Tucson speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Nov. 21, 2025
- Updated
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.
- Loyal M. Johnson Jr., Oro Valley
Much LTE comment have been directed at the elimination of drug boats off the coast of Venezuela. Interestingly, the federal government has been very open regarding these operations, not clandestine. This tells me that the federal government is very confident that the boats carry drugs or they would not provide the videos to the general public. Observing the videos, the boats are certainly not pleasure or fishing boats and are carrying square bundles that are certainly not cotton. For 30 years, the federal government has been ineffective in stopping the flow of drugs into this country and the cartels have become very bold because the consequences are minimal. Now, how many drug runners, regardless of the pay by the cartels, will willingly accept a contract to move drugs into the United States? The conundrum is whether we should stand idly by as the drugs flow easily into our country or should be take actions that make that endeavor very, very risky.
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Tucson Gastro Park
I live near the Sunshine Mile project on Broadway. I’m glad that developer Peter Anadranistakis has outlined a path forward for developing the relocated bungalows on the north side of the street. It should become a unique and attractive set of restaurants and shops.
But… “Tucson Gastro Park?” I can’t be the only one who sees “gastro” and mentally completes it as “gastrointestinal.” The park sounds like a bunch of doctors’ offices ready to do unpleasant things with endoscopes and colonoscopes. Not appetizing at all.
Stephen Fleming
Midtown
It’s all about the water
This long-time desert dweller says that unless they can somehow create the millions of gallons of water needed for their developments, both Hudbay’s “Copper World” and Amazon’s Project Blue need to taken off the table immediately. Arizona agencies and politicians need to find backbones and just say no. There is simply not enough water to allow a Canadian company to suck up and then contaminate our aquifer for enormous profits. And I’m sure plenty of states with plenty of water would be happy to welcome in Project Blue.
Margaret Zanger
Midtown
In defense of the large family
Even though large families are no longer in style I believe there is a case for the large family.
My father John was the youngest of seven. My grandfather Francis had 8 children.
My great grandfather Daniel had 12 children. I am the middle child of 7.
I had 7 children. My wife Carolyn is one of 7.
Big families are often filled with love, laughter, and plenty of opportunities to grow and learn together.
Large families are such a gift, offering an amazing environment to grow in faith, building lasting family bonds. The lessons learned in a big family are priceless.
Life in a big family is a constant adventure. With a large family, you’re never alone.
One of the benefits of large family living is learning to share.
If you’re part of or raising a large family cherish the moments — even the messy ones. Use them as opportunities to grow in character, nurture faith, and teach your children the value of hard work, love, and service.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
TEP
Criticism of Tucson Electric Power for negotiating service with a new data center is missing a fundamental point: Energy providers cannot be in the business of picking and choosing who deserves power. Their role is to serve all customers reliably and equitably — regardless of popularity or politics.
If we expect our utility to deny service based on political winds, where does it stop? Should it decide which homes, schools, or businesses are “worthy” of electricity?
Of course not. Energy access must remain impartial and above the fray.
The agreement in question isn’t just about one company. It’s about laying the groundwork for transformative economic development. Data centers will drive long-term investment. Penalizing progress because of public perception sets a dangerous precedent.
Let’s focus on the bigger picture: a stronger, more resilient economy powered by smart partnerships — not selective outrage.
Dennis Caldwell
Midtown
Contrast JFK and Trump
Letter-writer Craig Miller is correct that fewer of us remember JFK. Mr. Miller asserts that JFK was ruled 4F but his father and the family doctor said he was fit for service. Actually Joe Kennedy pulled strings and got his son a direct commission.
President Trump was called up for induction, failed his physical and was found to be unfit for service and was ruled 4F.
JFK was in charge of PT109 and ran into a Japanese destroyer and sank on a cloudless night. Gen. MacArthur wanted him court-martialed but Joe Kennedy pulled strings and he was awarded a medal.
As for JFK’s Pulitzer Prize, it is generally well known the book was ghostwritten.
Clay Berger
Foothills
Another life taken
I have read some shockingly cruel and disgusting comments on social media about recent pedestrian deaths.
Victim blaming when the victims were doing everything right just shows how low we can go as humans.
Now, at a HAWK we have a bike death. Again, the biker did everything right — hit the crosswalk and crossed on a solid red.
Why can drivers not take the 10-25 seconds to stop, look and not hit anyone? Why do some feel the need to blame the individuals who happen to not be in cars but doing everything right? Why the hypocrisy that if you got hit while in a car by another car not following the law it would be all the other person’s fault and you would be more “angry?”
And Tucson leaders: Start enforcing these intersections. Proactively stop these incidents.
It takes a few seconds to not kill someone in a car so stop, look and be aware. It is the minimal decent human effort you can put into public safety.
Carissa Sipp
Midtown
Brazen disregard for safe driving
Every driver in Tucson knows that speeding, red light running, tailgating, and reckless driving are the norm in our city. Wrecks, injuries, and fatalities are more common here than in most other cities. We all know this. It’s pretty clear that the absence of police (and red-light cameras) to enforce traffic laws is the underlying cause of these problems. Tim Steller wrote a thoughtful article about this, yet he barely mentioned law enforcement as a solution. I wrote to compliment him and to pose law enforcement as a solution. His friendly reply noted that more enforcement might be the best way to improve traffic safety, but there isn’t “any hope in there being enough additional police officers anytime soon.” Why not? We all see the problem. We all know how to fix it. Yet our political leaders refuse to fund increased police manpower. Their policies are killing innocent people every day. How do they sleep? Time for new leadership?
John Knight
Northeast side
Calling all new voices
The letters to the editor in the Star are often from repeat writers. At one point in the past there was a “rule” that a writer would only get published once a month. I guess that is a bygone era. Now we get the same 1-2 people on the right and the same 6-7 people on the left. You know who you are.
I would like to see the Star’s editorial page editors cast a wider net for LTE. Stop publishing the same few writers.
And readers out there, don’t be shy. Submit that LTE you have been thinking about. You know who you are. We want to hear from some new voices.
Fran McNeely
Northeast side
Protesting
Re last Thursday’s edition: You posted a picture of protesters at Jim Click dealership. This may be a form of free speech to these folks, but what about Jim Click’s freedom to choose whomever he wishes to support? This goes for anyone who supports a candidate of their choosing.
I saw this same bunch of hypocrites on Saturday morning at the dealership, albeit on the sidewalk at the corner. I have a question for the protesters. Is Jim Click using your money to support the candidates of his choice? Does anyone protest or tell you how and where to your spend your money?
Louise Nath
Benson
Devaluation
Lost in the unrelenting economic chaos emanating from the Trump administration has been its impact on the value of the US dollar. During the initial 10 months of the administration, the dollar has lost 10% of its value against most major foreign currencies such as the British pound and the Euro. That results in an immediate increase in the cost of goods and services for American customers. American travelers to these countries have found their dollars do not go as far as they would have a year ago. The devaluation penalty is in addition to the tariff tax already being paid by American consumers. Are we having fun yet?
James Dolian
SaddleBrooke
The real criminals
I’m just wondering if anyone else is outraged by the fact that the real criminals, those convicted of serious crimes, but are useful to Trump, receive pardons while brown people get rounded up and brutalized by ICE? According to daily news reports, many of these people are law-abiding citizens and living here legally. It shouldn’t be a crime to be brown or black in this country. And, people convicted of serious crimes should be jailed and remain behind bars and not pardoned. Just my humble opinion.
Donna Hill
SaddleBrooke
No votes by Grijalva
More disingenuous drivel from McConnell. Yes Grijalva didn’t miss a vote, because Johnson shut down the House to prevent a vote on releasing more Epstein files. During that time Trump tried to pressure Republicans not to vote on releasing the files. He threatened to primary anyone voting for releasing. Now under duress Trump is saying he wants Republicans to vote to files being released, although he could release them himself. Nobody believes that any info implicating him won’t be redacted. Maxwell, after meeting with a Trump official got moved to a low-security facility that she raves about how nice it is. Obvious quid pro quo.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Standard of living
The only person whose standard of living has improved during this Trump administration is Ghislaine Maxwell.
Terry Louck
East side
They try to tear the mountains down
How fortunate we Tucsonans are to be surrounded by the beauty of nature. Nature is a non-replaceable commodity. If our house burns down, we can rebuild it. But when we destroy our environment, it is lost forever.
Our mountains contain copper. Some believe, “What good are mountains if we don’t mine the copper under them?” And if copper is discovered underneath all of our mountains, should we wait for and allow a foreign country to take advantage of this?
Along the same line of thinking: “What good is our drinking water if it is not used to grow alfalfa to be shipped to Russia to feed their cattle?”
Some believe that our natural beauty and water are expendable for money. Is it worth it?
Diane Stephenson
Foothills
Trump and Epstein files
If the President of the United States has nothing to hide, then why pray tell doesn’t he release the files? “The greatest transparent president in modern history,” his words not mine, is hiding the truth from the American public who deserve to know everything. And We the People of the United States have heard all the excuses; there are other folks and victims that do not want their names out in public, we are protecting them. No, it couldn’t be further from the truth. The victims want the American Public to know the truth and POTUS and his cronies don’t want you to know the truth, simply because he might be exposed. But don’t worry my Republican friends and voters, the FBI is working overtime to redact and destroy videos of his Majesty from the files just in case they ever become public. The redactors will be given bonuses and high-fives all around for their silence.
Curtis Urban
Vail
No to 50-year mortgage fantasy
Arizona’s housing crisis isn’t mysterious, it’s arithmetic. Pima County alone is short more than 40,000 homes while Tucson home prices have climbed over 160% since 2012. Yet wages in Southern Arizona have grown only about 40%. That math doesn’t work for first-time buyers, retirees, or working families.
And into this real crisis strolls Donald Trump with his latest “big idea”: 50-year mortgages, the policy equivalent of selling desert sand as beachfront property. Stretching a mortgage across half a century doesn’t make a home affordable; it just means lenders cash in while families get stuck paying longer than most democracies survive.
Tucson’s real issues are simple: decades of underbuilding, zoning rules that lock up more than 70% of residential land only for single-family homes, and out-of-state investors who snapped up nearly one in five entry-level homes last year. Instead of addressing supply, affordability, and infrastructure, we keep getting gimmicks, slogans, and economic snake oil.
Lawrence E. Mazin
SaddleBrooke
Transgender
Maybe I don’t understand the argument that certain people have against transgender, but I’d like them to consider the following: AIS or Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome is a congenital condition where a “Male” with an XY chromosome is born without proper receptor sites for testosterone. They develop as female and indeed some of them were only discovered when they were tested prior to entering upper level beauty pageants. They won lower level ones. So isn’t this evidence that God is OK with transgender? I mean they didn’t even know this was a thing until they were diagnosed and now they can’t play women’s basketball because they have a Y where they are supposed to have an X. Isn’t physical capability the basis for gender specific sports not chromosomes? Oh what do we call an XXY? Can they do both?
Dan Pendergrass
West side
Murder on the high seas
Trump would like us to see him, as our great savior, by blowing up alleged “drug boats” and thus saving thousands of lives here in the US. The reality is that prior to his military attacks, these “drug boats” had been intercepted on a routine basis by the US Coast Guard. It is documented, that of the “drug boats” the Coast Guard has stopped, only 75% had drugs on board and 25% did not. If drugs were found these individuals were arrested and the drugs confiscated. Lethal action was a last resort and only in response to being attacked. Currently, Trump has attacked 20 “drug boats” killing 80 individuals. According to Coast Guard data, Trump has killed 20 (80x.25) individuals without cause. Also, the Coast Guard is still stopping “drug boats” despite Trump’s efforts, announcing a record number of cocaine seizures. The US Coast Guard is the true savior here, not Trump. It makes you think, what is Trump’s real motive here? Resist.
Peter Morales
Midtown
Beware of park ‘improvements’
Residents of Tucson, beware, if your local park is chosen to be closed for “improvements.”
My local park, Palo Verde Park, was closed for nearly a year and a half for this reason.
What we got was a huge reduction of green grass, many beautiful mature trees cut down, and a park full of weeds. The only real work that was done was relocating and expanding basketball courts, and removing tennis courts, replacing them with pickleball courts. Waste of time, waste of money and loss of a once-beautiful and accessible green space. Poor planning, Tucson Parks.
Daniel Egan
East side
Post-shutdown sensibility
Now that our government is back in business, it’s time for Congress to concentrate on issues important to most Americans. Much talk has focused on Epstein emails mostly written 20 years ago. Do we really care or is this just another way to get revenge against political enemies? The issues for most Americans include affordability, inflation, healthcare costs, drug addiction and gun violence. Politicians who focus on these issues will do what they are elected to do.
Republicans claim they can’t make difficult votes because they have a narrow House majority, but the real reason is only a few brave souls have the courage to speak unless it has the blessing of the Commander in Chief.
President Trump’s tight grip on the GOP stifles original thought and innovative ideas that alienate the MAGA crowd. Until this changes, the GOP-controlled Congress will continue to be “agenda-less” and focus on bickering, investigations, name-calling and trivial matters while ignoring real issues important to most Americans.
Ronald F. Eustice
Northwest side
What I would call animal abuse
Ahhh, so “Cruz, the 13-year-old mountain lion at the Arizona- Sonora Desert Museum, was put down on Thursday due to ongoing medical issues.” How very sad. But … not sad because he was euthanized. Sad because he had to spend his entire life in a make-believe world called a cage. I first saw him in 2014, when my husband and I first moved here. At that time, he just appeared to be bored and sad. Yet the Daily Star tries to make us all feel better by their description of his “wonderful life.” After seeing him in 2014, I stopped attending zoos. It’s a moral issue with me.
Sue Thompson
SaddleBrooke
Thoughts on Goldwater
I was delighted to read May Beth Schneider’s comments about AZ Senator Barry Goldwater’s meeting at the White House with Nixon that convinced him that Nixon’s resignation from the Presidency was the only appropriate option given his Watergate involvement.
As a former conservative Republican I am quite certain that Senator Goldwater would be appalled by the current Republican congressional subservience to the barely literate, despicable, rude individual who serves as our President as well as by the ignorance of so many of today’s American voters.
Katrina Hass
Foothills
Too much talk
I’m quite tired of reading LJ’s regular rants about Americans receiving SNAP benefits or almost any government assistance. The average minimum-wage worker in Arizona makes weekly $442.50 (gross) for 30 hrs, $590 for 40. That salary is not enough to pay rent, utilities and food, never mind transportation or child care costs. Food insecurity programs provide some support but government-funded programs like SNAP are lifelines. I challenge LJ to leave his comfortable home and join us in serving the homeless or those Americans who don’t make enough to even “get by.” Meet these citizens one on one to see how life circumstances can change in a minute. Find a list of locations online and you won’t have to go far from home.
Sandra Beecher
Marana
Healthcare improvements
Many people in this nation have considered medical tourism as a means to alleviate the high cost of medical care domestically.
If we consider the cost of a monoclonal antibody drug treatment over a two year period, we can easily see a cost of $745,000. Not only is this unaffordable without insurance but even with insurance, it becomes a burden. When people can no longer afford healthcare, even with insurance, we need to look at other approaches.
Having spent a month in Taiwan, I saw their healthcare system first-hand. The nation is capitalist but their health care system is single-payer. Their spend on healthcare is 6% of their GDP; ours is 24% of GDP. They do not have a medical debt bankruptcy problem; we do. Taiwan and other nations are doing health care more efficiently than we are, so it behooves us to use countries like this to benchmark off of. By not doing so, we are mired in mediocrity.
Steve Rasmussen
Foothills
Traffic enforcement saves lives
In my early police days, I responded to a traffic accident at Pima and Swan, where an intoxicated man in a pickup truck ran the red light northbound going about 90 mph. A young woman driving a Camaro west on Pima was struck and her car torn completely in two. She died on impact. The driver committed murder and went to prison. Too little too late. I saw too many accident deaths and gave too many death messages to families. Want to reduce fatalities? You can engineer all you want, you can send all the messages of safety, but you can’t fix indifference. Red light cameras, speed enforcement vans and more motor officers and cops writing traffic tickets are the answer. It doesn’t matter, pedestrians, bike riders, idiots in pick-up trucks, drunk drivers, don’t let anyone slide. For every 100 tickets, one life is saved. Don’t give me “The City is using this to raise cash” BS. Obey the law. Bad habits end lives.
Richard Harper
Northeast side
Healthcare should not be for-profit
I applaud the recent letters suggesting that we should replace the ACA health plans with a “single-payer” system, i.e., Medicare.
However, I must point out that the majority of Medicare enrollees are not participating in a “single-payer” program, a nonprofit program with the government paying negotiated costs to doctors directly. Rather, 54% of Medicare recipients now enroll in Medicare Advantage (MA), a program passed by the Republican House and Senate in the 1990s that passes Medicare funds to “for-profit” medical insurance companies such as United Healthcare.
Unlike traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans require Prior Approval on many outpatient and inpatient procedures. According to a 2025 U.S. Senate report and research in the Health Affairs journal, their rate of initial denials was 17%.
This is what we get when we turn our traditional Medicare program over to “for-profit” medical insurers.
Bruce Hilpert
North side
Little consequence
As Sen. Chuck Schumer’s government shutdown is concluding, the House is back in session and Speaker Johnson will immediately administer the oath of office to our AZ Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva with formal ceremony.
The purpose of my letter today is to reflect on the countless LTEs over the last 50 days hysterically proclaiming injustice when the reality is that Grijalva has not missed a single vote since we elected her, and every writer knew this would be true beginning Day 1.
So I suggest that our editor not choose to devote these important column inches to matters of such little consequence.
Jeffrey McConnell
West side
Silence of the lambs
When 800 generals and admirals came to Quantico Marine Base to receive their orders for the new Trump era, they were told to prepare for war with enemies to be identified later. They sat quietly.
It was a sign that they were Trump’s lambs, who would lead their sheep to the slaughter if so ordered. They did not rise in opposition because they were told to “sit.”
Is it even possible for our warriors to refuse illegal or questionable orders? They haven’t thus far, invading our cities, bombing little boats. Now, the Navy has moved our big ships into place to attack Venezuela because they might have drugs to sell.
As soon as Trump is sure they are pushovers, the attack will be on. The generals will not refuse. It is the silence of the lambs.
Ron Lancaster
North side
SNAP recipients rolling in the dough
Sometimes you just have to laugh.
Our favorite LTE writer opined that all the No Kings protestors must be unemployed and living the good life with SNAP benefits. Here’s some of his wisdom: “When you observe the daily demonstrations regarding ICE, one wonders how these people, day after day, are surviving without jobs. Have they outfoxed the general public by gaming the system?”
Must have skipped math class, eh, Loyal? The average SNAP benefit was $187 per person per month in 2024. Or about $6 a day. Living large thanks to SNAP benefits.
Thanks for the laugh, buddy. And for your pretzel logic.
Jeff Herr
North side
Original sins of Trump and his GOP
The Epstein cover-up/stall is at the top. Add to that the tariffs taxing the poor and middle class, and causing deaths by cutting USAID and more pro-life policies.
As for the “original sin,” I would point out that Trump and his allies on “The John Roberts court” have destroyed the separation of church and state. Now there is no separation of church and state due to the decisions of Trump’s court and Trump’s proclamations.
This explains why so many are leaving MAGA. Read their testimonials
Take time to find the facts and truth.
Dan Bannon
Midtown
Re: $1 Trillion Pentagon budget
The piece by Freeman and Hartung could have been written 60 years ago about the Vietnam War. Then, as now, we often didn’t know why we were sent to fight and die in far-off countries. Certainly not to establish democracy.
Then, as now, we knew the war wasn’t winnable. We fought to survive. Then, PTSD was not even a diagnosis, let alone treated. Now, it’s insufficiently treated.
Many veterans from both wars are homeless, hungry, and need healthcare. Some wonder if their sacrifices were worth it.
Although appreciated, veterans deserve more than a “Thank you for your service.” More funds for both eras are required for essential services.
To quote George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
We are obligated to fulfill Abraham Lincoln’s promise to care for those “who shall have borne the battle.” That obligation remains as critical today as it was in 1865.
Dan Gipple
Southeast side
Stopping the shutdown
Many are blaming and/or laughing about Democrats, giving in to the Trump BS agenda funding bill. I equate it to a speeding garbage truck (Trump/Republicans), driven by an insane man (Trump), head-on toward an oncoming Prius (Dems). Eventually, before the collision, sane people bail out, thus saving themselves and, in this case, all who depend on government funding to survive. Vote Blue in ‘26 to save democracy and to ensure that the government works for all people. Remember who was for saving your healthcare, and who wasn’t.
Robert Kunz
Sierra Vista
Compassion means treating the whole person
I’ve followed the recent exchange between Mayor Regina Romero and Supervisor Rex Scott about homelessness and addiction. Their frustration is understandable — and shared by many of us who see the impact of untreated addiction and mental illness on our streets, in our parks, and outside local businesses.
This crisis carries both a human and economic cost. Some local businesses have even relocated due to safety concerns tied to encampments and drug activity.
For years, the federal “Housing First” model has dominated policy, directing billions toward housing while minimizing treatment and accountability. Yet California, after spending $24 billion since 2019, saw homelessness rise more than 30%. Housing without healing isn’t compassion — it’s containment.
That’s why the federal shift toward “Treatment First” is so important. I hope Mayor Romero embraces this focus on recovery and healing alongside housing.
Programs like Gospel Rescue Mission prove it works — transforming lives without government funding, free to do what’s best for people, not policy. Real compassion restores wholeness, not dependency.
Doug Martin
Oro Valley
Rule of law
I have always believed that we are a nation of laws, and if we obey them, there is no problem. But it no longer seems that is correct. Our federal Supreme Court doesn’t read the Constitution the same way that I was taught in school anymore. It just seems that our once-sacred institutions are being twisted and manipulated to suit the wealthy and privileged anymore. I can name any number of examples but I believe that there is a restriction on letters’ size.
Fred Thompson
Midtown
Opera buffa
In a dazzling display of operatic irony, imagine Donald Trump, the king of bling, singing in fake tough guy basso profundo, a new version of Wagner’s “The Ring of the Nibelungen,” a story about a greedy dwarf who steals gold that gives him fleeting powers but in the end brings him only destruction and grief. All the hallmarks of a great opera: revenge, betrayal, greed, jealousy. Here’s Wotan, lord of the deal, spouting his love for shiny objects, the Rhine maidens weep for their lost treasure, not just their gold but their dignity. What’s an opera without gold? He’s surrounded by a chorus of sycophants, the Valkyries doing the Trump dance, showcasing the absurdity of wealth worship. In this opera, intrigue, corruption, avarice and farce reign supreme, proving once again that in the realm of gold, Trump is the true and ridiculous king.
Intermissions and after-theater parties could sell emotional support Trump squeeze dolls (when the scenes get really dramatic), gold passports, Melania’s Habanera handbags, you name it.
William Muto
SaddleBrooke
Use of ‘illegal alien’
Re: the letter, “’Illegal alien’ is offensive term” (Nov. 13):
The description “illegal alien” is befitting because immigrants who have crossed our sovereign border with Mexico by way of forced entry (illegal) are foreign (alien) to America. Ergo, illegal alien is an apt description. No disrespect intended. A safe America deserves to have all foreigners show themselves at the border-gate to be documented, counted and vetted for national security. During the Biden Administration, the undocumented immigrants were allowed unfettered entry in America and were primarily settled into Democratic-run cities. Biden’s executive order on Day 1 of his presidency intended to include the “undocumented” in the decennial (10-year) census. Why did Biden do that? Because the decennial census determines how many seats states will have in the House of Representatives. That census inflation of undocumented immigrants in Democratic-run cities helps the Democrats add additional seats in the House. President Biden was crazy like a fox.
Daniel Pryor
West side
Nixon compared to Trump
President Nixon was removed from office for a conspiracy and break-in. He was encouraged by the Republican Party to resign. Now, over 50 years later, we have a President who at least had knowledge of young girls being sexually trafficked. Whether he participated in their being exploited or not, he was aware and had a daughter that he could actually relate to. It’s unfortunate that we don’t have someone strong in the Republican Congress like Senator Goldwater who can convince the President to resign for the good of the Nation. We will never have that because “King Donald” will never ever leave. So very sad to have such a weak Republican Party.
May Beth Schneider
East side
Tolerance
Many thanks to Rabbi Ceitlin for his excellent and insightful guest opinion (Star, Nov. 13) on the damage done by speech and writing (and actions!) based on false information. In this instance, the unfortunate but innocent wearing of a T-shirt by math teachers to signify the difficulty of solving math problems (all who struggled with math can identify!) was taken to mean something totally different, and as he says, a viral firestorm erupted before the school could explain. And it has not stopped, despite the explanation and fact that they were used last year and therefore could not possibly be referring to Charlie Kirk’s murder. There are individuals on social media — and unfortunately in public and political office — who thrive on creating as much suspicion, distrust and anger as they can against their fellow citizens. Untold damage to the social fabric is being done by these individuals. Rabbi Ceitlin’s gentle advice, old as the Talmud and Christ’s words in Matthew, and mirrored in Rotarians’ 4-way test, should hold. Selah!
Abraham R. Byrd III
North side
Adelita Grijalva
This letter is for a huge shout-out to Adelita! How can anyone from Arizona not be proud of her? In her acceptance speech, she reaffirmed the Democratic commitment to the immigrant. She told her story about her own family’s immigration to this country. She immediately voted to have the Epstein files released. She will be a wonderful voice in the absolute defeat of the Trump Administration. Just last night, JD Vance on Fox News was still blaming Biden for all their woes. They have been in office for a year, with only hate and defeating democracy on their agenda. They are taking your money, your welfare, and giving it to billionaires. What the hell is wrong with Republicans? The blame game is futile; everyone knows how horrible this administration has been. Can’t wait to watch it come crashing down. They will be, and are, the biggest losers.
Mary Bradley
Northeast side
Not answering the question
The question posed was if it seemed excessive that 45 million people in our bountiful nation were receiving SNAP benefits. Instead of a yes or no, there was a vitriolic lecture concerning how important these benefits were. The real issue is who really needs them as compared to those who receive them without a legitimate need. A Government Accounting Office report issued Sept 26, 2024, is as follows: “USDA estimated 11.7% (or about $10.5 billion) of SNAP benefits that it paid were improper —meaning that payments were the wrong amount or otherwise should not have been made. This was an increase from the prior year’s estimate of 11.5%. We’ve also made recommendations in the past to help ensure SNAP benefits are used as intended. For example, USDA has yet to implement our recommendation to increase penalties for when a retailer exchanges recipients’ SNAP benefits for cash instead of food.” Why are you so affronted and terrified of questioning and investigating this and similar programs?
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Outstanding!
Ranked No. 2 nationally by Backstage (No. 1 Alvin Ailey School; No. 5 Juilliard), the U of A School of Dance continues to be a jewel in Tucson as I witness at their “Fall for Dance” opening night. Kudos to the student dancers for their energy, synchronization, strength, balance and grace. This is a dance season not to be missed!
Phineas Anderson
Catalina
Trump is amoral — are you?
Amoral — adjective: lacking a moral sense; unconcerned with whether something is right or wrong.
How can there still be Trumpers who still support him, despite his obviously corrupt past, his unethical money grubbing, and his current attempt to hide his sexually criminal behaviors? The Republican Party has been discredited by Trump, but can return to a respectable organization by rejecting him now. Please don’t believe Trump when he claims that he is “Born Again,” as it is one of the few exit strategies that he has left in order to escape his Epstein child rape involvement. Please remove yourself from the WCN (White Christian Nationalism) Republican base by standing up for your moral beliefs and rejecting this amoral sub-human who is leading our country towards an immoral autocracy.
Revone Bauwens
Southwest side
Transgenders in sports
I just read a great LTE telling our “Loyal” friend in OV to prove what he constantly lies about, Dems. Now he’s after the almost completely nonexistent transgender women in sports. He’s now stating that all women are abysmally letting down their daughters and granddaughters for not standing up against the 10 known transgender athletes in NCAA sports.
Of over half a million athletes competing in NCAA-sanctioned sports, 10 are known transgender athletes. That’s 0.002%. It’s a shame that all the mothers and grandmothers don’t follow our Loyal friend’s advice and stand up against these 10. This is such a travesty that all women are allowing by not standing up against those 0.002%. Times are changing, and our Loyal friend just can’t seem to keep up. Maybe his hero, the liar and felon, will try to force his party to eliminate them. Wait, he has.
John Bingham
Northwest side
Law of the jungle
A journalist recently asked President Trump about legal authority to blow up Caribbean boats. He answered that authority comes from the fact that illegal drugs kill people in America.
This shows that #47 does not recognize sources of authority other than his own right hand.
The President made no mention of statutory law, constitutional law, international law, treaty agreements, the Supreme Court, rules of engagement ... just his own peculiar brand of animal instinct. He must do it because “I alone can fix it.”
Does it matter that innocent people die in this Latin American manhunt? Nope. Does it matter that the American people and their elected representatives have no say in the new system of rule by the king of the jungle? Nope.
Is it sad that nobody else but him is smart enough to get things done? Yes, it is very sad.
Kimball Shinkoskey
Woods Cross, Utah
What’s the problem?
Loyal M. Johnson Jr., in his Nov. 14 letter, pinpointed a major problem needing immediate attention.
It’s not homelessness, with 2,000 or more living in Tucson’s alleys and washes. Nor is it masked men roaming our cities, snatching people away. It isn’t first-time homebuyers for whom the president proposes 50-year mortgages.
It’s the two-thousandths of 1% of college athletes who are transgender. That is just 10 people among everyone who plays college sports, the NCAA’s president told a U.S. Senate committee.
Horrors!
Equally shocking is the situation in K-12 sports. Save Women’s Sports, which advocates banning transgender athletes from girls’ sports, identified five transgender athletes competing across the country, Newsweek reported.
No wonder Mr. Johnson wants American women to undertake a “No Men” march.
By all means, let’s go full-throated on what he called a “horrific injustice.”
Shraddha Hilda Oropeza
West side
What does Trump really care about?
There are 6 million drug addicts in the USA. In 2023, 105,000 died of overdosing on drugs. Drug addiction is a terrible plague that addicts have done to themselves. We are to believe that Trump cares so much about drug addiction that he put a $7 million a day aircraft carrier, several $250,000 a day warships and destroys alleged drug boats with missiles that cost between $1 and $4 million each. Tens of thousands of Marines are on board some ships. Do you believe that all that firepower and expense is needed to find and destroy small drug boats? I wonder if the large oil reserves of Venezuela play a part in Trump’s war on drugs. Given that everything Trump does involves money and profit, it’s hard to believe he is spending millions of dollars a day because he cares about drug addiction. Enjoy the show. Wake up!
Richard Bechtold
West side
- Todd Ackerman, Foothills
Mr. McConnell neglected to point that if Dr. Trump had not killed the proposed bipartisan legislation re immigration proposed in 2024 so he could use it as a campaign issue, the immigration issue would not be in the emergency room. He is so adamant about immigration he should have ICE review Melania’s application for the Einstein visa.
Before McConnell’s “Physician-in-Chief” performs any surgery on Biden’s cognitive decline, he ought to read some of the analyses of Trump’s personality in Psychology Today. The references are too numerous to mention, but frightening all.
Todd Ackerman
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Democrats did the right thing
As of this writing, the shutdown is ending. Eight Democratic senators voted with Republicans to reopen the government, sparking outrage from the Democratic base. Yet they did the right thing. As the minority party, Democrats had little leverage; prolonged gridlock was unlikely to bring GOP concessions. Meanwhile, President Trump’s cruelty — especially his administration’s successful Supreme Court bid to block full food stamp benefits — was hurting families. Airports were straining, and federal workers and military members were going without pay.
I, too, wish more compromises had been secured, but Democrats turning anger inward will not help. We must remember who caused this crisis: the GOP Congress and representatives like Juan Ciscomani, who voted with Trump to strip away health care and raise premiums. By keeping our focus on what truly matters, Democrats can defeat the Trump agenda at the ballot box.
Rahul Sivaprasad
Northwest side
What is Trump’s limit?
I would like to hear from Loyal and McConnell as to what behavior of Trump’s would be a bridge too far for them. I don’t think it exists. As Trump said, “I love the uneducated” and “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters, OK?” Not even going into how horrible his policies have been, just his behavior. He told 30k lies in his first term. He openly boasted about sexual assault. He was found to have committed sexual assault. He’s a felon on 34 counts. Draft dodging, not paying taxes, constantly cheating on wives, stiffing investors, racism, multiple bankruptcies, and trying to overthrow an election.
I saw a line that normal people don’t vote for rapists. Please tell me what your litmus test of what behavior would be too much for you? I actually think this says more about you than Trump.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Electric bike etiquette
Consider me, a road cyclist, operating under “pedal power.” Of late, bike lanes and bike paths here are seeing increasing numbers of electric-bike riders.
Let’s consider:
1. Your e-bike is electric. It makes no noise, so please, when passing, use a bell or tell me you are passing before you overtake me.
2. Realize that in most cases, you are traveling at a greater speed than I am, and your bike weighs many more pounds than mine, so please be aware, on my road bike I fear when you approach me lost in space, or two abreast, seemingly unaware of your power over me.
3. And finally, when I am on an uphill grade, and you blow by me, do NOT say “good job,” like I am some small child on some small bike. You are not competing with me climbing that hill.
Let’s all enjoy the great cycling routes we have here, and treat each other with respect for a sport we all love.
Leslie Dierauf
Oro Valley
Adelita Grijalva
Adelita Grijalva couldn’t wait to be sworn into the House of Representatives so she could cast her important vote to keep the federal government closed.
Kelly Sherwin
North side
Mostly peaceful
Since the George Floyd incident, the liberal media has been infatuated with the description “mostly peaceful protest.” What exactly does that mean? When the videos show burning buildings and cars, rocks being hurled, fireworks, spitting and swearing, is that considered peaceful? Is mostly peaceful only one burning building, or two cars set on fire, or three law enforcement personnel injured? Literary accuracy would demand that a protest is peaceful or not peaceful. A proper description, if one was honest and not biased, would be that a protest was mostly peaceful except for the business that was burned to the ground, 15 windows shattered, two law enforcement officers requiring medical attention and the cost of enforcement and physical damage was estimated to be $150,000. Why can’t the liberal media tell the whole truth instead of promoting and protecting their selected side of every issue? Fair and balanced is no longer a foundational tenet of their journalism. There is no trust left for the inquisitive. Facts do not matter.
Loyal Johnson
Oro Valley
Epstein debacle
To Members of the United States House of Representatives,
Your continued refusal to demand the full and immediate release of all documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal enterprise is a moral failure of staggering proportions. By withholding the truth about systemic child trafficking and underage sexual abuse, you are not merely complicit — you are endorsing the concealment of crimes that have shattered lives and undermined public trust in our institutions.
This is not a partisan issue. It is a human one. And yet, only a handful of your colleagues — Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Nancy Mace, and Thomas Massie — have demonstrated the ethical courage to call for transparency, knowing full well that the truth may implicate powerful individuals across the political spectrum. That includes Donald Trump, if the evidence warrants it. No one is above the law. Not presidents. Not billionaires. Not judges. Not you.
Dale Pelton
Northwest side
Math teachers’ shirts
Math teachers at Cienega High School wore T-shirts with red stains and the words, “Problem Solved” for Halloween this year. They also wore them last year in 2024. So, by basic logic, the shirts had nothing to do with the tragic and despicable assassination of Charlie Kirk. Yet State Treasurer Kimberly Yee jumped on the bandwagon, attacking the teachers for their alleged disrespect of Mr. Kirk with no checking of the validity of the attack. Even when informed of the use of the shirts in 2024, she continued her attack. Yet she wants to be the Republican Superintendent of Instruction. If she can’t figure out this simple logic problem, why would anyone want her to have anything to do with education?
Don Ries
Southeast side
Ignorance
A recent letter was focused on semantics, the difference between Socialism and Communism, minimizing the effects of those systems. The Democratic Party is now left-leaning, elevating those who are socialist as their new leaders. The off-election year saw blue states electing liberals as if it were a blue wave. Fortunately, most Americans believe in America and know that through hard work and sacrifice, we are the greatest country on Earth. For those who think there is a free lunch coming need to look at Venezuela. This country was the wealthiest in all of South America. The standard of living was high. Once Maduro, a socialist, took office the country rapidly declined and its citizens were impoverished. America today has millions who have come here illegally, placing financial burdens on the system. The Democrats don’t have a plan and are subscribing to the likes of A.O.C., Sanders and Crockett as their leaders. Wake up and realize that part of our country is going astray, don’t let it happen.
Bill Dowdall
Oro Valley
Healthcare subsidies
The political fight about healthcare insurance subsidies misses the point and begs the question: Healthcare insurance shouldn’t be so expensive in the first place. All subsidies do is prop up inflated prices. The intercession of for-profit insurers, pharmaceutical management companies, and absurdly high drug prices, to say nothing of the lack of a rational mechanism for determining the most expensive end-of-life care, all drive up healthcare costs in this country substantially and unnecessarily. Until and unless these underlying causes of a catastrophically high-priced and inefficient healthcare system are addressed, these insurance wars will continue while prices still rise.
Richard Sybert
Foothills
Medical malpractice
Mr. McConnell neglected to point out that if Dr. Trump had not killed the proposed bipartisan legislation on immigration proposed in 2024, so he could use it as a campaign issue, the immigration issue would not be in the emergency room. He is so adamant about immigration, he should have ICE review Melania’s application for the Einstein visa.
Before McConnell’s “Physician-in-Chief” performs any surgery on Biden’s cognitive decline, he ought to read some of the analyses of Trump’s personality in Psychology Today. The references are too numerous to mention, but frightening all.
Todd Ackerman
Foothills
A breath before speaking or typing
A great opinion from Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin. Thanks for the Tucson Opinion in the Nov. 13 edition of the Star. The wisdom he shared is so needed. I suggest all might benefit if they take the time to find it and read it.
Dan Bannon
Midtown
Correct use of the Situation Room
I prefer presidents who do not use the Situation Room to cover up their involvement in the biggest child sex abuse scandal the world has ever seen. How about you?
Terry Louck
East side
SNAP benefits
Fulsome thanks to two LTEs on Nov. 9 trying to enlighten Loyal M. Johnson about how the SNAP program works using facts. Sadly, that’s not going to work. He knows all about the requirements by now, but continues to assert that many thousands, including illegal immigrants, are easily “gaming the system.” I propose no more wasting time fact-checking him on the matter. Instead, I challenge Mr. Johnson to prove his claims. You yourself sir, or anyone you know, demonstrate sucessfully “gaming the system” and start receiving benefits you are not entitled to. Just try it. Till then. No more promulgating this rot about this subject.
Gary Susko
Midtown
Trump’s great economy
Trump doesn’t live in a Middle American world. He says the stock market is setting records, and it is. The problem is that 90% of the stock market is owned by the top 10% of Americans. The bottom 90% of Americans own 10% of the stock market. Trump knows nothing about the lives and challenges faced by most Americans. His economy, and the economy of his friends is doing very well. Trump has never been to a grocery store, gas station, medical clinic nor have his children gone to public school. His world is doing great. The bottom 50% of Americans own 1% of the stock market. He has had millions of dollars at his disposal. (mostly other people’s money). He doesn’t live in our world. The most unaware people in America are middle-class Republicans. They are marching, waving flags, while he and his friends get rich. Wake up.
Richard Bechtold
West side
Protests played a role
On Nov. 7, voters throughout the country soundly repudiated Trump and the malfeasance, corruption and meanness his administration embodies. While commentators ascribe many reasons for the Democrats’ success, including the economy, Epstein, and election protection, they missed the important effect of powerful public protests. Nearly 8 million people took to the streets, across the country, with hand-drawn signs and peaceful presence, and that action engaged others to get out and vote.
Many people who feel dissatisfied, fearful, and angry about Trump’s mismanagement of our government saw that they are not alone. We can resist Trump’s dictatorship. They saw friends and strangers coming to protest and realized that they also can participate, at least by voting.
While MAGA media mouthpieces ask, disingenuously, “What do those protesters want?” people are saying on protest signs and on ballots, “no dictators,” “no corruption,” “rule of law,” “democracy.”
Join in! You are not alone.
Bruce Joffe
South Tucson
The future of data centers
I believe the recent opinion piece by Tucson Electric Power CEO Bakken belies the true impact of data centers as proven in other parts of the country. Virginia now has 637 data centers due to the availability of Chesapeake Bay water and nuclear power plants. These data centers each consume up to 100 megawatts of power, enough to service about 25,000 homes.
Loudoun County, Virginia, just approved a new center projected to use 2400 megawatts, enough for 600,000 homes. Dominion Power is now building a 176-turbine offshore wind farm that will produce 2400 megawatts, an extremely expensive project to power only one data center.
Meanwhile, the data center industry is receiving $750,000,000 in tax abatements from state, county and local taxes. Currently, Virginia has a 25% expansion of data centers approved or currently under construction.
Is this the future we can sustain or afford?
Bruce Hilpert
North side
Where are you?
In the first half of the 20th century, our grandmothers and great-grandmothers fought tenaciously for women’s rights. At that time, women could not vote or drive and were given an allowance by their husbands. Women in senior positions in industry were nonexistent. Women’s sport did not exist. A man getting a women pregnant was not held financially responsible for the child. Oh, how things have evolved. Men are no longer allowed to be dominant over women, except. Except in women’s competitive sports and their locker rooms. Today’s adult women have abysmally failed their daughters and granddaughters by not standing up as a cohesive team for hard-earned women’s rights. With half of the voting public women, you have power if you decide to use it. The politicians will listen if you demand your hard-earned rights. How about a massive “No Men” march instead of a “No Kings” march. Honor the exceptional courage and strength of your female predecessors and eliminate this horrific injustice.
Loyal M Johnson Jr
Oro Valley
Last Veteran’s Day?
Was this the last Veteran’s Day to celebrate? Taking time out from bashing President Biden at Arlington, President Trump said he plans to change the name from Veteran’s Day to “Victory Day for World War I” — cutting out all Vets who have served after WW I. Pretty brash for someone who didn’t serve.
Charlene Kay Brewster
Marana
Who cares?
The vote by some Democrats to end the shutdown shows not their weakness in a face-off against the Republicans, but that they care more than Republicans about the well-being of the American people. They gave in because they didn’t want the suffering of SNAP beneficiaries and the dangers of overextended air traffic controllers to continue.
Clearly, the Republicans and the president were willing to let this go on indefinitely to assert their control, uncaring about how people on the ground were suffering. Uncaring that children would go hungry, uncaring that government workers were going without paychecks, uncaring that people’s air travel, even with the Thanksgiving holidays coming up, would be delayed or canceled.
And what was this fight about? It was about the Democrats’ concern that millions of people’s insurance rates were skyrocketing. They cared about the fact that many were going to have to pay thousands more, or cancel their insurance.
What do the Republicans care about? Apparently not you.
Beth Dingman
Green Valley
Trump’s ‘liquidity’ excuse
The Trump regime’s continued efforts to withhold SNAP benefits shows there is no rock bottom in their depravity. Trump recently claimed that we cannot pay SNAP benefits because “…our country has to remain very liquid because problems, catastrophes, wars, could be anything. We have to remain liquid.”
This liquidity claim is absurd in light of Trump’s opulence on the taxpayer’s dime. Since taking office taxpayers have spent $60.7 million on his golf outings – including shaking down Vietnam with a tariff threat to secure a $1.5 billion golf club. Homeland Security purchased two luxury jets for $200 million, Argentina got a $40 billion bailout, and $30 billion a year is doled out to the fossil fuel industry.
While hard-working Americans are suffering, POTUS flaunts plans for his golden ballroom and marble bathroom renovations and throws a lavish Great Gatsby Party. Trump’s sons have raked in more than $800 million from crypto, and POTUS has increased his wealth by $3 billion.
Kathy Krucker
Midtown
Contrast JFK and Trump
There are fewer of us who remember JFK. Both JFK and Trump were born into wealthy families. JFK was ruled 4F and unsuitable for service due to a bad back and other issues. His father got a family doctor to say he was fit for service. His PT boat was sunk by a Japanese destroyer, but he managed to save his crew. JFK said, “Ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country.” He wrote Profiles in Courage. Trump used a family doctor to dodge the draft. His book was Art of the Deal. His motto for the country is what’s in it for me? Thank God Trump wasn’t President during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
A chicken in every pot
As Elon Musk stands on the cusp of one of humanity’s most ignominious achievements by becoming the first-ever trillionaire, he has taken time away from his Buck Rogers fixation of living on Mars to focus on a long-neglected deficiency in American life.
Musk wants every American home to have a robot to help out around the house with folding laundry and such. (Of course, this goal will become considerably more attainable as fewer people actually have homes.)
Only the most obscenely wealthy man on the planet could fail to grasp the cruel irony in this wish to usher in a fantasy age of gratuitous leisure while so many Americans struggle to find affordable housing, food and healthcare.
With the brave new world of AI and robotics upon us, in which an escalating technological encroachment on livelihoods is inevitable, what remains unresolved is just how we are to get from the attendant downward socioeconomic trajectory it entails to this bizarre “Jetsons” utopia dreamt of in Musk’s philosophy.
Robert Gavlak
Midtown
Winners and losers
Only the Democrats could win a war on Election Tuesday and then surrender 5 days later. Amazing.
Ken Koren
Oro Valley
‘Illegal alien’ is offensive term
I can always spot a few regular LTE authors immediately as they often use the phrase “illegal alien.” Human beings are not “illegal” and immigrants, documented or not, are not creatures from outer space. I understand that this terminology is found on US government websites but that does not make it appropriate or respectful.
Sarah Kennedy
Northwest side
Visitor to the White House
So we all learned that our demented leader welcomed a former Al Qaeda leader and designated strategist to the White House. It’s a shame the $300 million ballroom isn’t completed so he could be encouraged to mingle with all the billionaires. If that isn’t enough he enjoys this visitor during Veterans Day. A day which many of us use to remember with fondness all those many who gave so much so that we can enjoy the freedom we do. But I guess it’s no surprise as Trump has always been a hater of the military and has made it his purpose to denigrate them in any way possible. You Trump lovers should look objectively at this situation and see if you can honestly say he is a great man, or that he is even human.
Philip Reinecker
East side
First, do no harm
Re: the letter “Dr. Trump”: Jeffrey compares the liar-in-chief to a very competent physician, with his surgically precise removal of illegal people from our country — people like Tucson physical therapist Vone Phrommany who was removed from his family and career and home in Marana. I guess Mr. McConnell thinks this is a good thing. He conveys that immigration has become a malignancy on our country, thanks to Biden. A few years back, “Dr. Trump” suggested we all might ingest cleaning agents to combat the Covid-19 virus. I think his credentials are more than shaky; Dr. Trump’s a quack. The truth of the matter is, the real malignancy is Donald Trump. His unchecked power and nefarious, cruel and self-serving acts have caused irreparable harm to our country and many of its people. Only We the People can excise this horrendous disease — if indeed our democracy can survive and a free and fair election can take place.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
I love you
These three words need to be said often.
To my loving wife, my seven children and many grandchildren,
I am fortunate to say I love you.
To my country, the envy of all, to its Constitution, its Declaration of Independence,
its freedoms, I am proud to say I love you.
To the city of Tucson, the state of Arizona, where I have worked
and lived, I am honored to say I love you.
To my fellow veterans, my Navy colleges, my great neighbors
and those I played sports with, I am proud to say I love you.
To my enemies and those I disagree with, I humbly say, I love you.
To my loving God, whom I am free to worship, I am blessed to say
I love you.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
Data centers and TEP
“To address this common misconception, TEP CEO Susan Gray explained how the project would pay its own way and provide benefits for our other customers.” Our TEP problem is arbitrary rate hikes, maybe they can power the data processing centers, but TEP power is not the most concerning. Air and water are the problem spots. (TEP is of course self promoting, profit making corporation.) Air cooling? Heats up our already hot air. Water cooling? Drains our limited water supply. And the workers will pollute by driving to work. Sure TEP can bring in the energy, so what? This is a bunch of hot air coming from supporters who would make money. The project is not right for the Old Pueblo. The data says let data centers go to Idaho or Wisconsin, or Timbuktu. Texas? TEP’s parent company, Fortis, reported $1.6 billion in net earnings last year!
Peter Bisschop
East side
Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act/ACA/Obamacare was signed into law on 23 March 2010. In the over 15 years it’s been in effect Republicans have been throwing rocks at it almost continuously. When Republicans controlled the House of Representatives they voted almost 50 times to repeal ACA knowing the Democrat-controlled Senate would never take up the bill. And, if by some twist of fate, it did happen to pass both houses of Congress did they really think President Obama would sign it into law?
The Republican position is once ACA is repealed they will work out a plan offering better and cheaper health care for Americans. What’s stopping them from putting that plan together, presenting it, then repealing ACA so there is no break in health care? The best they have is Trump’s “concept of a plan.”
Present a viable plan, then we can talk about repealing the ACA.
Larry Hammond
Southwest side
Socialism/Communism?
Thanks to Jack Walters’ 11/9/25 LTE for resurrecting great memories of the Wayback Machine and Mr. Peabody’s improbable history from the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show. Beyond his inability to understand the difference between Communism & Socialism (not synonymous) and a Democratic socialist & socialist candidate (not the same); it was his fractured fairy tale historical claims that triggered guffaws. Only in an absurd satire of history could someone attribute the dissolution of the USSR to one man: Ronald Reagan. Even loonier is elevating Sen. Joe McCarthy to hero status for sham 1950s hearings to uncover imaginary Communists in government and the film industry; one of the most disgraceful and corrupt episodes in this country’s real history.
Gary Susko
Midtown
Human toll of Yuma’s vegetable empire
The article on vegetables and pesticides in The Star (11-11) should be a wake-up call for everyone to not only treat our agriculture workers with more care and precautions, but also to treat our planet with equal care. The science regarding what these pesticides do is 60 years old, but they are still being used. My father worked in aviation safety for the FAA starting in the 40s, and he knew of a crop duster pilot in California who died from pesticide exposure. The pilot had to walk through a field he had been spraying because his engine lost power and he had to make a forced landing in the middle of the field. He didn’t shower or change his clothes afterwards, which turned out to be a fatal mistake. I’m glad to know of a nonprofit that is working towards non-chemical alternatives. Meanwhile, we can support organic farming whenever we shop for our produce.
Aston Bloom
East side
Mark Kelly
I just do not understand why Mark Kelly kept siding with Schumer to keep the government closed at the expense of all the federal employees that are not getting paid. Some of his moderate colleagues agree the government shutdown was a failure and did not accomplish anything other than harm federal workers and snap beneficiaries. I wonder if Mr Kelly continued to take his paycheck during the shutdown he endorsed.
Jeff Niemi
West side
More like this...
- Loyal M. Johnson Jr., Oro Valley
Much LTE comment have been directed at the elimination of drug boats off the coast of Venezuela. Interestingly, the federal government has been very open regarding these operations, not clandestine. This tells me that the federal government is very confident that the boats carry drugs or they would not provide the videos to the general public. Observing the videos, the boats are certainly not pleasure or fishing boats and are carrying square bundles that are certainly not cotton. For 30 years, the federal government has been ineffective in stopping the flow of drugs into this country and the cartels have become very bold because the consequences are minimal. Now, how many drug runners, regardless of the pay by the cartels, will willingly accept a contract to move drugs into the United States? The conundrum is whether we should stand idly by as the drugs flow easily into our country or should be take actions that make that endeavor very, very risky.
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Tucson Gastro Park
I live near the Sunshine Mile project on Broadway. I’m glad that developer Peter Anadranistakis has outlined a path forward for developing the relocated bungalows on the north side of the street. It should become a unique and attractive set of restaurants and shops.
But… “Tucson Gastro Park?” I can’t be the only one who sees “gastro” and mentally completes it as “gastrointestinal.” The park sounds like a bunch of doctors’ offices ready to do unpleasant things with endoscopes and colonoscopes. Not appetizing at all.
Stephen Fleming
Midtown
It’s all about the water
This long-time desert dweller says that unless they can somehow create the millions of gallons of water needed for their developments, both Hudbay’s “Copper World” and Amazon’s Project Blue need to taken off the table immediately. Arizona agencies and politicians need to find backbones and just say no. There is simply not enough water to allow a Canadian company to suck up and then contaminate our aquifer for enormous profits. And I’m sure plenty of states with plenty of water would be happy to welcome in Project Blue.
Margaret Zanger
Midtown
In defense of the large family
Even though large families are no longer in style I believe there is a case for the large family.
My father John was the youngest of seven. My grandfather Francis had 8 children.
My great grandfather Daniel had 12 children. I am the middle child of 7.
I had 7 children. My wife Carolyn is one of 7.
Big families are often filled with love, laughter, and plenty of opportunities to grow and learn together.
Large families are such a gift, offering an amazing environment to grow in faith, building lasting family bonds. The lessons learned in a big family are priceless.
Life in a big family is a constant adventure. With a large family, you’re never alone.
One of the benefits of large family living is learning to share.
If you’re part of or raising a large family cherish the moments — even the messy ones. Use them as opportunities to grow in character, nurture faith, and teach your children the value of hard work, love, and service.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
TEP
Criticism of Tucson Electric Power for negotiating service with a new data center is missing a fundamental point: Energy providers cannot be in the business of picking and choosing who deserves power. Their role is to serve all customers reliably and equitably — regardless of popularity or politics.
If we expect our utility to deny service based on political winds, where does it stop? Should it decide which homes, schools, or businesses are “worthy” of electricity?
Of course not. Energy access must remain impartial and above the fray.
The agreement in question isn’t just about one company. It’s about laying the groundwork for transformative economic development. Data centers will drive long-term investment. Penalizing progress because of public perception sets a dangerous precedent.
Let’s focus on the bigger picture: a stronger, more resilient economy powered by smart partnerships — not selective outrage.
Dennis Caldwell
Midtown
Contrast JFK and Trump
Letter-writer Craig Miller is correct that fewer of us remember JFK. Mr. Miller asserts that JFK was ruled 4F but his father and the family doctor said he was fit for service. Actually Joe Kennedy pulled strings and got his son a direct commission.
President Trump was called up for induction, failed his physical and was found to be unfit for service and was ruled 4F.
JFK was in charge of PT109 and ran into a Japanese destroyer and sank on a cloudless night. Gen. MacArthur wanted him court-martialed but Joe Kennedy pulled strings and he was awarded a medal.
As for JFK’s Pulitzer Prize, it is generally well known the book was ghostwritten.
Clay Berger
Foothills
Another life taken
I have read some shockingly cruel and disgusting comments on social media about recent pedestrian deaths.
Victim blaming when the victims were doing everything right just shows how low we can go as humans.
Now, at a HAWK we have a bike death. Again, the biker did everything right — hit the crosswalk and crossed on a solid red.
Why can drivers not take the 10-25 seconds to stop, look and not hit anyone? Why do some feel the need to blame the individuals who happen to not be in cars but doing everything right? Why the hypocrisy that if you got hit while in a car by another car not following the law it would be all the other person’s fault and you would be more “angry?”
And Tucson leaders: Start enforcing these intersections. Proactively stop these incidents.
It takes a few seconds to not kill someone in a car so stop, look and be aware. It is the minimal decent human effort you can put into public safety.
Carissa Sipp
Midtown
Brazen disregard for safe driving
Every driver in Tucson knows that speeding, red light running, tailgating, and reckless driving are the norm in our city. Wrecks, injuries, and fatalities are more common here than in most other cities. We all know this. It’s pretty clear that the absence of police (and red-light cameras) to enforce traffic laws is the underlying cause of these problems. Tim Steller wrote a thoughtful article about this, yet he barely mentioned law enforcement as a solution. I wrote to compliment him and to pose law enforcement as a solution. His friendly reply noted that more enforcement might be the best way to improve traffic safety, but there isn’t “any hope in there being enough additional police officers anytime soon.” Why not? We all see the problem. We all know how to fix it. Yet our political leaders refuse to fund increased police manpower. Their policies are killing innocent people every day. How do they sleep? Time for new leadership?
John Knight
Northeast side
Calling all new voices
The letters to the editor in the Star are often from repeat writers. At one point in the past there was a “rule” that a writer would only get published once a month. I guess that is a bygone era. Now we get the same 1-2 people on the right and the same 6-7 people on the left. You know who you are.
I would like to see the Star’s editorial page editors cast a wider net for LTE. Stop publishing the same few writers.
And readers out there, don’t be shy. Submit that LTE you have been thinking about. You know who you are. We want to hear from some new voices.
Fran McNeely
Northeast side
Protesting
Re last Thursday’s edition: You posted a picture of protesters at Jim Click dealership. This may be a form of free speech to these folks, but what about Jim Click’s freedom to choose whomever he wishes to support? This goes for anyone who supports a candidate of their choosing.
I saw this same bunch of hypocrites on Saturday morning at the dealership, albeit on the sidewalk at the corner. I have a question for the protesters. Is Jim Click using your money to support the candidates of his choice? Does anyone protest or tell you how and where to your spend your money?
Louise Nath
Benson
Devaluation
Lost in the unrelenting economic chaos emanating from the Trump administration has been its impact on the value of the US dollar. During the initial 10 months of the administration, the dollar has lost 10% of its value against most major foreign currencies such as the British pound and the Euro. That results in an immediate increase in the cost of goods and services for American customers. American travelers to these countries have found their dollars do not go as far as they would have a year ago. The devaluation penalty is in addition to the tariff tax already being paid by American consumers. Are we having fun yet?
James Dolian
SaddleBrooke
The real criminals
I’m just wondering if anyone else is outraged by the fact that the real criminals, those convicted of serious crimes, but are useful to Trump, receive pardons while brown people get rounded up and brutalized by ICE? According to daily news reports, many of these people are law-abiding citizens and living here legally. It shouldn’t be a crime to be brown or black in this country. And, people convicted of serious crimes should be jailed and remain behind bars and not pardoned. Just my humble opinion.
Donna Hill
SaddleBrooke
No votes by Grijalva
More disingenuous drivel from McConnell. Yes Grijalva didn’t miss a vote, because Johnson shut down the House to prevent a vote on releasing more Epstein files. During that time Trump tried to pressure Republicans not to vote on releasing the files. He threatened to primary anyone voting for releasing. Now under duress Trump is saying he wants Republicans to vote to files being released, although he could release them himself. Nobody believes that any info implicating him won’t be redacted. Maxwell, after meeting with a Trump official got moved to a low-security facility that she raves about how nice it is. Obvious quid pro quo.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Standard of living
The only person whose standard of living has improved during this Trump administration is Ghislaine Maxwell.
Terry Louck
East side
They try to tear the mountains down
How fortunate we Tucsonans are to be surrounded by the beauty of nature. Nature is a non-replaceable commodity. If our house burns down, we can rebuild it. But when we destroy our environment, it is lost forever.
Our mountains contain copper. Some believe, “What good are mountains if we don’t mine the copper under them?” And if copper is discovered underneath all of our mountains, should we wait for and allow a foreign country to take advantage of this?
Along the same line of thinking: “What good is our drinking water if it is not used to grow alfalfa to be shipped to Russia to feed their cattle?”
Some believe that our natural beauty and water are expendable for money. Is it worth it?
Diane Stephenson
Foothills
Trump and Epstein files
If the President of the United States has nothing to hide, then why pray tell doesn’t he release the files? “The greatest transparent president in modern history,” his words not mine, is hiding the truth from the American public who deserve to know everything. And We the People of the United States have heard all the excuses; there are other folks and victims that do not want their names out in public, we are protecting them. No, it couldn’t be further from the truth. The victims want the American Public to know the truth and POTUS and his cronies don’t want you to know the truth, simply because he might be exposed. But don’t worry my Republican friends and voters, the FBI is working overtime to redact and destroy videos of his Majesty from the files just in case they ever become public. The redactors will be given bonuses and high-fives all around for their silence.
Curtis Urban
Vail
No to 50-year mortgage fantasy
Arizona’s housing crisis isn’t mysterious, it’s arithmetic. Pima County alone is short more than 40,000 homes while Tucson home prices have climbed over 160% since 2012. Yet wages in Southern Arizona have grown only about 40%. That math doesn’t work for first-time buyers, retirees, or working families.
And into this real crisis strolls Donald Trump with his latest “big idea”: 50-year mortgages, the policy equivalent of selling desert sand as beachfront property. Stretching a mortgage across half a century doesn’t make a home affordable; it just means lenders cash in while families get stuck paying longer than most democracies survive.
Tucson’s real issues are simple: decades of underbuilding, zoning rules that lock up more than 70% of residential land only for single-family homes, and out-of-state investors who snapped up nearly one in five entry-level homes last year. Instead of addressing supply, affordability, and infrastructure, we keep getting gimmicks, slogans, and economic snake oil.
Lawrence E. Mazin
SaddleBrooke
Transgender
Maybe I don’t understand the argument that certain people have against transgender, but I’d like them to consider the following: AIS or Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome is a congenital condition where a “Male” with an XY chromosome is born without proper receptor sites for testosterone. They develop as female and indeed some of them were only discovered when they were tested prior to entering upper level beauty pageants. They won lower level ones. So isn’t this evidence that God is OK with transgender? I mean they didn’t even know this was a thing until they were diagnosed and now they can’t play women’s basketball because they have a Y where they are supposed to have an X. Isn’t physical capability the basis for gender specific sports not chromosomes? Oh what do we call an XXY? Can they do both?
Dan Pendergrass
West side
Murder on the high seas
Trump would like us to see him, as our great savior, by blowing up alleged “drug boats” and thus saving thousands of lives here in the US. The reality is that prior to his military attacks, these “drug boats” had been intercepted on a routine basis by the US Coast Guard. It is documented, that of the “drug boats” the Coast Guard has stopped, only 75% had drugs on board and 25% did not. If drugs were found these individuals were arrested and the drugs confiscated. Lethal action was a last resort and only in response to being attacked. Currently, Trump has attacked 20 “drug boats” killing 80 individuals. According to Coast Guard data, Trump has killed 20 (80x.25) individuals without cause. Also, the Coast Guard is still stopping “drug boats” despite Trump’s efforts, announcing a record number of cocaine seizures. The US Coast Guard is the true savior here, not Trump. It makes you think, what is Trump’s real motive here? Resist.
Peter Morales
Midtown
Beware of park ‘improvements’
Residents of Tucson, beware, if your local park is chosen to be closed for “improvements.”
My local park, Palo Verde Park, was closed for nearly a year and a half for this reason.
What we got was a huge reduction of green grass, many beautiful mature trees cut down, and a park full of weeds. The only real work that was done was relocating and expanding basketball courts, and removing tennis courts, replacing them with pickleball courts. Waste of time, waste of money and loss of a once-beautiful and accessible green space. Poor planning, Tucson Parks.
Daniel Egan
East side
Post-shutdown sensibility
Now that our government is back in business, it’s time for Congress to concentrate on issues important to most Americans. Much talk has focused on Epstein emails mostly written 20 years ago. Do we really care or is this just another way to get revenge against political enemies? The issues for most Americans include affordability, inflation, healthcare costs, drug addiction and gun violence. Politicians who focus on these issues will do what they are elected to do.
Republicans claim they can’t make difficult votes because they have a narrow House majority, but the real reason is only a few brave souls have the courage to speak unless it has the blessing of the Commander in Chief.
President Trump’s tight grip on the GOP stifles original thought and innovative ideas that alienate the MAGA crowd. Until this changes, the GOP-controlled Congress will continue to be “agenda-less” and focus on bickering, investigations, name-calling and trivial matters while ignoring real issues important to most Americans.
Ronald F. Eustice
Northwest side
What I would call animal abuse
Ahhh, so “Cruz, the 13-year-old mountain lion at the Arizona- Sonora Desert Museum, was put down on Thursday due to ongoing medical issues.” How very sad. But … not sad because he was euthanized. Sad because he had to spend his entire life in a make-believe world called a cage. I first saw him in 2014, when my husband and I first moved here. At that time, he just appeared to be bored and sad. Yet the Daily Star tries to make us all feel better by their description of his “wonderful life.” After seeing him in 2014, I stopped attending zoos. It’s a moral issue with me.
Sue Thompson
SaddleBrooke
Thoughts on Goldwater
I was delighted to read May Beth Schneider’s comments about AZ Senator Barry Goldwater’s meeting at the White House with Nixon that convinced him that Nixon’s resignation from the Presidency was the only appropriate option given his Watergate involvement.
As a former conservative Republican I am quite certain that Senator Goldwater would be appalled by the current Republican congressional subservience to the barely literate, despicable, rude individual who serves as our President as well as by the ignorance of so many of today’s American voters.
Katrina Hass
Foothills
Too much talk
I’m quite tired of reading LJ’s regular rants about Americans receiving SNAP benefits or almost any government assistance. The average minimum-wage worker in Arizona makes weekly $442.50 (gross) for 30 hrs, $590 for 40. That salary is not enough to pay rent, utilities and food, never mind transportation or child care costs. Food insecurity programs provide some support but government-funded programs like SNAP are lifelines. I challenge LJ to leave his comfortable home and join us in serving the homeless or those Americans who don’t make enough to even “get by.” Meet these citizens one on one to see how life circumstances can change in a minute. Find a list of locations online and you won’t have to go far from home.
Sandra Beecher
Marana
Healthcare improvements
Many people in this nation have considered medical tourism as a means to alleviate the high cost of medical care domestically.
If we consider the cost of a monoclonal antibody drug treatment over a two year period, we can easily see a cost of $745,000. Not only is this unaffordable without insurance but even with insurance, it becomes a burden. When people can no longer afford healthcare, even with insurance, we need to look at other approaches.
Having spent a month in Taiwan, I saw their healthcare system first-hand. The nation is capitalist but their health care system is single-payer. Their spend on healthcare is 6% of their GDP; ours is 24% of GDP. They do not have a medical debt bankruptcy problem; we do. Taiwan and other nations are doing health care more efficiently than we are, so it behooves us to use countries like this to benchmark off of. By not doing so, we are mired in mediocrity.
Steve Rasmussen
Foothills
Traffic enforcement saves lives
In my early police days, I responded to a traffic accident at Pima and Swan, where an intoxicated man in a pickup truck ran the red light northbound going about 90 mph. A young woman driving a Camaro west on Pima was struck and her car torn completely in two. She died on impact. The driver committed murder and went to prison. Too little too late. I saw too many accident deaths and gave too many death messages to families. Want to reduce fatalities? You can engineer all you want, you can send all the messages of safety, but you can’t fix indifference. Red light cameras, speed enforcement vans and more motor officers and cops writing traffic tickets are the answer. It doesn’t matter, pedestrians, bike riders, idiots in pick-up trucks, drunk drivers, don’t let anyone slide. For every 100 tickets, one life is saved. Don’t give me “The City is using this to raise cash” BS. Obey the law. Bad habits end lives.
Richard Harper
Northeast side
Healthcare should not be for-profit
I applaud the recent letters suggesting that we should replace the ACA health plans with a “single-payer” system, i.e., Medicare.
However, I must point out that the majority of Medicare enrollees are not participating in a “single-payer” program, a nonprofit program with the government paying negotiated costs to doctors directly. Rather, 54% of Medicare recipients now enroll in Medicare Advantage (MA), a program passed by the Republican House and Senate in the 1990s that passes Medicare funds to “for-profit” medical insurance companies such as United Healthcare.
Unlike traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans require Prior Approval on many outpatient and inpatient procedures. According to a 2025 U.S. Senate report and research in the Health Affairs journal, their rate of initial denials was 17%.
This is what we get when we turn our traditional Medicare program over to “for-profit” medical insurers.
Bruce Hilpert
North side
Little consequence
As Sen. Chuck Schumer’s government shutdown is concluding, the House is back in session and Speaker Johnson will immediately administer the oath of office to our AZ Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva with formal ceremony.
The purpose of my letter today is to reflect on the countless LTEs over the last 50 days hysterically proclaiming injustice when the reality is that Grijalva has not missed a single vote since we elected her, and every writer knew this would be true beginning Day 1.
So I suggest that our editor not choose to devote these important column inches to matters of such little consequence.
Jeffrey McConnell
West side
Silence of the lambs
When 800 generals and admirals came to Quantico Marine Base to receive their orders for the new Trump era, they were told to prepare for war with enemies to be identified later. They sat quietly.
It was a sign that they were Trump’s lambs, who would lead their sheep to the slaughter if so ordered. They did not rise in opposition because they were told to “sit.”
Is it even possible for our warriors to refuse illegal or questionable orders? They haven’t thus far, invading our cities, bombing little boats. Now, the Navy has moved our big ships into place to attack Venezuela because they might have drugs to sell.
As soon as Trump is sure they are pushovers, the attack will be on. The generals will not refuse. It is the silence of the lambs.
Ron Lancaster
North side
SNAP recipients rolling in the dough
Sometimes you just have to laugh.
Our favorite LTE writer opined that all the No Kings protestors must be unemployed and living the good life with SNAP benefits. Here’s some of his wisdom: “When you observe the daily demonstrations regarding ICE, one wonders how these people, day after day, are surviving without jobs. Have they outfoxed the general public by gaming the system?”
Must have skipped math class, eh, Loyal? The average SNAP benefit was $187 per person per month in 2024. Or about $6 a day. Living large thanks to SNAP benefits.
Thanks for the laugh, buddy. And for your pretzel logic.
Jeff Herr
North side
Original sins of Trump and his GOP
The Epstein cover-up/stall is at the top. Add to that the tariffs taxing the poor and middle class, and causing deaths by cutting USAID and more pro-life policies.
As for the “original sin,” I would point out that Trump and his allies on “The John Roberts court” have destroyed the separation of church and state. Now there is no separation of church and state due to the decisions of Trump’s court and Trump’s proclamations.
This explains why so many are leaving MAGA. Read their testimonials
Take time to find the facts and truth.
Dan Bannon
Midtown
Re: $1 Trillion Pentagon budget
The piece by Freeman and Hartung could have been written 60 years ago about the Vietnam War. Then, as now, we often didn’t know why we were sent to fight and die in far-off countries. Certainly not to establish democracy.
Then, as now, we knew the war wasn’t winnable. We fought to survive. Then, PTSD was not even a diagnosis, let alone treated. Now, it’s insufficiently treated.
Many veterans from both wars are homeless, hungry, and need healthcare. Some wonder if their sacrifices were worth it.
Although appreciated, veterans deserve more than a “Thank you for your service.” More funds for both eras are required for essential services.
To quote George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
We are obligated to fulfill Abraham Lincoln’s promise to care for those “who shall have borne the battle.” That obligation remains as critical today as it was in 1865.
Dan Gipple
Southeast side
Stopping the shutdown
Many are blaming and/or laughing about Democrats, giving in to the Trump BS agenda funding bill. I equate it to a speeding garbage truck (Trump/Republicans), driven by an insane man (Trump), head-on toward an oncoming Prius (Dems). Eventually, before the collision, sane people bail out, thus saving themselves and, in this case, all who depend on government funding to survive. Vote Blue in ‘26 to save democracy and to ensure that the government works for all people. Remember who was for saving your healthcare, and who wasn’t.
Robert Kunz
Sierra Vista
Compassion means treating the whole person
I’ve followed the recent exchange between Mayor Regina Romero and Supervisor Rex Scott about homelessness and addiction. Their frustration is understandable — and shared by many of us who see the impact of untreated addiction and mental illness on our streets, in our parks, and outside local businesses.
This crisis carries both a human and economic cost. Some local businesses have even relocated due to safety concerns tied to encampments and drug activity.
For years, the federal “Housing First” model has dominated policy, directing billions toward housing while minimizing treatment and accountability. Yet California, after spending $24 billion since 2019, saw homelessness rise more than 30%. Housing without healing isn’t compassion — it’s containment.
That’s why the federal shift toward “Treatment First” is so important. I hope Mayor Romero embraces this focus on recovery and healing alongside housing.
Programs like Gospel Rescue Mission prove it works — transforming lives without government funding, free to do what’s best for people, not policy. Real compassion restores wholeness, not dependency.
Doug Martin
Oro Valley
Rule of law
I have always believed that we are a nation of laws, and if we obey them, there is no problem. But it no longer seems that is correct. Our federal Supreme Court doesn’t read the Constitution the same way that I was taught in school anymore. It just seems that our once-sacred institutions are being twisted and manipulated to suit the wealthy and privileged anymore. I can name any number of examples but I believe that there is a restriction on letters’ size.
Fred Thompson
Midtown
Opera buffa
In a dazzling display of operatic irony, imagine Donald Trump, the king of bling, singing in fake tough guy basso profundo, a new version of Wagner’s “The Ring of the Nibelungen,” a story about a greedy dwarf who steals gold that gives him fleeting powers but in the end brings him only destruction and grief. All the hallmarks of a great opera: revenge, betrayal, greed, jealousy. Here’s Wotan, lord of the deal, spouting his love for shiny objects, the Rhine maidens weep for their lost treasure, not just their gold but their dignity. What’s an opera without gold? He’s surrounded by a chorus of sycophants, the Valkyries doing the Trump dance, showcasing the absurdity of wealth worship. In this opera, intrigue, corruption, avarice and farce reign supreme, proving once again that in the realm of gold, Trump is the true and ridiculous king.
Intermissions and after-theater parties could sell emotional support Trump squeeze dolls (when the scenes get really dramatic), gold passports, Melania’s Habanera handbags, you name it.
William Muto
SaddleBrooke
Use of ‘illegal alien’
Re: the letter, “’Illegal alien’ is offensive term” (Nov. 13):
The description “illegal alien” is befitting because immigrants who have crossed our sovereign border with Mexico by way of forced entry (illegal) are foreign (alien) to America. Ergo, illegal alien is an apt description. No disrespect intended. A safe America deserves to have all foreigners show themselves at the border-gate to be documented, counted and vetted for national security. During the Biden Administration, the undocumented immigrants were allowed unfettered entry in America and were primarily settled into Democratic-run cities. Biden’s executive order on Day 1 of his presidency intended to include the “undocumented” in the decennial (10-year) census. Why did Biden do that? Because the decennial census determines how many seats states will have in the House of Representatives. That census inflation of undocumented immigrants in Democratic-run cities helps the Democrats add additional seats in the House. President Biden was crazy like a fox.
Daniel Pryor
West side
Nixon compared to Trump
President Nixon was removed from office for a conspiracy and break-in. He was encouraged by the Republican Party to resign. Now, over 50 years later, we have a President who at least had knowledge of young girls being sexually trafficked. Whether he participated in their being exploited or not, he was aware and had a daughter that he could actually relate to. It’s unfortunate that we don’t have someone strong in the Republican Congress like Senator Goldwater who can convince the President to resign for the good of the Nation. We will never have that because “King Donald” will never ever leave. So very sad to have such a weak Republican Party.
May Beth Schneider
East side
Tolerance
Many thanks to Rabbi Ceitlin for his excellent and insightful guest opinion (Star, Nov. 13) on the damage done by speech and writing (and actions!) based on false information. In this instance, the unfortunate but innocent wearing of a T-shirt by math teachers to signify the difficulty of solving math problems (all who struggled with math can identify!) was taken to mean something totally different, and as he says, a viral firestorm erupted before the school could explain. And it has not stopped, despite the explanation and fact that they were used last year and therefore could not possibly be referring to Charlie Kirk’s murder. There are individuals on social media — and unfortunately in public and political office — who thrive on creating as much suspicion, distrust and anger as they can against their fellow citizens. Untold damage to the social fabric is being done by these individuals. Rabbi Ceitlin’s gentle advice, old as the Talmud and Christ’s words in Matthew, and mirrored in Rotarians’ 4-way test, should hold. Selah!
Abraham R. Byrd III
North side
Adelita Grijalva
This letter is for a huge shout-out to Adelita! How can anyone from Arizona not be proud of her? In her acceptance speech, she reaffirmed the Democratic commitment to the immigrant. She told her story about her own family’s immigration to this country. She immediately voted to have the Epstein files released. She will be a wonderful voice in the absolute defeat of the Trump Administration. Just last night, JD Vance on Fox News was still blaming Biden for all their woes. They have been in office for a year, with only hate and defeating democracy on their agenda. They are taking your money, your welfare, and giving it to billionaires. What the hell is wrong with Republicans? The blame game is futile; everyone knows how horrible this administration has been. Can’t wait to watch it come crashing down. They will be, and are, the biggest losers.
Mary Bradley
Northeast side
Not answering the question
The question posed was if it seemed excessive that 45 million people in our bountiful nation were receiving SNAP benefits. Instead of a yes or no, there was a vitriolic lecture concerning how important these benefits were. The real issue is who really needs them as compared to those who receive them without a legitimate need. A Government Accounting Office report issued Sept 26, 2024, is as follows: “USDA estimated 11.7% (or about $10.5 billion) of SNAP benefits that it paid were improper —meaning that payments were the wrong amount or otherwise should not have been made. This was an increase from the prior year’s estimate of 11.5%. We’ve also made recommendations in the past to help ensure SNAP benefits are used as intended. For example, USDA has yet to implement our recommendation to increase penalties for when a retailer exchanges recipients’ SNAP benefits for cash instead of food.” Why are you so affronted and terrified of questioning and investigating this and similar programs?
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Outstanding!
Ranked No. 2 nationally by Backstage (No. 1 Alvin Ailey School; No. 5 Juilliard), the U of A School of Dance continues to be a jewel in Tucson as I witness at their “Fall for Dance” opening night. Kudos to the student dancers for their energy, synchronization, strength, balance and grace. This is a dance season not to be missed!
Phineas Anderson
Catalina
Trump is amoral — are you?
Amoral — adjective: lacking a moral sense; unconcerned with whether something is right or wrong.
How can there still be Trumpers who still support him, despite his obviously corrupt past, his unethical money grubbing, and his current attempt to hide his sexually criminal behaviors? The Republican Party has been discredited by Trump, but can return to a respectable organization by rejecting him now. Please don’t believe Trump when he claims that he is “Born Again,” as it is one of the few exit strategies that he has left in order to escape his Epstein child rape involvement. Please remove yourself from the WCN (White Christian Nationalism) Republican base by standing up for your moral beliefs and rejecting this amoral sub-human who is leading our country towards an immoral autocracy.
Revone Bauwens
Southwest side
Transgenders in sports
I just read a great LTE telling our “Loyal” friend in OV to prove what he constantly lies about, Dems. Now he’s after the almost completely nonexistent transgender women in sports. He’s now stating that all women are abysmally letting down their daughters and granddaughters for not standing up against the 10 known transgender athletes in NCAA sports.
Of over half a million athletes competing in NCAA-sanctioned sports, 10 are known transgender athletes. That’s 0.002%. It’s a shame that all the mothers and grandmothers don’t follow our Loyal friend’s advice and stand up against these 10. This is such a travesty that all women are allowing by not standing up against those 0.002%. Times are changing, and our Loyal friend just can’t seem to keep up. Maybe his hero, the liar and felon, will try to force his party to eliminate them. Wait, he has.
John Bingham
Northwest side
Law of the jungle
A journalist recently asked President Trump about legal authority to blow up Caribbean boats. He answered that authority comes from the fact that illegal drugs kill people in America.
This shows that #47 does not recognize sources of authority other than his own right hand.
The President made no mention of statutory law, constitutional law, international law, treaty agreements, the Supreme Court, rules of engagement ... just his own peculiar brand of animal instinct. He must do it because “I alone can fix it.”
Does it matter that innocent people die in this Latin American manhunt? Nope. Does it matter that the American people and their elected representatives have no say in the new system of rule by the king of the jungle? Nope.
Is it sad that nobody else but him is smart enough to get things done? Yes, it is very sad.
Kimball Shinkoskey
Woods Cross, Utah
What’s the problem?
Loyal M. Johnson Jr., in his Nov. 14 letter, pinpointed a major problem needing immediate attention.
It’s not homelessness, with 2,000 or more living in Tucson’s alleys and washes. Nor is it masked men roaming our cities, snatching people away. It isn’t first-time homebuyers for whom the president proposes 50-year mortgages.
It’s the two-thousandths of 1% of college athletes who are transgender. That is just 10 people among everyone who plays college sports, the NCAA’s president told a U.S. Senate committee.
Horrors!
Equally shocking is the situation in K-12 sports. Save Women’s Sports, which advocates banning transgender athletes from girls’ sports, identified five transgender athletes competing across the country, Newsweek reported.
No wonder Mr. Johnson wants American women to undertake a “No Men” march.
By all means, let’s go full-throated on what he called a “horrific injustice.”
Shraddha Hilda Oropeza
West side
What does Trump really care about?
There are 6 million drug addicts in the USA. In 2023, 105,000 died of overdosing on drugs. Drug addiction is a terrible plague that addicts have done to themselves. We are to believe that Trump cares so much about drug addiction that he put a $7 million a day aircraft carrier, several $250,000 a day warships and destroys alleged drug boats with missiles that cost between $1 and $4 million each. Tens of thousands of Marines are on board some ships. Do you believe that all that firepower and expense is needed to find and destroy small drug boats? I wonder if the large oil reserves of Venezuela play a part in Trump’s war on drugs. Given that everything Trump does involves money and profit, it’s hard to believe he is spending millions of dollars a day because he cares about drug addiction. Enjoy the show. Wake up!
Richard Bechtold
West side
- Todd Ackerman, Foothills
Mr. McConnell neglected to point that if Dr. Trump had not killed the proposed bipartisan legislation re immigration proposed in 2024 so he could use it as a campaign issue, the immigration issue would not be in the emergency room. He is so adamant about immigration he should have ICE review Melania’s application for the Einstein visa.
Before McConnell’s “Physician-in-Chief” performs any surgery on Biden’s cognitive decline, he ought to read some of the analyses of Trump’s personality in Psychology Today. The references are too numerous to mention, but frightening all.
Todd Ackerman
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Democrats did the right thing
As of this writing, the shutdown is ending. Eight Democratic senators voted with Republicans to reopen the government, sparking outrage from the Democratic base. Yet they did the right thing. As the minority party, Democrats had little leverage; prolonged gridlock was unlikely to bring GOP concessions. Meanwhile, President Trump’s cruelty — especially his administration’s successful Supreme Court bid to block full food stamp benefits — was hurting families. Airports were straining, and federal workers and military members were going without pay.
I, too, wish more compromises had been secured, but Democrats turning anger inward will not help. We must remember who caused this crisis: the GOP Congress and representatives like Juan Ciscomani, who voted with Trump to strip away health care and raise premiums. By keeping our focus on what truly matters, Democrats can defeat the Trump agenda at the ballot box.
Rahul Sivaprasad
Northwest side
What is Trump’s limit?
I would like to hear from Loyal and McConnell as to what behavior of Trump’s would be a bridge too far for them. I don’t think it exists. As Trump said, “I love the uneducated” and “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters, OK?” Not even going into how horrible his policies have been, just his behavior. He told 30k lies in his first term. He openly boasted about sexual assault. He was found to have committed sexual assault. He’s a felon on 34 counts. Draft dodging, not paying taxes, constantly cheating on wives, stiffing investors, racism, multiple bankruptcies, and trying to overthrow an election.
I saw a line that normal people don’t vote for rapists. Please tell me what your litmus test of what behavior would be too much for you? I actually think this says more about you than Trump.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Electric bike etiquette
Consider me, a road cyclist, operating under “pedal power.” Of late, bike lanes and bike paths here are seeing increasing numbers of electric-bike riders.
Let’s consider:
1. Your e-bike is electric. It makes no noise, so please, when passing, use a bell or tell me you are passing before you overtake me.
2. Realize that in most cases, you are traveling at a greater speed than I am, and your bike weighs many more pounds than mine, so please be aware, on my road bike I fear when you approach me lost in space, or two abreast, seemingly unaware of your power over me.
3. And finally, when I am on an uphill grade, and you blow by me, do NOT say “good job,” like I am some small child on some small bike. You are not competing with me climbing that hill.
Let’s all enjoy the great cycling routes we have here, and treat each other with respect for a sport we all love.
Leslie Dierauf
Oro Valley
Adelita Grijalva
Adelita Grijalva couldn’t wait to be sworn into the House of Representatives so she could cast her important vote to keep the federal government closed.
Kelly Sherwin
North side
Mostly peaceful
Since the George Floyd incident, the liberal media has been infatuated with the description “mostly peaceful protest.” What exactly does that mean? When the videos show burning buildings and cars, rocks being hurled, fireworks, spitting and swearing, is that considered peaceful? Is mostly peaceful only one burning building, or two cars set on fire, or three law enforcement personnel injured? Literary accuracy would demand that a protest is peaceful or not peaceful. A proper description, if one was honest and not biased, would be that a protest was mostly peaceful except for the business that was burned to the ground, 15 windows shattered, two law enforcement officers requiring medical attention and the cost of enforcement and physical damage was estimated to be $150,000. Why can’t the liberal media tell the whole truth instead of promoting and protecting their selected side of every issue? Fair and balanced is no longer a foundational tenet of their journalism. There is no trust left for the inquisitive. Facts do not matter.
Loyal Johnson
Oro Valley
Epstein debacle
To Members of the United States House of Representatives,
Your continued refusal to demand the full and immediate release of all documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal enterprise is a moral failure of staggering proportions. By withholding the truth about systemic child trafficking and underage sexual abuse, you are not merely complicit — you are endorsing the concealment of crimes that have shattered lives and undermined public trust in our institutions.
This is not a partisan issue. It is a human one. And yet, only a handful of your colleagues — Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Nancy Mace, and Thomas Massie — have demonstrated the ethical courage to call for transparency, knowing full well that the truth may implicate powerful individuals across the political spectrum. That includes Donald Trump, if the evidence warrants it. No one is above the law. Not presidents. Not billionaires. Not judges. Not you.
Dale Pelton
Northwest side
Math teachers’ shirts
Math teachers at Cienega High School wore T-shirts with red stains and the words, “Problem Solved” for Halloween this year. They also wore them last year in 2024. So, by basic logic, the shirts had nothing to do with the tragic and despicable assassination of Charlie Kirk. Yet State Treasurer Kimberly Yee jumped on the bandwagon, attacking the teachers for their alleged disrespect of Mr. Kirk with no checking of the validity of the attack. Even when informed of the use of the shirts in 2024, she continued her attack. Yet she wants to be the Republican Superintendent of Instruction. If she can’t figure out this simple logic problem, why would anyone want her to have anything to do with education?
Don Ries
Southeast side
Ignorance
A recent letter was focused on semantics, the difference between Socialism and Communism, minimizing the effects of those systems. The Democratic Party is now left-leaning, elevating those who are socialist as their new leaders. The off-election year saw blue states electing liberals as if it were a blue wave. Fortunately, most Americans believe in America and know that through hard work and sacrifice, we are the greatest country on Earth. For those who think there is a free lunch coming need to look at Venezuela. This country was the wealthiest in all of South America. The standard of living was high. Once Maduro, a socialist, took office the country rapidly declined and its citizens were impoverished. America today has millions who have come here illegally, placing financial burdens on the system. The Democrats don’t have a plan and are subscribing to the likes of A.O.C., Sanders and Crockett as their leaders. Wake up and realize that part of our country is going astray, don’t let it happen.
Bill Dowdall
Oro Valley
Healthcare subsidies
The political fight about healthcare insurance subsidies misses the point and begs the question: Healthcare insurance shouldn’t be so expensive in the first place. All subsidies do is prop up inflated prices. The intercession of for-profit insurers, pharmaceutical management companies, and absurdly high drug prices, to say nothing of the lack of a rational mechanism for determining the most expensive end-of-life care, all drive up healthcare costs in this country substantially and unnecessarily. Until and unless these underlying causes of a catastrophically high-priced and inefficient healthcare system are addressed, these insurance wars will continue while prices still rise.
Richard Sybert
Foothills
Medical malpractice
Mr. McConnell neglected to point out that if Dr. Trump had not killed the proposed bipartisan legislation on immigration proposed in 2024, so he could use it as a campaign issue, the immigration issue would not be in the emergency room. He is so adamant about immigration, he should have ICE review Melania’s application for the Einstein visa.
Before McConnell’s “Physician-in-Chief” performs any surgery on Biden’s cognitive decline, he ought to read some of the analyses of Trump’s personality in Psychology Today. The references are too numerous to mention, but frightening all.
Todd Ackerman
Foothills
A breath before speaking or typing
A great opinion from Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin. Thanks for the Tucson Opinion in the Nov. 13 edition of the Star. The wisdom he shared is so needed. I suggest all might benefit if they take the time to find it and read it.
Dan Bannon
Midtown
Correct use of the Situation Room
I prefer presidents who do not use the Situation Room to cover up their involvement in the biggest child sex abuse scandal the world has ever seen. How about you?
Terry Louck
East side
SNAP benefits
Fulsome thanks to two LTEs on Nov. 9 trying to enlighten Loyal M. Johnson about how the SNAP program works using facts. Sadly, that’s not going to work. He knows all about the requirements by now, but continues to assert that many thousands, including illegal immigrants, are easily “gaming the system.” I propose no more wasting time fact-checking him on the matter. Instead, I challenge Mr. Johnson to prove his claims. You yourself sir, or anyone you know, demonstrate sucessfully “gaming the system” and start receiving benefits you are not entitled to. Just try it. Till then. No more promulgating this rot about this subject.
Gary Susko
Midtown
Trump’s great economy
Trump doesn’t live in a Middle American world. He says the stock market is setting records, and it is. The problem is that 90% of the stock market is owned by the top 10% of Americans. The bottom 90% of Americans own 10% of the stock market. Trump knows nothing about the lives and challenges faced by most Americans. His economy, and the economy of his friends is doing very well. Trump has never been to a grocery store, gas station, medical clinic nor have his children gone to public school. His world is doing great. The bottom 50% of Americans own 1% of the stock market. He has had millions of dollars at his disposal. (mostly other people’s money). He doesn’t live in our world. The most unaware people in America are middle-class Republicans. They are marching, waving flags, while he and his friends get rich. Wake up.
Richard Bechtold
West side
Protests played a role
On Nov. 7, voters throughout the country soundly repudiated Trump and the malfeasance, corruption and meanness his administration embodies. While commentators ascribe many reasons for the Democrats’ success, including the economy, Epstein, and election protection, they missed the important effect of powerful public protests. Nearly 8 million people took to the streets, across the country, with hand-drawn signs and peaceful presence, and that action engaged others to get out and vote.
Many people who feel dissatisfied, fearful, and angry about Trump’s mismanagement of our government saw that they are not alone. We can resist Trump’s dictatorship. They saw friends and strangers coming to protest and realized that they also can participate, at least by voting.
While MAGA media mouthpieces ask, disingenuously, “What do those protesters want?” people are saying on protest signs and on ballots, “no dictators,” “no corruption,” “rule of law,” “democracy.”
Join in! You are not alone.
Bruce Joffe
South Tucson
The future of data centers
I believe the recent opinion piece by Tucson Electric Power CEO Bakken belies the true impact of data centers as proven in other parts of the country. Virginia now has 637 data centers due to the availability of Chesapeake Bay water and nuclear power plants. These data centers each consume up to 100 megawatts of power, enough to service about 25,000 homes.
Loudoun County, Virginia, just approved a new center projected to use 2400 megawatts, enough for 600,000 homes. Dominion Power is now building a 176-turbine offshore wind farm that will produce 2400 megawatts, an extremely expensive project to power only one data center.
Meanwhile, the data center industry is receiving $750,000,000 in tax abatements from state, county and local taxes. Currently, Virginia has a 25% expansion of data centers approved or currently under construction.
Is this the future we can sustain or afford?
Bruce Hilpert
North side
Where are you?
In the first half of the 20th century, our grandmothers and great-grandmothers fought tenaciously for women’s rights. At that time, women could not vote or drive and were given an allowance by their husbands. Women in senior positions in industry were nonexistent. Women’s sport did not exist. A man getting a women pregnant was not held financially responsible for the child. Oh, how things have evolved. Men are no longer allowed to be dominant over women, except. Except in women’s competitive sports and their locker rooms. Today’s adult women have abysmally failed their daughters and granddaughters by not standing up as a cohesive team for hard-earned women’s rights. With half of the voting public women, you have power if you decide to use it. The politicians will listen if you demand your hard-earned rights. How about a massive “No Men” march instead of a “No Kings” march. Honor the exceptional courage and strength of your female predecessors and eliminate this horrific injustice.
Loyal M Johnson Jr
Oro Valley
Last Veteran’s Day?
Was this the last Veteran’s Day to celebrate? Taking time out from bashing President Biden at Arlington, President Trump said he plans to change the name from Veteran’s Day to “Victory Day for World War I” — cutting out all Vets who have served after WW I. Pretty brash for someone who didn’t serve.
Charlene Kay Brewster
Marana
Who cares?
The vote by some Democrats to end the shutdown shows not their weakness in a face-off against the Republicans, but that they care more than Republicans about the well-being of the American people. They gave in because they didn’t want the suffering of SNAP beneficiaries and the dangers of overextended air traffic controllers to continue.
Clearly, the Republicans and the president were willing to let this go on indefinitely to assert their control, uncaring about how people on the ground were suffering. Uncaring that children would go hungry, uncaring that government workers were going without paychecks, uncaring that people’s air travel, even with the Thanksgiving holidays coming up, would be delayed or canceled.
And what was this fight about? It was about the Democrats’ concern that millions of people’s insurance rates were skyrocketing. They cared about the fact that many were going to have to pay thousands more, or cancel their insurance.
What do the Republicans care about? Apparently not you.
Beth Dingman
Green Valley
Trump’s ‘liquidity’ excuse
The Trump regime’s continued efforts to withhold SNAP benefits shows there is no rock bottom in their depravity. Trump recently claimed that we cannot pay SNAP benefits because “…our country has to remain very liquid because problems, catastrophes, wars, could be anything. We have to remain liquid.”
This liquidity claim is absurd in light of Trump’s opulence on the taxpayer’s dime. Since taking office taxpayers have spent $60.7 million on his golf outings – including shaking down Vietnam with a tariff threat to secure a $1.5 billion golf club. Homeland Security purchased two luxury jets for $200 million, Argentina got a $40 billion bailout, and $30 billion a year is doled out to the fossil fuel industry.
While hard-working Americans are suffering, POTUS flaunts plans for his golden ballroom and marble bathroom renovations and throws a lavish Great Gatsby Party. Trump’s sons have raked in more than $800 million from crypto, and POTUS has increased his wealth by $3 billion.
Kathy Krucker
Midtown
Contrast JFK and Trump
There are fewer of us who remember JFK. Both JFK and Trump were born into wealthy families. JFK was ruled 4F and unsuitable for service due to a bad back and other issues. His father got a family doctor to say he was fit for service. His PT boat was sunk by a Japanese destroyer, but he managed to save his crew. JFK said, “Ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country.” He wrote Profiles in Courage. Trump used a family doctor to dodge the draft. His book was Art of the Deal. His motto for the country is what’s in it for me? Thank God Trump wasn’t President during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
A chicken in every pot
As Elon Musk stands on the cusp of one of humanity’s most ignominious achievements by becoming the first-ever trillionaire, he has taken time away from his Buck Rogers fixation of living on Mars to focus on a long-neglected deficiency in American life.
Musk wants every American home to have a robot to help out around the house with folding laundry and such. (Of course, this goal will become considerably more attainable as fewer people actually have homes.)
Only the most obscenely wealthy man on the planet could fail to grasp the cruel irony in this wish to usher in a fantasy age of gratuitous leisure while so many Americans struggle to find affordable housing, food and healthcare.
With the brave new world of AI and robotics upon us, in which an escalating technological encroachment on livelihoods is inevitable, what remains unresolved is just how we are to get from the attendant downward socioeconomic trajectory it entails to this bizarre “Jetsons” utopia dreamt of in Musk’s philosophy.
Robert Gavlak
Midtown
Winners and losers
Only the Democrats could win a war on Election Tuesday and then surrender 5 days later. Amazing.
Ken Koren
Oro Valley
‘Illegal alien’ is offensive term
I can always spot a few regular LTE authors immediately as they often use the phrase “illegal alien.” Human beings are not “illegal” and immigrants, documented or not, are not creatures from outer space. I understand that this terminology is found on US government websites but that does not make it appropriate or respectful.
Sarah Kennedy
Northwest side
Visitor to the White House
So we all learned that our demented leader welcomed a former Al Qaeda leader and designated strategist to the White House. It’s a shame the $300 million ballroom isn’t completed so he could be encouraged to mingle with all the billionaires. If that isn’t enough he enjoys this visitor during Veterans Day. A day which many of us use to remember with fondness all those many who gave so much so that we can enjoy the freedom we do. But I guess it’s no surprise as Trump has always been a hater of the military and has made it his purpose to denigrate them in any way possible. You Trump lovers should look objectively at this situation and see if you can honestly say he is a great man, or that he is even human.
Philip Reinecker
East side
First, do no harm
Re: the letter “Dr. Trump”: Jeffrey compares the liar-in-chief to a very competent physician, with his surgically precise removal of illegal people from our country — people like Tucson physical therapist Vone Phrommany who was removed from his family and career and home in Marana. I guess Mr. McConnell thinks this is a good thing. He conveys that immigration has become a malignancy on our country, thanks to Biden. A few years back, “Dr. Trump” suggested we all might ingest cleaning agents to combat the Covid-19 virus. I think his credentials are more than shaky; Dr. Trump’s a quack. The truth of the matter is, the real malignancy is Donald Trump. His unchecked power and nefarious, cruel and self-serving acts have caused irreparable harm to our country and many of its people. Only We the People can excise this horrendous disease — if indeed our democracy can survive and a free and fair election can take place.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
I love you
These three words need to be said often.
To my loving wife, my seven children and many grandchildren,
I am fortunate to say I love you.
To my country, the envy of all, to its Constitution, its Declaration of Independence,
its freedoms, I am proud to say I love you.
To the city of Tucson, the state of Arizona, where I have worked
and lived, I am honored to say I love you.
To my fellow veterans, my Navy colleges, my great neighbors
and those I played sports with, I am proud to say I love you.
To my enemies and those I disagree with, I humbly say, I love you.
To my loving God, whom I am free to worship, I am blessed to say
I love you.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
Data centers and TEP
“To address this common misconception, TEP CEO Susan Gray explained how the project would pay its own way and provide benefits for our other customers.” Our TEP problem is arbitrary rate hikes, maybe they can power the data processing centers, but TEP power is not the most concerning. Air and water are the problem spots. (TEP is of course self promoting, profit making corporation.) Air cooling? Heats up our already hot air. Water cooling? Drains our limited water supply. And the workers will pollute by driving to work. Sure TEP can bring in the energy, so what? This is a bunch of hot air coming from supporters who would make money. The project is not right for the Old Pueblo. The data says let data centers go to Idaho or Wisconsin, or Timbuktu. Texas? TEP’s parent company, Fortis, reported $1.6 billion in net earnings last year!
Peter Bisschop
East side
Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act/ACA/Obamacare was signed into law on 23 March 2010. In the over 15 years it’s been in effect Republicans have been throwing rocks at it almost continuously. When Republicans controlled the House of Representatives they voted almost 50 times to repeal ACA knowing the Democrat-controlled Senate would never take up the bill. And, if by some twist of fate, it did happen to pass both houses of Congress did they really think President Obama would sign it into law?
The Republican position is once ACA is repealed they will work out a plan offering better and cheaper health care for Americans. What’s stopping them from putting that plan together, presenting it, then repealing ACA so there is no break in health care? The best they have is Trump’s “concept of a plan.”
Present a viable plan, then we can talk about repealing the ACA.
Larry Hammond
Southwest side
Socialism/Communism?
Thanks to Jack Walters’ 11/9/25 LTE for resurrecting great memories of the Wayback Machine and Mr. Peabody’s improbable history from the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show. Beyond his inability to understand the difference between Communism & Socialism (not synonymous) and a Democratic socialist & socialist candidate (not the same); it was his fractured fairy tale historical claims that triggered guffaws. Only in an absurd satire of history could someone attribute the dissolution of the USSR to one man: Ronald Reagan. Even loonier is elevating Sen. Joe McCarthy to hero status for sham 1950s hearings to uncover imaginary Communists in government and the film industry; one of the most disgraceful and corrupt episodes in this country’s real history.
Gary Susko
Midtown
Human toll of Yuma’s vegetable empire
The article on vegetables and pesticides in The Star (11-11) should be a wake-up call for everyone to not only treat our agriculture workers with more care and precautions, but also to treat our planet with equal care. The science regarding what these pesticides do is 60 years old, but they are still being used. My father worked in aviation safety for the FAA starting in the 40s, and he knew of a crop duster pilot in California who died from pesticide exposure. The pilot had to walk through a field he had been spraying because his engine lost power and he had to make a forced landing in the middle of the field. He didn’t shower or change his clothes afterwards, which turned out to be a fatal mistake. I’m glad to know of a nonprofit that is working towards non-chemical alternatives. Meanwhile, we can support organic farming whenever we shop for our produce.
Aston Bloom
East side
Mark Kelly
I just do not understand why Mark Kelly kept siding with Schumer to keep the government closed at the expense of all the federal employees that are not getting paid. Some of his moderate colleagues agree the government shutdown was a failure and did not accomplish anything other than harm federal workers and snap beneficiaries. I wonder if Mr Kelly continued to take his paycheck during the shutdown he endorsed.
Jeff Niemi
West side
Vacant Tucson stores could transform into new housing
