Tucson Speaks Out: April 11

Cowards of Congress

Spitting nails, I’m so angry at the Republican Congress. They’re supporting an insane war criminal, staying silent on an illegal war, as Trump and his sidekick, Hegseth, scream insanities.

I am writing the ICC (International Criminal Court, P.O. Box 19519, 2500 CM The Hague, The Netherlands) pleading they make Trump officially a war criminal, like Netanyahu. Then he can’t leave the country without prosecution. Supreme Court be damned. Trump and Hegseth should both be impeached, but Republicans are too cowardly to stand up for the law, for officers in the Pentagon. They’re afraid to “lose their jobs,” or that the windbag fat bully might throw useless words at them. In two weeks, if anything happens to the people of Iran or their infrastructure, like Nuremberg, all should be prosecuted for war crimes. “I was just following orders” won't cut it for servicemen or Congress.

We are officially a Rogue State. And we thought it would North Korea or China, didn’t we?

Nancy Jacques

Northeast side

MAGA

In a letter to the editor, the submitted was making fun of MAGA; does anyone remember what that actually stands for? I always thought that making America great again was a desirable goal for all citizens, but it appears that anyone with Trump Derangement Syndrome is more interested in destroying the country because of the person elected to be President.

It is critical to recognize that President Trump was not a squeak-by win. It was a statement made by the voters. Of course, consider the opponent — Harris and Walz, opponents that were not selected by the Democratic voters but were picked by the elite leaders in the Democratic Party with $2 billion to spend in buying the election. The real problem is simple: In two years, who will the Democrats be able to denigrate with false claims and name-calling? President Trump can't be elected again unless the voters agree to change the amendments to the Constitution.

Loran Hancock

Northwest side

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Responsible for compiling and disseminating critical labor and economic statistics, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has historically been a nonpartisan organization. In August 2025, Trump summarily dismissed the career head of the BLS because the job growth data it submitted did not conform to the economic fantasy — everything about the economy is wonderful — that the administration was hawking. While the current nominee, Brett Matsumoto, does have BLS experience, he currently serves on the White House Council of Economic Advisors, an organization not noted for independent thinking in this administration. All this is to say that going forward, we should view positive BLS data with a healthy dose of skepticism, particularly once Matsumoto is confirmed. He undoubtedly understands that his role is to do nothing that will undercut the administration's economic fantasy.

James Dolian

SaddleBrooke

Opposed to land auction

As a former teacher in Sahuarita, I strongly oppose putting a 160-acre parcel of land in the northern Santa Rita Mountains up for auction in the near future. That parcel — together with parcels near it — will be a mine tailings dump site and another source of toxic dust blowing in prevailing wind currents toward Corona de Tucson, Vail, Sahuarita, and Green Valley. I can’t help but think of children who will be in the path of tailings dust containing trace amounts of lead. There's no safe level of lead entering a child's body through lungs or into the mouth via dusty fingertips.

This mining endeavor in the northern Santa Rita Mountains is just too close to existing homes and schools.

The state wants to start bidding for the parcel at $1 million. Hudbay Minerals, the foreign mining company that wants it, can afford that kind of money, while citizens opposed to the mine do not have the deep pockets to even compete in the bidding.

Davi DeGroot

Northwest side

Lost legitimacy

Thanks to Trump and his nefarious impulses, America is on the decline. Our former friends in Europe are moving away from us, tired of being bullied by this administration's threats and tariffs. Some Europeans now call Trump an enemy, some consider U.S. foreign policy as "recolonization," and others believe China would be a more dependable partner.

Thanks to Trump, various European countries will no longer allow the U.S. access to bases or airspace for military operations or share intelligence with us. On top of all this, the U.S. has lost business from European defense budgets. One good reason? U.S. munitions that Europeans had already paid for were used in Iran with no apologies.

The U.S. is considered completely undependable right now. Leave it to Trump to create another Big Beautiful Bungle.

Melody Sears

North side

Praying for rain

Re: The Arizona Daily Star front page article on April 8, concerning the Colorado River shortages.

The article ends with U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, asking everyone to keep coming up with ideas for new sources of water. He suggests “seriously pray for more rain." Here is my “serious” suggestion: Do a rain dance.

Terry Gruenenfelder

East side

Anybody checking voicemail?

How exactly are we supposed to reach our Congressman, Juan Ciscomani?

I’ve tried calling his Tucson office several times, only to find a full voicemail box and no one answering the phone. Emails elicit boilerplate responses.

Now, I understand that being a member of Congress is a busy job. But “too busy to hear from constituents” isn’t supposed to be part of the job description, especially at a moment when the country is staring down serious questions about the U.S. war in Iran.

Congressmen take an oath to the Constitution and are entrusted with decisions about war and peace. That responsibility comes with a basic expectation: accessibility to the people they represent.

If the phones aren’t being answered and the voicemail is full, then the question isn’t just how to contact Juan Ciscomani, it’s whether he’s interested in hearing from us at all.

In a democracy, silence from elected officials, especially on matters of war, is not reassuring. It’s unacceptable.

Frank Hagel

SaddleBrooke

Voter fraud?

This is a myth created by a person who cannot accept the reality he lost in 2020. There are too many credible sources within his own administration, who avowed the election was fair and clean. He cannot allow his fragile ego to hear that he lost. They cheated me. Nope, you lost.

Why is this topic warming up now? It is because even he realizes his popularity is crumbling among all but the most fanatical supporters. The MAGA party will face crushing opposition, unless he intervenes. It will not be voter fraud, it will be voter nullification, by POTUS.

This is the end result of Fake Electors and Cyber Ninjas. If we do not win, we cheat, lie and say we won. Just as Steve Bannon predicted before the 2020 election. Just as Trump is claiming today. Who is the fraud?

Jeff Rayner

SaddleBrooke