Tucson speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Oct. 9, 2026
- Updated
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.
Safe and secure voting for everyone
If you vote by mail, you can drop off your signed and completed mail-in ballot at a secure Ballot Drop Box near you. They open Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 8 a.m. and will remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until Election Day, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. Ballots are picked up twice a day and are carefully monitored. Locate one near you on your county recorder’s website (example: recorder.pima.gov/dropboxes). The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 23.
If you vote in person, take advantage of a nearby Early Voting Site and vote when it’s convenient. Life happens even on election day. Go to your county recorder’s website/earlyvotingsites. Your vote is too important to leave to chance.
Know your candidates, vote the entire ballot. The sooner you vote, the less likely you are to have people calling, texting and coming to your door. Voting early is good for all of us.
When we vote, we win!
Betsy Wexler
Oro Valley
Catching up is hard to do
I hear complaints about the condition of our roads and the ongoing construction.
The City of Tucson is in the fifth year of a 10-year effort to touch every neighborhood street in the city. See the progress that has been made and projects in process in both neighborhood and collector streets at tucne.ws/tdbsss.
Also, in March, the voters approved RTANext. The City has approved a tentative list of 28 road rehabilitation projects, of which six were selected for construction in FY 26/27 on a $144 million project. Work is already in process on Irvington — Houghton to Kolb, one of the worst. The other five segments are on Silverbell, Swan, Alvernon, Kolb and Wrightstown.
Also, work continues on RTA Projects and other safety, bicycle and pedestrian improvements. Yes, catching up is progressing.
Dale Calvert
Northeast side
Voters beware: Demand proof
With Election Day only a month away and early voting about to begin, we've entered the cesspool phase of politics. One tactic to be aware of is when a candidate paraphrases what his or her opponent supposedly said about an issue without providing an actual contextual quote that exists in audio, video or printed format. A good example is the claim by CD 6's GOP candidate that his opponent wants to defund the police. Of course, if his opponent ever unambiguously said or wrote that, we'd be hearing and/or reading an actual quote instead of a characterization of one. The failure to furnish any such evidence is strong evidence that it does not exist. While it is true that this tactic may sway some on the fringe, it is based on the premise that voters are stupid and inattentive. But because you are not, don't fall for this crap.
Bruce Skolnik
Northeast side
‘Scalia/Ginsberg’ opera
I went to the "comic" opera “Scalia/Ginsburg.” The comedy was largely Scalia’s exaggerated pounding around the stage and being subjected to unending left-wing barbs, cheered on by the audience. The Constitution came up, pitting the sober originalist position versus the romantic living views of the Constitution.
For Ginsburg, “Scalia/Ginsburg” was a “dream come true.” Scalia, an enthusiastic singer, doubting the author would let him and Ginsburg play the singing roles themselves, finished with, “Even so, it may be a good show.”
The third person on the set, the “Commentator,” was a distraction, better done without. This was not an opera, rather a musical. Notwithstanding the excellent orchestra, the production didn’t measure up.
Don Clarke
Sahuarita
The obvious answer
You don't need a degree in psychology to understand what's happening and the whys and wherefores when it comes to drivers speeding. Why do some drivers go 70 mph in a 40 zone? Or constantly 15 to 20 mph over the speed limit?
I can think of at least three reasons. No. 1: complete lack of enforcement. No. 2: everyone else is doing it. No. 3: I'm one of the best drivers on the road ... I won't be in an accident!
Maybe it's because of better pay/benefits in other cities ... or maybe the police force is stretched too thin . Whatever the reason, everyone knows "When the cat's away, the mice will play," and in this case the cats are nowhere to be found!
We don't have the enforcement that we so need. Something has to change.
Maybe a different mayor could figure it out!
David Hatch
Southeast side
Reinvent Fourth Ave. and ICE out!
Tim Steller's Oct. 4 column "4th Ave. woes go beyond parking" provided well-prepared food for thought, so here are my undercooked proposals which might cause a stomachache to some:
1) Inaugurate the "Fourth Avenue International Arts and Diversity District" with exhibits and performance spaces.
2) Do away with the parking meters and give everyone three free hours, and only ticket repeat offenders
OR
3) Pull up the pavement (minus the Sun Link streetcar) and make Fourth Avenue a pedestrian mall with a robust shade canopy of native trees to mitigate rising heat.
4) Increase Sun Link service to shuttle people back and forth from existing parking garages and lots (all free).
5) Have a center on Fourth Avenue to support those struggling with homelessness and substance use.
6) Vote out all politicians who support ICE, which scares away local residents and foreign visitors, further harming the economy.
7) Bring back Magpie's pizza.
Richard Boren
Midtown
Biggs’ run for governor
We are $40T in debt, yet "conservative" Andy Biggs has done nothing to stop the obscene spending. Our Constitution and rule of law have burned to the ground, yet "conservative" Biggs did nothing but stand by and watch them burn. Biggs says he is a leader and anti-corruption. Biggs says he will put Arizona first. That would be easier to believe if, during all his years in Congress, he had put our country first. He didn't. We have to stop electing people like Andy Biggs to office.
Dave Rollins
Patagonia
Catalina Highway
As the weather in Tucson cools and the days become perfect for a drive up Mount Lemmon to enjoy the fall colors, it’s important to remember that Catalina Highway is shared by more than just cars. Once you pass Houghton Road and begin the climb, stay alert for wildlife. You may see coyotes, small herds of javelinas, deer, quail with their young, rabbits or even snakes crossing the road.
But the most surprising — and sometimes the most intimidating — creatures on Catalina Highway are the cyclists. They may ride in compact groups of 10 to 20 or stretch out in a long single file. Their brightly colored gear can easily catch your eye and distract you.
As one of those “scary” cyclists myself, I ask that you please slow down, give riders plenty of space when passing, and remember that both drivers and cyclists are part of the same wild herd.
Enjoy your trip to Mount Lemmon, and let’s keep all our two-legged and four-legged travelers safe.
Peter Palazzo
Northeast side
November election
To all of you mad at President Trump because of higher prices — average gas prices were higher under President Biden, so was inflation. President Trump works every day, and there is a list of accomplishments for Americans, starting with closing the border, lowering drug prices and lower taxes in the Big Beautiful Bill (no taxes on tips and lower taxes on seniors). I received the highest tax refund since my husband passed away this last April because of the BBB. Don't forget the Trump accounts for eligible children — $1,000!
I could go on, but there isn't enough space.
Be careful voting for anyone with a "D" after their name. Their election ads talk about working across the aisle and working to help their fellow Arizonans. The problem is when they go to Washington, they all vote according to the party line — they meekly do whatever the leaders say. You're worried about prices? How about worrying about your freedom?
Debra Berthelot
Marana
Data centers
The United States currently has more than 3,000 operational data centers, with Virginia, Texas, and California leading the way, and more to come. For those who oppose these installations, seeking to shut them down and halt all construction of additional ones, please consider the ramifications. First of all, there is no such thing as the cloud, only data centers storing all your data and allowing you to use your digital devices at will. What happens when you restrict data centers? No online banking, only hard cash. No internet. No online gambling. No Netflix, etc. No online music. No Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. No telemedicine. No Tesla or driverless cars. No online college classes. No instant stock trading. No online ordering, so goodbye to Amazon or any other online company or restaurant. Back to 1950, when consumers actually had to visit a store or office to get anything done, and the Post Office was the lifeline. Luddites, here we come.
Loyal M Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Ciscomani’s silence
I appreciate Robert Laux-Bachand’s insightful letter to the editor. Juan Ciscomani’s silence on how his father btained a religious worker visa is deafening. Ciscomani should speak up and address this. And that’s just one of many issues where his silence speaks volumes. Why did he vote to give billionaires the largest tax cut in history, adding $2 trillion to our national debt? Why did he support cutting food assistance to poor children, who could perform better in school with a healthy meal? Why did he vote to slash ACA and Medicaid, leaving millions uninsured and threatening the closure of rural hospitals? Rural people voted for him! He should explain to them how they can get healthcare when they or their children are sick. Ciscomani claimed to oppose these cuts before the vote, yet still voted in favor of them. He says one thing but does another. It’s time to speak up, Ciscomani. Don’t just be “Juan in a billion.”
Louis Hollingsworth
West side
I gotta vent
I have lived through Eisenhower, Carter, Reagan, GHW Bush, Obama and Biden. In my lifetime, I have never seen or heard of a president being scrutinized over every word he speaks. I have never heard of their wives or children being threatened, insulted and humiliated. I am truly ashamed of the behavior of the people in this country.
Every past President was left to run the country after they were elected and had taken the oath of office. They weren't on the news 24/7, being drawn and quartered, every sentence dissected, constantly pressured to do this or that without an ounce of moral support.
Just imagine how much more he could accomplish if he didn’t have to defend himself constantly. Enough is enough, leave the man alone to do his job!
Bruce Johnson
Foothills
Arizona should make voting easier
Arizona should make voting easier, not harder. In 2024, 78.49% of registered Arizonans cast ballots. In the 2022 midterms, just 62.56% did. That is more than 1.5 million registered voters who stayed home. Our goal should be 85% to 90% turnout, including in midterms.
Yet some elected officials keep treating eligible voters as the problem. Proposals that add paperwork, shrink voting options, or make registration more difficult threaten to silence citizens while claiming to protect elections. In Pima County, voting by mail and convenient vote centers help people participate. We should strengthen those options and keep voter rolls accurate.
What about claims of widespread noncitizen voting? A study covering 23.5 million ballots in 42 jurisdictions found only about 30 suspected cases referred for investigation. Suspicions are not convictions, and they do not justify barriers for millions of citizens.
Arizona’s leaders should spend less time inventing obstacles and more time earning votes. Democracy works best when more of us participate.
Lawrence E. Mazin, Ed.D.
SaddleBrooke
False sense of security/safety
Providing assistance with water/food, etc., for people crossing the border illegally is a form of luring the persons to expose themselves to encounters with the ICE enforcer. With the situation as it is in this time frame, the investment would be better used to offer legal entry assistance. I believe the good intentions will provide negative results for the intended help.
Vicente Rivera
Northwest side
A single vote
When 'We the People’ passed the Constitution as a system of government in 1787, the signatories did not specifically state our nation as a democracy. We were designed to be a union of states where separation of powers could lead to compromise. As in the First Amendment, this People (USA) is essentially an assemblage of individual persons who consent under law to be equal to each other with basic human rights. The amendment is silent regarding the composition and membership of a group and can be political, social, cultural or corporate. These groups enlist professionals to manage campaigns to persuade the electors to choose representatives that agree to their programs on budget, allocations and taxation legislation.
Using majority rule, the electorate sends representatives to Congress to protect our rights and to uphold the Constitution. A single vote every other year for a person is our only legal act to support democracy. So do we trust the campaign or the person?
Jerry Moser
Oro Valley
Digital-only holiday paper is a mistake
On Oct. 3, the Daily Star announced that it will no longer produce a print edition on major holidays. This is a mistake, and I urge the Daily Star to reverse course. Holidays are when many of us gather with friends and family, bringing generations together for quality time. When the paper is lying around the kitchen table, conversations begin. We connect and point out local and national news, restaurant recommendations, and more. My 10-year-old shares the funniest comics, and I point out Sonoran desert stories. The Daily Star’s decision to produce an online-only paper on holidays pushes us away from the kitchen table and onto individual screens. That is a shame.
Diana Newmark
Midtown
Old Pueblo parking hassle wrassle
Although Downtown Tucson, including Fourth Avenue, is known for its rich Sonoran history, vibrant arts, music scene and famous culinary culture, it has lost its appeal to citizens and visitors alike. The Star's own columnist Tim Steller recently wrote that business is down for a number of reasons, parking being one of them. Parking can be a crap shoot at best! The parking meter prices have increased July 1st from $1 to $1.50 per hour; half of them or more currently don't accept coins, and on July 1st, Fourth Avenue meters lengthened enforcement from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., now confusing people when trying to park at night and on weekends, often leaving them with $42 tickets. So folks decide to park at a downtown business parking lot, only to come back later finding their vehicle has been towed. Park Tucson employs many parking enforcement officers who actively patrol Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., issuing electronic tickets as needed.
Max LaPlante
Southeast side
Downtown and Fourth Ave parking
On a recent Saturday afternoon, I suddenly developed a craving for my favorite slice of pizza on Fourth Avenue. I drove to the area only to find that I needed to pay for parking. It was going to cost me at least $1.50 to get my $4 slice of pizza. I decided to leave and get pizza elsewhere.
My family and I are YMCA members. Although we don't live in the downtown area, occasionally I like to work out at the Lohse YMCA, downtown, so that I may then have some downtown hangout time. Since the City of Tucson implemented its new pay-for-parking format, I no longer partake in this activity, which I once enjoyed.
This situation is bad for residents and local businesses on Fourth Avenue and throughout the downtown area.
The City of Tucson claims to be pro-business, but its actions prove otherwise.
Things need to change.
Daniel Egan
East side
Donny One Note
I am deeply offended that President Trump and his immediate family have made more than $4 billion off his presidency since he took office. His memecoins and crypto alone made him hundreds of millions while ordinary Americans suffered steep losses buying them.
Equally offensive, Trump's tariffs, Iran war, bad policies and reckless decisions have created economic uncertainty and burdened American families with an additional $4,200 a year in soaring gas, diesel and grocery prices, along with increased rent, mortgage, electricity and healthcare costs. He enriches himself while we are left paying the price.
These are the deplorable consequences of Donny One Note. Vote his House and Senate out of office! It’s time to change the tune.
Judith Sartore
West side
Ciscomani’s ‘dirty tricks’
The desperation of Juan Ciscoimani’s reelection campaign is increasingly evident. Currently, bright yellow signs with absurd lies about JoAnna Mendoza are appearing beside signs for Joanna Mendoza for Congress. Intended to mislead voters, such dirty tricks are the same practice used by the infamous Joe McCarthy, Roy Cohn and Richard Nixon nearly a century ago. At long last, Mr. Ciscomani: have you no sense of decency?
Steve Kelsey
East side
Voter info booklet or TEP ads?
In the Voter Info Booklet, the TEP Franchise Agreement is Prop 421. And 59 of the 69 arguments for Prop 421 were paid for by "TEP for Tucson," (a PAC funded entirely by TEP ... no individuals or other organizations). And more than two dozen of those were by TEP employees.
Don’t believe claims or implications that TEP crews can’t respond as fast or that repairs will be delayed without a franchise agreement. Under Arizona law, a franchise agreement is not legally required, and there are several states where cities do not have utility franchise agreements.
Vote no on Prop 421! Instead, demand our mayor and council move ahead on "public power.”
Lee Stanfield
East side
Op-ed on park renaming
As a member of the committee to rename Murrieta Park, I was present on March 16, 2026, when core members met with Mayor Regina Romero and Vice Mayor Lane Santa Cruz to discuss concerns that they might have, given their political history with Salomon Baldenegro.
Romero and Santa Cruz did acknowledge past grievances, but both related that they would support the proposal. I left that meeting confident in their word moving forward.
Later the picture changed as Santa Cruz wanted to have a community meeting to discuss the Cesar Chavez scandal. I attended that meeting on Aug. 19 and sat with others, including Sadie Shaw, and shared my views on how we should honor our Chicano heroes.
At the Sept. 9 council meeting, Santa Cruz and Romero didn’t keep their word and called for a moratorium. Shame on them!
Victor Rivera
West side
Washington, D.C. government for AZ?
On PBS, in October 2023, Gov. Katie Hobbs said: “I’m not afraid to do what my predecessors refused to do: hold people accountable, maximize value for the state land trust, and protect Arizona’s water future.” You bet she's unafraid! Remember Gov. Doug Ducey’s land trust deal with Saudi Arabia? Hobbs reversed this. What else has she accomplished? Under Hobbs, over 100,000 new jobs have been added in Arizona; $165 million in affordable housing initiatives; Colorado River critical water deals; anti-fentanyl secure border operations; over $100 million for local law enforcement operations. And she vetoed insane bills from the Arizona legislature. Look them up. Business? Arizona continued attracting tens of billions of dollars in private technology/manufacturing investment. Remember this! Candidate Andy Biggs is sponsored by Turning Point PAC that posted signs reading “Democrats for Biggs.” There is no Democratic movement for Biggs, for good reason! It’s affiliated with Turning Point USA, close to the Trump Administration. What does Turning Point want from Biggs? Think about this when you vote. Do you want Arizona to be like Washington?
Nancy Jacques
Northeast side
Lucky seven
I believe the number seven is a lucky number for me. My father was one of seven children. I too was one of seven siblings. My wife Carolyn was one of seven. I had seven beautiful children. I love the seven continents, seven colors of the rainbow, seven-game championships in baseball (World Series). I sing seven basic musical notes. During my lifetime I owned seven beautiful homes in Laurel, Mary.; Madison, Conn.; Rockville, Mary; Lake of the Pines, Calif; Tucson Country Club; Cinnamon Avenue and Tucson National. My Christian religion speaks of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven deadly sins, the seven Heavenly virtues, the seven last words of Christ and the seven sorrows of the Blessed Mother. We have seven sacraments, seven corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Then there are the seven wonders of the world. I have a different list for the seven Wonders: Seeing, tasting, feeling, smelling, touching, breathing and loving. Yes, seven.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
Hold contemptible criminal in contempt of sanity
After continually ignoring and disobeying most court orders, from district courts, federal courts, appeals courts, all the way up to his self-owned Supreme Court (and even including Congress and the Constitution), when does Donald J. Trump get arrested and held on contempt of court, contempt of Congress?
We should have realized this would happen when he didn’t place his hand on the Bible during his oath of office ceremony.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
The heartbreak of a broken country
In honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence, the Musée d'Orsay in Paris has an exhibit on the Statue of Liberty. The French were ecstatic to celebrate the 100th birthday of American freedom in 1876 — thus the symbolic broken chain at the left foot of the statue. The French raised the money to construct the statue and ship it to the United States. Americans, especially Pulitzer, raised funds for the pedestal.
It was bittersweet to view the exhibit and read about the enthusiasm when it arrived in New York, along with the words of Emma Lazarus, knowing that we have lost the true spirit of America with the current administration.
Emma Lazarus' words no longer apply. We do not welcome the "tired .... poor .... huddled masses yearning to breathe free .... wretched refuse .... homeless .... to the ‘golden door.’"
The heartbreak of a broken country.
Sandra Katz, M.D., J.D.
Foothills
No holiday print edition
In all my 98 years, we always had a morning paper that we could divide and read as we ate our breakfast. We could show each other articles of interest. There are a host of reasons why a print edition is much easier to read.
Donald Plummer
Northwest side
Thirteen fewer print issues
I am outraged that "in observance" of national holidays, the Arizona Daily Star will not provide the printed editions of the paper that subscribers have paid for. This adds up to 13 papers over the year that we will not be receiving, and I will not be accessing them online. I choose print editions for a reason, not digital editions.
Monica Wadsworth-Seibel
Northeast side
Pima invested in my future
I came to Tucson as a refugee from Afghanistan with my mother and sister. Starting over in a new country was not easy, but Pima Community College gave me a place to learn, grow and build a future.
I began with English language courses and went on to earn my associate degree in cybersecurity. At Pima Community College, I earned an IT Support Specialist certification, served as a student senator and gained hands-on experience that helped prepare me for a career in technology.
I recently graduated and am now working while continuing my education at the University of Arizona in cyber operations.
My experience showed me firsthand how important Pima Community College is to Southern Arizona’s workforce. That is why I support Proposition 430, which would help expand training capacity in cybersecurity, public safety, STEM and education.
Pima invested in my future. I believe Proposition 430 can help make that same opportunity possible for many more students.
Zamir Azizi
Downtown
Deportation to third-world countries
How much more cruel and barbaric can the Trump government be when they send poor, desperate refugees, asylum seekers, or simply immigrants to a third country? By all categories of a democratic country subscribed to the principle of justice for all, how can US officials even think of committing this crime against humanity? Reflect on the reality for those miserable victims. Having barely escaped from violence and poverty ravaging their country, speaking only Spanish, e.g., they find themselves suddenly in Kosovo, Moldova (Europe), Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini (Africa), or Palau, Uzbekistan (Asia). How can they even survive there ? They have no social network, no linguistic abilities, no economic support system. This is the most shameful act of our government ever, so vote those truly un-American guys out of office!
Albrecht Classen
Midtown
Pima County and Tucson street maintenance
The question of why our local streets are in worse condition than most areas of the US has become a lively topic. As a veteran of the departments of transportation of both Pima County and Tucson, I can provide the clear, if unsatisfying, answer. Between 1980 and 2005, ours was the second fastest-growing population area in the U.S. Increased population and traffic congestion overwhelmed our street system. To avoid raising taxes, both Pima County and Tucson took out loans against the street maintenance funding they were due to receive from the state of Arizona in the future and used the money to add lanes to local streets to relieve the traffic congestion crisis. The loans took the form of two types of government bonds.
The consequence of this short-sighted approach was that both Pima County and Tucson were left with severely reduced street maintenance funds for the couple of decades it took to repay the bonds.
Brooks Keenan
Oro Valley
Progressives hate progress
The world is a-buzz with discussions on AI. Is it good? Is it bad? Should we continue with the progressive technology push to make AI more intelligent and useful in our everyday lives and “improve” military capabilities? AI requires massive amounts of computing power and memory; thus, there is a need for data centers.
The genie is out of the box. This progressive technology cannot be stopped. So why do Progressives hate the data centers required to support this progressive technology? We need to find a way to safely and economically build data centers in this country. If we don’t, China and other countries will, and we will be at their mercy.
Cal Rooker
Oro Valley
Ciscomani fights for his constituents
I personally know people who’ve reached out to Juan Ciscomani’s office for help with a federal agency, including veterans and seniors. His staff didn’t ask what party they belonged to or how they voted in the last election. No, they got to work, and they helped.
This kind of service is not bipartisan. It’s something even more important. It’s non-partisan.
Too bad Tim Steller didn’t dig into that.
Nicholas Franco
Northwest side
Spending too much on students
The editorial by Erika Sanzi regarding school funding is flawed. Yes, the spending per pupil is higher in states where the cost of living and, subsequently, salaries are higher than in other states. Interestingly, the more conservative states spend less and have a lower per capita income, according to the Federal Reserve Bank. The salaries in the higher-income states average $91,411 versus $65,323 in the other states. This was not considered in her thinking.
William Jones
East side
Ciscomani is not an honest broker
As Election Day approaches, the residents of Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District have a choice to make.
Rep. Juan Ciscomani, judging from his recent media blitz, would have us believe he is an independent voice serving his constituents’ best interests. His voting record tells a very different story: Rep. Ciscomani has repeatedly supported President Trump’s reckless and cruel agenda. He has voted for legislation that threatens access to healthcare, opposed efforts by Congress to rein in the war in Iran, supported tax policies that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy, and backed measures targeting the LGBTQ community.
These are not the actions of an independent voice.
This Election Day, my choice is clear. I will proudly cast my ballot for JoAnna Mendoza, whom I believe will represent Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District with honor and dignity and will provide an independent check on an out-of-control president.
Rahul Sivaprasad
Northwest side
Politics should change
I am increasingly frustrated by candidates who spend more time and money attacking their opponents than explaining why they deserve our votes.
Campaign TV and radio ads, mailers and signs are often filled with accusations and insults of opponents instead of ideas, qualifications or solutions. If you have to tear someone else down to make yourself look good, perhaps you do not have enough good things to say about yourself.
Voters should be wary of candidates whose primary message is simply, “Don’t vote for the other person.” Tell us what you stand for, what you have accomplished and what you intend to do.
Political speech is protected, and laws restricting campaign advertising would raise serious constitutional questions. But candidates should earn our votes by promoting their own ideas — not by personally tearing down their opponents.
Jimmy Fein
East side
Mandatory retirement for Congress
U.S. Senator Charles Grassley, 93 years old and still in office? It is past time for a mandatory retirement age for Congress, as well as the Senate and the President!
Eugene Corral
North side
The new normal
Did we start a war because we changed the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War? Brilliant!
We build another wall to slow down the people that got over the first wall. Maybe a moat?
We need all the energy we can get, so we tear down the windmills already in place?
We build a $400 million ballroom so the presidents can dance to YMCA. Perfect!
If you cut education spending, will you increase the prison population? Is it easier to teach children for seven hours a day or house inmates 24 hours a day?
Shuffle as many legislative districts as you can before the midterms. Choose your voters.
Build an arch so we can store lots of sniper bullets. Again, perfect!
Ed LeGendre
East side
No data centers
Like the majority of residents of Pima County, I say absolutely no to data centers.
— Water use alone should stop these projects.
— Electricity use alone should stop these projects.
— Noise pollution alone should stop these projects.
— Heat creation alone should stop these projects.
Very few jobs will be created by these environmentally destructive projects.
The icing on the cake: a lot of the massive corporations that will benefit from these data centers have asked for tax breaks.
The city council and the board of supervisors can put all the restrictions they want on data centers, but we all know from decades of experience with mining and chemical plant operations that powerful corporations have a way of ignoring or sidestepping regulations and even court orders.
Local elected officials need to just say no. The people will back them.
Maggy Zanger
Midtown
Variety: The spice of life
Am I the only reader who has grown tired of the same "Theme of the Day" for the letters to the editor, played on repeat every single day for months on end?
I too find that our president can be an extremely unlikeable human being. He is, after all, a politician; as such, these qualities are not exclusive to him and his party.
If we're all being honest, this President, like all others before him, has done positive things worthy of note. If Trump has a 30% approval rating, then give us three out of 10 letters that prove it. Most staunch Republicans I know are not afraid to share their views; let's see more of them.
Richard Peddy
East side
Removal of the roadless rule and Arizona Trail
I’m pleased to learn that many of our national forests could possibly open to off-road vehicles. We recently hiked sections of the Arizona National Trail in Southern Arizona and the John Muir Trail in California. As I get older, it's getting harder to carry my gear, food and water. I look forward to the day when I can take our luxury high-clearance SUV on or near these trails with the comforts of our sleeping mattress, Coleman stove, fresh food, Starlink dish, fridge, two golden doodles, and the perfect wine and beer to pair with the views.
Hopefully soon, Four Seasons opens a resort overlooking the Grand Canyon, and the Ritz-Carlton puts their panoramic cocktail lounge atop the Sierras. Thank you, Trump voters, for supporting this administration’s sensitivity to the needs of those who crave the outdoors but don’t have the willingness or ability to hike these areas. Everyone should have access to do what they want, how they want — no matter the cost.
Roy Vanduivenbode
Foothills
Ciscomani lies about his opponent
I am writing to express my disgust at Juan Ciscomani for trying to convince voters to support him by blatantly lying about his opponent. Big yellow signs have popped up attacking JoAnna Mendoza. If you get close enough to read the fine print, you will see they are funded by his campaign. And they lie.
One lie is "Mendoza is endorsed by Defund the Police.” There is no such entity as "Defund the Police" to endorse anyone. Mendoza’s actual comments in 2020 support more funding for police and for social services the police do not provide.
Moreover, Ciscomani's lies were debunked in American Vanguard’s March article “Right- Wing Media Misrepresents JoAnna Mendoza’s Stance on Police Funding.”
Ciscomani cannot run on his terrible record, so he has resorted to making things up about his opponent. We cannot let him keep conning voters.
Kenneth Minkoff
Vail
Prison company a bad deal for Marana
Evidence has come to light that the prison in Marana run by MTC reportedly had numerous sexual assaults that it didn’t report to federal regulators.
When community members brought concerns about MTC reopening the prison as a detention center to the Marana Town Council, we were told that the Town had a wonderful working relationship with MTC and could assure the facility would be run humanely.
The residents of Marana need their elected leaders to do everything possible to ensure the safety of the staff, the detainees, and the broader community.
Town Council should do a full background investigation into MTC, then add an agenda item to an upcoming meeting so that the public can have a say in what companies are allowed to do business in Marana.
Caroline Isaacs
East side
Lift the moratorium
Mayor and Council called a "moratorium" on naming parks for people five minutes after naming a park for a person. That's the height of disingenuous hypocrisy at its most obvious. Parks need to be named, and they need to be named for local people.
Sal Baldenegro is not a rags-to-riches story. It's a rags-to-organizing story. He made people believe in themselves and take pride in who they are. The City has recognized his efforts. He organized his home neighborhood, Barrio Hollywood, to take El Rio Golf Course from private to public. The City established its first Neighborhood Center and built a full-sized park on the vacant land adjacent to the golf course. The El Rio Coalition was behind all that, and Sal Baldenegro organized the coalition.
Here's the core of Sal's skills. He taught people how to take pride in themselves, and believe that things are possible through organizing to express your best interests.
John Yoakum
Midtown
Speeding on Tucson streets
A few days ago, an article in the Star told of a study to determine if and why people drive faster than the speed limits. Save yourself some time; no study needed. Drive from 22nd Street north on Kolb to Broadway and use the speed limit (40), seven out of 10 cars will flash by you — and many in a reckless manner. The reason is simple. People look at the 40 mph speed limit not as the maximum they can drive but as the minimum. I don't know why; it just is.
I contend that were the city to raise the limit to 50 mph, drivers would soon learn that is the minimum and disregard it, approaching 60. As silly as it sounds, the only way to achieve anything near the 40 mph wanted is to reduce the limit to 30 mph. Most would approach 40, which apparently is the objective in the first place.
Philip Reinecker
East side
Prop 421: One voice, bought in bulk
Open the Official Voter Information Booklet and Prop. 421 looks popular: 69 arguments in favor. Look closer. Fifty-nine were paid for by TEP for Tucson, a PAC funded solely by TEP. More than two dozen were submitted by TEP employees. Nearly all repeat the same talking points; "reliable" appears more than 100 times.
At $240 per argument, those 59 cost $14,160. Sounds like real money. Now set it beside the $437 million in profit Fortis collected from TEP's parent company last year: TEP earns back the entire campaign in about 16 minutes.
Meanwhile, TEP is asking regulators for a 13% rate increase, roughly $172 million more each year from our pockets: paid for in 42 minutes of increased rates.
Strip out the scripted arguments and only 12 independent voices remain. Those are the odds Tucson voters face. Vote no on Prop 421.
Howard Weiss
Midtown
Deportation to third-world countries
How much more cruel and barbaric can the Trump government be when they send poor, desperate refugees, asylum seekers, or simply immigrants to a third country? By all categories of a democratic country subscribed to the principle of justice for all, how can US officials even think of committing this crime against humanity? Reflect on the reality for those miserable victims. Having barely escaped from violence and poverty ravaging their country, speaking only Spanish, e.g., they find themselves suddenly in Kosovo, Moldova (Europe), Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini (Africa), or Palau, Uzbekistan (Asia). How can they even survive there ? They have no social network, no linguistic abilities, no economic support system. This is the most shameful act of our government ever, so vote those truly un-American guys out of office!
Albrecht Classen
Midtown
Pima County and Tucson street maintenance
The question of why our local streets are in worse condition than most areas of the US has become a lively topic. As a veteran of the departments of transportation of both Pima County and Tucson, I can provide the clear, if unsatisfying, answer. Between 1980 and 2005, ours was the second fastest-growing population area in the U.S. Increased population and traffic congestion overwhelmed our street system. To avoid raising taxes, both Pima County and Tucson took out loans against the street maintenance funding they were due to receive from the state of Arizona in the future and used the money to add lanes to local streets to relieve the traffic congestion crisis. The loans took the form of two types of government bonds.
The consequence of this short-sighted approach was that both Pima County and Tucson were left with severely reduced street maintenance funds for the couple of decades it took to repay the bonds.
Brooks Keenan
Oro Valley
- Updated
Toxic politeness won’t solve serious problems
Come December, the Cold War will have ended 35 years ago. Numerous Western and Southwestern peer cities fell into a hole, and only recently have ones like El Paso, Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, etc. managed to climb their way out. But not Tucson; it got comfortable down in the crater, enjoying its crime, squalor, retired indulgences, flaky social consciousness, lack of planning, university sinecures, etc. Well, bad news, folks, those salad days are ending. No more “Urban Stockholm Syndrome” ahead. And yet, Tucson is still beset with problems it should have solved decades ago. Maybe it’s time to end all the toxic politeness saddled to the city’s obvious cancel culture, should you violate. The first step in solving any problem is to admit you got one, then look clearly and transparently at its obvious root cause(s), and stop deluding yourselves. Enough toxic politeness; it’s rotting our brains.
Bill Sellers
Oro Valley
Candidate integrity
When deciding who to vote for in the election, one of the critical items should always be integrity. Everyone realizes that each candidate says what will make them look like the best choice in the eyes of the voters; however, isn't there an expectation that the commercials don't present false images? The recent commercials from Gov. Katie Hobbs seem to leave integrity in the distant past. The commercials state that Andy Biggs is pushing for a 23% increase in taxes, however, the truth is that Andy Biggs proposed a 23% tax that would replace the existing income tax, and he has always tried to make that clear. Did anyone else notice that so many of Hobbs' accomplishments were left over from the previous administration? Andy Biggs may not be perfect, but trust is high on the list.
Loran Hancock
Northwest side
Why I’m voting no on Prop 421
TEP is a privately held entity. That is a fact so many don’t realize. They do not care about us, only their shareholders. They can give us all the greenwashing, e-bike rebates, and freebies in the mail and events they want, but in the end they double down on data centers and rate hikes. They do not care that they could make power unaffordable and refuse to underground transmission lines because that would hurt their profit margins. If 421 passes, Tucson will become a lifeless husk in a few decades, and the only ones who will win are 2,200 miles away in Canada. It is time to tame this out-of-control rattlesnake, and put our power back in public hands and away from corporate greed.
Ryland Plassmann
Midtown
Tucson homeless response
Rural SW Virginia new transplant Tim F.’s letter to the editor complained about the homeless here. This isn't just a Tucson problem; it’s a countrywide problem. Comparing rural vs. urban bus stops is a whole different apple vs. orange. Our metro population is over 1 million; estimated 2,200 being homeless. Yes, homelessness is visible here. Tucson has programs and partnerships with charitable organizations for food and shelter, work and support programs. There are drug rehabs that will accommodate the homeless, but when even celebrities with all life’s advantages succumb to drugs, people will do what they do. No doubt the City can do better, but what will you do to help?
Jeff Albiniak
Midtown
Misleading ads
Ads against JoAnna Mendoza are deliberately misleading. Supposedly she wants to raise all our taxes. No. She is talking about billionaires. Republicans, including Juan Ciscomani, have cut funding for services to veterans, Medicaid and SNAP, all to fund tax cuts to the wealthy. When Mendoza said no more tax cuts or sales tax exemptions, she was talking about billionaires, not us. Also, when she said everyone must pay. She wants to protect us and the services our loved ones rely on.
Nancy Ward
Northeast side
Congress, where are you?
Now we have Senator John Kennedy claiming the President’s new ads, “paid for by the government,” are not appropriate, maybe even illegal. Congress, we are here because you haven’t done your job. McCain/Feingold was a good start on campaign reform, yet the Supreme Court gutted it with Citizens United. Where have you been since Congress? Did you address it – no. We have a political system dominated by dark money, unidentified contributors, etc. Loopholes are exploited by both sides of the aisle. If we want to let citizens regain control of the political process, Congress needs to step up now. Or, maybe having access to corporate largesse is easier!
Norman Patten
Midtown
Follow the money
Researching the immigration system, our tax dollars are going towards other countries who happily accept those who are being forced out of our country. Immigrants who are detained waiting for deportation are put into detention centers waiting for deportation. Following the recent arrest record by ICE, the only one who is profiting from deportation is owners of detention centers, third-world countries accepting immigrants ... we, in turn, are losing because many immigrants are no longer paying taxes, performing jobs which many citizens don’t care to do … Need to stop this madness. Vote for reclaiming our country. Stop the illegal war.
David Valenzuela
East side
Definitely NO on 421
Regarding the Sept. 27 letter to the editor “No on 421?” Yes, I will vote no on 421.
The physical infrastructure, front-line employees, foremen, middle managers and vendors are in place. Few of those people will relocate. So that is straightforward.
If upper management incentives are based on system reliability and minimizing rate hikes, which are not mutually exclusive goals, it should not be difficult to retain or replace upper management.
Fortis will have to accept a reasonable price and financing conditions. If not, would eminent domain be an effective tool to force Fortis’ hand?
Oversimplification or opportunity?
James Abels
Midtown
Ravens-Cowboys game
Man, talk about an exciting finish for the man who won that game in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 27: The UA’s Tyler Loop! Take that, doubters from last year’s not-so-good season.
Benito Whatley
South side
Militant chaos come election time
President Trump has announced the beginning of militant chaos in the political world. In a new TV ad, he calls his disciples to make holy war on the upcoming election, much like he did on Jan. 6, 2021.
He makes clear reference to the decisive Armageddon battle between good and evil promised in the Bible’s Book of Revelations: “This is the final battle.” Trump wants all manner of election interference to push back against the blue wave of Democrat sentiment roiling across the country.
He says the enemy today is “communists, Marxists and fascists,” clearly projecting his own political lifestyle onto the opposing party. He is the one using Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist purges of government officials, exile of innocents to far-away Siberia-like places, and illegal militarism turned against his own neighbors in big cities. He is the far-right fascist propagandist he says his opponents are.
He wants the focus on consolidation of his own illicit power rather than Jesus’ return to construct a humanitarian world.
Kimball Shinkoskey
Downtown
Why 'Yes' on Prop 425?
Ask yourself if you value Pima College, good roads, safety, health, public audits. That's what 425 is about. Go for it.
Ford Burkhart
Midtown
Saving archaeological sites
Since it sued the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CPB) in June, the Tohono O’odham Nation has physically protested the construction of a second 30-foot border wall on their land, along 23 miles of the national wildlife refuge west of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Armed border agents guard the construction site, keeping the protesters a significant distance away to watch the destruction of cultural and sacred sites. Last week, professional archaeologists joined the protest after the threat to a desert spring in the Monument and the destruction of petroglyphs and an intaglio scraped into the dark soil by humans 6,500 years ago. CPB claims it solicited public comment last year during the planning of this second barrier. But now CPB is magnanimously open to public comment again, until Oct. 12. Please email your opposition to the loss of these irreplaceable sites to TucsonComments@cpb.dhs.gov with the subject line “Tucson Sector Secondary Barrier System Construction” today! Thank you!
Stephanie Cady
Northeast side
Midterms at risk
Trump continues to talk about dealing with Iran “after the elections.” Here’s my fear: There will be no midterm elections. Trump will find a pretext to invoke the Insurrection Act, then federalize the National Guard and deploy it, along with the FBI and ICE, to block access to the polls. Then, with the backing of the current compliant Congress, he will prevent voters from replacing his allies and retain his power.
Glenn Kjos
East side
Fontes deserves our thanks
In an ongoing battle over Trump’s illegal demands to turn over voters' protected information, Adrian Fontes was steadfast in protecting our mail-in ballots used by over 80% of Arizonans. After repeatedly refusing to relinquish Arizonans’ private data, he won against the Trump Administration in court. Fontes again argued repeatedly in multi-state lawsuits against Trump’s order to restrict the US Postal Service’s delivery of mail-in ballots, which was ultimately blocked by the Supreme Court.
Fontes is fully committed to ensuring free and fair elections using well-established voter identification laws and keeping Arizona’s voter rolls up to date. He has established an Election Security Advisory Committee to protect against AI threats. His leadership in election administration and security has earned him national awards of excellence.
Whether you vote by mail or in person, Fontes has done everything in his power to ensure your ballot is safe and secure. Thank him with your vote.
Karen D. Grinfeld
Oro Valley
Ciscomani not worthy of a vote
The gazillions of uncontrolled spending and an unending purse for Trump is on Juan Ciscomani. A U.S. Representative serves as the direct link between their local community and the federal government, balancing legislative work in Washington, D.C. with representation and services back home. Getting money for JTED is but one of the many things Ciscomani "should" be doing for us (it's his job) and pointing out one goodie is not making me think he is doing his job well at all. The "Big Bad Bill," that's on Juan. DT is out of control, and Juan is supporting him hook, line, and sinker, not us. He is prioritizing Trump interests over local economic needs. Economy, healthcare, gas prices, Medicare, Medicaid, world status, safety, "war," Social Security, environment, USPS, voting. All failures, with Ciscomani's unfettered support. Sliced are necessary government programs that may help pay for food, housing, medical and other basic living expenses.
Peter Bisschop
East side
- Updated
Bipartisan? Really?
Juan Ciscomani is campaigning on the idea that he’s Arizona’s most bipartisan Congressional representative.
While that’s not untrue, looking at the numbers makes it – at best – a distinction without a difference. His five fellow Republican Congressmen earn a 90%-plus rating on the conservative Heritage Foundation scorecard, topped by Paul Gosar at 100%, Andy Biggs at 98%, Abe Hamadeh at 94%, and David Schweikert and Eli Crane at 92%.
Ciscomani’s rating is 87% in support of Trump’s dystopian agenda. This includes voting to slash food stamp and ACA support for millions of low-income Americans while granting tax breaks to the wealthiest and raising the national debt to all-time highs. He also tacitly supports Trump’s ruinous war against Iran.
Guess these facts don’t make for a great re-election platform.
In a few weeks voters will have an opportunity to demonstrate what we think of Ciscomani’s brand of “bipartisanship.”
Michael P. Cuno
Oro Valley
Prop 320: The devil is in the details
Requiring school districts to spend 60% of operational funding on "direct instruction" sounds reasonable. But what is direct instruction?
Counselors, nurses, many special education services, reading/math interventions, transportation and teacher development are excluded, though they're essential for learning and often legally required. These expenses are included in the larger category, "classroom spending," and districts spend 69.1% there.
Districts average 52.1% on direct instruction. With no new money provided by the proposition, districts below 60% will have to cut services to comply.
Worse, districts that fall short will lose 25% of their Classroom Site Fund — money that supports teachers and classrooms. Inexplicably, Prop. 320 will reduce money for direct instruction because a district isn't spending enough on direct instruction.
This mandate applies only to certain public school districts; public charter schools are exempt.
If we want stronger public education, we should invest more in schools, not impose a poison-pill formula that guarantees a reduction in funding. Vote no on Prop. 320.
Eileen Jackson
Foothills
Rating our roads
Thanks to Mark Moral for his letter (Arizona Daily Star, Sept. 24) pointing out the glaring contrast between many of Tucson's pitiful roads and properly maintained streets that are the norm in other parts of the country.
Road infrastructure in Tucson has suffered from decades of neglect and deferred maintenance. The maxim "When you find yourself in a hole, the No. 1 rule is to stop digging" was ignored in spades by the City. The only thing that can be said now is that they appear to have stopped digging.
John Fristik
Southeast side
What good is a shutdown?
As part of the May Day Strong Coalition, TucsonShutdown.org supports all aspects of election protection up to and including a grassroots, nationwide economic shutdown if our elections are sabotaged in any way. A shutdown is a tool of last resort. It is one of the few ways that the citizenry of the entire nation can come together in a unified, non-violent response to a government that refuses to abide by the laws of the land. Ideally, we will not need to have a shutdown. However, if our right to vote is impeded, if our votes are discounted, if our duly elected representatives are not sworn in and seated, what are our non-violent alternatives to a shutdown? You say the courts will handle it? Trump and members of his regime have bulldozed the norms and ignored court orders repeatedly. There is no one to enforce court rulings. It’s up to us. If we do nothing, we acknowledge the end of the American Experiment.
Jude Glass
Midtown
How are we safer?
How are we safer when ICE arrests Eissa Hashemi, a professor and mentor of PhD students in the Business Psychology department of the Chicago School, and his wife and son? All three are legal permanent residents; Eissa and his wife have valid green cards and have committed no crimes, not even a traffic ticket. ICE says it is because Eissa’s mother was an interpreter for the Iranian hostage takers in 1979, before he was even born! Because of this, their green cards were revoked with no notification and no due process. Eissa is in one detention center, his wife and son in another. What happened to the rule of law? What happened to removing the “worst of the worst?” ICE is out of control and must be contained.
Don Ries
Southeast side
Loss of cottonwood tree in Lochiel
I was one of the last to see the 200-year-old Grandmother Cottonwood Tree that blocked border wall construction at Lochiel, Arizona. As I stood under it on Oct. 4, I had a political thought: “This tree was probably a seedling when Thomas Jefferson was alive.”
Sixteen hours later (on the morning of Oct. 5), armed, uniformed Border Patrol agents shoved aside protesters and cut down the tree. Now the wall construction can proceed.
The loss of the big tree has affected me more than I expected. Mostly, it made me think about politics and the passage of time. What plants and animals may be inconvenient according to future politics — or conversely, when might sections of the border wall become inconvenient?
On Oct. 4, my friends and I wondered how long this particular controversial section of the wall might last. Our best guess was: “Until the next administration, or maybe the one after that.”
But the old cottonwood won’t be a part of that future.
David DeGroot
Northwest side
Voting and health
As ballots mail out, I urge everyone to exercise their right to vote. While it is easy to get jaded about politics and the “system,” it is important to recognize that the impacts of voting (or not voting) can be wide-ranging.
Take, for example, cuts to SNAP and AHCCCS under H.R. 1, hurting families across Arizona. If more people voted differently, would it be fair to assume that these cuts could have been avoided?
As a Master of Public Health student at the University of Arizona, the concept of the “Political Determinants of Health,” or how political decisions impact health, has come to the forefront. Votes are not simply choices between people and parties; they are choices about policies and priorities that shape our communities and, ultimately, our health.
One person may feel insignificant, but collectively, we have the power to shape our communities. So, when your ballot arrives, use your power.
Mon Lacea
North side
Bad AI
With all the new tech, I have wondered what the future of reading and writing will be. At one time, script was eliminated from the curriculum in some primary schools and then returned. With AI everywhere, it is even in my email with auto correct changing my texts and effectively making my intent into bad jokes. I was initially amused. My eyesight has deteriorated seriously and increasingly enjoy audiobooks. Remember books on tape? YouTube offers many books from my favorite authors for free, and I have lately listened to AI-generated stories. They are so awful and obviously AI. I laugh at the terrible mispronunciation and fake accents. Today I was struck by the errors in the subtitles. For example, "foals" became "fools" in a story about horses in Texas. It happens so often, and it is obvious that there is no editing or quality control. I think it will make learning to spell more difficult for young learners.
Barbara Moore
East side
Reality check
The concept or belief that the economy can depend on continued growth based on consumerism is illogical. As the supply of essential resources declines and, in turn, becomes more expensive, the economy will have to be driven by other activities. When I read about people outraged by energy costs, they must be reminded that oil is limited and the population of the world is ever-increasing, so the demand will exceed the supply. At some point, the use of alternative energy sources will not be a choice. We also must consider that the massive waste in the way we live is not sustainable. What if manufacturers could only have new models every three years instead of every year? The emphasis would be on repair and parts manufacturing. Having a new phone every year is a luxury we might not be able to afford. I know some of you will say this is all a fantasy, but consider Arizona's dire water situation. There will be a point when water will become very expensive.
Kalvin Smith
Midtown
Variety? This ‘spice’ we don't need
I fear an Oct. 4 letter to the editor is attempting to sane-wash Donald Trump, who is not simply “an extremely unlikeable human being.” He is mired in a level of corruption and lawlessness that would make Nixon blush. His incompetence and that of those surrounding him endanger the country. Trump is manifestly unfit to hold the office of the presidency and disgraces that office every time he appears, or worse, opens his mouth. He lies nonstop and constantly threatens to “punish” those who criticize him — the president is meant to serve all the people, even those who disagree with him. Trump’s questionable “positive things” are dwarfed by the magnitude of his indecency and lack of character.
S. Ross Emmanuel
Southeast side
Candidate integrity
This is in response to an Oct. 3 letter to the editor that indicates that Andy Biggs has integrity, but Katie Hobbs does not. May I remind all of our readers that Biggs was a 2020 election denier and urged Arizona Republicans, including the speaker of the statehouse, not to certify valid election results. Biggs claimed voter fraud, with, of course, zero proof. Voters need to remember this when voting.
John Kaufman
SaddleBrooke
Need to save lives in the desert
For more than 20 years, Humane Borders has maintained water stations in the Sonoran Desert. Their main purpose is to save migrant lives. But the water is available for hikers, hunters, or anyone wandering in the desert. Now the federal agencies in charge of public lands have ordered Humane Borders to remove its water stations. The organization has done so, apparently to maintain its “law-abiding” reputation.
I was a Humane Borders volunteer for 10 years. I saw much evidence of life-saving water use, usually in the form of discarded belongings, even from mothers with small children who left baby clothing near our stations.
In my opinion, Humane Borders’ decision to comply with the government’s immoral directive was wrong. The best way to fight against the Trump administration’s authoritarian culture of cruelty is to resist and to help others in need, whatever the consequences may be.
Stephen Saltonstall
Northeast side
More like this...
Safe and secure voting for everyone
If you vote by mail, you can drop off your signed and completed mail-in ballot at a secure Ballot Drop Box near you. They open Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 8 a.m. and will remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until Election Day, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. Ballots are picked up twice a day and are carefully monitored. Locate one near you on your county recorder’s website (example: recorder.pima.gov/dropboxes). The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 23.
If you vote in person, take advantage of a nearby Early Voting Site and vote when it’s convenient. Life happens even on election day. Go to your county recorder’s website/earlyvotingsites. Your vote is too important to leave to chance.
Know your candidates, vote the entire ballot. The sooner you vote, the less likely you are to have people calling, texting and coming to your door. Voting early is good for all of us.
When we vote, we win!
Betsy Wexler
Oro Valley
Catching up is hard to do
I hear complaints about the condition of our roads and the ongoing construction.
The City of Tucson is in the fifth year of a 10-year effort to touch every neighborhood street in the city. See the progress that has been made and projects in process in both neighborhood and collector streets at tucne.ws/tdbsss.
Also, in March, the voters approved RTANext. The City has approved a tentative list of 28 road rehabilitation projects, of which six were selected for construction in FY 26/27 on a $144 million project. Work is already in process on Irvington — Houghton to Kolb, one of the worst. The other five segments are on Silverbell, Swan, Alvernon, Kolb and Wrightstown.
Also, work continues on RTA Projects and other safety, bicycle and pedestrian improvements. Yes, catching up is progressing.
Dale Calvert
Northeast side
Voters beware: Demand proof
With Election Day only a month away and early voting about to begin, we've entered the cesspool phase of politics. One tactic to be aware of is when a candidate paraphrases what his or her opponent supposedly said about an issue without providing an actual contextual quote that exists in audio, video or printed format. A good example is the claim by CD 6's GOP candidate that his opponent wants to defund the police. Of course, if his opponent ever unambiguously said or wrote that, we'd be hearing and/or reading an actual quote instead of a characterization of one. The failure to furnish any such evidence is strong evidence that it does not exist. While it is true that this tactic may sway some on the fringe, it is based on the premise that voters are stupid and inattentive. But because you are not, don't fall for this crap.
Bruce Skolnik
Northeast side
‘Scalia/Ginsberg’ opera
I went to the "comic" opera “Scalia/Ginsburg.” The comedy was largely Scalia’s exaggerated pounding around the stage and being subjected to unending left-wing barbs, cheered on by the audience. The Constitution came up, pitting the sober originalist position versus the romantic living views of the Constitution.
For Ginsburg, “Scalia/Ginsburg” was a “dream come true.” Scalia, an enthusiastic singer, doubting the author would let him and Ginsburg play the singing roles themselves, finished with, “Even so, it may be a good show.”
The third person on the set, the “Commentator,” was a distraction, better done without. This was not an opera, rather a musical. Notwithstanding the excellent orchestra, the production didn’t measure up.
Don Clarke
Sahuarita
The obvious answer
You don't need a degree in psychology to understand what's happening and the whys and wherefores when it comes to drivers speeding. Why do some drivers go 70 mph in a 40 zone? Or constantly 15 to 20 mph over the speed limit?
I can think of at least three reasons. No. 1: complete lack of enforcement. No. 2: everyone else is doing it. No. 3: I'm one of the best drivers on the road ... I won't be in an accident!
Maybe it's because of better pay/benefits in other cities ... or maybe the police force is stretched too thin . Whatever the reason, everyone knows "When the cat's away, the mice will play," and in this case the cats are nowhere to be found!
We don't have the enforcement that we so need. Something has to change.
Maybe a different mayor could figure it out!
David Hatch
Southeast side
Reinvent Fourth Ave. and ICE out!
Tim Steller's Oct. 4 column "4th Ave. woes go beyond parking" provided well-prepared food for thought, so here are my undercooked proposals which might cause a stomachache to some:
1) Inaugurate the "Fourth Avenue International Arts and Diversity District" with exhibits and performance spaces.
2) Do away with the parking meters and give everyone three free hours, and only ticket repeat offenders
OR
3) Pull up the pavement (minus the Sun Link streetcar) and make Fourth Avenue a pedestrian mall with a robust shade canopy of native trees to mitigate rising heat.
4) Increase Sun Link service to shuttle people back and forth from existing parking garages and lots (all free).
5) Have a center on Fourth Avenue to support those struggling with homelessness and substance use.
6) Vote out all politicians who support ICE, which scares away local residents and foreign visitors, further harming the economy.
7) Bring back Magpie's pizza.
Richard Boren
Midtown
Biggs’ run for governor
We are $40T in debt, yet "conservative" Andy Biggs has done nothing to stop the obscene spending. Our Constitution and rule of law have burned to the ground, yet "conservative" Biggs did nothing but stand by and watch them burn. Biggs says he is a leader and anti-corruption. Biggs says he will put Arizona first. That would be easier to believe if, during all his years in Congress, he had put our country first. He didn't. We have to stop electing people like Andy Biggs to office.
Dave Rollins
Patagonia
Catalina Highway
As the weather in Tucson cools and the days become perfect for a drive up Mount Lemmon to enjoy the fall colors, it’s important to remember that Catalina Highway is shared by more than just cars. Once you pass Houghton Road and begin the climb, stay alert for wildlife. You may see coyotes, small herds of javelinas, deer, quail with their young, rabbits or even snakes crossing the road.
But the most surprising — and sometimes the most intimidating — creatures on Catalina Highway are the cyclists. They may ride in compact groups of 10 to 20 or stretch out in a long single file. Their brightly colored gear can easily catch your eye and distract you.
As one of those “scary” cyclists myself, I ask that you please slow down, give riders plenty of space when passing, and remember that both drivers and cyclists are part of the same wild herd.
Enjoy your trip to Mount Lemmon, and let’s keep all our two-legged and four-legged travelers safe.
Peter Palazzo
Northeast side
November election
To all of you mad at President Trump because of higher prices — average gas prices were higher under President Biden, so was inflation. President Trump works every day, and there is a list of accomplishments for Americans, starting with closing the border, lowering drug prices and lower taxes in the Big Beautiful Bill (no taxes on tips and lower taxes on seniors). I received the highest tax refund since my husband passed away this last April because of the BBB. Don't forget the Trump accounts for eligible children — $1,000!
I could go on, but there isn't enough space.
Be careful voting for anyone with a "D" after their name. Their election ads talk about working across the aisle and working to help their fellow Arizonans. The problem is when they go to Washington, they all vote according to the party line — they meekly do whatever the leaders say. You're worried about prices? How about worrying about your freedom?
Debra Berthelot
Marana
Data centers
The United States currently has more than 3,000 operational data centers, with Virginia, Texas, and California leading the way, and more to come. For those who oppose these installations, seeking to shut them down and halt all construction of additional ones, please consider the ramifications. First of all, there is no such thing as the cloud, only data centers storing all your data and allowing you to use your digital devices at will. What happens when you restrict data centers? No online banking, only hard cash. No internet. No online gambling. No Netflix, etc. No online music. No Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. No telemedicine. No Tesla or driverless cars. No online college classes. No instant stock trading. No online ordering, so goodbye to Amazon or any other online company or restaurant. Back to 1950, when consumers actually had to visit a store or office to get anything done, and the Post Office was the lifeline. Luddites, here we come.
Loyal M Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Ciscomani’s silence
I appreciate Robert Laux-Bachand’s insightful letter to the editor. Juan Ciscomani’s silence on how his father btained a religious worker visa is deafening. Ciscomani should speak up and address this. And that’s just one of many issues where his silence speaks volumes. Why did he vote to give billionaires the largest tax cut in history, adding $2 trillion to our national debt? Why did he support cutting food assistance to poor children, who could perform better in school with a healthy meal? Why did he vote to slash ACA and Medicaid, leaving millions uninsured and threatening the closure of rural hospitals? Rural people voted for him! He should explain to them how they can get healthcare when they or their children are sick. Ciscomani claimed to oppose these cuts before the vote, yet still voted in favor of them. He says one thing but does another. It’s time to speak up, Ciscomani. Don’t just be “Juan in a billion.”
Louis Hollingsworth
West side
I gotta vent
I have lived through Eisenhower, Carter, Reagan, GHW Bush, Obama and Biden. In my lifetime, I have never seen or heard of a president being scrutinized over every word he speaks. I have never heard of their wives or children being threatened, insulted and humiliated. I am truly ashamed of the behavior of the people in this country.
Every past President was left to run the country after they were elected and had taken the oath of office. They weren't on the news 24/7, being drawn and quartered, every sentence dissected, constantly pressured to do this or that without an ounce of moral support.
Just imagine how much more he could accomplish if he didn’t have to defend himself constantly. Enough is enough, leave the man alone to do his job!
Bruce Johnson
Foothills
Arizona should make voting easier
Arizona should make voting easier, not harder. In 2024, 78.49% of registered Arizonans cast ballots. In the 2022 midterms, just 62.56% did. That is more than 1.5 million registered voters who stayed home. Our goal should be 85% to 90% turnout, including in midterms.
Yet some elected officials keep treating eligible voters as the problem. Proposals that add paperwork, shrink voting options, or make registration more difficult threaten to silence citizens while claiming to protect elections. In Pima County, voting by mail and convenient vote centers help people participate. We should strengthen those options and keep voter rolls accurate.
What about claims of widespread noncitizen voting? A study covering 23.5 million ballots in 42 jurisdictions found only about 30 suspected cases referred for investigation. Suspicions are not convictions, and they do not justify barriers for millions of citizens.
Arizona’s leaders should spend less time inventing obstacles and more time earning votes. Democracy works best when more of us participate.
Lawrence E. Mazin, Ed.D.
SaddleBrooke
False sense of security/safety
Providing assistance with water/food, etc., for people crossing the border illegally is a form of luring the persons to expose themselves to encounters with the ICE enforcer. With the situation as it is in this time frame, the investment would be better used to offer legal entry assistance. I believe the good intentions will provide negative results for the intended help.
Vicente Rivera
Northwest side
A single vote
When 'We the People’ passed the Constitution as a system of government in 1787, the signatories did not specifically state our nation as a democracy. We were designed to be a union of states where separation of powers could lead to compromise. As in the First Amendment, this People (USA) is essentially an assemblage of individual persons who consent under law to be equal to each other with basic human rights. The amendment is silent regarding the composition and membership of a group and can be political, social, cultural or corporate. These groups enlist professionals to manage campaigns to persuade the electors to choose representatives that agree to their programs on budget, allocations and taxation legislation.
Using majority rule, the electorate sends representatives to Congress to protect our rights and to uphold the Constitution. A single vote every other year for a person is our only legal act to support democracy. So do we trust the campaign or the person?
Jerry Moser
Oro Valley
Digital-only holiday paper is a mistake
On Oct. 3, the Daily Star announced that it will no longer produce a print edition on major holidays. This is a mistake, and I urge the Daily Star to reverse course. Holidays are when many of us gather with friends and family, bringing generations together for quality time. When the paper is lying around the kitchen table, conversations begin. We connect and point out local and national news, restaurant recommendations, and more. My 10-year-old shares the funniest comics, and I point out Sonoran desert stories. The Daily Star’s decision to produce an online-only paper on holidays pushes us away from the kitchen table and onto individual screens. That is a shame.
Diana Newmark
Midtown
Old Pueblo parking hassle wrassle
Although Downtown Tucson, including Fourth Avenue, is known for its rich Sonoran history, vibrant arts, music scene and famous culinary culture, it has lost its appeal to citizens and visitors alike. The Star's own columnist Tim Steller recently wrote that business is down for a number of reasons, parking being one of them. Parking can be a crap shoot at best! The parking meter prices have increased July 1st from $1 to $1.50 per hour; half of them or more currently don't accept coins, and on July 1st, Fourth Avenue meters lengthened enforcement from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., now confusing people when trying to park at night and on weekends, often leaving them with $42 tickets. So folks decide to park at a downtown business parking lot, only to come back later finding their vehicle has been towed. Park Tucson employs many parking enforcement officers who actively patrol Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., issuing electronic tickets as needed.
Max LaPlante
Southeast side
Downtown and Fourth Ave parking
On a recent Saturday afternoon, I suddenly developed a craving for my favorite slice of pizza on Fourth Avenue. I drove to the area only to find that I needed to pay for parking. It was going to cost me at least $1.50 to get my $4 slice of pizza. I decided to leave and get pizza elsewhere.
My family and I are YMCA members. Although we don't live in the downtown area, occasionally I like to work out at the Lohse YMCA, downtown, so that I may then have some downtown hangout time. Since the City of Tucson implemented its new pay-for-parking format, I no longer partake in this activity, which I once enjoyed.
This situation is bad for residents and local businesses on Fourth Avenue and throughout the downtown area.
The City of Tucson claims to be pro-business, but its actions prove otherwise.
Things need to change.
Daniel Egan
East side
Donny One Note
I am deeply offended that President Trump and his immediate family have made more than $4 billion off his presidency since he took office. His memecoins and crypto alone made him hundreds of millions while ordinary Americans suffered steep losses buying them.
Equally offensive, Trump's tariffs, Iran war, bad policies and reckless decisions have created economic uncertainty and burdened American families with an additional $4,200 a year in soaring gas, diesel and grocery prices, along with increased rent, mortgage, electricity and healthcare costs. He enriches himself while we are left paying the price.
These are the deplorable consequences of Donny One Note. Vote his House and Senate out of office! It’s time to change the tune.
Judith Sartore
West side
Ciscomani’s ‘dirty tricks’
The desperation of Juan Ciscoimani’s reelection campaign is increasingly evident. Currently, bright yellow signs with absurd lies about JoAnna Mendoza are appearing beside signs for Joanna Mendoza for Congress. Intended to mislead voters, such dirty tricks are the same practice used by the infamous Joe McCarthy, Roy Cohn and Richard Nixon nearly a century ago. At long last, Mr. Ciscomani: have you no sense of decency?
Steve Kelsey
East side
Voter info booklet or TEP ads?
In the Voter Info Booklet, the TEP Franchise Agreement is Prop 421. And 59 of the 69 arguments for Prop 421 were paid for by "TEP for Tucson," (a PAC funded entirely by TEP ... no individuals or other organizations). And more than two dozen of those were by TEP employees.
Don’t believe claims or implications that TEP crews can’t respond as fast or that repairs will be delayed without a franchise agreement. Under Arizona law, a franchise agreement is not legally required, and there are several states where cities do not have utility franchise agreements.
Vote no on Prop 421! Instead, demand our mayor and council move ahead on "public power.”
Lee Stanfield
East side
Op-ed on park renaming
As a member of the committee to rename Murrieta Park, I was present on March 16, 2026, when core members met with Mayor Regina Romero and Vice Mayor Lane Santa Cruz to discuss concerns that they might have, given their political history with Salomon Baldenegro.
Romero and Santa Cruz did acknowledge past grievances, but both related that they would support the proposal. I left that meeting confident in their word moving forward.
Later the picture changed as Santa Cruz wanted to have a community meeting to discuss the Cesar Chavez scandal. I attended that meeting on Aug. 19 and sat with others, including Sadie Shaw, and shared my views on how we should honor our Chicano heroes.
At the Sept. 9 council meeting, Santa Cruz and Romero didn’t keep their word and called for a moratorium. Shame on them!
Victor Rivera
West side
Washington, D.C. government for AZ?
On PBS, in October 2023, Gov. Katie Hobbs said: “I’m not afraid to do what my predecessors refused to do: hold people accountable, maximize value for the state land trust, and protect Arizona’s water future.” You bet she's unafraid! Remember Gov. Doug Ducey’s land trust deal with Saudi Arabia? Hobbs reversed this. What else has she accomplished? Under Hobbs, over 100,000 new jobs have been added in Arizona; $165 million in affordable housing initiatives; Colorado River critical water deals; anti-fentanyl secure border operations; over $100 million for local law enforcement operations. And she vetoed insane bills from the Arizona legislature. Look them up. Business? Arizona continued attracting tens of billions of dollars in private technology/manufacturing investment. Remember this! Candidate Andy Biggs is sponsored by Turning Point PAC that posted signs reading “Democrats for Biggs.” There is no Democratic movement for Biggs, for good reason! It’s affiliated with Turning Point USA, close to the Trump Administration. What does Turning Point want from Biggs? Think about this when you vote. Do you want Arizona to be like Washington?
Nancy Jacques
Northeast side
Lucky seven
I believe the number seven is a lucky number for me. My father was one of seven children. I too was one of seven siblings. My wife Carolyn was one of seven. I had seven beautiful children. I love the seven continents, seven colors of the rainbow, seven-game championships in baseball (World Series). I sing seven basic musical notes. During my lifetime I owned seven beautiful homes in Laurel, Mary.; Madison, Conn.; Rockville, Mary; Lake of the Pines, Calif; Tucson Country Club; Cinnamon Avenue and Tucson National. My Christian religion speaks of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven deadly sins, the seven Heavenly virtues, the seven last words of Christ and the seven sorrows of the Blessed Mother. We have seven sacraments, seven corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Then there are the seven wonders of the world. I have a different list for the seven Wonders: Seeing, tasting, feeling, smelling, touching, breathing and loving. Yes, seven.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
Hold contemptible criminal in contempt of sanity
After continually ignoring and disobeying most court orders, from district courts, federal courts, appeals courts, all the way up to his self-owned Supreme Court (and even including Congress and the Constitution), when does Donald J. Trump get arrested and held on contempt of court, contempt of Congress?
We should have realized this would happen when he didn’t place his hand on the Bible during his oath of office ceremony.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
The heartbreak of a broken country
In honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence, the Musée d'Orsay in Paris has an exhibit on the Statue of Liberty. The French were ecstatic to celebrate the 100th birthday of American freedom in 1876 — thus the symbolic broken chain at the left foot of the statue. The French raised the money to construct the statue and ship it to the United States. Americans, especially Pulitzer, raised funds for the pedestal.
It was bittersweet to view the exhibit and read about the enthusiasm when it arrived in New York, along with the words of Emma Lazarus, knowing that we have lost the true spirit of America with the current administration.
Emma Lazarus' words no longer apply. We do not welcome the "tired .... poor .... huddled masses yearning to breathe free .... wretched refuse .... homeless .... to the ‘golden door.’"
The heartbreak of a broken country.
Sandra Katz, M.D., J.D.
Foothills
No holiday print edition
In all my 98 years, we always had a morning paper that we could divide and read as we ate our breakfast. We could show each other articles of interest. There are a host of reasons why a print edition is much easier to read.
Donald Plummer
Northwest side
Thirteen fewer print issues
I am outraged that "in observance" of national holidays, the Arizona Daily Star will not provide the printed editions of the paper that subscribers have paid for. This adds up to 13 papers over the year that we will not be receiving, and I will not be accessing them online. I choose print editions for a reason, not digital editions.
Monica Wadsworth-Seibel
Northeast side
Pima invested in my future
I came to Tucson as a refugee from Afghanistan with my mother and sister. Starting over in a new country was not easy, but Pima Community College gave me a place to learn, grow and build a future.
I began with English language courses and went on to earn my associate degree in cybersecurity. At Pima Community College, I earned an IT Support Specialist certification, served as a student senator and gained hands-on experience that helped prepare me for a career in technology.
I recently graduated and am now working while continuing my education at the University of Arizona in cyber operations.
My experience showed me firsthand how important Pima Community College is to Southern Arizona’s workforce. That is why I support Proposition 430, which would help expand training capacity in cybersecurity, public safety, STEM and education.
Pima invested in my future. I believe Proposition 430 can help make that same opportunity possible for many more students.
Zamir Azizi
Downtown
Deportation to third-world countries
How much more cruel and barbaric can the Trump government be when they send poor, desperate refugees, asylum seekers, or simply immigrants to a third country? By all categories of a democratic country subscribed to the principle of justice for all, how can US officials even think of committing this crime against humanity? Reflect on the reality for those miserable victims. Having barely escaped from violence and poverty ravaging their country, speaking only Spanish, e.g., they find themselves suddenly in Kosovo, Moldova (Europe), Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini (Africa), or Palau, Uzbekistan (Asia). How can they even survive there ? They have no social network, no linguistic abilities, no economic support system. This is the most shameful act of our government ever, so vote those truly un-American guys out of office!
Albrecht Classen
Midtown
Pima County and Tucson street maintenance
The question of why our local streets are in worse condition than most areas of the US has become a lively topic. As a veteran of the departments of transportation of both Pima County and Tucson, I can provide the clear, if unsatisfying, answer. Between 1980 and 2005, ours was the second fastest-growing population area in the U.S. Increased population and traffic congestion overwhelmed our street system. To avoid raising taxes, both Pima County and Tucson took out loans against the street maintenance funding they were due to receive from the state of Arizona in the future and used the money to add lanes to local streets to relieve the traffic congestion crisis. The loans took the form of two types of government bonds.
The consequence of this short-sighted approach was that both Pima County and Tucson were left with severely reduced street maintenance funds for the couple of decades it took to repay the bonds.
Brooks Keenan
Oro Valley
Progressives hate progress
The world is a-buzz with discussions on AI. Is it good? Is it bad? Should we continue with the progressive technology push to make AI more intelligent and useful in our everyday lives and “improve” military capabilities? AI requires massive amounts of computing power and memory; thus, there is a need for data centers.
The genie is out of the box. This progressive technology cannot be stopped. So why do Progressives hate the data centers required to support this progressive technology? We need to find a way to safely and economically build data centers in this country. If we don’t, China and other countries will, and we will be at their mercy.
Cal Rooker
Oro Valley
Ciscomani fights for his constituents
I personally know people who’ve reached out to Juan Ciscomani’s office for help with a federal agency, including veterans and seniors. His staff didn’t ask what party they belonged to or how they voted in the last election. No, they got to work, and they helped.
This kind of service is not bipartisan. It’s something even more important. It’s non-partisan.
Too bad Tim Steller didn’t dig into that.
Nicholas Franco
Northwest side
Spending too much on students
The editorial by Erika Sanzi regarding school funding is flawed. Yes, the spending per pupil is higher in states where the cost of living and, subsequently, salaries are higher than in other states. Interestingly, the more conservative states spend less and have a lower per capita income, according to the Federal Reserve Bank. The salaries in the higher-income states average $91,411 versus $65,323 in the other states. This was not considered in her thinking.
William Jones
East side
Ciscomani is not an honest broker
As Election Day approaches, the residents of Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District have a choice to make.
Rep. Juan Ciscomani, judging from his recent media blitz, would have us believe he is an independent voice serving his constituents’ best interests. His voting record tells a very different story: Rep. Ciscomani has repeatedly supported President Trump’s reckless and cruel agenda. He has voted for legislation that threatens access to healthcare, opposed efforts by Congress to rein in the war in Iran, supported tax policies that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy, and backed measures targeting the LGBTQ community.
These are not the actions of an independent voice.
This Election Day, my choice is clear. I will proudly cast my ballot for JoAnna Mendoza, whom I believe will represent Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District with honor and dignity and will provide an independent check on an out-of-control president.
Rahul Sivaprasad
Northwest side
Politics should change
I am increasingly frustrated by candidates who spend more time and money attacking their opponents than explaining why they deserve our votes.
Campaign TV and radio ads, mailers and signs are often filled with accusations and insults of opponents instead of ideas, qualifications or solutions. If you have to tear someone else down to make yourself look good, perhaps you do not have enough good things to say about yourself.
Voters should be wary of candidates whose primary message is simply, “Don’t vote for the other person.” Tell us what you stand for, what you have accomplished and what you intend to do.
Political speech is protected, and laws restricting campaign advertising would raise serious constitutional questions. But candidates should earn our votes by promoting their own ideas — not by personally tearing down their opponents.
Jimmy Fein
East side
Mandatory retirement for Congress
U.S. Senator Charles Grassley, 93 years old and still in office? It is past time for a mandatory retirement age for Congress, as well as the Senate and the President!
Eugene Corral
North side
The new normal
Did we start a war because we changed the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War? Brilliant!
We build another wall to slow down the people that got over the first wall. Maybe a moat?
We need all the energy we can get, so we tear down the windmills already in place?
We build a $400 million ballroom so the presidents can dance to YMCA. Perfect!
If you cut education spending, will you increase the prison population? Is it easier to teach children for seven hours a day or house inmates 24 hours a day?
Shuffle as many legislative districts as you can before the midterms. Choose your voters.
Build an arch so we can store lots of sniper bullets. Again, perfect!
Ed LeGendre
East side
No data centers
Like the majority of residents of Pima County, I say absolutely no to data centers.
— Water use alone should stop these projects.
— Electricity use alone should stop these projects.
— Noise pollution alone should stop these projects.
— Heat creation alone should stop these projects.
Very few jobs will be created by these environmentally destructive projects.
The icing on the cake: a lot of the massive corporations that will benefit from these data centers have asked for tax breaks.
The city council and the board of supervisors can put all the restrictions they want on data centers, but we all know from decades of experience with mining and chemical plant operations that powerful corporations have a way of ignoring or sidestepping regulations and even court orders.
Local elected officials need to just say no. The people will back them.
Maggy Zanger
Midtown
Variety: The spice of life
Am I the only reader who has grown tired of the same "Theme of the Day" for the letters to the editor, played on repeat every single day for months on end?
I too find that our president can be an extremely unlikeable human being. He is, after all, a politician; as such, these qualities are not exclusive to him and his party.
If we're all being honest, this President, like all others before him, has done positive things worthy of note. If Trump has a 30% approval rating, then give us three out of 10 letters that prove it. Most staunch Republicans I know are not afraid to share their views; let's see more of them.
Richard Peddy
East side
Removal of the roadless rule and Arizona Trail
I’m pleased to learn that many of our national forests could possibly open to off-road vehicles. We recently hiked sections of the Arizona National Trail in Southern Arizona and the John Muir Trail in California. As I get older, it's getting harder to carry my gear, food and water. I look forward to the day when I can take our luxury high-clearance SUV on or near these trails with the comforts of our sleeping mattress, Coleman stove, fresh food, Starlink dish, fridge, two golden doodles, and the perfect wine and beer to pair with the views.
Hopefully soon, Four Seasons opens a resort overlooking the Grand Canyon, and the Ritz-Carlton puts their panoramic cocktail lounge atop the Sierras. Thank you, Trump voters, for supporting this administration’s sensitivity to the needs of those who crave the outdoors but don’t have the willingness or ability to hike these areas. Everyone should have access to do what they want, how they want — no matter the cost.
Roy Vanduivenbode
Foothills
Ciscomani lies about his opponent
I am writing to express my disgust at Juan Ciscomani for trying to convince voters to support him by blatantly lying about his opponent. Big yellow signs have popped up attacking JoAnna Mendoza. If you get close enough to read the fine print, you will see they are funded by his campaign. And they lie.
One lie is "Mendoza is endorsed by Defund the Police.” There is no such entity as "Defund the Police" to endorse anyone. Mendoza’s actual comments in 2020 support more funding for police and for social services the police do not provide.
Moreover, Ciscomani's lies were debunked in American Vanguard’s March article “Right- Wing Media Misrepresents JoAnna Mendoza’s Stance on Police Funding.”
Ciscomani cannot run on his terrible record, so he has resorted to making things up about his opponent. We cannot let him keep conning voters.
Kenneth Minkoff
Vail
Prison company a bad deal for Marana
Evidence has come to light that the prison in Marana run by MTC reportedly had numerous sexual assaults that it didn’t report to federal regulators.
When community members brought concerns about MTC reopening the prison as a detention center to the Marana Town Council, we were told that the Town had a wonderful working relationship with MTC and could assure the facility would be run humanely.
The residents of Marana need their elected leaders to do everything possible to ensure the safety of the staff, the detainees, and the broader community.
Town Council should do a full background investigation into MTC, then add an agenda item to an upcoming meeting so that the public can have a say in what companies are allowed to do business in Marana.
Caroline Isaacs
East side
Lift the moratorium
Mayor and Council called a "moratorium" on naming parks for people five minutes after naming a park for a person. That's the height of disingenuous hypocrisy at its most obvious. Parks need to be named, and they need to be named for local people.
Sal Baldenegro is not a rags-to-riches story. It's a rags-to-organizing story. He made people believe in themselves and take pride in who they are. The City has recognized his efforts. He organized his home neighborhood, Barrio Hollywood, to take El Rio Golf Course from private to public. The City established its first Neighborhood Center and built a full-sized park on the vacant land adjacent to the golf course. The El Rio Coalition was behind all that, and Sal Baldenegro organized the coalition.
Here's the core of Sal's skills. He taught people how to take pride in themselves, and believe that things are possible through organizing to express your best interests.
John Yoakum
Midtown
Speeding on Tucson streets
A few days ago, an article in the Star told of a study to determine if and why people drive faster than the speed limits. Save yourself some time; no study needed. Drive from 22nd Street north on Kolb to Broadway and use the speed limit (40), seven out of 10 cars will flash by you — and many in a reckless manner. The reason is simple. People look at the 40 mph speed limit not as the maximum they can drive but as the minimum. I don't know why; it just is.
I contend that were the city to raise the limit to 50 mph, drivers would soon learn that is the minimum and disregard it, approaching 60. As silly as it sounds, the only way to achieve anything near the 40 mph wanted is to reduce the limit to 30 mph. Most would approach 40, which apparently is the objective in the first place.
Philip Reinecker
East side
Prop 421: One voice, bought in bulk
Open the Official Voter Information Booklet and Prop. 421 looks popular: 69 arguments in favor. Look closer. Fifty-nine were paid for by TEP for Tucson, a PAC funded solely by TEP. More than two dozen were submitted by TEP employees. Nearly all repeat the same talking points; "reliable" appears more than 100 times.
At $240 per argument, those 59 cost $14,160. Sounds like real money. Now set it beside the $437 million in profit Fortis collected from TEP's parent company last year: TEP earns back the entire campaign in about 16 minutes.
Meanwhile, TEP is asking regulators for a 13% rate increase, roughly $172 million more each year from our pockets: paid for in 42 minutes of increased rates.
Strip out the scripted arguments and only 12 independent voices remain. Those are the odds Tucson voters face. Vote no on Prop 421.
Howard Weiss
Midtown
Deportation to third-world countries
How much more cruel and barbaric can the Trump government be when they send poor, desperate refugees, asylum seekers, or simply immigrants to a third country? By all categories of a democratic country subscribed to the principle of justice for all, how can US officials even think of committing this crime against humanity? Reflect on the reality for those miserable victims. Having barely escaped from violence and poverty ravaging their country, speaking only Spanish, e.g., they find themselves suddenly in Kosovo, Moldova (Europe), Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini (Africa), or Palau, Uzbekistan (Asia). How can they even survive there ? They have no social network, no linguistic abilities, no economic support system. This is the most shameful act of our government ever, so vote those truly un-American guys out of office!
Albrecht Classen
Midtown
Pima County and Tucson street maintenance
The question of why our local streets are in worse condition than most areas of the US has become a lively topic. As a veteran of the departments of transportation of both Pima County and Tucson, I can provide the clear, if unsatisfying, answer. Between 1980 and 2005, ours was the second fastest-growing population area in the U.S. Increased population and traffic congestion overwhelmed our street system. To avoid raising taxes, both Pima County and Tucson took out loans against the street maintenance funding they were due to receive from the state of Arizona in the future and used the money to add lanes to local streets to relieve the traffic congestion crisis. The loans took the form of two types of government bonds.
The consequence of this short-sighted approach was that both Pima County and Tucson were left with severely reduced street maintenance funds for the couple of decades it took to repay the bonds.
Brooks Keenan
Oro Valley
Toxic politeness won’t solve serious problems
Come December, the Cold War will have ended 35 years ago. Numerous Western and Southwestern peer cities fell into a hole, and only recently have ones like El Paso, Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, etc. managed to climb their way out. But not Tucson; it got comfortable down in the crater, enjoying its crime, squalor, retired indulgences, flaky social consciousness, lack of planning, university sinecures, etc. Well, bad news, folks, those salad days are ending. No more “Urban Stockholm Syndrome” ahead. And yet, Tucson is still beset with problems it should have solved decades ago. Maybe it’s time to end all the toxic politeness saddled to the city’s obvious cancel culture, should you violate. The first step in solving any problem is to admit you got one, then look clearly and transparently at its obvious root cause(s), and stop deluding yourselves. Enough toxic politeness; it’s rotting our brains.
Bill Sellers
Oro Valley
Candidate integrity
When deciding who to vote for in the election, one of the critical items should always be integrity. Everyone realizes that each candidate says what will make them look like the best choice in the eyes of the voters; however, isn't there an expectation that the commercials don't present false images? The recent commercials from Gov. Katie Hobbs seem to leave integrity in the distant past. The commercials state that Andy Biggs is pushing for a 23% increase in taxes, however, the truth is that Andy Biggs proposed a 23% tax that would replace the existing income tax, and he has always tried to make that clear. Did anyone else notice that so many of Hobbs' accomplishments were left over from the previous administration? Andy Biggs may not be perfect, but trust is high on the list.
Loran Hancock
Northwest side
Why I’m voting no on Prop 421
TEP is a privately held entity. That is a fact so many don’t realize. They do not care about us, only their shareholders. They can give us all the greenwashing, e-bike rebates, and freebies in the mail and events they want, but in the end they double down on data centers and rate hikes. They do not care that they could make power unaffordable and refuse to underground transmission lines because that would hurt their profit margins. If 421 passes, Tucson will become a lifeless husk in a few decades, and the only ones who will win are 2,200 miles away in Canada. It is time to tame this out-of-control rattlesnake, and put our power back in public hands and away from corporate greed.
Ryland Plassmann
Midtown
Tucson homeless response
Rural SW Virginia new transplant Tim F.’s letter to the editor complained about the homeless here. This isn't just a Tucson problem; it’s a countrywide problem. Comparing rural vs. urban bus stops is a whole different apple vs. orange. Our metro population is over 1 million; estimated 2,200 being homeless. Yes, homelessness is visible here. Tucson has programs and partnerships with charitable organizations for food and shelter, work and support programs. There are drug rehabs that will accommodate the homeless, but when even celebrities with all life’s advantages succumb to drugs, people will do what they do. No doubt the City can do better, but what will you do to help?
Jeff Albiniak
Midtown
Misleading ads
Ads against JoAnna Mendoza are deliberately misleading. Supposedly she wants to raise all our taxes. No. She is talking about billionaires. Republicans, including Juan Ciscomani, have cut funding for services to veterans, Medicaid and SNAP, all to fund tax cuts to the wealthy. When Mendoza said no more tax cuts or sales tax exemptions, she was talking about billionaires, not us. Also, when she said everyone must pay. She wants to protect us and the services our loved ones rely on.
Nancy Ward
Northeast side
Congress, where are you?
Now we have Senator John Kennedy claiming the President’s new ads, “paid for by the government,” are not appropriate, maybe even illegal. Congress, we are here because you haven’t done your job. McCain/Feingold was a good start on campaign reform, yet the Supreme Court gutted it with Citizens United. Where have you been since Congress? Did you address it – no. We have a political system dominated by dark money, unidentified contributors, etc. Loopholes are exploited by both sides of the aisle. If we want to let citizens regain control of the political process, Congress needs to step up now. Or, maybe having access to corporate largesse is easier!
Norman Patten
Midtown
Follow the money
Researching the immigration system, our tax dollars are going towards other countries who happily accept those who are being forced out of our country. Immigrants who are detained waiting for deportation are put into detention centers waiting for deportation. Following the recent arrest record by ICE, the only one who is profiting from deportation is owners of detention centers, third-world countries accepting immigrants ... we, in turn, are losing because many immigrants are no longer paying taxes, performing jobs which many citizens don’t care to do … Need to stop this madness. Vote for reclaiming our country. Stop the illegal war.
David Valenzuela
East side
Definitely NO on 421
Regarding the Sept. 27 letter to the editor “No on 421?” Yes, I will vote no on 421.
The physical infrastructure, front-line employees, foremen, middle managers and vendors are in place. Few of those people will relocate. So that is straightforward.
If upper management incentives are based on system reliability and minimizing rate hikes, which are not mutually exclusive goals, it should not be difficult to retain or replace upper management.
Fortis will have to accept a reasonable price and financing conditions. If not, would eminent domain be an effective tool to force Fortis’ hand?
Oversimplification or opportunity?
James Abels
Midtown
Ravens-Cowboys game
Man, talk about an exciting finish for the man who won that game in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 27: The UA’s Tyler Loop! Take that, doubters from last year’s not-so-good season.
Benito Whatley
South side
Militant chaos come election time
President Trump has announced the beginning of militant chaos in the political world. In a new TV ad, he calls his disciples to make holy war on the upcoming election, much like he did on Jan. 6, 2021.
He makes clear reference to the decisive Armageddon battle between good and evil promised in the Bible’s Book of Revelations: “This is the final battle.” Trump wants all manner of election interference to push back against the blue wave of Democrat sentiment roiling across the country.
He says the enemy today is “communists, Marxists and fascists,” clearly projecting his own political lifestyle onto the opposing party. He is the one using Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist purges of government officials, exile of innocents to far-away Siberia-like places, and illegal militarism turned against his own neighbors in big cities. He is the far-right fascist propagandist he says his opponents are.
He wants the focus on consolidation of his own illicit power rather than Jesus’ return to construct a humanitarian world.
Kimball Shinkoskey
Downtown
Why 'Yes' on Prop 425?
Ask yourself if you value Pima College, good roads, safety, health, public audits. That's what 425 is about. Go for it.
Ford Burkhart
Midtown
Saving archaeological sites
Since it sued the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CPB) in June, the Tohono O’odham Nation has physically protested the construction of a second 30-foot border wall on their land, along 23 miles of the national wildlife refuge west of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Armed border agents guard the construction site, keeping the protesters a significant distance away to watch the destruction of cultural and sacred sites. Last week, professional archaeologists joined the protest after the threat to a desert spring in the Monument and the destruction of petroglyphs and an intaglio scraped into the dark soil by humans 6,500 years ago. CPB claims it solicited public comment last year during the planning of this second barrier. But now CPB is magnanimously open to public comment again, until Oct. 12. Please email your opposition to the loss of these irreplaceable sites to TucsonComments@cpb.dhs.gov with the subject line “Tucson Sector Secondary Barrier System Construction” today! Thank you!
Stephanie Cady
Northeast side
Midterms at risk
Trump continues to talk about dealing with Iran “after the elections.” Here’s my fear: There will be no midterm elections. Trump will find a pretext to invoke the Insurrection Act, then federalize the National Guard and deploy it, along with the FBI and ICE, to block access to the polls. Then, with the backing of the current compliant Congress, he will prevent voters from replacing his allies and retain his power.
Glenn Kjos
East side
Fontes deserves our thanks
In an ongoing battle over Trump’s illegal demands to turn over voters' protected information, Adrian Fontes was steadfast in protecting our mail-in ballots used by over 80% of Arizonans. After repeatedly refusing to relinquish Arizonans’ private data, he won against the Trump Administration in court. Fontes again argued repeatedly in multi-state lawsuits against Trump’s order to restrict the US Postal Service’s delivery of mail-in ballots, which was ultimately blocked by the Supreme Court.
Fontes is fully committed to ensuring free and fair elections using well-established voter identification laws and keeping Arizona’s voter rolls up to date. He has established an Election Security Advisory Committee to protect against AI threats. His leadership in election administration and security has earned him national awards of excellence.
Whether you vote by mail or in person, Fontes has done everything in his power to ensure your ballot is safe and secure. Thank him with your vote.
Karen D. Grinfeld
Oro Valley
Ciscomani not worthy of a vote
The gazillions of uncontrolled spending and an unending purse for Trump is on Juan Ciscomani. A U.S. Representative serves as the direct link between their local community and the federal government, balancing legislative work in Washington, D.C. with representation and services back home. Getting money for JTED is but one of the many things Ciscomani "should" be doing for us (it's his job) and pointing out one goodie is not making me think he is doing his job well at all. The "Big Bad Bill," that's on Juan. DT is out of control, and Juan is supporting him hook, line, and sinker, not us. He is prioritizing Trump interests over local economic needs. Economy, healthcare, gas prices, Medicare, Medicaid, world status, safety, "war," Social Security, environment, USPS, voting. All failures, with Ciscomani's unfettered support. Sliced are necessary government programs that may help pay for food, housing, medical and other basic living expenses.
Peter Bisschop
East side
Bipartisan? Really?
Juan Ciscomani is campaigning on the idea that he’s Arizona’s most bipartisan Congressional representative.
While that’s not untrue, looking at the numbers makes it – at best – a distinction without a difference. His five fellow Republican Congressmen earn a 90%-plus rating on the conservative Heritage Foundation scorecard, topped by Paul Gosar at 100%, Andy Biggs at 98%, Abe Hamadeh at 94%, and David Schweikert and Eli Crane at 92%.
Ciscomani’s rating is 87% in support of Trump’s dystopian agenda. This includes voting to slash food stamp and ACA support for millions of low-income Americans while granting tax breaks to the wealthiest and raising the national debt to all-time highs. He also tacitly supports Trump’s ruinous war against Iran.
Guess these facts don’t make for a great re-election platform.
In a few weeks voters will have an opportunity to demonstrate what we think of Ciscomani’s brand of “bipartisanship.”
Michael P. Cuno
Oro Valley
Prop 320: The devil is in the details
Requiring school districts to spend 60% of operational funding on "direct instruction" sounds reasonable. But what is direct instruction?
Counselors, nurses, many special education services, reading/math interventions, transportation and teacher development are excluded, though they're essential for learning and often legally required. These expenses are included in the larger category, "classroom spending," and districts spend 69.1% there.
Districts average 52.1% on direct instruction. With no new money provided by the proposition, districts below 60% will have to cut services to comply.
Worse, districts that fall short will lose 25% of their Classroom Site Fund — money that supports teachers and classrooms. Inexplicably, Prop. 320 will reduce money for direct instruction because a district isn't spending enough on direct instruction.
This mandate applies only to certain public school districts; public charter schools are exempt.
If we want stronger public education, we should invest more in schools, not impose a poison-pill formula that guarantees a reduction in funding. Vote no on Prop. 320.
Eileen Jackson
Foothills
Rating our roads
Thanks to Mark Moral for his letter (Arizona Daily Star, Sept. 24) pointing out the glaring contrast between many of Tucson's pitiful roads and properly maintained streets that are the norm in other parts of the country.
Road infrastructure in Tucson has suffered from decades of neglect and deferred maintenance. The maxim "When you find yourself in a hole, the No. 1 rule is to stop digging" was ignored in spades by the City. The only thing that can be said now is that they appear to have stopped digging.
John Fristik
Southeast side
What good is a shutdown?
As part of the May Day Strong Coalition, TucsonShutdown.org supports all aspects of election protection up to and including a grassroots, nationwide economic shutdown if our elections are sabotaged in any way. A shutdown is a tool of last resort. It is one of the few ways that the citizenry of the entire nation can come together in a unified, non-violent response to a government that refuses to abide by the laws of the land. Ideally, we will not need to have a shutdown. However, if our right to vote is impeded, if our votes are discounted, if our duly elected representatives are not sworn in and seated, what are our non-violent alternatives to a shutdown? You say the courts will handle it? Trump and members of his regime have bulldozed the norms and ignored court orders repeatedly. There is no one to enforce court rulings. It’s up to us. If we do nothing, we acknowledge the end of the American Experiment.
Jude Glass
Midtown
How are we safer?
How are we safer when ICE arrests Eissa Hashemi, a professor and mentor of PhD students in the Business Psychology department of the Chicago School, and his wife and son? All three are legal permanent residents; Eissa and his wife have valid green cards and have committed no crimes, not even a traffic ticket. ICE says it is because Eissa’s mother was an interpreter for the Iranian hostage takers in 1979, before he was even born! Because of this, their green cards were revoked with no notification and no due process. Eissa is in one detention center, his wife and son in another. What happened to the rule of law? What happened to removing the “worst of the worst?” ICE is out of control and must be contained.
Don Ries
Southeast side
Loss of cottonwood tree in Lochiel
I was one of the last to see the 200-year-old Grandmother Cottonwood Tree that blocked border wall construction at Lochiel, Arizona. As I stood under it on Oct. 4, I had a political thought: “This tree was probably a seedling when Thomas Jefferson was alive.”
Sixteen hours later (on the morning of Oct. 5), armed, uniformed Border Patrol agents shoved aside protesters and cut down the tree. Now the wall construction can proceed.
The loss of the big tree has affected me more than I expected. Mostly, it made me think about politics and the passage of time. What plants and animals may be inconvenient according to future politics — or conversely, when might sections of the border wall become inconvenient?
On Oct. 4, my friends and I wondered how long this particular controversial section of the wall might last. Our best guess was: “Until the next administration, or maybe the one after that.”
But the old cottonwood won’t be a part of that future.
David DeGroot
Northwest side
Voting and health
As ballots mail out, I urge everyone to exercise their right to vote. While it is easy to get jaded about politics and the “system,” it is important to recognize that the impacts of voting (or not voting) can be wide-ranging.
Take, for example, cuts to SNAP and AHCCCS under H.R. 1, hurting families across Arizona. If more people voted differently, would it be fair to assume that these cuts could have been avoided?
As a Master of Public Health student at the University of Arizona, the concept of the “Political Determinants of Health,” or how political decisions impact health, has come to the forefront. Votes are not simply choices between people and parties; they are choices about policies and priorities that shape our communities and, ultimately, our health.
One person may feel insignificant, but collectively, we have the power to shape our communities. So, when your ballot arrives, use your power.
Mon Lacea
North side
Bad AI
With all the new tech, I have wondered what the future of reading and writing will be. At one time, script was eliminated from the curriculum in some primary schools and then returned. With AI everywhere, it is even in my email with auto correct changing my texts and effectively making my intent into bad jokes. I was initially amused. My eyesight has deteriorated seriously and increasingly enjoy audiobooks. Remember books on tape? YouTube offers many books from my favorite authors for free, and I have lately listened to AI-generated stories. They are so awful and obviously AI. I laugh at the terrible mispronunciation and fake accents. Today I was struck by the errors in the subtitles. For example, "foals" became "fools" in a story about horses in Texas. It happens so often, and it is obvious that there is no editing or quality control. I think it will make learning to spell more difficult for young learners.
Barbara Moore
East side
Reality check
The concept or belief that the economy can depend on continued growth based on consumerism is illogical. As the supply of essential resources declines and, in turn, becomes more expensive, the economy will have to be driven by other activities. When I read about people outraged by energy costs, they must be reminded that oil is limited and the population of the world is ever-increasing, so the demand will exceed the supply. At some point, the use of alternative energy sources will not be a choice. We also must consider that the massive waste in the way we live is not sustainable. What if manufacturers could only have new models every three years instead of every year? The emphasis would be on repair and parts manufacturing. Having a new phone every year is a luxury we might not be able to afford. I know some of you will say this is all a fantasy, but consider Arizona's dire water situation. There will be a point when water will become very expensive.
Kalvin Smith
Midtown
Variety? This ‘spice’ we don't need
I fear an Oct. 4 letter to the editor is attempting to sane-wash Donald Trump, who is not simply “an extremely unlikeable human being.” He is mired in a level of corruption and lawlessness that would make Nixon blush. His incompetence and that of those surrounding him endanger the country. Trump is manifestly unfit to hold the office of the presidency and disgraces that office every time he appears, or worse, opens his mouth. He lies nonstop and constantly threatens to “punish” those who criticize him — the president is meant to serve all the people, even those who disagree with him. Trump’s questionable “positive things” are dwarfed by the magnitude of his indecency and lack of character.
S. Ross Emmanuel
Southeast side
Candidate integrity
This is in response to an Oct. 3 letter to the editor that indicates that Andy Biggs has integrity, but Katie Hobbs does not. May I remind all of our readers that Biggs was a 2020 election denier and urged Arizona Republicans, including the speaker of the statehouse, not to certify valid election results. Biggs claimed voter fraud, with, of course, zero proof. Voters need to remember this when voting.
John Kaufman
SaddleBrooke
Need to save lives in the desert
For more than 20 years, Humane Borders has maintained water stations in the Sonoran Desert. Their main purpose is to save migrant lives. But the water is available for hikers, hunters, or anyone wandering in the desert. Now the federal agencies in charge of public lands have ordered Humane Borders to remove its water stations. The organization has done so, apparently to maintain its “law-abiding” reputation.
I was a Humane Borders volunteer for 10 years. I saw much evidence of life-saving water use, usually in the form of discarded belongings, even from mothers with small children who left baby clothing near our stations.
In my opinion, Humane Borders’ decision to comply with the government’s immoral directive was wrong. The best way to fight against the Trump administration’s authoritarian culture of cruelty is to resist and to help others in need, whatever the consequences may be.
Stephen Saltonstall
Northeast side
Tucson's El Güero Canelo for sale
