the false charge of Israel using rubber bullets against peaceful protesters. The peaceful protesters the professor noted "used more than 3,600 Molotov co*cktail attacks, 100 hand grenade attacks and 600 assaults with guns or explosives during the first intifada" alone. That is in addition to 160 suicide bombing carried out by Palestinians. The shame here is propaganda coming from a professor teaching our young at a public institution. Finally, he makes it sound as Israel developed rubber bullets, that honor goes to the English, using 120,000 against Irish protesters during the Troubles. Where was your outrage then Mr. Smith.
Andrew Katz
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
60
Letter: Right Problem, Wrong Solution
- John McConnaughey, Oro Valley
Republicans are concerned that non US Citizens are corrupting our elections by voting in them, and they want to make that more illegal than it already is. It is already illegal for non citizens to vote in federal elections, and it is also illegal for them to donate to campaigns.
Non citizens voting in our elections is not the problem, the problem is campaign and PAC contributions made by corporate entities. These are easy conduits for foreign interests wishing to influence our elections. To the foreign interest, what does it matter than they can't cast their measly one vote in an election, when they can pump thousands of dollars into the campaign of their choice? The money is untraceable when laundered properly through a willing PAC or corporation.
John McConnaughey
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
61
Letter: Drinking cleaning fluids
- David Hatch, Southeast side
Okay, so the Trump defenders are correct....
I've done the research. He did not actually say that people should DRINK his Kool aid. He only asked if it might be useful.
Also to his credit, during the January 6th episode, to the best of my knowledge, he never once said that Mike pence should be hanged.
He only said "Maybe the crowd is right."
What a Guy!
David Hatch
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
More like this...
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'); if (iDisplayCount_d3c9e1cd_d370_5420_b2ae_bc769c7b7466 < iMaxDisplay_d3c9e1cd_d370_5420_b2ae_bc769c7b7466) { // Get next url and request more assets __tnt.engagement.assets["d3c9e1cd-d370-5420-b2ae-bc769c7b7466"].populate(oEngagementMore_d3c9e1cd_d370_5420_b2ae_bc769c7b7466.data('next-url')); } } } // Add total count to container if (bStop_d3c9e1cd_d370_5420_b2ae_bc769c7b7466 == true) { // Add total count to container oEngagementContainer_d3c9e1cd_d370_5420_b2ae_bc769c7b7466.attr("data-engagement-total", iDisplayCount_d3c9e1cd_d370_5420_b2ae_bc769c7b7466); // Remove engagement loading spinner oEngagementSpinner_d3c9e1cd_d370_5420_b2ae_bc769c7b7466.remove(); return false; } } else { // Empty asset set returned. Go back in for a real set if(__tnt.engagement.assets["d3c9e1cd-d370-5420-b2ae-bc769c7b7466"].attempts<2){ if(sNextUrl_d3c9e1cd_d370_5420_b2ae_bc769c7b7466==null||sNextUrl_d3c9e1cd_d370_5420_b2ae_bc769c7b7466==""){ sNextUrl_d3c9e1cd_d370_5420_b2ae_bc769c7b7466 = "/news/local/tucson-speaks-up-letters-to-the-editor-for-the-week-of-may-24-2024/collection_d3c9e1cd-d370-5420-b2ae-bc769c7b7466.html"; } __tnt.engagement.assets["d3c9e1cd-d370-5420-b2ae-bc769c7b7466"].populate(sNextUrl_d3c9e1cd_d370_5420_b2ae_bc769c7b7466); __tnt.engagement.assets["d3c9e1cd-d370-5420-b2ae-bc769c7b7466"].attempts++; } } }); } } // Rewrite URL for preview // TODO move to one location function scrubURL(sURL) { if (typeof sURL != 'undefined'){ return sURL; } }
Letter: THE CASE AGAINST MARIJUANA
- Tom McGorray, Northwest side
I believe that recreational Marijuana use can have negative effects on the brain, body, and mental health.
Recently, Biden’s DOJ lowered Marijuana to a schedule three drug, akin to tylenol, without the DEA’s approval.
Heavy marijuana use during young adulthood, when the brain is still developing, may impair cognitive function, such as memory, learning, attention.
Marijuana use can increase the risk of developing psychosis, a mental illness
While not everyone who uses marijuana will become addicted,
regular use can lead to dependence, making it difficult to quit.
Marijuana use can impair coordination and reaction time, which can increase the risk of accidents and injuries.
Marijuana use during pregnancy can increase the risk of
problems with the baby's development,
There are 24 states that have already legalized recreational marijuana.
Marijuana can definitely impair your ability to drive safely.
I think it's important to remember that driving under the
influence of marijuana is illegal everywhere. There are legal limits in blood
concentration while driving, similar to DUI laws for alcohol.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Biden condemns protests, only after mounting political pressure
- Langhorne Bilby, Marana
Anti-Israel protests on college and university campuses have become more violent over the last days and weeks, but there was silence about it from President Biden. It was only after mounting political pressure that he finally came out and publicly denounced it on May 2, a day after widespread arrests of students on campuses across the country. These college and university rioters are the same ones that Biden would provide billions in tax payer funded debt relief to. He desperately needs their vote in November and the White House must have been in conflict over denouncing their rioting, thus the delay. It may be a lost cause as they are already ticked off at him for supporting Israel, more so now because of his signing recent legislation providing more military funding to them as the war continues. I have no doubt though that Biden campaign schemers will devise some plan to further bribe students into voting for him. Maybe pressuring prosecutors across the country to dismiss charges against them.
Langhorne Bilby
Marana
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Democracy
- John (Jay) Van Echo, PE, West side
Recently Mr. Trump posted a video to his social media suggesting a second term for him would create a "unified Reich" in America. Seriously, this is crazy. I am outraged. All should be outraged. And it's not like he hasn't referred to Nazi Germany in the past and his infatuation with Hitler. "Those who don't know history are bound to repeat it." He does not know history, we do. My father served in the Navy during World War II to extinguish this autocracy. Many of our fathers and mothers did so too. Over 400,000 American Forces lost their lives in this serious endeavor, not to mention the 6 million Jewish lives lost. We need to remember the lost lives of all and the history of where autocracy could take us. Vote for democracy. Vote for freedom. Please do not vote for autocracy.
John (Jay) Van Echo, PE
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: You don't know Fascism
- Ernest Saccani, Foothills
Re: Letter of May 20 "The Fabricators"
The writer refers to Trump's famous "cleaning fluid" speech of 4-23-'20 in the WH Briefing Room. Google it and watch for yourself how Trump revealed the possibility to his naive loyalists of injecting disinfectants into one's body to avert the virus.
(Dr. Birx, WH Coronavirus Response Coordinator was stunned} In fact, his participation during the pandemic (under his watch) was responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of American lives. In his article, the writer is more obsessed with blaming "liberal media" (his words) than reflecting on the consequences of Trump's statements at the press briefing.
Past letters from the writer depict someone educated, experienced, socially engaging, and thoughtful. He could be well served by studying Fascism; it's genesis, development, and consequences. I've reminded readers to believe in Trump's philosophy and ideology for governance because they align with Mussolini and Hitler. Please pay attention; a Trump election would effectively end representative democracy and endanger our world.
Ernest Saccani
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: GOP Embraces Election Fraud
- Scott Lukomski, Northeast side
Why is it that the GOP, both locally, statewide, and nationally, has not taken the opportunity during the last 3 plus years to contribute to the improvement and integrity of the election system? Rather they've continued to denigrate this system even though there has been no proof of election fraud. There's been plenty of time to help assure that the next elections are beyond question. The GOP has not seen fit to help do so.
And now, with the 2024 elections on the horizon, many GOPers are already posturing to be able to deny the election results if they're not favorable. By any measure this is not just non-productive and undemocratic, but a hallmark of fascism. If you look closely, historically, you can see that the path to authoritarianism is being paved by the GOP. Election denial is just one facet of that effort to undermine democracy. Election fraud stirs the pot.
Scott Lukomski
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Healthcare Frustrations
- Sarah Lee-Davisson, MD, Northwest side
A patient who was frustrated with a delay in testing recently told me “I now understand why Medicare pays you all less yearly”. The people suffering from broken healthcare are undoubtedly the patients, but doctors and nurses are not OK either. Unless we attend to this fact, none of us will be assured of getting healthcare when we need it the most. I have personally seen 4 excellent surgeons close our practices due to rising costs/inflation coupled with yearly cuts in reimbursem*nt. I recently went to DC to meet with legislative staff of Senators Sinema and Kelly to share my story and how it affected the patients that had depended on me for 16 years in Oro Valley. Unfortunately, my experience is not isolated. There are many opportunities for improvement in US Healthcare, but most immediately, we must support adequate Insurance payments to assure adequate healthcare staffing in our communities.
Sarah Lee-Davisson, MD
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Creativity Void
- Kenneth Haber, Northwest side
Congratulations Justice Alito. You have convincingly demonstrated precisely how devoid you are of creativity. Was...." my wife did it"..... the best you could do. My son's ,,, *the dog ate my homework " ... was less original but more creative. We did not have a dog.
Kenneth Haber
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Tucson Speaks out: May 23 letters of the day
Biden condemns protests — under pressure
Anti-Israel protests on college and university campuses have become more violent over the last days and weeks, but there was silence about it from President Biden. It was only after mounting political pressure that he finally came out and publicly denounced it on May 2, a day after widespread arrests of students on campuses across the country. These college and university rioters are the same ones that Biden would provide billions in taxpayer funded debt relief to. He desperately needs their vote in November and the White House must have been in conflict over denouncing their rioting, thus the delay. It may be a lost cause as they are already ticked off at him for supporting Israel, more so now because of his signing recent legislation providing more military funding to them as the war continues. I have no doubt though that Biden campaign schemers will devise some plan to further bribe students into voting for him. Maybe pressuring prosecutors across the country to dismiss charges against them.
Langhorne Bilby Marana
AZ Star article Maui climate refugees
Re: the May 7 article “Couple looks for new start in Tucson as ‘climate refugees’.”
Come on! There had been a tropical storm off the coast of Maui, which was not uncommon. The mountains there can create a funnel effect for wind. Yes it was dry, but the two major factors in that devastating Lahaina fire were the Hawaii Electric Power company not powering down its lines soon enough with downed lines causing fires and fired brush underneath the lines not having been removed. Multiple civil suits, including by Maui County officials, have been filed against the company for failing to maintain its infrastructure. Additionally, water was not readily available as a native Hawaiian state official in charge of water release to the area refused to initially provide it out of DEI concerns as it might disproportionately harm local taro farmers. This devastating Maui fire had more to do with human errors than climate change!
Janice DeAngelo
Tubac
Creativity void
Congratulations Justice Alito. You have convincingly demonstrated precisely how devoid you are of creativity. Was “my wife did it” the best you could do? My son’s “the dog ate my homework” was less original but more creative. We did not have a dog.
Kenneth Haber
Northwest side
Healthcare frustrations
A patient who was frustrated with a delay in testing recently told me “I now understand why Medicare pays you all less yearly”. The people suffering from broken healthcare are undoubtedly the patients, but doctors and nurses are not OK either. Unless we attend to this fact, none of us will be assured of getting healthcare when we need it the most. I have personally seen four excellent surgeons close our practices due to rising costs/inflation coupled with yearly cuts in reimbursem*nt. I recently went to DC to meet with legislative staff of Senators Sinema and Kelly to share my story and how it affected the patients that had depended on me for 16 years in Oro Valley. Unfortunately, my experience is not isolated. There are many opportunities for improvement in U.S. Healthcare, but most immediately, we must support adequate Insurance payments to assure adequate healthcare staffing in our communities.
Sarah Lee-Davisson, MD
Northwest side
Should be front page news
Re: the May 19 article “Violent-crime trend encouraging, not cataclysmic.”
Why was the above Star editorial not on the front page? This was not only good news, but it also refuted false facts being circulated by the Goldwater Institute. I understand that the original piece was on the op-ed page, however it was an essay purporting to be factual and not just an opinion piece. We have to assume that the Goldwater Institute was spreading misinformation in more news sources other than the Arizona Star. This article on the front page (or at least page 1 of the Tucson Region section) would have had more exposure than the Opinion page.
Reporting the inaccuracy in the same location as the original falsehoods is an editorial decision, but I believe newspapers and other news outlets should be more aware of their duty to report facts to readers of the whole paper. This editorial was not an opinion.
Cindy Soffrin
Northeast side
Length of green arrow
Re: the May 20 letter “Traffic lights.”
I agree that changing the turn signal to a (red-green arrow) was and is a great idea. My only problem is the length that the green arrow is on. They did not adjust the time. I use the intersection Grant and Craycroft several times a week and have seen many wrecks. But the turn lane can get very long during rush hours, and maybe 4-5 cars can get through on the green arrow and as many as 3-5 turn after it has changed yellow and then red. Sometime taking three light changes to make your left turn. The city really needs to adjust the length of the green arrow.
Daniel Ford
East side
You don’t know Fascism
Re: the May 20 letter “The fabrications.”
The writer refers to Trump’s famous “cleaning fluid” speech of April 23, 2020, in the WH Briefing Room. Google it and watch for yourself how Trump revealed the possibility to his naive loyalists of injecting disinfectants into one’s body to avert the virus.
Dr. Birx, WH Coronavirus Response Coordinator, was stunned, in fact, Trump’s participation during the pandemic (under his watch) was responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of American lives. In his article, the writer is more obsessed with blaming “liberal media” (his words) than reflecting on the consequences of Trump’s statements at the press briefing.
Past letters from the writer depict someone educated, experienced, socially engaging, and thoughtful. He could be well served by studying Fascism; its genesis, development, and consequences. I’ve reminded readers to believe in Trump’s philosophy and ideology for governance because they align with Mussolini and Hitler. Please pay attention; a Trump election would effectively end representative democracy and endanger our world.
Ernest Saccani
Foothills
Ousting of judges
As I read about how certain organizations are going to work on ousting judges King and Bolick. I find it interesting that they want to oust only them. I have been voting since 1968 and I have always voted to oust every judge up for retention. My personal opinion is that judges should not be elected or appointed to lifetime positions (including local, state, federal judges). Under the current system even judges that are rated low by the various legal groups are almost always retaining their positions.
If voters just voted for removal of all judges up for retention, we would have younger and more energetic lawyers being appointed or elected to the bench.
I know a lot of voters just ignore voting for the judges because they know so little about their record on the bench. They need to be aware that they are voting to give the judges a lifetime appointment and vote to remove them from the bench.
James McLin
East side
Democracy
Recently Mr. Trump posted a video to his social media suggesting a second term for him would create a “unified Reich” in America. Seriously, this is crazy. I am outraged. All should be outraged. And it’s not like he hasn’t referred to Nazi Germany in the past and his infatuation with Hitler. “Those who don’t know history are bound to repeat it.” He does not know history, we do. My father served in the Navy during World War II to extinguish this autocracy. Many of our fathers and mothers did so too. Over 400,000 American Forces lost their lives in this serious endeavor, not to mention the 6 million Jewish lives lost. We need to remember the lost lives of all and the history of where autocracy could take us. Vote for democracy. Vote for freedom. Please do not vote for autocracy.
John (Jay) Van Echo, PE West side
GOP embraces election fraud
Why is it that the GOP, both locally, statewide, and nationally, has not taken the opportunity during the last three plus years to contribute to the improvement and integrity of the election system? Rather they’ve continued to denigrate this system even though there has been no proof of election fraud. There’s been plenty of time to help assure that the next elections are beyond question. The GOP has not seen fit to help do so.
And now, with the 2024 elections on the horizon, many GOPers are already posturing to be able to deny the election results if they’re not favorable. By any measure this is not just non-productive and undemocratic, but a hallmark of fascism. If you look closely, historically, you can see that the path to authoritarianism is being paved by the GOP. Election denial is just one facet of that effort to undermine democracy. Election fraud stirs the pot.
Scott Lukomski
Northeast side
A common-sense rebuttal
Re: the May 22 letter “Palo Verde trees a blazing.”
Please consider that not all Tucson citizens celebrate the yellow blooms each spring. I offer this:
Tissue
When spring arrives
after winter gloom,
and feathers tickle your nose,
like pepper to sweeping broom,
let’s be wise and sensible,
and not quick remedy assume.
better to buy boxes of
of, of, of,
ti, ti, ti- shoo!
nebbermind,
tumbody plede
padd duh dissue.
John E. Irby
Southeast side
Letter: Cut Plastic Production Now to Save Coral Reefs
- Alice Whittenburg, West side
An article in Saturday’s Daily Star, “Coral bleaching near record across world,” reports that ocean heating has gone “crazy haywire,” causing damage to coral reefs. Climate change is described as the major cause of this unprecedented warming.
Though most people know that fossil fuel use is the leading driver of climate change, few are aware that the production of plastic is a big part of the problem. But a 2021 analysis by Beyond Plastics stated that, in the U.S., the plastics industry will make a greater contribution to climate change than coal-fired power by 2030. Beyond Plastics founder Judith Enck says, "… plastic produces greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of its life cycle. To provide context, if plastic were a country, it would be the world’s fifth largest greenhouse gas emitter…."
Since plastics harm the oceans in other ways, too (by 2050 it’s estimated that plastic waste will outweigh fish in the world’s oceans), it makes sense to cut plastic production now.
Alice Whittenburg
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Eli Crane
- Patrick Allen, Northwest side
Interesting when you want to send a comment to representative Eli Crane the web-site asks you for a zip code. When I entered the zip code 85742 it rejected the zip code because it was outside the district. When I went to Eli Crane's web-site it stated he was from Cortaro, AZ. I looked up real estate in Cortaro, AZ and the first six listings were from 85742. Makes you wonder why a representative can live outside the district represented.
Patrick Allen
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Trump and Clorox
- Barbara Toohey, Foothills
Thank you, Loyal Johnson, for writing the letter I've wanted to write about Trump espousing drinking or injecting Clorox to fight off COVID. I heard or read his original speech and he did not say that, but I didn't know how to find his original words. I remember laughing at the time because I had thought at about that time, " Wouldn't it be great if we could just drink something that could kill germs inside our bodies." I was not thinking of Clorox or anything else...just wishful thinking. Please stop saying/ implying Trump was advocating such a thing!
Barbara Toohey
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Change
- Cindy Bordelon, Downtown
Be the change you wish to see in the world is attributed to Mahatma Gandhi who in fact said we but mirror the world. What we see in the mirror today in our politics is darkness and chaos, and it is spreading like a contagion.
To be the change, how about members of Congress acting with decorum and treating each other with respect instead of acting like mean girls in high school, acting in the best interests of their constituents instead of showing up at a criminal trial to score points with the former President, and checking their egos at the door instead of thirsting for power?
We should leave the world in a better place for those who come after us. Are we doing this? Politics should not be a blood sport. We need to step back from anger, sowing chaos, name calling, and sycophancy to nurture our democracy instead of tearing it down. Let’s hope it’s not too late.
Cindy Bordelon
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: It's the thought that counts
- Deb Klumpp, Oro Valley
Hey, did you know? Trump didn't tell people to ingest Clorox - he merely floated the suggestion that it might be a possible Covid remedy, along with some sort of internal light therapy. (Re: letter "The Fabrications"). When the blowback erupted, he then claimed his remarks were made to "prank" reporters. Previously, he asked weather experts about detonating an A-bomb into hurricanes. Another prank for reporters? Such lightbulb ideas clearly show me that a dunce cap would be a good replacement for Trump's MAGA hat. As calls came in to poison control centers, execs from Clorox and Lysol felt the need - legal and moral - to issue statements to NOT ingest cleaning chemicals. They were obviously aware of the slavish willingness of MAGA sheep to embrace whatever Donald utters, no matter how crazy. For any "leader" to vocalize absurd and dangerous thoughts of ingesting bleach, or to promote other quack remedies (hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin) shows a disturbing lack of basic intelligence and science knowledge. Besides criminality, intellectually unfit for any office.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Ethical Cannons must apply to SCOTUS
- Kathy Krucker, Midtown
The Supreme Court is in an ethical abyss. The public must have confidence that SCOTUS rulings are made with impartiality and adherence to the bedrock of our Constitution that no one is above the law.
Justice Thomas’s wife actively colluded with January 6 insurrection leaders. Justice Alito flew an upside-down American flag at his home shortly after January 6. This flag desecration is symbolic of support for the insurrection.
The Senate must pass legislation requiring SCOTUS to follow the ethical cannons that ALL other jurists in the country must follow. This requires recusal when a jurist has a conflict of interest in a case. Thomas and Alito have blatant conflicts of interest and must recuse themselves from all cases involving January 6 and the former President.
Since Chief Justice Roberts is incapable of enacting ethics reform in his Court, the Senate must stop their dithering and restore the public’s confidence in SCOTUS. The institution will not survive if the Senate does not act.
Kathy Krucker
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: USPS
- chris pinhey, Foothills
I read the editorial on the Postal Service needing more money. I am older, but I still have most of my bills paid electronically. I pick up the mail every day and most of it is advertisem*nts, catalogues and requests from charities that I have already donated to. The amount of mail that I actually open is very small. It appears to me that the USPS could easily go to a 5 day work week. That would save lots of money and save me from walking down to the mailbox so often.
chris pinhey
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Tucson Speaks out: May 22 letters of the day
Smart meters
Re: the May 19 article “Tucsonans to get smart water meters at no charge.”
New smart water meters for Tucson Water is a cost of providing water. Individuals need to take responsibility for water leaks and conservation. I received one of the new meters after ours failed and discovered it would not work with the Flume device we had purchased along with a number of neighbors. It sends an email when there is a leak. The device supposedly works with 95% of meters, but not this one! Tucson Water would not install a meter that worked with our device. If one develops a leak, it needs immediate attention. Contacting Tucson Water is the worst experience ever! Usually days while the water is running! New smart meters being installed for elimination of meter readers I understand. Trying to call this a water reduction plan with their communication system is a joke. And Tucson Water still hasn’t paid back the millions owed Pima County residents for the illegal water fee increase!
Dave Locey
Foothills
Be the change
Be the change you wish to see in the world is attributed to Mahatma Gandhi who in fact said we but mirror the world. What we see in the mirror today in our politics is darkness and chaos, and it is spreading like a contagion.
To be the change, how about members of Congress acting with decorum and treating each other with respect instead of acting like mean girls in high school, acting in the best interests of their constituents instead of showing up at a criminal trial to score points with the former President, and checking their egos at the door instead of thirsting for power?
We should leave the world in a better place for those who come after us. Are we doing this? Politics should not be a blood sport. We need to step back from anger, sowing chaos, name calling, and sycophancy to nurture our democracy instead of tearing it down. Let’s hope it’s not too late.
Cindy Bordelon
Downtown
Loop’s front door is downtown
Stores, lodging, and health facilities south of the Rillito and east of Alvernon Way will never be the front door to the 137-mile Chuck Huckelberry Loop. Maybe a northern or foothills side door, but the front door is at the Santa Cruz River at West Congress Street. That’s near where the Spanish pioneers built the Tucson Presidio in the late 1700s.
David Carter
Downtown
5-day USPS?
Re: the May 19 article “Postal service asking for another taxpayer bailout.”
I read the editorial on the Postal Service needing more money. I am older, but I still have most of my bills paid electronically. I pick up the mail every day and most of it is advertisem*nts, catalogues and requests from charities that I have already donated to. The amount of mail that I actually open is very small. It appears to me that the USPS could easily go to a 5-day work week. That would save lots of money and save me from walking down to the mailbox so often.
Chris Pinhey
Foothills
Ethical canons must apply to SCOTUS
The Supreme Court is in an ethical abyss. The public must have confidence that SCOTUS rulings are made with impartiality and adherence to the bedrock of our Constitution that no one is above the law.
Justice Thomas’s wife actively colluded with January 6 insurrection leaders. Justice Alito flew an upside-down American flag at his home shortly after January 6. This flag desecration is symbolic of support for the insurrection.
The Senate must pass legislation requiring SCOTUS to follow the ethical canons that ALL other jurists in the country must follow. This requires recusal when a jurist has a conflict of interest in a case. Thomas and Alito have blatant conflicts of interest and must recuse themselves from all cases involving January 6 and the former President.
Since Chief Justice Roberts is incapable of enacting ethics reform in his Court, the Senate must stop their dithering and restore the public’s confidence in SCOTUS. The institution will not survive if the Senate does not act.
Kathy Krucker
Midtown
Palo Verde trees a blazing
The Palo Verde trees are blooming
bright, bright yellows streaming.
They raise their hands in contemplation
to the God of all creation.
The Cardinal birds’ choir is singing
with varied notes of song and praise.
Calling all to worship the creator
to ponder God’s presence in yellow throbbing ecstasy.
The golden trees are really a blazing
with fire from on high.
They are burning, but not burnt,
an invisible hand all embracing.
An inner whispering voice calls out.
Take off your shoes,
You are standing on holy ground.
Be still and know that I am God.
Tomas o Cathalain
East side
Protecting our city
As a Tucson resident I am pleased to know that Congressman Juan Ciscomani’s efforts to pass the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act will help keep our city safe. The Act calls for increased penalties for anyone who leads the U.S Border patrol in high-speed pursuits that result in a death within 100 miles of the border. The Act is named after Agent Raul Gonzalez, Jr., a Border Patrol agent who was killed pursing illegal aliens evading capture. From what I’ve read on the news, Tucson has become a hotspot for cartel connected illegal activity. It’s imperative that more is done to deter criminals from putting our families’ lives in danger. By voting for the Act, Congressman Ciscomani has made it clear that Places such as Tucson will not be taken advantage of by people who disregard the law. The Act would require the D.O.J to report the number of cases that are prosecuted under the Act; a major win for accountability.
Joseph Lacayo
West side
Left-turn arrow
When I moved to Tucson in 2007 the major traffic lights were left turn first. It seemed odd to me, but I got used to it quickly, and found it better than the ending left turn I had grown up with in the Midwest.
Why don’t we go back to left turn first? It would eliminate people inching out into cross-traffic lanes in anticipation of the yellow, and wondering if the driver coming at you was going to stop or run the red light. If you don’t make the left turn arrow, you know you have to wait until the next round. No inching out, no running red lights, no blockage to oncoming traffic, no nasty crashes.
Jan Lane
Midtown
Trump and Clorox
Re: the May 20 letter “The fabrications.”
Thank you, to the letter writer for writing the letter I’ve wanted to write about Trump espousing drinking or injecting Clorox to fight off COVID. I heard or read his original speech and he did not say that, but I didn’t know how to find his original words. I remember laughing at the time because I had thought at about that time, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could just drink something that could kill germs inside our bodies.” I was not thinking of Clorox or anything else ... just wishful thinking. Please stop saying/implying Trump was advocating such a thing!
Barbara Toohey
Foothills
Voting in future elections
We have several elections coming up soon, a primary in July and a general election in November. On the ballot for the general election there will be one or more initiatives that will affect the way we vote in future elections. As we consider these initiatives, let’s be careful that we don’t vote to restrict our voting options. For example, HCR2033 is a bill designed to cement the status quo in our State Constitution. It will appear as an initiative for us to vote on in the November election. Many of us are not happy with the way elections are being run in the state of Arizona. But this initiative will make it very hard for us to change or reform the way we hold elections. Vote no on HCR2033. Let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot by voting to eliminate even the possibility of improving election procedures in the future.
Sally Lee
Foothills
Let’s protect our public schools
Republican legislators in Arizona, with the connivance of the State Superintendent of Public Schools, Tom Horne, appears to be attempting to destroy Arizona’s public schools. They are doing this through the ESA (Empower Scholarship Accounts) voucher program that allows families, regardless of income, to send their children to private schools and have the State pay for tuition fees, books, backpacks, and other materials. Families that homeschool their children can receive up to $7000 per child to spend on curriculum as well as things such as bounce houses or ski trips.
Under the banner of “school choice,” the ESA voucher program diverts critically needed funds from our public schools and does a disservice to the majority of Arizona’s children.
Thomas Hestwood
Oro Valley
It’s the thought that counts
Re: the May 20 letter “The fabrications.”
Hey, did you know? Trump didn’t tell people to ingest Clorox — he merely floated the suggestion that it might be a possible COVID remedy, along with some sort of internal light therapy. When the blowback erupted, he then claimed his remarks were made to “prank” reporters. Previously, he asked weather experts about detonating an A-bomb into hurricanes. Another prank for reporters? Such lightbulb ideas clearly show me that a dunce cap would be a good replacement for Trump’s MAGA hat. As calls came into poison control centers, execs from Clorox and Lysol felt the need — legal and moral — to issue statements to NOT ingest cleaning chemicals. They were obviously aware of the slavish willingness of MAGA sheep to embrace whatever Donald utters, no matter how crazy. For any “leader” to vocalize absurd and dangerous thoughts of ingesting bleach, or to promote other quack remedies (hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin) shows a disturbing lack of basic intelligence and science knowledge. Besides criminality, intellectually unfit for any office.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Cut plastic production now to save coral reefs
Re: the May 18 article “Coral bleaching near record across world.”
This article reports that ocean heating has gone “crazy haywire,” causing damage to coral reefs. Climate change is described as the major cause of this unprecedented warming.
Though most people know that fossil fuel use is the leading driver of climate change, few are aware that the production of plastic is a big part of the problem. But a 2021 analysis by Beyond Plastics stated that, in the U.S., the plastics industry will make a greater contribution to climate change than coal-fired power by 2030. Beyond Plastics founder Judith Enck says, “… plastic produces greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of its life cycle. To provide context, if plastic were a country, it would be the world’s fifth largest greenhouse gas emitter….”
Since plastics harm the oceans in other ways, too (by 2050 it’s estimated that plastic waste will outweigh fish in the world’s oceans), it makes sense to cut plastic production now.
Alice Whittenburg
West side
Eli Crane
Interesting when you want to send a comment to representative Eli Crane the web site asks you for a zip code. When I entered the zip code 85742 it rejected the zip code because it was outside the district. When I went to Eli Crane’s web site it stated he was from Cortaro, AZ. I looked up real estate in Cortaro, AZ and the first six listings were from 85742. Makes you wonder why a representative can live outside the district represented.
Patrick Allen
Northwest side
Letter: Cat calling during house oversight committee session
- Mary Jo Swartzberg, SaddleBrooke
Has it escaped anyone’s attention that some elected leaders have forgotten why they are in office? Further, have some of our elected leaders misplaced any knowledge about professional decorum? To wit – Marjorie Taylor Greene’s comments (May 16) regarding Representative Jasmine Crockett’s eyelashes, and insinuating that Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez does not “have enough intelligence” to debate her. Unfortunately, there was enough lobbing of barbs to go around, with Crockett commenting on a “bleach blond bad built butch body” – clearly a veiled reference to Greene’s physique.
Perhaps it would do well to remind our elected leaders of why they are in office. But, better still, perhaps they need to hear these words by Bruce Lee: Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.
Mary Jo Swartzberg
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Class warfare
- E. Kathy Suagee, Benson
Bumper sticker: "It's only called class warfare when we fight back.”
For me, fighting back means electing people who will work for solutions that equalize education, health care, job opportunities and tax laws, empowering working Americans to compete with the 1% of individuals and corporate powers growing richer every year.
It means supporting President Biden’s plan to raise taxes on ultra-rich and corporations so that people in my tax bracket aren’t carrying alone the weight of keeping our nation afloat.
It’s not following an autocrat who brags about never paying taxes; who ran up the national debt to record levels; who openly declares he wants to be a dictator.
We may never get another chance to vote. People waving their alternative flags and advocating revolution seem to believe that only those on the other side will lose. Wrong! In a dictatorship, everyone’s rights are taken.
For me, the war is in holding tight to our Democracy and defending it against domestic enemies like Trump.
E. Kathy Suagee
Benson
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Israel/Palestine solution
- Aston Bloom, East side
On May 12th, Brent Harold wrote a balanced, compelling article about campus protests now versus then. He ended by saying, "If not the oft-proposed and oft-defeated two-state solution, what?" The book "Beyond the Two-State Solution" by Jonathan Kuttab has an excellent answer to that most important question. He is a well-known international human rights attorney, having practiced in the U.S., Palestine, and Israel. In a mercifully concise 100 pages, he lays out practical solutions to all the inevitable questions regarding how a one-state solution can work for the benefit of all, including how a government can work without quashing the rights of whichever group happens to be in the minority. Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb writes on the cover, "Some are trapped by the past. This book opens the gate to the future." I highly recommend this wonderful book to everyone!
Aston Bloom
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Democratic political prosecution of Trump
- Gary Kordosky, West side
In the May 17 letter to the editor of the above title the author mentioned a litany of reasons she believed Trump was being unfairly treated by the justice system blaming democrats across the board for the current trial of Trump in New York. Interestingly, the letter failed to say anything about the bias of republicans who have done just the opposite. For example, Judge Cannon, appointed by Trump, and presiding over the case of Trump's crime of hoarding classified documents at Mar-a Lago first slow walked the case and has now indefinitely postponed the trial, once scheduled for May 20. The author says nothing about the current Supreme Court, three members of which were appointed by Trump, moving to take the case of Trumps desire to have total immunity from prosecution for any crimes he has committed in office including the insurrection he fostered at the capital on January 6, 2021 and then slow walking that case so Trump cannot be tried before the November election. Fair Justice?
Gary Kordosky
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Kennedy for President
- Nathaniel Felton, East side
I am voting for Robert F Kennedy, Jr, and urging all voters to do the same. I am doing this because I think both major political parties need a time-out to figure out what it is that each believes in. The four years of a Kennedy term will barely affect the country, but it will give the older generation of politicians time to move off the stage and a younger generation the opportunity to formulate a plan for the future. As Kennedy will not have a major party supporting him, the seat of power will be in Congress. Without a President to support or fear, those 435 men and women will either work together or fail. We have heard that some in Congress would prefer it to fail. But the majority will want to show the voters of 2026 and 2028 that their party can work for the American people. So, in November let’s give Joe and Donald gold watches and thanks for their service. Vote Kennedy!
Nathaniel Felton
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Which America Do You Want?
- Rachel Rulmyr Ed.D. Retired Educator, Oro Valley
Biden is Building Investments in America:
-His Infrastructure Law has created millions of jobs for 56,000 projects in 4,500 communities across the nation.
-fixing 165,000 miles of roads and 9,400 bridges.
-improving 450 ports and 300 airport terminals.
-funding 1,400 drinking water and wastewater projects and replacing millions of toxic lead pipes.
-adding thousands of low and zero emission buses.
-funding to clean up contaminated sites.
-improving the electrical grid and funding 12,000 miles of high-speed internet infrastructure.
Trump’s Plans of Destruction for America:
“As dictator on day one I will throw out Biden’s Infrastructure Law and extend thetax cuts for the wealthy and corporations,” knowing it will add $4 trillion to our deficit.
Republicans killed the badly needed bi-partisan Immigration Bill on Trump’s say, then blamed the Democrats.
Now they plan to create database of pregnant women allowing the government to track, intimidate, coerce, and prosecute women.
Building up America or destroying it?
I choose Biden's America
Rachel Rulmyr Ed.D. Retired Educator
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Democracy is on the Ballot
- Patricia Hale, Northwest side
I hope to be able to vote in the 2028 election. If trump is elected, that election might look a lot like Putin's latest election. It's ridiculous to believe that America can survive an authoritarian and all his supporting bad-faith actors.
The insurrection on January 6th was about putting trump back in office after he lost the election and lost 60 legal cases protesting the election. If he wins in 2024, with his minions filling all the appointed positions in America, and folks like Matt Gaetz and Andy Biggs filling cabinet positions, you can bet that the America we know and love, will look like Hungary under Viktor Orbán or Russia under Putin. No January 6th will be needed next time to keep trump in office. A trump VP will not certify the votes. Elections will be sent back to the red states and in a NY minute, trump will be "re-elected" in 2028.
Take trump literally and seriously. He admires dictators and wants to be one.
Patricia Hale
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Tucson Speaks Out: May 21 letters of the day
Creating a community of compassion
A community of compassion cares about all members of the community, human and animal alike, feels a responsibility to promote animal welfare, and does not permit the retail sale of animals from commercial breeders who are only in business to supply pet stores. Pets in these facilities often spend their entire lives in dirty, crowded cages for the sole purpose of producing as many animals as possible for the retail pet trade. These facilities also produce animals that are often sick and need expensive veterinary treatment. Pet stores that obtain animals from these facilities are not an asset to our community.
Instead, a community of compassion encourages pet consumers to adopt pets from shelters or rescue groups, thereby saving animals’ lives, reducing the cost to the public of sheltering animals, and reducing the risk of spreading disease.
More than 440 other cities, counties, and states have already passed laws to stop the retail sale of pets sourced from commercial breeding facilities. It’s time for Arizona to do the same.
Jeanette Baker
Oro Valley
Oppose legislation dictating zoning
The Arizona State Senate has passed legislation (HB2720 17-11) that would require Tucson and other communities to allow short-term rental units to be constructed where a single-family unit is allowed. This state requirement would override any community planning and increase groundwater usage outside of local control. This is not about discrimination or any such related concern, it is about eradicating community planning and essentially dictating increased growth and groundwater usage. The Arizona state government is essentially AWOL on groundwater management and now wants the authority to override any efforts by local communities to manage available water resources. Citizens are encouraged to contact Governor Hobbs to reject this legislation. Tucson does not need the Legislature’s assistance in managing our community.
Roger McManus
East side
Democracy is on the ballot
I hope to be able to vote in the 2028 election. If Trump is elected, that election might look a lot like Putin’s latest election. It’s ridiculous to believe that America can survive an authoritarian and all his supporting bad-faith actors.
The insurrection on Jan. 6 was about putting Trump back in office after he lost the election and lost 60 legal cases protesting the election. If he wins in 2024, with his minions filling all the appointed positions in America, and folks like Matt Gaetz and Andy Biggs filling cabinet positions, you can bet that the America we know and love, will look like Hungary under Viktor Orbán or Russia under Putin. No Jan. 6 will be needed next time to keep Trump in office. A Trump VP will not certify the votes. Elections will be sent back to the red states, and in a NY minute, trump will be “re-elected” in 2028.
Take Trump literally and seriously. He admires dictators and wants to be one.
Patricia Hale
Northwest side
City pool schedule should prioritize children
Dear Editor:
The City of Tucson is forgetting its children. The city’s recently revealed pool schedule reduces hours for children’s summer swimming at many city pools. For instance, the popular, shaded Reid Park recreation pool will not be open at all on Fridays and Saturdays. Amphi pool will only be open a total of nine hours per week. Catalina pool — located midtown in an underserved area — will not be open to children this summer. (Yes, only adults will be swimming at Catalina pool.) Several city pools will be open for reduced hours only three days per week. In Tucson’s blistering heat, this will leave Tucson children — and most notably children from low-income families — with fewer opportunities for outside summer recreation. Before the City Council votes on its budget next week, I hope that it makes different and difficult decisions that prioritize Tucson children this summer.
Suzanne Rabe
Midtown
Which America do you want?
Biden is building investments in America:
His Infrastructure law has created millions of jobs for 56,000 projects in 4,500 communities across the nation.
Fixing 165,000 miles of roads and 9,400 bridges.
Improving 450 ports and 300 airport terminals.
Funding 1,400 drinking water and wastewater projects and replacing millions of toxic lead pipes.
Adding thousands of low and zero emission buses.
Funding to clean up contaminated sites.
Improving the electrical grid and funding 12,000 miles of high-speed internet infrastructure.
Trump’s plans of destruction for America:
“As dictator on day one I will throw out Biden’s infrastructure law and extend the tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations,” knowing it will add $4 trillion to our deficit.
Republicans killed the badly needed bipartisan immigration bill on Trump’s say, then blamed the Democrats.
Now, they plan to create a database of pregnant women, allowing the government to track, intimidate, coerce, and prosecute women.
Building up America or destroying it?
I choose Biden’s America.
Rachel Rulmyr Ed.D. retired educator
Oro Valley
Trump and justice
Re: the May 17 letter “Democrats’ political prosecution of Trump.”
The author mentioned a litany of reasons she believed Trump was being unfairly treated by the justice system, blaming Democrats across the board for the current trial of Trump in New York. Interestingly, the letter failed to say anything about the bias of Republicans who have done just the opposite. For example, Judge Cannon, appointed by Trump and presiding over the case of Trump’s crime of hoarding classified documents at Mar-a Lago, first slow-walked the case and has now indefinitely postponed the trial, once scheduled for May 20. The author says nothing about the current Supreme Court, three members of which were appointed by Trump, moving to take the case of Trump’s desire to have total immunity from prosecution for any crimes he has committed in office, including the insurrection he fostered at the capital on Jan. 6, 2021, and then slow-walking that case so Trump cannot be tried before the November election. Fair Justice?
Gary Kordosky
West side
Kennedy for president
I am voting for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and urging all voters to do the same. I am doing this because I think both major political parties need a time-out to figure out what it is that each believes in. The four years of a Kennedy term will barely affect the country, but it will give the older generation of politicians time to move off the stage and a younger generation the opportunity to formulate a plan for the future. As Kennedy will not have a major party supporting him, the seat of power will be in Congress. Without a President to support or fear, those 435 men and women will either work together or fail. We have heard that some in Congress would prefer it to fail. But the majority will want to show the voters of 2026 and 2028 that their party can work for the American people. So, in November let’s give Joe and Donald gold watches and thanks for their service. Vote Kennedy!
Nathaniel Felton
East side
Class warfare
Bumper sticker: “It’s only called class warfare when we fight back.”
For me, fighting back means electing people who will work for solutions that equalize education, health care, job opportunities and tax laws, empowering working Americans to compete with the 1% of individuals and corporate powers growing richer every year.
It means supporting President Biden’s plan to raise taxes on ultra-rich and corporations so that people in my tax bracket aren’t carrying alone the weight of keeping our nation afloat.
It’s not following an autocrat who brags about never paying taxes; who ran up the national debt to record levels; who openly declares he wants to be a dictator.
We may never get another chance to vote. People waving their alternative flags and advocating revolution seem to believe that only those on the other side will lose. Wrong! In a dictatorship, everyone’s rights are taken.
For me, the war is in holding tight to our Democracy and defending it against domestic enemies like Trump.
E. Kathy Suagee
Benson
Should be Conover’s last term
Re: the May 19 article “Flip-flop on Taylor marks Conover’s term.”
I was a “former administration” prosecutor for 39 years. (150 jury trials; 2000 Grand Jurors advised; 0 bar complaints.)
Tim Steller writes that Laura Conover’s flip-flop over Taylor marked her first term. What really marks her first term: Conover is the only Pima County Attorney to face State Bar diversion for serious conflict violations.
From the beginning, Conover had a serious conflict: She believes that Taylor should be compensated and sought to exonerate him. This effort was to the detriment of Pima County, her client. She then backed off of exonerating Taylor because she feared a State Bar complaint. That decision was a clear ethics violation to the detriment of Louis Taylor. Faced with this obvious conflict, what should she have done? Stayed out of both the civil and criminal cases.
One of the real marks of her first term: We have a Pima County Attorney with questionable ethics. This should be her last term.
Paul Lauritzen
West side
Bechtol for Dist. 4 Supervisor
It is months before election day, but I have had the opportunity to meet with Vanessa Bechtol, candidate for Pima County Supervisor District 4, several times over the last few weeks. Here is a candidate who understands what’s important to her constituents, including water conservation, affordable housing, and workforce development. Her 20 years of non-profit leadership, including her current position with Visit Tucson, her participation in the Greater Tucson Leadership program, the Civic and Political Leadership Academy, and being a working mom, gives her a perspective that is far different from the current supervisor. He has voted twice to not certify election results and just recently voted against the approval of a prosperity initiative for the county, addressing a wide range of opportunities to make Pima County a better place for everyone. I urge voters in Dist. 4 to give Bechtol their strong consideration for Supervisor this fall.
Mark Hanna, retired TUSD counselor and former Pima Community College Governing Board member
Northeast side
Israel/Palestine solution
Re: the May 12 article “Campus protests now versus then.”
Brent Harold wrote a balanced, compelling article about campus protests now versus then. He ended by saying, “If not the oft-proposed and oft-defeated two-state solution, what?” The book “Beyond the Two-State Solution” by Jonathan Kuttab has an excellent answer to that most important question. He is a well-known international human rights attorney, having practiced in the U.S., Palestine, and Israel. In a mercifully concise 100 pages, he lays out practical solutions to all the inevitable questions regarding how a one-state solution can work for the benefit of all, including how a government can work without quashing the rights of whichever group happens to be in the minority. Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb writes on the cover, “Some are trapped by the past. This book opens the gate to the future.” I highly recommend this wonderful book to everyone!
Aston Bloom
East side
Left-turn problem
I have a suggestion about the left-turn light situation. Other cities use underground sensors similar to the cable used to count cars crossing over it. When the light turns green for the left-turn traffic, the sensor takes over and determines that no more cars are running over it, and turns the light back to red.
That way, all left-turn vehicles go through the light, and you have no red-light runners.
The sensor could be like these ring sensors that sense motion but in this case lack of motion. When it determines a lack of motion for a period of time it turns the light red.
I use the Craycroft and Grant left turn lanes and many times have to sit through three lights before I can turn left.
This should fix it and would not cost a lot of money, but should save lives.
Kosd Salgado
Northeast side
Catcalling during House committee session
Has it escaped anyone’s attention that some elected leaders have forgotten why they are in office? Further, have some of our elected leaders misplaced any knowledge about professional decorum? To wit — Marjorie Taylor Greene’s comments (May 16) regarding Representative Jasmine Crockett’s eyelashes and insinuating that Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez does not “have enough intelligence” to debate her. Unfortunately, there was enough lobbing of barbs to go around, with Crockett commenting on a “bleach blond bad built butch body” — clearly a veiled reference to Greene’s physique.
Perhaps it would do well to remind our elected leaders of why they are in office. But, better still, perhaps they need to hear these words by Bruce Lee: Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.
Mary Jo Swartzberg
SaddleBrooke
Letter: Mexico cracking down on migrants to help Biden re-election
- Ardel Francis, Northwest side
Recently, President Biden reached out to President Obrador of Mexico to discuss the border. Obrador has been using his Army and National Guard along the border to deter "migrants" from entering America. There have been reports of abuse of "migrants" by the Mexican Army and National Guard. This comes as polling shows illegal immigration to be a top policy issue for voters going into November. There has been historic illegal immigration under Biden with over 7 million having entered the country. Biden has dismal polling for his handling of the border. He has had over three years to contact Obrador to do something about the border, but waited until an approaching election to do so. The
reason for Obrador's cooperation is because of a promise passed on to him from Biden last December by Sec. of State Blinken and DHS Sec. Mayorkas to do future legalization and citizenship for millions of Mexican nationals illegally in the country. Obrador campaigned in 2018 on not doing America's "dirty work" on immigration.
Ardel Francis
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: SCOTUS
- Dave Glicksman, Northwest side
In a May 4th letter (The Hypocrisy of Neil Gorsuch) the writer suggested that it may be time to expand the US Supreme Court to offset the Justice who claims that 'by stating that the actions of the court would take on Trump's immunity would be "a rule for the ages"', but overturned Roe vs Wade, a prior court's ruling made in 1973.
We can achieve a better solution in November if the Democrats regain control of Congress and maintain control of the Senate. Then impeach Gorsuch and Kavanaugh too. He lied during his confirmation hearing. Then replace them with Jurists who will protect, not abolish our rights, like voting.
The election in November is crucial to maintain the Constitution, the Republic and the rights of the people, Trump has boasted what he would if elected and it is scary.
Dave Glicksman
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: MAGA's choice
- Cindy Doklan, Midtown
In 2024, Republicans handed their party leadership to the Trump family and their MAGA minions, they wanted to “vacate” the House Majority Leader (again), and turn their focus to (wait for it…) Tik Tok. Republicans blocked Immigration legislation, made us suffer through a long tortuous, and deadly delay in helping Ukraine, and Republican House Majority Leader has become the least stable job in the country.
Republicans declared the Secure the Border Act as “dead on arrival.” Their incessant messaging about US border conditions, crime and drugs disappears from the airwaves, even as border states continue to cry for help. Along with Republican delay of aid to Ukraine, they send a clear message to Americans, Ukraine, NATO, and Putin: Trump controls the Republican Party. Americans and our allies don’t matter.
Republicans instead focus on Tik Tok, an application that they know even less about than human reproduction. They made choices. We need to make ours.
Cindy Doklan
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Absence of election fraud is a main issue
- Ted Ranney, Foothills
I saw a survey where over 50% of Republicans believe our elections are not totally fair. Despite intense scrutiny and legal pressure there is NO evidence of systemic issues. I think there would be evidence if there was a problem. Why do so many people believe a factless story? DJT is unable to accept losing so he fictionalized it. He now says he won't accept losing in 2024 either. To those who like to quote gas prices in 2018 as justification for putting him back in charge, what about his inability to accept losing an election? January 6th where people died was his fault - no fake election scandal, no rally. No rally, no deaths. He said he wants to pardon these conspiracists. Why, on earth, does it make any sense to reelect such a person? The cowardly senate republicans should have impeached and ended this sordid chapter.
Ted Ranney
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: EV Alternative
- Godfrey Trowbridge, Northeast side
Someday, we'll all be driving electric vehicles, which should help slow climate change. Until then, what can we do? Back in the 70's, the federal government responded to the fuel shortage by imposing a nationwide 55 mph speed limit. If this were done today, I estimate a reduction of 300 million tons of CO2 each year in the US. However, back then, this law was hugely unpopular and largely ignored, even though consequences were fairly immediate - more frequently waiting in 45-minute lines for gas. Would people today be willing to slow down to save the planet?
Godfrey Trowbridge
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: White House For Sale
- Jean Meconi, North side
Former President Trump promised executives at a recent Mar-A-Largo event that if they donated a billion dollars to his reelection, he would rescind environmental regulations, open vast swaths of public land and waterways to drilling and mining, increase natural gas exports, and halt EV initiatives. As an extra sweetener, he would enact sweeping business tax cuts.
The Oil Industry will be ready on day one of the new Trump presidency. They are drafting executive orders for Trump to sign in fear of his chaotic second term. They’ll make sure that Trump delivers.
The first Trump term didn’t deliver on infrastructure, didn’t bring back manufacturing, didn’t solve the border crisis, didn’t reduce the national debt, didn’t decrease the trade deficit, and didn’t reign in lobbying or drain the swamp. But the Trump policy you can count on is quid pro quo politics.
Jean Meconi
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Better off now? Yup!
- Tim Helentjaris, Northwest side
A recent writer bemoaned that Trump haters were unable to recognize they were better off under his leadership. I beg to differ but recognize that we both can be right, if your world view derives primarily from listening to the ironically-named Truth Social or America’s Pravda/Fox, then you might feel that you were better off then. But the writer omitted a couple of significant events that happened on Trump’s watch. First, President Drink-Bleach’s incompetent leadership directly led to covid killing more Americans than Hitler, a problem that continues today with his follower’s mistrust of our Public Health Service. Second, Trump incited rioters to attack our Capitol on Jan 6th in order to overturn an election and keep himself in power despite him losing. As such, Trump represents a clear, existential threat to our Democracy, especially since he has said that he would do it again. So, looking to repeat this farce again, me not so much?
Tim Helentjaris
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Facing the Climate Crisis
- Jan Freed, Downtown
Is it cheaper to ignore climate change or to face it boldly, as we did the Nazis in WW2?
Recent estimates (by Deloitte economists) put BAU at 14.5 trillion dollars in the U.S. from climate extremes (and health issues) by 2050, but a gain of 3 trillion dollars if we transition to clean energy. Global estimates are 39 trillion dollars per year as the price of indifference. Look it up.
Regulations and tax credits are a powerful first step. They will protect the next generation.
We can take the next step (just as powerful as the regs) if we charge polluters a per ton price and rebate all fees to citizens as a cash-back. No federal outlays required! No harm to citizens.
Should we elect candidates who will move forwards or backwards on this, the greatest threat facing humanity?
Jan Freed
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: The Red Tie Entourage
- Mary Zimmerman, SaddleBrooke
It would be hilarious if it weren't so scary to watch Trump sycophants show up at his trial all dressed alike. Instead of brown shirts they were all dressed like their dear leader in blue suits and red ties. It was disturbing to listen to the Speaker of the House, a self avowed Christian, undermining the legal system to defend a narcissistic corrupt man who cheated on his wife with a p*rn star. This should certainly be a warning that there will be no one in a second Trump presidency who will defend the rule of law. All the guard rails will be gone, and Trump will do exactly what he wants.
Read Project 2025 if you have any doubts.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Too much Trump exposure - Offer something else.
- Sheldon Metz, Northeast side
A pompous, uneducated fool destroyed the life I cherished until 2015. As an older American approaching 80. I was born before TV, social media and the Internet. We had rotary phones and party lines (look it up), safe house parties and the freedom to walk safely down the street.
Today, there is no hour in the day, free of that pouting, snarling, grotesque face and hideously repulsive voice spouting lies, blaming an “unfair justice system” for "illegal persecution." HE DID THE CRIMES! Many of his supporters KNOW IT, yet vote for him anyway. Why? Look at him. He is a pathetic loser who probably had to PAY his son Eric to come to court for "display." So far, I suppose, Melania has refused his payments. But...?
I'm probably not alone in despising this 24/7 media coverage. Every pundit, conversation, opinion and word is repetitious. We weren't perfect but, our "American Experiment" has been at greater risk since 2016.
Call the networks. Tell them to offer something ELSE.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: THE FABRICATIONS
- Loyal M Johnson Jr, Oro Valley
The liberal media repeatedly states that President Trump encouraged people to inject Chlorox. This is a fabrication and even an out-and-lie. If you watch the video which can be found on the internet, the speech occurred during a meeting where the President and coronavirus taskforce were present. He noted that ultraviolet light and Chlorox reportedly kill the Covid virus on contact. He looked over at his advisors and asked if it was possible to utilize either of these methods internally. He did not suggest it should be used, only asked his advisors if it was in the realm of possibility. The liberal media, as they have done so many times, cherry-picked the speech. Th media will twist stories, select certain damming works, and basically prevaricate to support their singular point of view. And, unfortunately, many of your readers continue to spout this untruth. You are going to have to do your own research if you want the whole truth. Or, be a sheep.
Loyal M Johnson Jr
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Tucson Speaks Out: May 20 letters of the day
Mexico cracks down on migrants
Recently, President Biden reached out to President Obrador of Mexico to discuss the border. Obrador has been using his Army and National Guard along the border to deter “migrants” from entering America. There have been reports of abuse of “migrants” by the Mexican Army and National Guard. This comes as polling shows undocumented immigration to be a top policy issue for voters going into November.
There has been historic undocumented immigration under Biden with over 7 million having entered the country. Biden has dismal polling for his handling of the border.
He has had over three years to contact Obrador to do something about the border but waited until an approaching election to do so.
The reason for Obrador’s cooperation is because of a promise passed on to him from Biden last December by Sec. of State Blinken and DHS Sec. Mayorkas to do future legalization and citizenship for millions of Mexican nationals illegally in the country.
Obrador campaigned in 2018 on not doing America’s “dirty work” on immigration.
Ardel Francis
Northwest side
Facing the climate crisis
Is it cheaper to ignore climate change or to face it boldly, as we did the Nazis in WWII?
Recent estimates (by Deloitte economists) put BAU at 14.5 trillion dollars in the U.S. from climate extremes (and health issues) by 2050, but a gain of 3 trillion dollars if we transition to clean energy. Global estimates are 39 trillion dollars per year as the price of indifference. Look it up.
Regulations and tax credits are a powerful first step. They will protect the next generation.
We can take the next step (just as powerful as the regs) if we charge polluters a per ton price and rebate all fees to citizens as a cash-back. No federal outlays required! No harm to citizens.
Should we elect candidates who will move forward or backward on this, the greatest threat facing humanity?
Jan Freed
Downtown
Too much Trump — offer something else
A pompous, uneducated fool destroyed the life I cherished until 2015. As an older American approaching 80. I was born before TV, social media and the Internet. We had rotary phones and party lines (look it up), safe house parties and the freedom to walk safely down the street.
Today, there is no hour in the day, free of that pouting, snarling, grotesque face and hideously repulsive voice spouting lies, blaming an “unfair justice system” for “illegal persecution.” He did the crimes! Many of his supporters know it yet vote for him anyway. Why? Look at him. He is a pathetic loser who probably had to pay his son Eric to come to court for “display.” So far, I suppose, Melania has refused his payments. But…?
I’m probably not alone in despising this 24/7 media coverage. Every pundit, conversation, opinion and word is repetitious. We weren’t perfect but, our “American Experiment” has been at greater risk since 2016.
Call the networks. Tell them to offer something else.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Better off now? Yup!
A recent writer bemoaned that Trump haters were unable to recognize they were better off under his leadership. I beg to differ but recognize that we both can be right, if your world view derives primarily from listening to the ironically named Truth Social or America’s Pravda/Fox, then you might feel that you were better off then.
But the writer omitted a couple of significant events that happened on Trump’s watch. First, President Drink-Bleach’s incompetent leadership directly led to COVID killing more Americans than Hitler, a problem that continues today with his followers’ mistrust of our Public Health Service.
Second, Trump incited rioters to attack our Capitol on Jan. 6 in order to overturn an election and keep himself in power despite losing. As such, Trump represents a clear, existential threat to our democracy, especially since he has said that he would do it again.
So, looking to repeat this farce again, me not so much?
Tim Helentjaris
Northwest side
SCOTUS
Re: the May 4 letter “The hypocrisy of Justice Neil Gorsuch.”
The writer suggested that it may be time to expand the U.S. Supreme Court to offset the Justice who claims that by stating that the actions of the court would take on Trump’s immunity would be “a rule for the ages,” but overturned Roe v Wade, a prior court’s ruling made in 1973.
We can achieve a better solution in November if the Democrats regain control of Congress and maintain control of the Senate. Then impeach Gorsuch and Kavanaugh too. He lied during his confirmation hearing. Then replace them with Jurists who will protect, not abolish our rights, like voting.
The election in November is crucial to maintain the Constitution, the Republic and the rights of the people, Trump has boasted what he would do if elected and it is scary.
Dave Glicksman
Northwest side
White House for sale
Former President Trump promised executives at a recent Mar-A-Largo event that if they donated a billion dollars to his reelection, he would rescind environmental regulations, open vast swaths of public land and waterways to drilling and mining, increase natural gas exports, and halt EV initiatives. As an extra sweetener, he would enact sweeping business tax cuts.
The oil industry will be ready on day one of the new Trump presidency.
They are drafting executive orders for Trump to sign in fear of his chaotic second term. They’ll make sure that Trump delivers.
The first Trump term didn’t deliver on infrastructure, didn’t bring back manufacturing, didn’t solve the border crisis, didn’t reduce the national debt, didn’t decrease the trade deficit, and didn’t rein in lobbying or drain the swamp. But the Trump policy you can count on is quid pro quo politics.
Jean Meconi
North side
EV alternative
Someday, we’ll all be driving electric vehicles, which should help slow climate change. Until then, what can we do? Back in the 70s, the federal government responded to the fuel shortage by imposing a nationwide 55 mph speed limit. If this were done today, I estimate a reduction of 300 million tons of CO2 each year in the U.S. However, back then, this law was hugely unpopular and largely ignored, even though consequences were fairly immediate — more frequently waiting in 45-minute lines for gas. Would people today be willing to slow down to save the planet?
Godfrey Trowbridge
Northeast side
Absence of election fraud a main issue
I saw a survey where over 50% of Republicans believe our elections are not totally fair. Despite intense scrutiny and legal pressure there is no evidence of systemic issues.
I think there would be evidence if there was a problem. Why do so many people believe a factless story? DJT is unable to accept losing so he fictionalized it. He now says he won’t accept losing in 2024 either.
To those who like to quote gas prices in 2018 as justification for putting him back in charge, what about his inability to accept losing an election? Jan. 6 where people died was his fault — no fake election scandal, no rally. No rally, no deaths. He said he wants to pardon these conspiracists.
Why, on earth, does it make any sense to reelect such a person?
The cowardly Senate Republicans should have impeached and ended this sordid chapter.
Ted Ranney
Foothills
Traffic lights
Thanks to the Tucson Police Department for changing the blinking yellow traffic lights to green arrows.
I drive daily through the intersection of River Road and First Avenue, and in the past, have done so with great trepidation. I witness an accident at least once a week, several involving multiple vehicles.
Furthermore, I could not count the number of people I have seen run red lights, encouraged by blinking yellow. Now I am cruising calmly and confidently through the streets of Tucson, no longer worried about dying in a car crash.
Cheryl Lockhart
Foothills
MAGA’s choice
In 2024, Republicans handed their party leadership to the Trump family and their MAGA minions, they wanted to “vacate” the House Majority Leader (again) and turn their focus to (wait for it…) TikTok. Republicans blocked Immigration legislation, made us suffer through a long tortuous, and deadly delay in helping Ukraine, and Republican House Majority Leader has become the least stable job in the country.
Republicans declared the Secure the Border Act as “dead on arrival.” Their incessant messaging about U.S. border conditions, crime and drugs disappears from the airwaves, even as border states continue to cry for help. Along with Republican delay of aid to Ukraine, they send a clear message to Americans, Ukraine, NATO, and Putin: Trump controls the Republican Party. Americans and our allies don’t matter.
Republicans instead focus on TikTok, an application that they know even less about than human reproduction. They made choices.
We need to make ours.
Cindy Doklan
Midtown
Campaign commercials
Once again, we are inundated with cleverly prepared advertisem*nts selling a political agenda.
Locally, we have Ruben Gallego, a Democrat like Gavin Newsom or Adam Schiff, running for the Senate with the qualifications of being ex-military and little other real work experience.
Nationally, we have Joe Biden running for President with the qualification of 20% inflation since taking office.
Maybe the increase was expected, but Joe Biden believed that the voters had deep pockets, so the price increases would not be a problem.
How many price increases would it take for Biden to understand inflation is a problem for the average ‘Joe’?
I admit that I am a conservative thinker. I am capable of identifying nonsense in commercials and I am also impacted by the loss of purchasing power. I want a change that will improve things for most of the citizens. I oppose most of the Democrat candidates, because we need to get tough on crime again. I’m tired of hearing “Defund Police” from supporters of criminals.
Loran Hanco*ck
Northwest side
Donald Trump
The 10 Commandments under Donald Trump — canceled!
Larry Gray
SaddleBrooke
The fabrications
The liberal media repeatedly states that President Trump encouraged people to inject Clorox. This is a fabrication and even an out-and-lie.
If you watch the video which can be found on the internet, the speech occurred during a meeting where the President and coronavirus taskforce were present. He noted that ultraviolet light and Clorox reportedly kill the COVID virus on contact.
He looked over at his advisors and asked if it was possible to utilize either of these methods internally.
He did not suggest it should be used, only asked his advisors if it was in the realm of possibility. The liberal media, as they have done so many times, cherry-picked the speech. The media will twist stories, select certain damning words, and basically prevaricate to support their singular point of view.
And, unfortunately, many of your readers continue to spout this untruth.
You are going to have to do your own research if you want the whole truth. Or be a sheep.
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
AZ Daily Star’s ‘cartoon’ section
I believe the AZ Daily Star’s Letters to the Editor (LTE) section is its great cartoon section. Every day, I read the hate-filled letters from Democrats attacking Trump.
It has now gotten to the point of being “cartoonish.” Comparing Trump to Hitler, calling him a dictator and authoritarian, that if elected he would start a “blood bath.” Was Trump ever president? I almost fall off the sofa every morning laughing, reading these cartoonish letters. It’s Trump “derangement syndrome” on steroids now, propagated by the Star. And hey, everything is so “blue” here that we have a “red” Republican Ciscomani in the House of Representatives. And, discriminated conservative writers should just “get over it” as other minority populations have gotten over their being discriminated against.
It really is hilarious reading the same repetitive attacks on Trump. I thought Democrats were more creative than what I boringly read every day. I will just keep laughing myself silly every morning reading the Star’s LTE “cartoon” section.
Gusher Adams
North side
The red tie entourage
It would be hilarious if it weren’t so scary to watch Trump sycophants show up at his trial all dressed alike.
Instead of brown shirts they were all dressed like their dear leader in blue suits and red ties. It was disturbing to listen to the Speaker of the House, a self-avowed Christian, undermining the legal system to defend a narcissistic corrupt man who cheated on his wife with a p*rn star.
This should certainly be a warning that there will be no one in a second Trump presidency who will defend the rule of law. All the guard rails will be gone, and Trump will do exactly what he wants.
Read Project 2025 if you have any doubts.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Letter: Freedom and responsibility
- Steven Lesh, East side
It is difficult to have patience with people who complain about the erosion of their personal freedoms when governments are finally taking action to stop the destruction of our planet’s habitability. Allowing the fossil fuels-powered Industrial Revolution to kick into high gear with coal, oil and gas generation of electricity and gas-powered transportation was a huge mistake. It violates the physical laws that govern our world. Even readers who, like Donald Trump, believe global warming is a Chinese hoax, don’t protest the laws of gravity by jumping off cliffs.
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon that had been safely sequestered beneath the earth’s surface for hundreds of millions of years. That carbon stays in the atmosphere for hundreds, maybe thousands of years preventing increasing amounts of the sun’s energy from being reflected back into space.
The fastest possible transition to renewable energy sources will allow us to preserve the benefits of the Industrial Revolution without killing our planet.
Steven Lesh
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Presidential Election
- Frank Montez, East side
It is a done deal. Only one of Trump's criminal trials will be completed before the 2024 Presidential election. The SCOTUS has stalled the DC election interference with its stalled ruling of the boundaries Of Presidential immunity. Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee has stalled an obvious case of Trump willfully taken Top Secret documents and then obstructing the effort by the government to retrieve them These efforts by the by the above are actually the work of a "deep state "in our judges and courts to protect to protect a Presidential Candidate; who orchestrated an insurrection on January 6th,2021. The people's institutions of the judiciary have failed it's citizens! It is up to us ; the will of the people to rid ourselves of a narcissistic megalomaniac threat to our democracy Donald J. Trump (defeated Presidential candidate in 2020). Frank E. Montez Veteran 32 year ARNG.
Frank Montez
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: I'm Just Wondering
- Nancy Jacques, Northeast side
What’s special about campus Israel/Palestine protests requiring daily headlines since 4/18? Columbia protest fostered 100 arrests. With 36,000 students: 0.277 percent. Why protests now, end of semesters? Why not months ago?
Don’t get me wrong! The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is horrific, a place that experienced over 60 percent food insecurity prior to Hamas attacking. US arms have been involved in response. But why not outrage when the US did NOT support Ukraine’s many requests FOR arms against Russian invasion, which has killed 20,000 civilians, 444,000 soldiers? Why no screaming at Congress to help them? If Russia wins, it’s certain not to stop there. What happens next?
Where was outrage over Syria and 677,000 deaths? Or Yemen’s 377,000 deaths? What and who woke students up?
I respect protests. I participated in the largest war protest in history: Iraq. And massive climate change and women’s rights protests. But press like this? What’s the intent? Just wondering.
Nancy Jacques
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Quit whining
- Larry Fleischman, North side
Trump complains that his hush money trial is interfering with his ability to campaign. If true, Trump has no one but himself to blame.
He repeatedly tried to delay the trial, including an attempt to move it to federal court without a basis, two attempts to remove the judge, and a dozen other attempts to delay.
This is in keeping with his overall strategy to delay all of the pending cases until after the election. Had he truly wanted the American people to learn how not guilty he is of all of this before we vote he could have already resolved most of the cases.
Instead, it's been delay after delay. Sort of odd for such an innocent and unfairly accused defendant.
Larry Fleischman
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Where is the world's humanity?
- Maureen Salz, Oro Valley
Every pro-Palestinian protester, and those who support them, should have to watch Sheryl Sandberg’s documentary Screams Before Silence which testifies to the brutal sexual violence committed by Hamas on October 7. Interviews of multiple eyewitnesses, released hostages, first responders, medical and forensic experts and survivors, ALL bear witness to the women and girls who were raped, mutilated and murdered. This happened to people on the land of a sovereign nation, in people’s private homes and at a music festival for no other reason except that the state of Israel exists. Where is the world’s humanity for Israel?
Maureen Salz
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Not Voting is Not an Option
- John Crittenden, Oro Valley
I was aghast to read George Will’s column of May 10 “In Defense of Not Voting”. Many of us voters do wish we would have a different choice come this November. But we’re stuck with Biden and Trump. It’s a given that the MAGA world will turn out for Trump. Non-MAGA Republicans, under the misguided assumption that a Trump victory will further Republican principles, will vote Trump. And some number of Independents will do the same. That leaves Democrats, Democrat-leaning Independents, Independents who fear the Trump agenda, and Republicans who see a Trump defeat as the only way to wrest control of their party from this wannabe dictator. This group MUST VOTE. Withholding your vote for Biden as a protest simply increases the chance that Trump will squeak by the Electoral College. If you think your one vote won’t matter I offer you the 2020 election results in Arizona and Georgia.
John Crittenden
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Was it better four years ago?
- David Hatch, Southeast side
RE: The letter of May 5th "HATE TRUMP CLUB"
The writer paints a rosy picture of how things were under the ex-pres.
At the end of his letter, the writer asks voters to remember to ask "is our country better off now than it was four years ago?"
Does he have a short memory, or is he ignoring facts on purpose?
Four years ago our country was under the siege of covid 19, hospitals were overflowing, and like many others, I had to confine myself to my bedroom to keep from spreading the disease.
And in April of 2020 the unemployment rate was 14.7%.
And we had a president who suggested that it might be helpful to drink bleach. He didn't volunteer to be first though did he?
NO ! I do not belong to the HATE TRUMP CLUB!
I belong to the LOVE A GOOD LEADER club.
David Hatch
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: What If?
- Cal Rooker, Southeast side
Israel withdrew all military and civilians from Gaza in 2005. Hamas was voted into power by the Palestinian people in 2006.
What if:
• Hamas had spent their time, money and efforts to develop a vibrant economy to benefit the people instead of building their military forces, conducting raids, and firing missiles indiscriminately into Israel over the years since then?
• Hamas had not invaded Israel on October 7th supported by a barrage of 3,000 rockets, slaughtering civilians and raping and mutilating women, killing 1,139 civilians and taking 250 men, women, and children hostages?
• Gaza civilians had vacated areas of Gaza as directed by the Israeli IDF before the IDF began military operations?
• Hamas had not used hospitals and the tunnels below as military command and control centers?
• Egypt had accepted and welcomed Palestinian civilians in coordination with Hamas to provide safe havens for civilians?
• The basic tenants of each faith, basic respect and common sense had prevailed?
How many civilian deaths would have been avoided?
Cal Rooker
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Your money or your democracy
- Dennis Winsten, Northeast side
I see many letters supporting a change in the presidency. Most focus on transient annoyances like oil and food prices and inflation, in general. So, those writers so concerned with their pennies are, apparently, willing to transform our almost 250 years old democracy to an autocracy overseen by an impeached and indicted individual. There are things much more important than money, freedom for example.
Dennis Winsten
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Tucson Speaks Out: May 19 letters of the day
Freedom and responsibility
It is difficult to have patience with people who complain about the erosion of their personal freedoms when governments are finally taking action to stop the destruction of our planet’s habitability. Allowing the fossil fuels-powered Industrial Revolution to kick into high gear with coal, oil and gas generation of electricity and gas-powered transportation was a huge mistake. It violates the physical laws that govern our world. Even readers who, like Donald Trump, believe global warming is a Chinese hoax, don’t protest the laws of gravity by jumping off cliffs.
Burning releases carbon that had been safely sequestered beneath the earth’s surface for hundreds of millions of years. That carbon stays in the atmosphere for hundreds, maybe thousands of years, preventing increasing amounts of the sun’s energy from being reflected back into space.
The fastest possible transition to renewable energy sources will allow us to preserve the benefits of the Industrial Revolution without killing our planet.
Steven Lesh
East side
Arizona is the worst
Re: the May 2 article “AZ ranks 49th for access to adult mental health care.”
This is one of two articles in the May 2 paper that noted Arizona currently ranks 49th in K-12 funding for public schools and 49th for access to adult mental health care. It’s depressing how often we hear this.
In 2023, Arizona was ranked 46th in healthcare for women due to the low percentage of women with healthcare providers and a 22% increase in women’s mortality and 48th in health care for children due to the high percentage of uninsured children and the low percentage in early childhood education.
In 2020, Arizona was rated the worst state to live in with an F in quality of life, health, and inclusion, noting a lack of health resources with a mere $79 per person spent on public health, among the lowest in the nation. We were ranked the fourth-most dangerous state for pedestrians and second in road rage killings and injuries.
Want a better state with the health care and public schools we desperately need? Voting for Democrats will deliver them.
Jacolyn Marshall
Oro Valley
Was it better four years ago?
Re: the May 5 letter “Hate Trump club.”
The writer paints a rosy picture of how things were under the ex-pres.
At the end of his letter, the writer asks voters to remember to ask, “is our country better off now than it was four years ago?”
Does he have a short memory, or is he ignoring facts on purpose?
Four years ago, our country was under the siege of COVID-19, hospitals were overflowing, and like many others, I had to confine myself to my bedroom to keep from spreading the disease.
And in April of 2020 the unemployment rate was 14.7%.
And we had a president who suggested that it might be helpful to drink bleach. He didn’t volunteer to be first though did he?
NO! I do not belong to the hate Trump Club!
I belong to the Love a Good Leader Club.
David Hatch
Southeast side
Where is the world’s humanity?
Every pro-Palestinian protester, and those who support them, should have to watch Sheryl Sandberg’s documentary “Screams Before Silence,” which testifies to the brutal sexual violence committed by Hamas on Oct. 7. Interviews of multiple eyewitnesses, released hostages, first responders, medical and forensic experts and survivors, all bear witness to the women and girls who were raped, mutilated and murdered. This happened to people on the land of a sovereign nation, in people’s private homes and at a music festival for no other reason except that the state of Israel exists. Where is the world’s humanity for Israel?
Maureen Salz
Oro Valley
Arizona can’t afford to lose more doctors
Arizona has long experienced a doctor shortage. According to the Arizona Public Health Association, Arizona currently has a shortage of 560 primary care physicians alone, with an estimated shortage of 1941 doctors by 2030.
Arizona is one of the fastest-growing states in the country yet ranks 42nd nationally in the number of physicians.
A recent NPR report stated that medical school students considering residency are avoiding Arizona because of the abortion ban. They want comprehensive training and worry that “state fights over abortion access have created uncertainty for pregnant patients and their doctors. That uncertainty has also bled into the world of medical education.”
Physician residents tend to settle within 100 miles from their residency. If they don’t train in Arizona, it’s highly unlikely that they will practice here.
Let’s keep our graduating medical students and residents. This November, vote to enshrine abortion access and reproductive rights into the Arizona constitution.
By protecting women’s health care, you will be protecting your own.
Carla Andrews Ohara
Northwest side
Not voting is not an option
Re: the May 10 article “In defense of not voting.”
I was aghast to read George Will’s column. Many of us voters do wish we would have a different choice come this November. But we’re stuck with Biden and Trump. It’s a given that the MAGA world will turn out for Trump. Non-MAGA Republicans, under the misguided assumption that a Trump victory will further Republican principles, will vote Trump. And some number of Independents will do the same. That leaves Democrats, Democrat-leaning Independents, Independents who fear the Trump agenda and Republicans who see a Trump defeat as the only way to wrest control of their party from this wannabe dictator. This group must vote. Withholding your vote for Biden as a protest simply increases the chance that Trump will squeak by the Electoral College. If you think your one vote won’t matter, I offer you the 2020 election results in Arizona and Georgia.
John Crittenden
Oro Valley
Imagine ...
What could Arizona’s public schools do with an additional $1 billion a year?
Consider: the current school voucher system costs Arizona taxpayers over $800 million; the Tuition Support Organization tax credits cost an additional $200-plus million a year. Private and parochial schools, the beneficiaries of these tax dollars, do not have to administer state mandated tests nor report test results, do not have to publish budgets or financial reports and their administrative salaries are a mystery.
No one knows what we are getting for our tax dollars. But imagine what public schools could do with it. Perhaps get out of the bottom five states in teacher salaries and per-student expenditures? Repair failing facilities? Improve students’ health and safety?
Elections are coming up. Is it time to end decades-long efforts to eviscerate public in favor of private and parochial education?
Choose wisely.
Todd Ackerman
Foothills
Quit whining
Trump complains that his hush money trial is interfering with his ability to campaign. If true, Trump has no one but himself to blame.
He repeatedly tried to delay the trial, including an attempt to move it to federal court without a basis, two attempts to remove the judge and a dozen other attempts to delay.
This is in keeping with his overall strategy to delay all of the pending cases until after the election. Had he truly wanted the American people to learn how not guilty he is of all of this before we vote, he could have already resolved most of the cases.
Instead, it’s been delay after delay. Sort of odd for such an innocent and unfairly accused defendant.
Larry Fleischman
North side
U of A Faculty Senate Chair and antisemitism
Pennsylvania President Magill and Harvard President Gay both lost their jobs because they did not explicitly say that calling for the genocide of Jews would necessarily violate their code of conduct on bullying or harassment. University of Arizona Faculty Senate Chair, Professor Leila Hudson at first refused to issue a statement condemning antisemitism. Then, surprisingly she issued a document on May 10, in part, “I reject antisemitism personally as a grieving Palestinian American.” Her statement is qualified by her status and diminishes the credibility of her letter. She writes, “Let there be no doubt that antisemitism — like all forms of bigotry, racism, supremacism, intimidation, harassment, and violence — has no place on our campus or in our culture.” Professor Hudson never points out code of conduct violations from the protesters that are antisemitic. Instead, she points to the “chilling of legitimate speech and the “disproportionate Police and institutional violence against protesters,” to excuse abusive language by the protesters. That is not legitimate speech and reveals her implicit bias. She should resign.
Richard Harper
Northeast side
I’m just wondering
What’s special about campus Israel/Palestine protests requiring daily headlines since April 18? Columbia protest fostered 100 arrests. With 36,000 students: 0.277%. Why protests now, end of semesters? Why not months ago?
Don’t get me wrong! The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is horrific, a place that experienced over 60% food insecurity prior to Hamas attacking. U.S. arms have been involved in response. But why not outrage when the U.S. did not support Ukraine’s many requests for arms against Russian invasion, which has killed 20,000 civilians, 444,000 soldiers? Why no screaming at Congress to help them? If Russia wins, it’s certain not to stop there. What happens next?
Where was outrage over Syria and 677,000 deaths? Or Yemen’s 377,000 deaths? What and who woke students up?
I respect protests. I participated in the largest war protest in history: Iraq. And massive climate change and women’s rights protests. But press like this? What’s the intent? Just wondering.
Nancy Jacques
Northeast side
Your money or your democracy
I see many letters supporting a change in the presidency. Most focus on transient annoyances like oil and food prices and inflation, in general. So, those writers so concerned with their pennies are, apparently, willing to transform our almost 250 years old democracy to an autocracy overseen by an impeached and indicted individual. There are things much more important than money; freedom, for example.
Dennis Winsten
Northeast side
What if?
Israel withdrew all military and civilians from Gaza in 2005. Hamas was voted into power by the Palestinian people in 2006.
What if:
Hamas had spent their time, money and efforts to develop a vibrant economy to benefit the people instead of building their military forces, conducting raids, and firing missiles indiscriminately into Israel over the years since then?
Hamas had not invaded Israel on Oct. 7 supported by a barrage of 3,000 rockets, slaughtering civilians and raping and mutilating women, killing 1,139 civilians and taking 250 men, women, and children hostages?
Gaza civilians had vacated areas of Gaza as directed by the Israeli IDF before the IDF began military operations?
Hamas had not used hospitals and the tunnels below as military command and control centers?
Egypt had accepted and welcomed Palestinian civilians in coordination with Hamas to provide safe havens for civilians?
The basic tenets of each faith, basic respect and common sense had prevailed?
How many civilian deaths would have been avoided?
Cal Rooker
Southeast side
Uncertainty
Like you, I have no idea what health issues I might face between now and next February. Whatever happens, should they prove serious, even life-threatening, I am secure in the knowledge that skilled doctors will be there for me.
That is not the case for anyone between the ages 12 and 50 who finds herself pregnant, with or without her consent, with or without healthcare, with or without financial means.
Unlike me, our doctors will not be there for her throughout her nine months of uncertainty, unless her death is imminent and even then her doctor must contemplate how close to dying must she be before he’s protected. As a result, maternal death rates are 62% higher in states with abortion bans.
The CDC reports 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the US are preventable given the right care at the right time. It is shameful that is not the case in Arizona.
One thing is certain. Your vote can change that.
Jacolyn Marshall
Oro Valley
Presidential election
It is a done deal. Only one of Trump’s criminal trials will be completed before the 2024 presidential election. The SCOTUS has stalled the DC election interference with its stalled ruling of the boundaries of Presidential immunity. Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, has stalled an obvious case of Trump willfully taking top secret documents and then obstructing the effort by the government to retrieve them. These efforts by the by the above are actually the work of a “deep state” in our judges and courts to protect to protect a Presidential candidate who orchestrated an insurrection on Jan. 6th, 2021. The people’s institutions of the judiciary have failed its citizens! It is up to us; the will of the people to rid ourselves of a narcissistic megalomaniac threat to our democracy Donald J. Trump (defeated Presidential candidate in 2020).
Frank E. Montez,
Veteran 32-year ARNG
East side
Letter: Trump's Unfitness
- Don Ries, Southeast side
The former President has shown himself unfit for the office in 2 simple ways. He seems to have lied about being too cold in the courtroom, as none of the other people in the court have made a similar complaint. If he lies about such a mundane matter, how can we trust him about anything else? If he is telling the truth, then it is even worse. We have a 77-year-old candidate for the most powerful position in the world who doesn't know what to do about being cold except complain. My five-year-old children knew what to do in such a situation, and it wasn't to whine about it.
Don Ries
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: What I hate.
- Jeff Rayner, SaddleBrooke
I do not hate Trump, he is not worth the passion.
I do hate the many things he has brought to our country. I cannot list them all;
The way his supporters think about and treat anyone who does not worship Trump.
The fact that over 1 million died from COVID. Remember him ignoring the existing epidemic reaction plans ? Also, delaying for months to expedite the development of vaccines.
The way too many of his supporters now lie as an acceptable way to gain whatever suits them.
The loss of confidence in many institutions, by politicizing them directly.
The lack of civility in many of his followers, specifically, assaults on school boards and local governments.
The promotion of white nationalism, and bigotry.
I hate the many malevolent things he has done. How bad does it have to get before his supporters see what he really is and a future would be with him as a president?
Jeff Rayner
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Re: the May 6. article “Local opinion: How about a little autocracy?”
- Roger Ulrich, Northwest side
In response to Gerald Farrington's article "How about a little autocracy?", my response to Gerald is that there is no such thing as as a "little" autocracy. His facetious comment about finding the "right autocrat" historically has demonstrated this to be an oxymoron. Overall jesting about such a thing as he is doing is not even funny.
Roger Ulrich
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Who is the criminal?
- Bruce Hilpert, North side
As a patriotic American, I am appalled at the response of many universities and President Biden to the college campus demonstrations. At the University of Arizona, police used tear gas and rubber bullets to attack a group of students who were peacefully assembling in violation of a curfew regulation. Talk about over-reaction!
Yes, a curfew violation is illegal but the response was totally out of proportion. Meanwhile, our government is complicit in the war crimes that Israel commits regularly against the citizens of Gaza. The Geneva Convention forbids genocide (see its definition) and collective punishment of innocent civilians.
Remember, the civil rights movement began with illegal acts of integration in public spaces. Sadly, our government now stands with Gov. Wallace and “Bull” Conner.
Bruce Hilpert
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Tucson Speaks Out: May 24 letters of the day
Miserable roads
Most roads in Tucson are, as we all know, just miserable. Granted, there are attempts to fix them, but even when a street is resurfaced, the cover deteriorates quickly within a few years, and soon, the old potholes are right back again (look at Tucson Blvd.). In my humble opinion, there is a fundamental flaw in our entire system. Instead of working on maintaining our infrastructure, the government spends most of its money on widening Grant or Broadway, which is not really needed but costs huge amounts of money. Here is my simple suggestion: Due to our extreme weather conditions, cracks easily appear. If those are not taken care of, they quickly widen, expand, and then potholes appear. If we spent more time, effort, and money on maintenance, we could save millions of dollars in the future. Ask a dentist about preemptive care of teeth, then you know what the city ought to do with its roads. Improve the conditions of our roads now and save much in the future.
Albrecht Classen
Midtown
Is woke propaganda the norm at UA?
Re: the May 15 letter “Israeli training of US police.”
This letter is both silly and dangerous. Silly accusations against the Tucson police department, as if it were a branch of the Tel Aviv police. The emeritus prof tries to taint our police by saying they trained in Israel. I trust the Tucson police, whether they had training in Israel or not. The dangerous part of his propaganda is the false charge of Israel using rubber bullets against peaceful protesters. The peaceful protesters the professor noted “used more than 3,600 Molotov co*cktail attacks, 100 hand grenade attacks and 600 assaults with guns or explosives during the first intifada” alone. That is in addition to 160 suicide bombings carried out by Palestinians. The shame here is propaganda coming from a professor teaching our young at a public institution. Finally, he makes it sound as Israel developed rubber bullets, that honor goes to the English, using 120,000 against Irish protesters during the Troubles. Where was your outrage then?
Andrew Katz
Green Valley
MLB sloppiness
Being a devoted MLB fan, I’m wondering how the management of all MLB clubs are just ignoring the fact that these players are mentors to young men and women who strive to be in the game. Excessive jewelry causes harm/ and or fly in faces. Long head and facial hair take away the clean-cut aspect. Uniformity in the teams’ uniforms seem to differ from every player. If the foreign players are that good over our USA players, please have them speak English.
Communication is essential. Shortening the playing season would keep the games from delays/cancellations, due to winter weather.
The physical stamina, appearance, and dedication to this baseball profession makes all the difference in player and leadership performance and responsibility.
Respect the game. Respect the player. Respect the coaches/managers and all those behind the scenes who come into your home for entertainment.
Clean it up!
Phyllis Bowcott
Northwest side
Right problem, wrong solution
Republicans are concerned that non-U.S. citizens are corrupting our elections by voting in them, and they want to make that more illegal than it already is. It is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections, and it is also illegal for them to donate to campaigns.
Non-citizens voting in our elections is not the problem, the problem is campaign and PAC contributions made by corporate entities. These are easy conduits for foreign interests wishing to influence our elections. To the foreign interest, what does it matter than they can’t cast their measly one vote in an election, when they can pump thousands of dollars into the campaign of their choice? The money is untraceable when laundered properly through a willing PAC or corporation.
John McConnaughey
Oro Valley
Now on sale
Given the transactional nature of the modern Trumpublican party, I’d like to place my order ... er ... bet, in the spirit of Barr, Haley, oil execs and long red ties everywhere.
Even though I’ve known for decades about the misdeeds and self-centered dishonesty of Donald Trump and believe him to be not worthy of any public office at any level, I pledge that I’ll:
vote for him in 2024 for $10 million USD;
tell others I voted for him for an additional $50 million;
suggest others might vote for him for another $100 million; and
take back all the unfavorable things I’ve said about him for $500 million.
All cash package deal. Non negotiable. All payable in advance, the funds will be distributed to actual charities, of my choosing. I reserve the right to renege, with no penalties, on any promises I’ve made, after completed payments.
Bruce Kaplan
Northwest side
Alito’s stance?
Just what is Justice Alito’s stance on our Constitution, when he aligns himself with those favoring an insurrection? The insurrection was a Trumpian act, fitting of a group that has a sociopath as their hero. But Trump’s stance is clearly fascist, for those of us who have studied fascism in detail. It seems more than ironic that a SCOTUS justice would support an insurrection that attempted to tear down the Constitution that he was sworn to protect. How can a justice adjudicate on Constitutional matters of the court, when he supports an unconstitutional uprising? I highly suspect that Alito is aligned with Trump’s fascist policies. His pro-insurrectionist flags at his home and beach house should be a clear reminder of his abandonment of our Founders’ principles. In most cases, the ascent of fascism is brought about by filling key positions in the existing system with fascist acolytes, including the courts. That sort of radicalism has no business in the Supreme Court. He must be removed.
Steve Rasmussen
Foothills
Clean energy is the key
Re: the May 21 article “Biden is a better choice on environment.”
Mike Carran’s op-ed about investments in American infrastructure and clean energy technology reminded me of another period of American growth and prosperity.
Remember Alan Greenspan’s giddiness in the late 1990s when the stock market kept rising, the job market surged and global trade was expansive? That boom was largely due to investments in technology, particularly computers.
We’re experiencing a similar economic boom now — generated by the transition from fossil fuel to clean, renewable energy. Globally, investments in clean energy technology, from semi-conductors to solar and wind, increased 75% last year over the year before. The BIL, IRA, and the CHIPS and Science Act is creating 1,000’s of new jobs for Tucson, manufacturing lithium iron batteries, semiconductors, data centers, digital services.
There’s no going back to black lung disease or the poverty of Appalachia. Investors want zero carbon emissions, cleaner air, and a stable climate. Treasury Secretary Yellin deserves recognition for her steady hand in developing a forward-looking economic policy.
Jane Conlin
Oro Valley
Your children’s future is at stake in November
If elected, Trump will preside over the world’s second largest producer of greenhouse gases. His embrace of climate denial and fossil fuels, and vow to roll back climate research and clean energy programs, will come just as our window for evasive action is narrowing. Without significantly expanding efforts to reduce greenhouse gases over the next 10 years, Earth’s average temperature is likely to reach 2 deg. C above pre-industrial levels by 2050. Trump will be long gone when coastal Florida is succumbing to rising sea level and heat is making the southern tier of the U.S. progressively uninhabitable. People who fail to see what’s coming will ultimately be driven from homes they can’t sell and their equity will evaporate. Already, areas of the West and Midwest are running out of groundwater for agriculture and drinking water as reservoirs dry. Sound familiar? The ultra-wealthy will easily relocate, but where will you and your children be in 25 years? Biden is the only choice come November.
Christine Flanagan
West side
Letter: Mike Johnson, trump subservient
- Jack Graef, SaddleBrooke
Mike Johnson’s support of aid for Ukraine was not only support of Ukraine’s survival, but it was actually support of our Democracy. For an instant, Johnson flashed legislative legitimacy (unlike his Republican stablemates who don’t understand the significance of a Putin success in Ukraine, and our commitment to the defense of our NATO allies). However, legitimacy was fleeting. Johnson reverted to his acolyte form, fearful of trump’s vengeance if he doesn’t toe the line should trump be re-elected. Johnson’s pilgrimage to New York to rant trumpish blather in front of the trial courtroom, along with a bunch of fellow acolytes (and VP hopefuls vying for trump’s smile), is no different than the homage paid to trump by his deposed predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, who, after condemning trump for orchestrating his attempted coup on January 6, crawled to Mar a Lago to beg for forgiveness.
Jack Graef
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Trivia Question
- Gary Hammond, SaddleBrooke
To The Editor:
A question -- why is the GOP "Veepstakes" competition similar to a limbo contest? Because the winner will be the one who can go the lowest.
Gary Hammond
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Now on sale
- Bruce Kaplan, Northwest side
Given the transactional nature of the modern Trumpublican party, I’d like to place my order... er... bet, in the spirit of Barr, Haley, oil execs and long red ties everywhere.
Even though I’ve know for decades about the misdeeds and self-centered dishonesty of Donald Trump and believe him to be not worthy of any public office at any level, I pledge that I’ll:
* vote for him in 2024 for $10 million USD;
* tell others I voted for him for an additional $50 million;
* suggest others might vote for him for another $100 million; and
* take back all the unfavorable things I’ve said about him for $500 million.
All cash package deal. Nonnegotiable. All payable in advance, the funds will be distributed to actual charities, of my choosing. I reserve the right to renege, with no penalties, on any promises I’ve made, after completed payments.
Bruce Kaplan
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Clean Energy is the key
- Jane Conlin, Oro Valley
Mike Carran’s op-ed about investments in American infrastructure and clean energy technology reminded me of another period of American growth and prosperity.
Remember Alan Greenspan’s giddiness in the late 1990’s when the stock market kept rising, the job market surged and global trade was expansive? That boom was largely due to investments in technology, particularly computers.
We’re experiencing a similar economic boom now – generated by the transition from fossil fuel to clean, renewable energy. Globally, investments in clean energy technology, from semi-conductors to solar and wind, increased 75% last year over the year before. The BIL, IRA, and the CHIPS and Science Act is creating 1,000’s of new jobs for Tucson, manufacturing lithium iron batteries, semiconductors, data centers, digital services.
There’s no going back to black lung disease or the poverty of Appalachia. Investors want zero carbon emissions, cleaner air, and a stable climate. Treasury Secretary Yellin deserves recognition for her steady hand in developing a forward-looking economic policy.
Jane Conlin
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Your Children's Future is at Stake in November
- Christine Flanagan, West side
If elected, Trump will preside over the world's second largest producer of greenhouse gases. His embrace of climate denial and fossil fuels, and vow to roll back climate research and clean energy programs will come just as our window for evasive action is narrowing. Without significantly expanding efforts to reduce greenhouse gases over the next 10 years, Earth's average temperature is likely to reach 2 deg. C above pre-industrial levels by 2050. Trump will be long gone when coastal Florida is succumbing to rising sea level and heat is making the southern tier of the U.S. progressively uninhabitable. People who fail to see what's coming will ultimately be driven from homes they can't sell and their equity will evaporate. Already, areas of the West and Midwest are running out of groundwater for agriculture and drinking water as reservoirs dry. Sound familiar? The ultra-wealthy will easily relocate, but where will you and your children be in 25 years? Biden is the only choice come November.
Christine Flanagan
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Alito's Stance?
- Steve Rasmussen, Foothills
Just what is Justice Alito’s stance on our Constitution, when he aligns himself with those favoring an insurrection? The insurrection was a Trumpian act, fitting of a group that has a sociopath as their hero. But Trump’s stance is clearly fascist, for those of us who have studied fascism in detail. It seems more than ironic that a SCOTUS Justice would support an insurrection that attempted to tear down the Constitution that he was sworn to protect. How can a justice adjudicate on Constitutional matters of the court, when he supports an unconstitutional uprising? I highly suspect that Alito is aligned with Trump’s fascist policies. His pro-insurrectionist flags at his home and beach house should be a clear reminder of his abandonment of our Founders’ principles. In most cases, the ascent of fascism is brought about by filling key positions in the existing system with fascist acolytes, including the courts. That sort of radicalism has no business in the Supreme Court. He must be removed.
Steve Rasmussen
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: MLB Sloppiness
- Phyllis Bowcott, Northwest side
Being a Devoted MLB Fan, I'm wondering how the management of all MLB Clubs are just ignoring the fact that these players are mentors to young men and women who strive to be in the game. Excessive jewelry causes harm/ and or fly in faces. Long head and facial hair take away the clean-cut aspect. Uniformity in the Teams' uniforms seem to differ from every player. If the Foreign players are THAT good over our USA players, please have them speak English.
Communication is essential. Shortening the playing season would keep the games from delays/cancellations, due to winter weather.
The physical stamina, appearance, and dedication to this Baseball profession makes all the difference in player and leadership performance and responsibility.
Respect the Game. Respect the Player. Respect the Coaches/Managers and all those behind the scenes who come into your home for entertainment.
Clean It Up!
Phyllis Bowcott
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Is woke propaganda the norm at U of A?
- Andrew Katz, Green Valley
Charles Smith's letter of 5/15 is both silly and dangerous. Silly accusations against the Tucson police department, as if it were a branch of the Tel Aviv police. The emeritus prof tries to taint our police by saying they trained in Israel. I trust the Tucson police, whether they had training in Israel or not. The dangerous part of his propaganda is the false charge of Israel using rubber bullets against peaceful protesters. The peaceful protesters the professor noted "used more than 3,600 Molotov co*cktail attacks, 100 hand grenade attacks and 600 assaults with guns or explosives during the first intifada" alone. That is in addition to 160 suicide bombing carried out by Palestinians. The shame here is propaganda coming from a professor teaching our young at a public institution. Finally, he makes it sound as Israel developed rubber bullets, that honor goes to the English, using 120,000 against Irish protesters during the Troubles. Where was your outrage then Mr. Smith.
Andrew Katz
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Right Problem, Wrong Solution
- John McConnaughey, Oro Valley
Republicans are concerned that non US Citizens are corrupting our elections by voting in them, and they want to make that more illegal than it already is. It is already illegal for non citizens to vote in federal elections, and it is also illegal for them to donate to campaigns.
Non citizens voting in our elections is not the problem, the problem is campaign and PAC contributions made by corporate entities. These are easy conduits for foreign interests wishing to influence our elections. To the foreign interest, what does it matter than they can't cast their measly one vote in an election, when they can pump thousands of dollars into the campaign of their choice? The money is untraceable when laundered properly through a willing PAC or corporation.
John McConnaughey
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Letter: Drinking cleaning fluids
- David Hatch, Southeast side
Okay, so the Trump defenders are correct....
I've done the research. He did not actually say that people should DRINK his Kool aid. He only asked if it might be useful.
Also to his credit, during the January 6th episode, to the best of my knowledge, he never once said that Mike pence should be hanged.
He only said "Maybe the crowd is right."
What a Guy!
David Hatch
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
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