Tucson Speaks Out: October 13

The flood of October 1983

The current weather forecasts predict substantial rain from Hurricane Priscilla, prompting many of us to recall the devastating Great Flood of 1983 caused by a hurricane from Mexico.

I was Project Manager for the original Rio Nuevo Santa Cruz widening, soil cement riverbank protection and linear park project, just completed in 1982. We actually over-designed the channel section to handle 45,000 cfs (1.5 times the official 100-year event Q100 (30,000 cfs) and provided 5 feet of freeboard.

The Santa Cruz ran bank to bank, water lapping at the bottom of the Congress, St. Mary’s and Speedway bridge girders.

An estimated 60,000 cfs passed safely through, approaching a 500-year storm flow.

Had we not over-designed and completed the project when we did, the commercial development from 22nd St. to nearly Grant Road would have been wiped out.

Looking back on that incredible event, I am amazed at the perfect, perhaps Providential, timing that prevented what would have been a catastrophic disaster.

Professional Engineer,

John A. Evans

Vail

Dahl’s steady hand

With all the noise these days, we need a steady hand or two. That would be City Council member Kevin Dahl, IMHO. No matter the topic, he hears all sides and really listens. He polished these skills in decades working for the environment for key organizations. He knows the issues and, most important, the people he serves as Council member. No one works harder, with more people skills.

Ford Burkhart

Midtown

State GOP Legislature’s hypocrisy

To those Arizona registered voters who agree with my disapproval of actions taken by the Trump Administration and inaction of Congress (looking at you, Rep. Ciscomani), I encourage you to continue resisting in whatever form you choose.

But in the midst of all of the noise coming out of Washington D.C., I encourage you to pay attention to the actions of our GOP-controlled state Legislature.

Arizona’s “Parents as Paid Caregivers Program” provides funding for families that provide in-home caregiving for their children who have developmental disabilities and require “extraordinary care” above and beyond typical parenting tasks.

Prior to October 1, 2025, families could receive funding for 31 hours of combined attendant and habilitation per week. As of October 1, that has been reduced to around five hours per week.

GOP lawmakers said that recent growth in the “Parents as Paid Caregivers Program” was unsustainable and that it needed to be cut in half.

Unrestricted ESA Vouchers for private schools … just fine. Families in need … nope.

Randy Garmon

North side

Medicare cuts

Remember on the campaign trail in 2019, Trump kept saying he had a “framework” to save Medicare, and the program would be OK? Apparently, Trump used all the steel he was going to use on his “framework” for the border wall instead.

Daniel Poryanda

Southeast side

A question

It seems that a great number of our citizens are very concerned about the course of our American political and social life. Protests are regular occurrences. We are urged to “resist.” We are urged to boycott.

My question is this. Would it not be helpful to simply divest? If corporations are paying for and leading the federal decision makers to act in ways we feel are harmful, would it not make sense to withdraw our investments in them?

If I actually knew the answer to that, I would not ask.

Thank you.

Claudette Haney

Green Valley

President Garimella, say no

Thank you to the Star for printing multiple articles on the importance of refusing Trump’s bullying offer to give the U of A special favors if we give up academic freedom and self governance. It’s just the latest in a series of attacks on higher education.

As a recent Chronicle of Higher Education article stated, “The genius of American higher education lies in its diversity. This compact would flatten that diversity into a federally dictated model, replacing independence with political conformity.”

President Garimella, have the courage to protect our university and say no.

Melanie Bell

Midtown

Chuck’s fan request

Dear Chuck Cecil, We agree that more fans in the seats of Arizona Stadium would lift the players. Perhaps some of that NIL money could be used to help us afford those seats. At $340 plus parking and concessions, a couple would have to come up with almost $1,000 each game. Does the University really want a full stadium? Then lower the price to make it affordable. It’s really just simple economics. (And televise the games on non-pay TV stations, unlike ESPN+).

Ira Adler

Foothills

I wonder

With a Gaza peace deal imminent, I wonder what cause “Free Palestine” protesters and rioters will take up next? Hopefully, Boko Haram. Also, I hope they realize that all their wailing, screaming, and destruction contributed nothing to this solution. One can only hope.

Mark Moral

East side

Spot the difference

First, I am not affiliated with either semi-organized political party. The “Spot the Difference” cartoon in the Oct 9 paper is an insult to the rule of law. I guess it is just because the media neither likes the law, nor supports changes in immigration laws you don’t like. But it is like the county and the feds not enforcing current gun control laws. Maybe try another cartoon comparing Antifa to Che Guevera and other murdering Communists.

David Germain

East side

Progress vs. regress

A human condition is curiosity. We want to know what is over the next ridge, moving forward. Magellan (Portuguese, 1519) wanted to find a western sea route to Asia. Instead, he was the first to circumnavigate the world. He died, and another completed the journey. Man wanted to know what the moon was made of. Thus, space travel. The main theme of all this is progress. One thing builds upon a previous discovery. If knowledge is thwarted, as in the Dark Ages, progress does not occur. New thinking is lost. Mankind stagnates. Regress is the opposite. History and science, like the clock, do not move backwards. Politicians are trying as hard as they might, but are not able to accomplish this feat. They are going against the rule of nature. This is causing a lot of turmoil in the world. What to do? How is this working out for you guys?

Margaret Gordon Magruder

Downtown

No room at the inn

There is concern about repeat offenders in Oregon and South Carolina. Using the “lock the door and throw the key” approach (see philosophy of punishment), most states have a “Three Strikes Law” which targets repeat violent and nonviolent offenders by adding additional time (10 years) to the sentence. Perhaps the “Three Strikes Law” needs to be re-evaluated for use in all states, especially in Oregon and South Carolina.

With this “Lock the Door and Throw Away the Key — Three Strikes” approach, there will be the need to build more jails/ prisons/ mental institutions. Pima County recently turned down a proposal to build a new jail facility on the Eastside. Florence Prison (DOC) is being torn down with no plans to replace it. There has been a call to place more mentally ill repeat offenders into institutions.

Are taxpayers willing to pay for more jails/ prisons/ mental institutions? Probably not.

Ray Bynum

Northwest side

Your stories lack important facts

Your coverage of Jason Jameson’s sentencing was another example of your paper’s quality going down the tubes. I have lost count of the number of articles written by your reporters that lack basic facts. Mr. Jameson shot Dr. Jeffery Horner in the back as the doctor walked away from him. Your article stated, Jameson “was initially charged with second-degree murder, but it was later reduced to manslaughter.” Fact not in your article: Jameson eventually took a plea deal to negligent homicide. You claim the “Pima County Attorney ‘s office said in a statement that it was the judge’s decision to move forward with the lesser charge against Jameson.” I seriously doubt that is what the CA said because it’s not true. The CA’s office makes plea deals, NOT judges. What the statement probably said was that it’s up to the judge whether to send Jameson to prison or give him probation. BTW, the Judge who sentenced Jameson to probation was Judge Fell, another fact not in your article

Michael Crawford

Midtown

Bear witness now

The title of this statement could also have been “And They Spoke Up.” Reading the message written & endorsed by over 100 Southern Arizona Christian Clergy was a great way to start Sunday, Oct. 5. Finding it in the Business section was somewhat of a surprise but it certainly could be classified as referring to the “Business of Life.” As a member of groups supporting this statement and seeing the names of ministers connected to my church, I was especially pleased. I also know that behind every Clergy signature are a large number of citizens who support this statement in word, in deed, and in financial backing. I know this will not be the end of our speaking out and taking action!

Gypsy Lyle

Northwest side

Civility we learned as children gone

As children, we are taught manners, to say “please,” “thank you,” “excuse me,” “I’m sorry,” showing respect for others by listening, sharing, and waiting our turn and many other social decorums and conduct. We learned to respect elders and authority figures, kindness (tolerance), compassion.

All of this has been forgotten by our elected officials and sent straight to Hell.

One party blames the other — back and forth. This occurs daily. The current administration has declared compromise illegal. The only words that count are those of the ruling cabal of three — Stephen Miller (Minister of Race Reduction), Russ Vought (Minister of Trimming Government Down to Zero) and Brendan Carr (Minister of Propaganda and Media Control).

How can we prevent fascism from developing further in the United States? To do this, we must motivate Americans to vote for our democracy, and we must actively cooperate in order to maintain world peace and security.

Why send Trump’s chaotic elected sycophants back to Washington? Vote blue (if we are allowed to vote).

Sheldon Metz

Northeast side