Tucson speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Aug. 22, 2025
- Updated
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.
- Max LaPlante, Southeast side
The length of the Southwest border with Mexico is approximately 1,954 miles. During our POTUS's first term, roughly 400 miles of border wall was erected. Our illustrious former Governor Ducey decided to shore up the wall in Arizona using double stacked shipping containers, which were removed after his term. The Biden Administration decided to halt the construction of the border wall and sell off remaining border wall materials with starting bids as low as $5 for sections of wall panels. Now 47 has resumed erecting the border wall at a total cost estimate of $25 billion-plus. Most recently, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday that the entire wall along the U.S.-Mexico border is going to be painted black to make it hotter and deter illegal immigration. The Commander in Chief has always maintained that Mexico will be paying for all of this. In stark reality, everything mentioned above was and is being paid for by U.S. taxpayers. Gloves are available in Mexico.
Max LaPlante
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Ke Chiang Hsieh, Midtown
Thanks to Gerald Farrington’s recent Op-Ed comparing Trump’s policies with Mao’s Great Cultural Revolution. Earlier, Mao led the Great Leap Forward to increase agricultural and industrial outputs to meet unrealistic production quotas under peasant leaderships while truthful intellectuals and technical experts were banished to labor camps. The GLF ended with tens of millions of deaths. Their economic policy flipped after Mao’s death, but not the Communist Party (CCP). Under Xi, a new cultural revolution advances with latest surveillance technologies, e.g., all lectures are monitored, and professors warned on off-limits, i.e. historical facts, etc., while students are expected to report on strayed professors. All dictators, regardless of nationalities, races and ideologies, live in fear of losing control. To grab more power, they punish those who do honest research and publish their findings. Is anyone surprised that a person without medical training oversees our public health, and an oil tycoon protects our environment? The Chinese are powerless under the CCP; will Americans challenge the GOP?
Ke Chiang Hsieh
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Roger Rutschman, Goodyear
As a senior Arizonan, I urge continued investment in mRNA vaccine research. Billions have benefited from these safe, effective vaccines, which can be quickly updated for new health threats. Cutting funding now would leave our nation — including Arizona —vulnerable in future pandemics and cause us to lose medical innovation leadership.
We need decisions based on science, not politics. I encourage policymakers and fellow citizens to support strong investment in public health and biomedical research. It’s critical for protecting our communities and economy now and for the future.
Roger Rutschman
Goodyear
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Michelle Brislance, Oro Valley
President Donald Trump likes to brag that he has done more in the short time he has been in office than all other presidents combined. Countless letters to the editor have chronicled the many executive orders he has signed and the demands he has made to public schools, colleges and universities, as well as other public and private entities which have dramatically undermined this country’s core values and cherished ideals.
His policies have contributed to the dumbing down of America by restricting what students can read and say, by squelching healthy debate of controversial subjects, and by promoting the rewriting of history to ignore parts of America’s shameful past.
The president’s cruel immigration policies; his disdain for truth, science, and the rule of law; and his arrogant abuse of power for personal gain are unprecedented.
Yes, President Trump has done a lot in a short period of time. We can only hope the damage is not irreparable.
Michelle Brislance
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Bruce Hilpert, North side
Laura Conover's predicament with the US Attorney charging an alleged murderer with lesser crimes and facing deportation is part of a larger trend of the politicization of the Department of Justice. Deportation will bring headlines for ICE deporting a “dangerous criminal” instead of his being tried for a capital offense.
Meanwhile, the man charged with the recent murder of the Minnesota State House Representative had a “hit list” of over 45 progressive politicians and abortion providers. This was clearly “domestic terrorism,” a federal crime requiring political, racial or religious motivation. Yet his federal charges include only murder and stalking.
These decisions come from the Dept. of Justice that has dropped prosecution against January 6 defendants and a President who has pardoned those convicted and termed them “patriots.”
Is this the state of American justice now, an instrument of political power? Sadly, the answer is “yes.”
Bruce Hilpert
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Deb Klumpp, Oro Valley
The Norwegian press reported that Donald Trump, in a call to the Norwegian Finance Minister, told him he wanted to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Probably there was some attempted transactional wheeling and dealing over tariffs tied to his quest for the prize. Four of Trump's predecessors, including Barack Obama, have received the award. No wonder Donald's nose is out of joint. Do you think any previous award candidates or prize hopefuls ever called a member of the nominating committee to lobby for the prize? How incredibly vulgar and tawdry - but consider the askee. Trump seeing himself as Nobel Prize material is absurd - but it seems absurdity rules the day. This supremely unqualified individual managed to be elected President again. Should he receive a Nobel nomination or, God forbid, actually be awarded the Nobel Prize, it will forever be tarnished and rendered meaningless, as was the Presidential Medal of Freedom when awarded to Rush Limbaugh by Donald Trump.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Craig Miller, Northwest side
Trump stated he wants to end the war in Ukraine so he can get into heaven. His press secretary said he wasn't joking.
He's the least Christian President ever. Maybe start acting like a Christian:
Stop the incessant lies, it is a commandment. Start treating the most vulnerable better. Christ said "what you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me". Compassion and kindness were what Christ taught, not demonizing everyone who you don't like.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Graeme Williams, Southeast side
I see where President Trump had a private conversation with Russia's President Putin. Trump then said that after talking to Putin, he wants to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines in this country. I guess Trump had to talk to his boss about the best way to rig elections before starting his big push to make American elections just as free and fair as Russian elections. Putin knows a lot about turning countries into dictatorships.
Graeme Williams
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Craig Miller, Northwest side
Putin owns Trump. It was disgusting to see Trump give red carpet treatment to a murderous tyrant. He invaded Ukraine and caused hundreds of thousands of deaths. Trump in ever pursuit of a deal would reward Putin with giving up Ukraine territory. Putin would've achieved his aims while conceding nothing. Not a great deal. Thank God Trump wasn't president when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He would've given Japan Hawaii in a deal.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- James Abels, Midtown
The 8/18/25 opinion columns are both right. School should be virtually year-round and children need a break from formal education.
I would prefer a schedule of 9 weeks on, 1 week off. It would them a week’s break that could be extended to 2 weeks if they are given the assignments for the extra week off. Every weekend is a break if children learn to manage their time.
However, teaching the three R’s is inadequate. Children need to be taught life skills, employment skills, reasoning/prioritizing skills and various other skills. Educational achievement and cooperation should be recognized as more important than athletic skills.
And if like me, after years of being conditioned to have the summer off, I felt like I should have still have the summer off. But I did not let my feelings overrule my thinking.
James Abels
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Dan Bannon, Midtown
So much is not being explained in the tragic Epstein /Trump friendship and scandal. One might and can read about Russian models and Deutsche Bank having to pay $150 million due to its involvement. I do hope both parties will push for total disclosure. Trump’s revealing statement about victims tells us a lot.
Dan Bannon
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Terese Lindgren, Green Valley
Blaming immigrants for the housing crisis is flat-out wrong. Housing costs are skyrocketing because of restrictive zoning, soaring construction expenses, and years of undersupply—not because immigrants need a place to live.
In fact, immigrants are essential to building homes. Nearly a quarter of America’s construction workforce is foreign-born. Without them, housing production would stall, and prices would climb even faster.
Pointing fingers at immigrants won’t lower rent or build a single house. Real solutions mean building more homes and removing barriers — not scapegoating the very people helping us keep roofs over our heads.
Terese Lindgren
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Lawrence Mazin, SaddleBrooke
Donald Trump has found his historical role model at last: Neville Chamberlain. Chamberlain handed Hitler part of Czechoslovakia in the name of “peace in our time.” If history repeats itself, we’ll soon see Trump on stage, red tie down to his knees, announcing: “Peace in our time … plus a new Trump Tower Moscow built entirely with Trump Crypto. Very classy, the best tower, believe me.”
Trump will declare it “the most beautiful agreement ever, folks. Nobody’s ever done peace like me.” At a rally, I can already hear him: “Putin told me he’s going to respect Ukraine’s borders… eventually. And you know what? I believe him. He looked me in the eyes. Strong eyes. Tiger eyes. Very manly eyes.” Meanwhile, Ukraine vanishes from the map faster than Trump Steaks.
If we’re going to reenact the 1930s, let’s at least remember how the original version ended. Spoiler alert: not great.
Lawrence Mazin
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Deb Klumpp, Oro Valley
Many thanks to John Murphy for his excellent article "What loss of science means for us". The many deaths attributable to Covid-19 science denial and Covid vaccine hesitancy/refusal (politically driven) are perfect illustrations. This led to "ignorance and superstition finding fertile ground" as science deniers turned to horse de-wormer and other quack remedies while Trump continued his downplaying of the virus.
Now we have an anti-vaccine person heading up Health and Human Services. Maybe Trump can reverse the science showing tobacco use is a major health hazard or at least have the warning on cigarette packages removed. The Creation Museum in Petersburg KY (which of course attracts the religious right) had a display showing dinosaurs roaming earth at the same time as humans -- unashamedly disseminating outrageously false information for non-thinkers and the gullible to embrace. Remember, Trump loves the uneducated. What is truly tragic is that an article like Mr. Murphy's needs to be written and is relevant to our country today.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Richard Grayson, West side
As the first Arizona No Labels Party candidate to appear on the ballot — in the September 23 special election for the state’s 7th Congressional District — I want to make something clear: Arizona’s No Labels Party has no connection with the national group of the same name. That organization has endorsed Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor who resigned in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal, in the New York City mayoral race.
Our state party’s new chair, former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson, has already emphasized this separation. Although I initially opposed his proposal to change our party’s name, I now realize I was wrong. I do not want to be linked with Andrew Cuomo in any way.
I am a progressive who opposes sexual harassment of women, believing that I share these values with Green Party candidate Eduardo Quintana and Democratic nominee Adelita Grijalva.
Richard Grayson
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
The shameful denial of science
Many thanks to John Murphy for his excellent article “What loss of science means for us”. The many deaths attributable to COVID-19 science denial and COVID vaccine hesitancy/refusal (politically driven) are perfect illustrations. This led to “ignorance and superstition finding fertile ground” as science deniers turned to horse de-wormer and other quack remedies while Trump continued his downplaying of the virus.
Now we have an anti-vaccine person heading up Health and Human Services. Maybe Trump can reverse the science showing tobacco use is a major health hazard or at least have the warning on cigarette packages removed. The Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, (which of course attracts the religious right) had a display showing dinosaurs roaming earth at the same time as humans — unashamedly disseminating outrageously false information for non-thinkers and the gullible to embrace. Remember, Trump loves the uneducated. What is truly tragic is that an article like Mr. Murphy’s needs to be written and is relevant to our country today.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Re: What loss of science means for us
This wonderful piece beautifully underscores the crucial importance of science as a method and worldview. The hallmark of science ignorance is a tendency to praise its primacy when it comports with one’s biases, but to discount its inevitable conclusions when it doesn’t.
As newborns and toddlers, the kernel of scientific inquiry is inherent in us all as we first struggle to adapt to being in the world. Through an intrinsic curiosity we all possess at our genesis, that fuels a natural drive to observe, challenge, modify and assimilate, we insensibly acquire our most rudimentary capabilities of walking, talking and self-awareness. Our instinctive nature is de facto scientific.
But tragedy fatefully ensues when these inborn inclinations are allowed to atrophy through insufficient encouragement and cultivation. By a certain age, what might have emerged as a lifelong pattern of critical thinking is arrested in many, who then easily fall victim to the variety of undisciplined reason permeating our contemporary discourse, where half-baked, purely utilitarian dogmas prosper.
Robert Gavlak
Midtown
Tucson physical therapist deportation
I have been a physical therapist in Tucson for over 35 years and have known Vone Phrommany for more than 10 years. He is one of the most kind, caring, thoughtful people I have ever met. His patients absolutely love him, and his co-workers/friends are honored and blessed to have him in our lives.
Without a moment’s notice, he will provide a patient, friend or stranger with his time, expertise or if need be, financial support.
Yes, he made a dumb teenage mistake. Who of us hasn’t? He didn’t hurt anyone and long ago paid the price (or so he thought).
There will always be loyal followers who blindly believe people like Vone represent the worst of the worst and don’t belong in “our” country. Vone would provide care to you as readily as he would to anyone else. He would do so because, in fact, he represents the very best of what we can all aspire to be.
Mitch Blum
North side
Camp Cochise
Thanks to Greg Hansen for his article on UA football history at Camp Cochise.
The teams that experienced the intensity and cohesive atmosphere that only an isolated football community can create were some of the best squads ever to play at Arizona Stadium.
I played football at Buena H.S. (Sierra Vista) in the late ’70s, early ’80s under Coach Truman Williamson.
We had 2-a day practice (7 a.m, and 3:30-6 p.m.) for 2 weeks prior to the start of season.
We both hated and loved it.
We hated and loved our coaches.
By the end of preseason camp, we were a cohesive “Band of Brothers” who had endured together and created a true team.
I believe that this type of preseason experience helps to solidify the Brotherhood culture of a football team.
Bring back Camp Cochise!
Dan Egan
East side
Mines over mountains?
Why is it so hard to have nice things? Why are Canada and Japan finding it so easy to tear down our mountains? Tucson has specific attractions, including and most important, glorious mountain views and sunsets, followed by winter sun, hiking and mostly clean air. Currently, we have growing worry about scarce water supply. Why are we even considering open-pit mines? Even from space, the many open pit mines are ugly and leave us with uninhabitable, unhealable scars.
Bea Manderscheid
Northeast side
Two sides of the same coin
Sunday’s Tucson Opinion writers brought two different approaches to the same problem: stagnation. I doubt that anyone living in Tucson is “content as a retirement community,” and while one author laments the loss of Project Blue, saying we turned our backs on “thousands of high paying construction jobs and a massive infusion of capital into our economy.” I believe those were short-term and unsubstantiated promises compared to the long-term devastation based on a “plan” to offset the extraordinary volume of water and electricity that would result. The second author proposed linking “research, education and policy discourse” to connect Arizona’s local experience to global lessons. Though we need solutions to finding dynamic career paths now, reaching out to successful communities with limited resources like ours could help build a future for our children here in Tucson.
Christie Cummins
Midtown
No law he won’t break for personal gain
The ‘Posse Comitatus Act’ (18 U.S.C. § 1385), 1878, prohibits the use of the U.S. military to enforce civilian laws, with some exceptions outlined in the Constitution or by Congress. This means that active-duty military personnel may not be used for domestic law enforcement activities.
Exceptions may be made when specifically authorized by the Constitution or by two-thirds approval by both Houses of Congress, not by the president.
This is a fundamental principle in the United States, aimed at preventing the military from interfering with civilian affairs and protecting individual liberties.
With an auto-signature, National Guard troops already illegally deployed to Washington, D.C., will begin carrying firearms to conduct their mission in the city, where crime was already down 30%. It seems that while riding in his “tank,” he saw a homeless person and was disgusted. Imagine what the homeless person thought when he saw Trump.
There is no law this man will not break.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Peace in our time
Donald Trump has found his historical role model at last: Neville Chamberlain. Chamberlain handed Hitler part of Czechoslovakia in the name of “peace in our time.” If history repeats itself, we’ll soon see Trump on stage, red tie down to his knees, announcing: “Peace in our time … plus a new Trump Tower Moscow built entirely with Trump Crypto. Very classy, the best tower, believe me.”
Trump will declare it “the most beautiful agreement ever, folks. Nobody’s ever done peace like me.” At a rally, I can already hear him: “Putin told me he’s going to respect Ukraine’s borders… eventually. And you know what? I believe him. He looked me in the eyes. Strong eyes. Tiger eyes. Very manly eyes.” Meanwhile, Ukraine vanishes from the map faster than Trump Steaks.
If we’re going to reenact the 1930s, let’s at least remember how the original version ended. Spoiler alert: not great.
Lawrence Mazin
SaddleBrooke
Stop scapegoating immigrants on housing
Blaming immigrants for the housing crisis is flat-out wrong. Housing costs are skyrocketing because of restrictive zoning, soaring construction expenses, and years of undersupply — not because immigrants need a place to live.
In fact, immigrants are essential to building homes. Nearly a quarter of America’s construction workforce is foreign-born. Without them, housing production would stall, and prices would climb even faster.
Pointing fingers at immigrants won’t lower rent or build a single house. Real solutions mean building more homes and removing barriers — not scapegoating the very people helping us keep roofs over our heads.
Terese Lindgren
Green Valley
Russia and the Epstein-Trump friendship
So much is not being explained in the tragic Epstein-Trump friendship and scandal. One might and can read about Russian models and Deutsche Bank having to pay $150 million due to its involvement. I do hope both parties will push for total disclosure. Trump’s revealing statement about victims tells us a lot.
Dan Bannon
Midtown
Endless summer merger
The Aug. 18 opinion columns are both right. School should be virtually year-round, and children need a break from formal education.
I would prefer a schedule of nine weeks on, one week off. It would give them a week’s break that could be extended to two weeks if they are given the assignments for the extra week off. Every weekend is a break if children learn to manage their time.
However, teaching the three R’s is inadequate. Children need to be taught life skills, employment skills, reasoning/prioritizing skills and various other skills. Educational achievement and cooperation should be recognized as more important than athletic skills.
And if, like me, after years of being conditioned to have the summer off, I felt like I should still have the summer off. But I did not let my feelings overrule my thinking.
James Abels
Midtown
Trump capitulation
Putin owns Trump. It was disgusting to see Trump give red carpet treatment to a murderous tyrant. He invaded Ukraine and caused hundreds of thousands of deaths. Trump in ever pursuit of a deal would reward Putin with giving up Ukraine territory. Putin would’ve achieved his aims while conceding nothing. Not a great deal. Thank God Trump wasn’t president when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He would’ve given Japan Hawaii in a deal.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Talk to the boss
I see where President Trump had a private conversation with Russia’s President Putin. Trump then said that after talking to Putin, he wants to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines in this country. I guess Trump had to talk to his boss about the best way to rig elections before starting his big push to make American elections just as free and fair as Russian elections. Putin knows a lot about turning countries into dictatorships.
Graeme Williams
Southeast side
Water-use solution
Water use is a big concern in Arizona, as it should be. As we just learned,a Hyper Scale Data Center could use 200 million gallons of water per year. That is a huge amount and should be avoided in a desert. The business sector says it is worth the water use because it makes money and creates business development. Yet in Tucson, the average 150-acre golf course uses 200 million gallons of water a year. Ergo, for every data center business interests want to open, they need to close one golf course. That is Net Zero water use increase. The downside is that the business interests will have to learn to play pickleball. The 200 million gallons of water numbers came off the internet, so they must be true, Look it up.
Richard Bechtold
West side
Phoenix-Tucson rail
I agree with Myla Lutes-Clark that a passenger rail line between Tucson and Phoenix would be great! However, it appears to be decades in the future. An action that could be taken right now would be a frequent bus between the cities. A fully loaded bus is much more fuel-efficient per passenger mile than individual vehicles. Until the frequency of a train becomes substantial, the rail line sits there unused much of the time. The existing roads, however, support multiple uses and become more economically efficient. To ensure buses does not get stuck in traffic, they could use “high occupancy vehicle” lanes. To make these lanes more efficient, so they don’t sit empty much of the time, variable tolls can be applied to the lane for other vehicles. The toll would be increased or decreased as required to keep the lane occupied with vehicles running at the speed limit.
Trains are great! We can demonstrate passenger need for them through implementing buses right now.
Harold Hallikainen
East side
Re: Parents’ Marana lawsuit, plus Ukraine
Regarding two recent letters: As I read the article about the young man typing a threat on his school-provided laptop, angry about a recent grade he wrote a letter ... but never sent it and erased the whole thing. I suppose he was initially advised that key-stroke tracking software was installed, but obviously forgot this in his anger. As I type this, I erased an ugly (perhaps illegal) remark about recent LTE finger-pointing at Biden’s actions regarding Ukraine. I surely don’t want my venting to go on my permanent record.
Charlene Brewster
Marana
Arizona No Labels Party
As the first Arizona No Labels Party candidate to appear on the ballot — in the Sept. 23 special election for the state’s 7th Congressional District — I want to make something clear: Arizona’s No Labels Party has no connection with the national group of the same name. That organization has endorsed Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor who resigned in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal, in the New York City mayoral race.
Our state party’s new chair, former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson, has already emphasized this separation. Although I initially opposed his proposal to change our party’s name, I now realize I was wrong. I do not want to be linked with Andrew Cuomo in any way.
I am a progressive who opposes sexual harassment of women, believing that I share these values with Green Party candidate Eduardo Quintana and Democratic nominee Adelita Grijalva.
Richard Grayson
West side
- Carl Foster, Green Valley
Just to make sure I understand, if Russia invaded Alaska and gained control over a section of our territory, we would then be OK with a peace agreement that cedes that territory to them. I don’t think so. I know that we as the people of a free and sovereign nation would rise up, just as the Ukrainians have done, to defend our nation, and settle for nothing less than removal of the invaders from our land. Why should we expect anything less from our allies? Neither Trump nor our European allies should bend a knee to a dictator who is doing exactly what Hitler did, gain territory by military force.
Carl Foster
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Ricardo Small, Northeast side
The legend of Brighty the Burro of the Grand Canyon excludes the whole truth. During a winter when some tourists were stranded at the Grand Canyon and were out of food, they killed Brighty and ate him. This factual omission is typical of Park Service personnel who often try to deceive the public. They now say they did nothing wrong in letting the Dragon Bravo fire burn out of control and destroy the North Rim. Far from the truth. The Park's superintendent and every single one of the honchos who let that fire get out of control are criminally negligent and should be fired. You do not allow a fire to burn during the hot, dry summer months in a forest where the fuel load is extreme. You wait until the winter months to use fire to thin out that dense vegetation.
Ricardo Small
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Tom McGorray, Northwest side
I believe presidents should not be able to pardon people for crimes. It's an idea that questions the separation of powers.
This power should not exist with the executive.
It can undermine the Rule of Law. Granting a pardon can override the outcomes of extensive investigations, trials, and judicial processes. This can give the impression that certain individuals are above the law, eroding trust in the justice system.
The most common criticism is that presidents use the power to reward political allies, friends, and family.
Recent pardons issued by Donald Trump to associates who were charged in connection with his administration or campaign were wrong.
Biden’s numerous pardons of his son and hundreds of others were wrong.
Shifting the power to a non-partisan board or commission that would review and recommend pardons, may be the answer.
Requiring some form of congressional review or approval for pardons may be the answer.
Presidential pardons have a history of controversy and self-serving applications that has led to abuse.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mary Zimmerman, SaddleBrooke
The USDA slashed a pandemic era program that provided a billion dollars in funding to schools and food banks to buy supplies from local farmers to help low-income families. Meanwhile the USDA managed to spend $16,000 to buy a giant banner with Trump's face to hang on its headquarters. It does seem a bit like North Korea to have banners and pictures of the dear leader everywhere while the population goes hungry.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Barbara Moore, East side
The budget just passed for Homeland Security includes $45 billion for incarceration. That amount of money would provide Medicaid coverage for the coming year for the people in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Oklahoma.
Barbara Moore
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sister Karen Berry, Midtown
Oh horrors! The wounded children of Gaza are invading the United States! Raise the drawbridge, arm the citadel. Laura Loomer has spoken. Donald Trump has listened. Marco Rubio has abandoned common sense. And these children are accompanied by adults! Oh, my goodness! These wounded children, with their amputated limbs, aren't traveling alone. They are coming with adults! Raise the drawbridge ... man the citadel ... God help us.
Sister Karen Berry
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Loyal M. Johnson Jr., Oro Valley
The LTEs now focus on President Trump’s actions in attempting to find a resolution of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. First, I do not recall any significant by the Biden Administration to attempt to resolve the conflict, just send more arms. The more interesting question is: What would you do, since you seem to have the answers? Continue sending arms with the resulting slaughter of young men until there are no young men left? Or continue to talk, and if the talks to not result in an acceptable solution, bring Russia to their knees with onerous sanction. And then, even with the debilitating sanctions, will Russia bend? If not, then what, endless conflict? Your erudite answer for the resolution of this conflict would be most welcome for the entire world.
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Kathy Krucker, Midtown
Trump’s red-carpet welcome for Vladimir Putin in Alaska was a sickening sight. The Alaska summit was a total betrayal to Ukraine – a sovereign country that was invaded without provocation by Russia. The citizens of Ukraine continue to suffer unspeakable brutality and war crimes perpetrated by Vladimir Putin.
Decorated Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath said it best: “I’m sorry but it’s hard to get over the picture of the airmen (US airmen) on their knees, in front of the Russian jet, rolling out the red carpet for a mass murderer. Just never thought I’d see that.”
The only deal that must be made by the “art of the deal” President is one that unequivocally supports Ukraine: Russia must pull its troops out of Ukraine, end its occupation of illegally seized territories, stop the indiscriminate bombing and brutality, and return the 20,000 abducted Ukrainian children. Shockingly Trump echoes Putin’s position, leaving him free to continue to do whatever they hell he wants in Ukraine.
Kathy Krucker
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Robert Gavlak, Midtown
This wonderful piece beautifully underscores the crucial importance of science as a method and worldview. The hallmark of science ignorance is a tendency to praise its primacy when it comports with ones biases, but to discount its inevitable conclusions when it doesn’t.
As newborns and toddlers the kernel of scientific inquiry is inherent in us all as we first struggle to adapt to being in the world. Through an intrinsic curiosity we all possess at our genesis, that fuels a natural drive to observe, challenge, modify and assimilate, we insensibly acquire our most rudimentary capabilities of walking, talking and self-awareness. Our instinctive nature is de facto scientific.
But tragedy fatefully ensues when these inborn inclinations are allowed to atrophy through insufficient encouragement and cultivation. By a certain age what might have emerged as a lifelong pattern of critical thinking is arrested in many, who then easily fall victim to the variety of undisciplined reason permeating our contemporary discourse, where half-baked, purely utilitarian dogmas prosper.
Robert Gavlak
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sheldon Metz, Northeast side
The 'Posse Comitatus Act' (18 U.S.C. § 1385), 1878, prohibits the use of the U.S. military to enforce civilian laws, with some exceptions outlined in the Constitution or by Congress. This means that active-duty military personnel may not be used for domestic law enforcement activities.
Exceptions may be made when specifically authorized by the Constitution or by two-thirds approval by both Houses of Congress, not by the president.
This is a fundamental principle in the United States, aimed at preventing the military from interfering with civilian affairs and protecting individual liberties.
With an auto-signature, National Guard troops already illegally deployed to Washington, D.C., will begin carrying firearms to conduct their mission in the city, where crime was already down 30%. It seems that while riding in his “tank,” he saw a homeless person and was disgusted. Imagine what the homeless person thought when he saw Trump.
There is no law this man will not break.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Children of Gaza
Oh horrors! The wounded children of Gaza are invading the United States! Raise the drawbridge, arm the citadel. Laura Loomer has spoken. Donald Trump has listened. Marco Rubio has abandoned common sense. And these children are accompanied by adults! Oh, my goodness! These wounded children, with their amputated limbs, aren’t traveling alone. They are coming with adults! Raise the drawbridge ... man the citadel ... God help us.
Sister Karen Berry
Midtown
Word to the wise
I wonder how many people currently on Medicaid or Medicare will examine their benefits before the midterm elections in 2026 and be perfectly happy because the prediction of disastrous reductions had not come to fruition. In a quite clever move, the politicians and architects of OBBBA included provisions for many of the most damaging cuts in funding of critical federal programs like Medicaid and Medicare to not take effect until January 1, 2027. The means voters will not see any changes until after the midterm elections in 2026.
So, a word to the wise — pay attention to this fact. You will see changes come January 2027, including reductions and the provision that most Medicaid recipients will be required to work, volunteer, or attend school for eighty hours per month.
The midterm elections couldn’t be more important.
Duke Southard
Green Valley
Red carpet for a war criminal
Trump’s red-carpet welcome for Vladimir Putin in Alaska was a sickening sight. The Alaska summit was a total betrayal to Ukraine — a sovereign country that was invaded without provocation by Russia. The citizens of Ukraine continue to suffer unspeakable brutality and war crimes perpetrated by Vladimir Putin.
Decorated Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath said it best: “I’m sorry but it’s hard to get over the picture of the airmen (US airmen) on their knees, in front of the Russian jet, rolling out the red carpet for a mass murderer. Just never thought I’d see that.”
The only deal that must be made by the “art of the deal” President is one that unequivocally supports Ukraine: Russia must pull its troops out of Ukraine, end its occupation of illegally seized territories, stop the indiscriminate bombing and brutality, and return the 20,000 abducted Ukrainian children. Shockingly Trump echoes Putin’s position, leaving him free to continue to do whatever they hell he wants in Ukraine.
Kathy Krucker
Midtown
City Council and NDAs
Here we go again. Another company with an NDA wants to locate to Tucson. What part of “you work at the pleasure and for the people of Tucson” does the council not get after the Project Blue fiasco? Now they are writing a rule to allow 7.48 million gallons of water use per month? That’s pretty specific. I smell a rat. Why not a nice round number like 6 million? How about you are allowed to build provided you don’t mess with environment and tell us who you are? Hiding behind NDAs is just BS. Everybody in your industry knows your business. We like our clean air, the water that we have, and the smaller community we crave. We are not Phoenix!
Doug Heaberlin
Vail
Parents’ lawsuit against Marana
I was surprised to read in Sunday’s article that the mother of the student suspended from a Marana high school say that her son made “one little mistake that he didn’t even realize was as big a mistake as it turned out to be ... and everything he trusted kind of turned on him.” What was he trusting? In this day of frequent deadly school shootings, to feel that some threats should be taken less seriously, as a “joke” and a First Amendment right, whether posted or not, is careless and irresponsible. We have had little warning or oversight in the past to say who will actually act on those threats, whether now or in the future. The thought occurred to him and he let it be known. That is why schools have had to implement the surveillance systems for school safety and the parents are informed of its existence.
Christie Cummins
Midtown
Election results and early ballots
Election night is filled with anticipation and excitement for candidates and for voters. Most expect results within hours after polls close. Unfortunately, early ballots, delivered 27 days before the election, take 2 or 3 days to count. Early ballots go through a rigorous process, like verifying signatures in person, counting and recounting affidavits, the envelopes that hold the ballot and have your signature. Dealing with many issues takes time. Election officials work diligently to make sure every vote is counted. Kudos to them for their hard work!
Early Ballots when returned early, provide many benefits to voters and election officials.
For voters, benefits include:
- Convenience and flexibility
- Avoiding potential obstacles like bad weather, long lines or work conflicts
- Potential for increased voter turnout
For election officials:
- Allows more time to resolve irregularities
- Ensures accuracy and transparency
- Financial savings, reduces need to staff and equip additional locations
Turning in your early ballot on Election Day negates all the benefits. Do everyone a favor, return your early ballot as soon as possible.
Elda Lopez
Southwest side
What I need
I wonder what the phone call sounded like when Trump called governors and asked them to send military troops to Washington, D.C.
Governors: How many troops do you need?
Trump: I’ll tell you what I want to do. I just need 11,780.
Peter Bakke
SaddleBrooke
Vote out the ACC now
The ACC has failed us. They get over $80k/yr for one meeting/month. They repeatedly vote for you to pay more for electricity, give away your money and water to gas power plants and force you to pay for pipelines.
They decided AZ doesn’t subsidize in anything but fossil fuels.
They want you to pay for a pipeline investment of natural gas subsidized even though in 2024 APS reported $5.12 billion in revenue.
The ACC enables APS and TEP to raise your costs for this revenue. Typical stock dividend of APS is 10%. So you are paying the shareholders this dividend. You pay for the gas power plant development. You pay for the infrastructure and then you get billed extra for dividends and CEO salaries as you live thru brownouts and blackouts.
The ACC should stop forcing out solar developers, businesses and jobs. They should stop giving money to other states for gas while increasing our energy costs.
Vote for better ACC representatives like Clara Pratte in 2026.
Carissa Sipp
Midtown
Brighty killed and eaten by tourists
The legend of Brighty the Burro of the Grand Canyon excludes the whole truth. During a winter when some tourists were stranded at the Grand Canyon and were out of food, they killed Brighty and ate him. This factual omission is typical of Park Service personnel who often try to deceive the public. They now say they did nothing wrong in letting the Dragon Bravo fire burn out of control and destroy the North Rim. Far from the truth. The Park’s superintendent and every single one of the honchos who let that fire get out of control are criminally negligent and should be fired. You do not allow a fire to burn during the hot, dry summer months in a forest where the fuel load is extreme. You wait until the winter months to use fire to thin out that dense vegetation.
Ricardo Small
Northeast side
Fraud waste and abuse
The budget just passed for Homeland Security includes $45 billion for incarceration. That amount of money would provide Medicaid coverage for the coming year for the people in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Oklahoma.
Barbara Moore
East side
Would we stand for it?
Just to make sure I understand, if Russia invaded Alaska and gained control over a section of our territory, we would then be OK with a peace agreement that ceded that territory to them. I don’t think so. I know that we as the people of a free and sovereign nation would rise up, just as the Ukrainians have done, to defend our nation, and settle for nothing less than removal of the invaders from our land. Why should we expect anything less from our allies? Neither Trump nor our European allies should bend a knee to a dictator who is doing exactly what Hitler did, gain territory by military force.
Carl Foster
Green Valley
Ukraine
The LTEs now focus on President Trump’s actions in attempting to find a resolution of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. First, I do not recall any significant by the Biden Administration to attempt to resolve the conflict, just send more arms. The more interesting question is: What would you do, since you seem to have the answers? Continue sending arms with the resulting slaughter of young men until there are no young men left? Or continue to talk, and if the talks to not result in an acceptable solution, bring Russia to their knees with onerous sanction. And then, even with the debilitating sanctions, will Russia bend? If not, then what, endless conflict? Your erudite answer for the resolution of this conflict would be most welcome for the entire world.
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Shades of North Korea
The USDA slashed a pandemic era program that provided a billion dollars in funding to schools and food banks to buy supplies from local farmers to help low-income families. Meanwhile the USDA managed to spend $16,000 to buy a giant banner with Trump’s face to hang on its headquarters. It does seem a bit like North Korea to have banners and pictures of the dear leader everywhere while the population goes hungry.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Presidential pardons
I believe presidents should not be able to pardon people for crimes. It’s an idea that questions the separation of powers.
This power should not exist with the executive.
It can undermine the Rule of Law. Granting a pardon can override the outcomes of extensive investigations, trials, and judicial processes. This can give the impression that certain individuals are above the law, eroding trust in the justice system.
The most common criticism is that presidents use the power to reward political allies, friends, and family.
Recent pardons issued by Donald Trump to associates who were charged in connection with his administration or campaign were wrong.
Biden’s numerous pardons of his son and hundreds of others were wrong.
Shifting the power to a non-partisan board or commission that would review and recommend pardons, may be the answer.
Requiring some form of congressional review or approval for pardons may be the answer.
Presidential pardons have a history of controversy and self-serving applications that has led to abuse.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
- Duke Southard, Green Valley
I wonder how many people currently on Medicaid or Medicare will examine their benefits before the mid-term elections in 2026 and be perfectly happy because the prediction of disastrous reductions had not come to fruition. In a quite clever move, the politicians and architects of OBBBA included provisions for many of the most damaging cuts in funding of critical federal programs like Medicaid and Medicare to not take effect until January 1, 2027. The means voters will not see any changes until after the midterm elections in 2026.
So, a word to the wise — pay attention to this fact. You will see changes come January 2027, including reductions and the provision that most Medicaid recipients will be required to work, volunteer, or attend school for eighty hours per month.
The mid-term elections couldn’t be more important.
Duke Southard
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- William Durbin, Foothills
This is from The Economist.
"If Mr. Trump and his fellow Republicans were really concerned about public safety in the city, they would not have put DC in an unnecessary fiscal straitjacket. Congress has sweeping powers over the city’s finances, and earlier this year Republicans used them to force it to slash spending, even though its budget was already balanced (unlike the federal government’s). That has made it impossible for the city to increase spending on the police — or anything else. It has money sitting in the bank that Congress will not allow it to spend. It is defund the police, Republican-style."
William Durbin
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Max LaPlante, Southeast side
The Gaza death toll rises to 61,600 Palestinians. Aid workers and journalists are now targets as well by the Israeli military. When I see the videos and pictures of the starving Palestinians, my mind can't help but return to those haunting images in 1945 of those poor souls starving to death and clinging to life in the camps around Germany and elsewhere in war torn Europe. People in these camps were skin and bones barely able to walk. Some were barely able to move. Netanyahu seems hell bent on exterminating the Palestinians, just as Germany was trying to exterminate the Jews in World War II. Somehow, Netanyahu feels that every Palestinian is a member of Hamas and the only way to eliminate Hamas is to exterminate every Palestinian, regardless if they are innocent men, women, and children. Netanyahu now wants to take over Gaza City and displace the population. Netanyahu claims that the news showing the Palestinians starving is fake news. Netanyahu needs to spend a week inside Gaza.
Max LaPlante
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Toni Kane, Oro Valley
Trump is shameless. As a LTE stated, he would not have federal troops stop the January 6th attack, but he is deploying the same troops in Washington, D.C. despite crime rates decreasing in D.C. Hopefully these troops (plus the FBI) will not be thugs like the ICE agents and will cooperate with the local police.
Toni Kane
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Gerald Schwartz, Foothills
Does President Trump's loyal friend follow the news in general or just selected sources? Does the name Abrego Garcia ring a bell? He was in the US with a protection order but deported by "mistake" to El Salvador. I'm not going to debate whether he should be deported or not. That will be up to the courts as it should be. His wife and child are US citizens so if he is deported it will be the equivalent of a forced divorce which many oppose. Incidentally I would not recommend El Salvador and particularly San Salvador as a vacation spot. I've been there for humanitarian reasons. We stayed in a walled compound with armed guards.
Gerald Schwartz
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Richard Rebl, East side
One can look at President Trump and think that he is finally at the ultimate peak of his power with his Maga army and co-conspirators in every powerful position in the House and the government cabinet; however, I would respectfully point out the wisdom of D. Earl Stephens that points to the shortcomings of Mr. Trump. One has only to look at Mr. Trump’s overreach to notice that not only is it is continually beaten back, but other people react with indignation and anger, usually as a nation with people of all stripes, nationalities, and walks of life. Mr. Trump exists in his own reality sphere and while every day seems to add to his cruelty there is an end in sight because as a nation of people, we can end his terrorism of our lives and get back to the important work of restoring what was once a great nation from what it now is – a weak despotic greed-driven egotistical wasteland.
Richard Rebl
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Cynthia Duncan, Midtown
The time for coal as a power source is in the past. We have wind, sun, gravity, wave, water, and biophotovoltaics. Why would we possibly ever want to burn something that emits more carbon into the atmosphere for power? Small Nuclear is where we’ll need to “bridge the gap”. Unnatural gas is not an option – leaks everywhere, is a more potent greenhouse gas, and breaks down into carbon in the atmosphere. I am unconvinced that I need a data center, but I sure could use a break in the weather.
Cynthia Duncan
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Albrecht Classen, Midtown
Obviously, Trump wants to win the Nobel Peace Prize, so he needs a truce and then maybe peace between the aggressor Russia and victimized Ukraine. As a selfish dealmaker, he is reckless in his gambles and looks out only for his personal interests in that deal, probably mining rights in Ukraine, while Putin is already looking like a winner because the US President is struggling, begging him to make peace. Two bullies met in Alaska, and each tried hard to bluff the other. Both are bent on sacrificing an entire country and people for their global machinations and economic interests. Putin, the clear winner of this meeting, knows already that in a few years he can launch another war and gain yet another chunk of territory to restore the reach of the Stalinist Soviet Union, so 2014 (Crimea), 2022 (eastern Ukraine), 2028 (who knows). Anyone who trusts Putin, like Trump, is bound to be bitten the next time around. This dealmaker knows so little about his Russian puppet master.
Albrecht Classen
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Barbara Benjamin, Foothills
Trump asks others to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize. While some of the "faithful" may be willing to nominate him, he doesn't seem to know the difference between "piece" and "peace." He claims he wants to end the war in Ukraine, yet he consistently blames Zelenskyy and Ukraine for the war while ignoring the fact that Putin started the war in an attempt to restore the "glory" of the former Soviet Union piece by piece. For Putin, there can be no peace unless Ukraine gives itself up piece by piece. Trump appears to agree with Putin. As a result, |Trump wants Ukraine to cede areas of itself to Russia thus promoting "piece" meal. Trump needs a dictionary or someone to explain the difference between "piece" and "peace."
Barbara Benjamin
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mary Zimmerman, SaddleBrooke
In the words of the great Maya Angelou, "when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." Apparently, a lot of voters forgot the over 30,000 lies told during Trump's first term. Then there was the mishandling of the Covid crisis resulting in over a million deaths and rampant inflation. January 6th should have been a real wake-up call but was overlooked. Perhaps you felt Trump would run America like a business, this would be a good thing, and you voted for a guy with numerous bankruptcies. What could possibly go wrong? So, here we are with all the lies, corruption, and incompetency we experienced in the first Trump term only many times worse. We should have believed him the first time.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Don Ries, Southeast side
In 1960 as a sophomore at an excellent public high school we read George Orwell's classic 1984. I never thought our government would engage in doublespeak, but I was wrong. Three months into the Trump Administration Trump and FBI director Kash Patel took credit for the major decrease in crime in Washington D.C. Now Trump sends the National Guard into D.C. because of the rise in crime. The Department of Justice, (DOJ), has an office to investigate the weaponization of the law. The DOJ is doing exactly that by investigating New York state AG Leticia James for the prosecution of Trump for tax fraud. Trump was indicted by a grand jury and convicted on 34 counts of fraud by a jury of his peers, while he had a huge defense team. This is weaponization of the law by the DOJ.
Don Ries
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Peter Bakke, SaddleBrooke
I wonder what the phone call sounded like when Trump called governors and asked them to send military troops to Washington, D.C.
Gonvernors: How many troops do you need?
Trump: I’ll tell you what I want to do. I just need 11,780.
Peter Bakke
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Putin punched Trump to the ground
Obviously, Trump wants to win the Nobel Peace Prize, so he needs a truce and then maybe peace between the aggressor Russia and victimized Ukraine. As a selfish dealmaker, he is reckless in his gambles and looks out only for his personal interests in that deal, probably mining rights in Ukraine, while Putin is already looking like a winner because the US President is struggling, begging him to make peace. Two bullies met in Alaska, and each tried hard to bluff the other. Both are bent on sacrificing an entire country and people for their global machinations and economic interests. Putin, the clear winner of this meeting, knows already that in a few years he can launch another war and gain yet another chunk of territory to restore the reach of the Stalinist Soviet Union, so 2014 (Crimea), 2022 (eastern Ukraine), 2028 (who knows). Anyone who trusts Putin, like Trump, is bound to be bitten the next time around. This dealmaker knows so little about his Russian puppetmaster.
Albrecht Classen
Midtown
One man’s inhumanity to all of us
One can look at President Trump and think that he is finally at the ultimate peak of his power with his Maga army and co-conspirators in every powerful position in the House and the government cabinet; however, I would respectfully point out the wisdom of D. Earl Stephens that points to the shortcomings of Mr. Trump. One has only to look at Mr. Trump’s overreach to notice that not only is it is continually beaten back, but other people react with indignation and anger, usually as a nation with people of all stripes, nationalities, and walks of life. Mr. Trump exists in his own reality sphere and while every day seems to add to his cruelty there is an end in sight because as a nation of people, we can end his terrorism of our lives and get back to the important work of restoring what was once a great nation from what it now is — a weak despotic greed-driven egotistical wasteland.
Richard Rebl
East side
Spiffy Gaza development
A recent letter to the editor suggested a “bold solution to an old problem.” Once Gaza has been destroyed and 61,000 Palestinians murdered, a spiffy new development will bring peace and stability to the region. Presumably the Palestinians will just forget what has been done to them.
I am reminded of the Roman historian Tacitus who said “They created a desolation and called it peace.”
Two thousand years ago a bold solution was offered to people: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, love thy neighbor as thyself, and as you do to the least among you so too you do unto your God. For seventy-five years there has been not one minute of peace in Israel because that solution has never been applied to the Palestinians.
Susie Morris
Midtown
Deportations/arrests
Does President Trump’s loyal friend follow the news in general or just selected sources? Does the name Abrego Garcia ring a bell? He was in the US with a protection order but deported by “mistake” to El Salvador. I’m not going to debate whether he should be deported or not. That will be up to the courts as it should be. His wife and child are US citizens so if he is deported it will be the equivalent of a forced divorce which many oppose. Incidentally I would not recommend El Salvador and particularly San Salvador as a vacation spot. I’ve been there for humanitarian reasons. We stayed in a walled compound with armed guards.
Gerald Schwartz
Foothills
Global warming
The time for coal as a power source is in the past. We have wind, sun, gravity, wave, water, and biophotovoltaics. Why would we possibly ever want to burn something that emits more carbon into the atmosphere for power? Small Nuclear is where we’ll need to “bridge the gap”. Unnatural gas is not an option — leaks everywhere, is a more potent greenhouse gas, and breaks down into carbon in the atmosphere. I am unconvinced that I need a data center, but I sure could use a break in the weather.
Cynthia Duncan
Midtown
Labor and environmentalists
Erica Prather wrote an editorial in which she stated labor and environmentalists should work together. I agree.
I do not agree with her complaint that opponents of Project Blue started their statements by stating their credentials. She stated that “would any less educated and lower-class blue-collar worker feel welcome to speak their mind under these virtue- hoarding conditions?” First, since when is it “virtue-hoarding” to state your expertise in a field germane to the discussion? Instead I call that important information to determine whether to listen carefully to someone.
Next, I would gladly listen to a blue-collar worker if they were giving an opinion in their area of expertise. Such an opinion would be informative, not virtue-hoarding.
The problem with Prather’s original statement is that it assumes all opinions are equal, whether informed by expertise or not. Haven’t we had enough of that?
Howard Strause
Foothills
Trump unabashed
Trump is shameless. As a LTE stated, he would not have federal troops stop the January 6th attack, but he is deploying the same troops in Washington, D.C. despite crime rates decreasing in D.C. Hopefully these troops (plus the FBI) will not be thugs like the ICE agents and will cooperate with the local police.
Toni Kane
Oro Valley
Netanyahu in need of sensitivity training
The Gaza death toll rises to 61,600 Palestinians. Aid workers and journalists are now targets as well by the Israeli military. When I see the videos and pictures of the starving Palestinians, my mind can’t help but return to those haunting images in 1945 of those poor souls starving to death and clinging to life in the camps around Germany and elsewhere in war torn Europe. People in these camps were skin and bones barely able to walk. Some were barely able to move. Netanyahu seems hell bent on exterminating the Palestinians, just as Germany was trying to exterminate the Jews in World War II. Somehow, Netanyahu feels that every Palestinian is a member of Hamas and the only way to eliminate Hamas is to exterminate every Palestinian, regardless if they are innocent men, women, and children. Netanyahu now wants to take over Gaza City and displace the population. Netanyahu claims that the news showing the Palestinians starving is fake news. Netanyahu needs to spend a week inside Gaza.
Max LaPlante
Southeast side
Affordable housing
The controversy around affordable housing is an endless discussion with no viable solutions. Today, housing construction averages $190 per square foot not counting land. A 1,000-square-foot house, small by many accounts, would cost $190,000. With today’s interest rates, that is a steep hill to climb for the average wage earner. Obviously, lower interest rates would help and the elimination of onerous building regulations would accelerate construction. Short of these changes, affordable housing means government assistance. One interesting question is why the housing shortage has become much worse in the last several years. One possible explanation is that 10 million plus, plus illegal immigrants have entered the country in the last four years and all need a place to stay. To exaggerate the problem, the government pays for their housing, allowing landlords to charge what they desire because the law of supply and demand is nonexistent when government money is involved. Could this invasion be the root cause of the housing shortage?
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Piece or no peace
Trump asks others to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize. While some of the “faithful” may be willing to nominate him, he doesn’t seem to know the difference between “piece” and “peace.” He claims he wants to end the war in Ukraine, yet he consistently blames Zelenskyy and Ukraine for the war while ignoring the fact that Putin started the war in an attempt to restore the “glory” of the former Soviet Union piece by piece. For Putin, there can be no peace unless Ukraine gives itself up piece by piece. Trump appears to agree with Putin. As a result, |Trump wants Ukraine to cede areas of itself to Russia thus promoting “piece” meal. Trump needs a dictionary or someone to explain the difference between “piece” and “peace.”
Barbara Benjamin
Foothills
A lot of people did not pay attention
In the words of the great Maya Angelou, “when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” Apparently, a lot of voters forgot the over 30,000 lies told during Trump’s first term. Then there was the mishandling of the Covid crisis resulting in over a million deaths and rampant inflation. January 6th should have been a real wake-up call but was overlooked. Perhaps you felt Trump would run America like a business, this would be a good thing, and you voted for a guy with numerous bankruptcies. What could possibly go wrong? So, here we are with all the lies, corruption, and incompetency we experienced in the first Trump term only many times worse. We should have believed him the first time.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Trump’s doublespeak
In 1960 as a sophomore at an excellent public high school we read George Orwell’s classic 1984. I never thought our government would engage in doublespeak, but I was wrong. Three months into the Trump Administration Trump and FBI director Kash Patel took credit for the major decrease in crime in Washington D.C. Now Trump sends the National Guard into D.C. because of the rise in crime. The Department of Justice, (DOJ), has an office to investigate the weaponization of the law. The DOJ is doing exactly that by investigating New York state AG Leticia James for the prosecution of Trump for tax fraud. Trump was indicted by a grand jury and convicted on 34 counts of fraud by a jury of his peers, while he had a huge defense team. This is weaponization of the law by the DOJ.
Don Ries
Southeast side
Opera Buffa
I am re-submitting a letter dated 8/2/25, satire on Melania Trump’s being nominated for the head of the Kennedy Opera House.
William Muto
SaddleBrooke
Critical factors in schools
A career educator, I must respond to recent letters from LTE contributors who suggest they comprehend all the challenges faced in today’s schools regarding parental choice, teacher unionism, and the quality of teachers and educational leadership.
These contributors’ “comprehension” is apparently grounded in research like reading about test scores, watching teachers teach for several years, and perhaps receiving discipline from some principal. Add a dab of anti-union bias, and they believe they know all the factors that create successful schools.
With “school choice,” parents are generally selecting, not a school, but a peer group — a “neighborhood” of students. Unlike public school neighborhoods, private and charter schools do not serve significant numbers of children in poverty or those with profound disabilities or those who do not use English well. Half of public-school children live in low-income families and cannot depend on regular medical care, good nutrition, or neighborhood safety. Understanding these variables is critical, and armchair critics should learn about them before pontificating from their soapboxes.
Jim Christ
East side
Tucson’s top 5 assets
When I was in 4th grade at University Heights Elementary on Park Ave we learned about Arizona’s five Cs: Citrus, Cotton, Cattle, Copper and Climate. This was about 1960. Now we know citrus, cotton, cattle and copper have been destructive and the climate has drastically changed.
In the discussion and rejection of Project Blue we are challenged to understand our city and how to build an economy that supports each person and the beautiful desert in health. Clean air and water are priceless. So I am asking for ideas and a discussion of Tucson so we build on what supports life and not what we can exploit.
What are the top 5 attributes of Tucson that will help the city thrive?
These are a few ideas. Please send your ideas to ld20demsaz@gmail.com
The tapestry of human cultures
The Sonoran Desert which city leaders have preserved for the past 100 years that we now enjoy with hiking trails in every direction
The University of Arizona astronomy work.
Rosemary Bolza
Midtown
- Philip Reinecker, East side
I consider myself a sports aficionado and generally enjoy all the major ones. I have been watching something out of the ordinary, even for me: Little League Baseball. 11-12-13 year old lads from all over the world coming together to compete for the ultimate championship. Their skills don't match up with college or pro but their guts and enthusiasm far exceed what I am used to. They are amateurs, in the true sense of the word. They have no salaries, endorsements, NIL, portals, bonuses or the like. They play because they enjoy doing so and cannot be faulted for occasional errors in the field. When it is over they don't retire to mansions, Corvettes and luxury vacations. They go back to doing whatever it is that little boys do. So refreshing. Oh, how I long for those thrilling days of yesteryear when sports was truly sporting.
Philip Reinecker
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sheldon Metz, Northeast side
Last month, the Labor Department announced that wholesale inflation rose unexpectedly by 0.9%, indicating President Donald Trump's sweeping import taxes are pushing prices up, and that consumers may soon see higher prices. This was the biggest increase since March 2022. Trump will blame Biden or Obama.
Food increased 1.4%, while vegetables rose 38.9%. This is the result of tariffs creeping in and “making everyone rich.” If you need a refrigerator or stove for the food you can no longer afford, appliances only increased 5%. Why aren’t those countries paying these tariffs, as the “stable genius" claimed?
Unfortunately, with the firings and secrecy Trump invoked throughout his departments, Americans will no longer be informed of the factual numbers of jobs, inflation, unemployment, the census, undocumented workers, Medicaid or Medicare recipients or Social Security cuts. Briefings will be controlled, with misinformation being the priority.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Bryan Lane, Green Valley
A murderer and a grifter meet in Alaska and, based on their presser, mainly discussed the "Russia hoax thing."
But where's the ceasefire agreement the grifter just had to have as a condition of meeting?
The murderer ends the meeting in English demanding they meet "next time in Moscow." Delay, delay, delay.
The grifter thinks this is a great idea, might be worthy of a Nobel Prize. Meanwhile, Ukraine burns.
The victim, who was left in Kiev out of the loop thinks, "Moscow ... not on your life. I remember what happened to Putin's chef!" But he wonders if anyone out there remembers 1938 Munich and a follow-on Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.
Bryan Lane
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Monica Wadsworth-seibel, Northeast side
I have a few comments in response to Mr. Peng's opinion piece touting the use of coal. He specifically sites China's increasing use. Has Mr. Peng had the opportunity to experience China's pollution due to coal usage? I was in China in 2005 and 2008. Whether in Guangzhou, Jiangmen, Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Shanghai, Dunhuang -- or even rural parts of Inner Mongolia -- the air was so brown and caustic that I thought I was suffering from strep throat. In an entire month in Jiangmen, I saw the blue sky for one day. The rest of the time, it was a brown soup through which you could not see the sun.
Perhaps Mr. Peng's focus on our "need" for increased energy use is a bit dismissive of the price we'll be paying for AI and data centers. Don't take our relatively clear, blue skies for granted!
Monica Wadsworth-seibel
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Duane Barbour, Midtown
240 million registered voters in America. 77 million voted for Trump. Math says that 32.08 per cent voted for Trump.
I say that 67.92 per cent did not vote for Trump. Resist. Go vote. We must vote.
Duane Barbour
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Chuck Cabrera, Oro Valley
There have been actual videos and first-hand reports confirming extensive mistreatment in ICE detention centers. In too many cases these incarcerated human beings cannot even meet with their attorney. As for those U.S. citizens serving time in U.S. prisons, all have been convicted through due process of a trial while a huge amount of the ICE arrestees had no such benefit nor evidence of any actual criminal action. It is also factually untrue that Biden's administration was totally responsible for the "Illegal invasion." illegal border crossings have been occurring for decades.
As for Mr. Johnson's concern for incarcerated U.S. citizen criminals, the current president pardoned over 1,200 duly convicted individuals for the illegal invasion of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021. This and the unethical action of ICE officials (wearing masks, refusing to identify themselves etc.) warrants criticism of this president's policies. One question, Mr. Johnson: If you are so concerned regarding criminals, how can you support a 34-count convicted felon?
Chuck Cabrera
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Defund the police, GOP style
This is from The Economist.
“If Mr. Trump and his fellow Republicans were really concerned about public safety in the city, they would not have put DC in an unnecessary fiscal straitjacket. Congress has sweeping powers over the city’s finances, and earlier this year Republicans used them to force it to slash spending, even though its budget was already balanced (unlike the federal government’s). That has made it impossible for the city to increase spending on the police — or anything else. It has money sitting in the bank that Congress will not allow it to spend. It is defund the police, Republican-style.”
William Durbin
Foothills
Do you want to be alive when America dies?
240 million registered voters in America. 77 million voted for Trump. Math says that 32.08 percent voted for Trump.
I say that 67.92 per cent did not vote for Trump. Resist. Go vote. We must vote.
Duane Barbour
Midtown
Detention centers
There have been actual videos and first-hand reports confirming extensive mistreatment in ICE detention centers. In too many cases these incarcerated human beings cannot even meet with their attorney. As for those U.S. citizens serving time in U.S. prisons, all have been convicted through due process of a trial while a huge amount of the ICE arrestees had no such benefit nor evidence of any actual criminal action. It is also factually untrue that Biden’s administration was totally responsible for the “Illegal invasion.” illegal border crossings have been occurring for decades.
As for Mr. Johnson’s concern for incarcerated U.S. citizen criminals, the current president pardoned over 1,200 duly convicted individuals for the illegal invasion of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021. This and the unethical action of ICE officials (wearing masks, refusing to identify themselves etc.) warrants criticism of this president’s policies. One question, Mr. Johnson: If you are so concerned regarding criminals, how can you support a 34-count convicted felon?
Chuck Cabrera
Oro Valley
Mental health, gun violence, homelessness
I just learned today that critical funding for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is threatened. NIMH funds critical research that sustains the advancement of mental health treatment for all of us. Consider the importance of mental health to reduce gun violence, homelessness, suicide, and addiction. Virtually all Americans agree that we need to prioritize mental health interventions, to reduce these persistent and worsening problems. Today, all NIMH K-Grant applicants were notified that their funding could be eliminated on Oct 1, 2025, which would halt a significant amount of pending research nationwide for the treatment of depression, psychosis, PTSD, and addiction, and would also directly harm the careers of many clinical researchers. I am urging my representatives to become educated on this matter, vote to prioritize and sustain the advancement of mental health interventions for our nation, and take steps to prevent the executive branch from illegally blocking appropriated funding.
Charles Kaplan MD
Northwest side
Finally a sport I can be proud of
I consider myself a sports aficionado and generally enjoy all the major ones. I have been watching something out of the ordinary, even for me: Little League Baseball. 11-12-13 year old lads from all over the world coming together to compete for the ultimate championship. Their skills don’t match up with college or pro but their guts and enthusiasm far exceed what I am used to. They are amateurs, in the true sense of the word. They have no salaries, endorsements, NIL, portals, bonuses or the like. They play because they enjoy doing so and cannot be faulted for occasional errors in the field. When it is over they don’t retire to mansions, Corvettes and luxury vacations. They go back to doing whatever it is that little boys do. So refreshing. Oh, how I long for those thrilling days of yesteryear when sports was truly sporting.
Philip Reinecker
East side
Mr. Peng and the use of coal
I have a few comments in response to Mr. Peng’s opinion piece touting the use of coal. He specifically sites China’s increasing use. Has Mr. Peng had the opportunity to experience China’s pollution due to coal usage? I was in China in 2005 and 2008. Whether in Guangzhou, Jiangmen, Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Shanghai, Dunhuang — or even rural parts of Inner Mongolia — the air was so brown and caustic that I thought I was suffering from strep throat. In an entire month in Jiangmen, I saw the blue sky for one day. The rest of the time, it was a brown soup through which you could not see the sun.
Perhaps Mr. Peng’s focus on our “need” for increased energy use is a bit dismissive of the price we’ll be paying for AI and data centers. Don’t take our relatively clear, blue skies for granted!
Monica Wadsworth-seibel
Northeast side
Where are the test scores?
As Mr. Johnson is so sure of the benefits of private and parochial education and the billion plus tax dollars provided through Arizona’s voucher system, perhaps he would like to provide proof of their success? A comparison of their scores on state mandated tests with public school scores would put the question to rest. No doubt he has access to those scores?
But wait! Private and parochial schools aren’t required to administer those tests and publish results. So what is he basing his conclusion on?
Imagine what that billion could do for our public schools.
Todd Ackerman
Foothills
Prices surge as we pay the tariffs
Last month, the Labor Department announced that wholesale inflation rose unexpectedly by 0.9%, indicating President Donald Trump’s sweeping import taxes are pushing prices up, and that consumers may soon see higher prices. This was the biggest increase since March 2022. Trump will blame Biden or Obama.
Food increased 1.4%, while vegetables rose 38.9%. This is the result of tariffs creeping in and “making everyone rich.” If you need a refrigerator or stove for the food you can no longer afford, appliances only increased 5%. Why aren’t those countries paying these tariffs, as the “stable genius” claimed?
Unfortunately, with the firings and secrecy Trump invoked throughout his departments, Americans will no longer be informed of the factual numbers of jobs, inflation, unemployment, the census, undocumented workers, Medicaid or Medicare recipients or Social Security cuts. Briefings will be controlled, with misinformation being the priority.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Two-faced Ciscomani
Juan Ciscomani’s smiling face after last month’s passage of President Trump’s budget plan, literally showed his two-faced representation of Arizona’s voters. Smiling jubilantly, Ciscomani supported the bill in an about-face on his earlier claims to protect Medicaid, celebrating a budget bill directed at benefiting the ultra-wealthy. Hoping that he could sell the illusion that the bill benefits middle and lower-income families, Ciscomani parroted the party message while avoiding town hall meetings to answer the electorate. His earlier claims to fight cuts to Medicare and rural health care have evaporated, and he now follows his party members as evasive politicians, hoping that gerrymandering efforts will allow them to remain in office. I urge Arizona voters to see through Ciscomani’s two-faced promises and vote him out of office.
Roger Shanley
East side
Where’s the immediate ceasefire?
A murderer and a grifter meet in Alaska and, based on their presser, mainly discussed the “Russia hoax thing.”
But where’s the ceasefire agreement the grifter just had to have as a condition of meeting?
The murderer ends the meeting in English demanding they meet “next time in Moscow.” Delay, delay, delay.
The grifter thinks this is a great idea, might be worthy of a Nobel Prize. Meanwhile, Ukraine burns.
The victim, who was left in Kiev out of the loop thinks, “Moscow ... not on your life. I remember what happened to Putin’s chef!” But he wonders if anyone out there remembers 1938 Munich and a follow-on Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.
Bryan Lane
Green Valley
Comcast/Xfinity
Have you tried to get help from this company? Well, it’s almost impossible. Besides getting transferred to various departments, automated voice help and physically going to one of their addresses that no longer exists, I have concluded they have sold you their services but do not care if you need help fixing things when something goes wrong. For six weeks I have been on a wild goose chase. Still paying them for no service. I do have a ticket number that was to secure a representative calling to set an appointment within 48 hours. Well, it’s been six weeks. I think of the elderly who enjoy watching TV or people having to stay inside due to extreme heat conditions. Sad that customer service has been thrown out of various companies and replaced with automated voice systems. Comcast/Xfinity should be ashamed for making it so hard to get any help when needed. Cox Cable is the best.
Joni Chandler
Midtown
- willliam muto, SaddleBrooke
I am resubmitting a letter dated 8/2/25, satire on MelaniaTrump's being nominated for the head of the Kennedy Opera House.
willliam muto
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Karen Papagapitos, Northwest side
Loyal M. Johnson has often asked for help in his LTEs regarding disapproval of current administrative actions. This time LMJ believes any criticism of how detainees in detention centers are being mistreated is baseless. Where was the outrage in the past four years of how prisoners who were U.S. citizens were being mistreated, he asks?
I tried to puzzle out his illogical reasoning in order to help him once again. Here goes.
1) LMJ has obviously never heard of the Innocence Project, founded in 1992, that helps wrongfully convicted prisoners.
2) Prisoners were given due process, allowed to make a phone call and assigned a public defender if they could not afford one. Whereas the individuals in the detention centers, whether accused of a crime or not, are not given these privileges provided under our legal system.
If LMJ had lived in Germany in the early 1940s, would he have considered any criticism of how Jews were detained in horrific camps equally baseless?
Karen Papagapitos
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Fred DiNoto, Northwest side
I am going to do a little parody on Mr. Trump.
Things are getting a little hot with all this Epstein business in the news every day. So, what can I do to take the heat off of me? I know, let's fabricate some lies about the criminal conditions in D.C. My Maga followers will believe it. Let CNN and MSNBC fact check all they want. Who will they believe -- "Fake News", or me?
All this business with Putin, Ukraine and Epstein are making me lose my focus. How can I concentrate on my golf game with all these phone calls and meetings going on? Hegseth did say there was a golf course at Elmendorf AFB though.
I suppose I could take some of the millions of dollars that it is going to pay for the troops in Washington and put it towards more police and housing. Nah. Fore.
Fred DiNoto
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- David Redkey, Downtown
In 2023, Arizona promised reform after SB1291 — but families are still being robbed. A “soft” or "light" conservatorship meant to protect assets became years of outside control: orders with no preserved hearing record, ex-parte medical reports from unrelated cases, and fee approvals that look more like paychecks to insiders than care for a vulnerable person. Not a single jury trial has vindicated those rights, and I’m one of many still denied justice.
Worse, the Probate Advisory Panel required by law hasn’t even reached quorum nearly two years after enactment, blocking oversight the public was promised. Even Court Accountant’s report in my case shows over-budget spending, missing invoices, unexplained transfers, and large payees — but still approved.
I’m running for Congress to fix this. Federally enforceable reforms when the state fails to protect their vulnerable citizens. If you believe the law should protect people — not enrich insiders — join me in demanding real accountability now.
David Redkey
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
More like this...
- Max LaPlante, Southeast side
The length of the Southwest border with Mexico is approximately 1,954 miles. During our POTUS's first term, roughly 400 miles of border wall was erected. Our illustrious former Governor Ducey decided to shore up the wall in Arizona using double stacked shipping containers, which were removed after his term. The Biden Administration decided to halt the construction of the border wall and sell off remaining border wall materials with starting bids as low as $5 for sections of wall panels. Now 47 has resumed erecting the border wall at a total cost estimate of $25 billion-plus. Most recently, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday that the entire wall along the U.S.-Mexico border is going to be painted black to make it hotter and deter illegal immigration. The Commander in Chief has always maintained that Mexico will be paying for all of this. In stark reality, everything mentioned above was and is being paid for by U.S. taxpayers. Gloves are available in Mexico.
Max LaPlante
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Ke Chiang Hsieh, Midtown
Thanks to Gerald Farrington’s recent Op-Ed comparing Trump’s policies with Mao’s Great Cultural Revolution. Earlier, Mao led the Great Leap Forward to increase agricultural and industrial outputs to meet unrealistic production quotas under peasant leaderships while truthful intellectuals and technical experts were banished to labor camps. The GLF ended with tens of millions of deaths. Their economic policy flipped after Mao’s death, but not the Communist Party (CCP). Under Xi, a new cultural revolution advances with latest surveillance technologies, e.g., all lectures are monitored, and professors warned on off-limits, i.e. historical facts, etc., while students are expected to report on strayed professors. All dictators, regardless of nationalities, races and ideologies, live in fear of losing control. To grab more power, they punish those who do honest research and publish their findings. Is anyone surprised that a person without medical training oversees our public health, and an oil tycoon protects our environment? The Chinese are powerless under the CCP; will Americans challenge the GOP?
Ke Chiang Hsieh
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Roger Rutschman, Goodyear
As a senior Arizonan, I urge continued investment in mRNA vaccine research. Billions have benefited from these safe, effective vaccines, which can be quickly updated for new health threats. Cutting funding now would leave our nation — including Arizona —vulnerable in future pandemics and cause us to lose medical innovation leadership.
We need decisions based on science, not politics. I encourage policymakers and fellow citizens to support strong investment in public health and biomedical research. It’s critical for protecting our communities and economy now and for the future.
Roger Rutschman
Goodyear
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Michelle Brislance, Oro Valley
President Donald Trump likes to brag that he has done more in the short time he has been in office than all other presidents combined. Countless letters to the editor have chronicled the many executive orders he has signed and the demands he has made to public schools, colleges and universities, as well as other public and private entities which have dramatically undermined this country’s core values and cherished ideals.
His policies have contributed to the dumbing down of America by restricting what students can read and say, by squelching healthy debate of controversial subjects, and by promoting the rewriting of history to ignore parts of America’s shameful past.
The president’s cruel immigration policies; his disdain for truth, science, and the rule of law; and his arrogant abuse of power for personal gain are unprecedented.
Yes, President Trump has done a lot in a short period of time. We can only hope the damage is not irreparable.
Michelle Brislance
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Bruce Hilpert, North side
Laura Conover's predicament with the US Attorney charging an alleged murderer with lesser crimes and facing deportation is part of a larger trend of the politicization of the Department of Justice. Deportation will bring headlines for ICE deporting a “dangerous criminal” instead of his being tried for a capital offense.
Meanwhile, the man charged with the recent murder of the Minnesota State House Representative had a “hit list” of over 45 progressive politicians and abortion providers. This was clearly “domestic terrorism,” a federal crime requiring political, racial or religious motivation. Yet his federal charges include only murder and stalking.
These decisions come from the Dept. of Justice that has dropped prosecution against January 6 defendants and a President who has pardoned those convicted and termed them “patriots.”
Is this the state of American justice now, an instrument of political power? Sadly, the answer is “yes.”
Bruce Hilpert
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Deb Klumpp, Oro Valley
The Norwegian press reported that Donald Trump, in a call to the Norwegian Finance Minister, told him he wanted to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Probably there was some attempted transactional wheeling and dealing over tariffs tied to his quest for the prize. Four of Trump's predecessors, including Barack Obama, have received the award. No wonder Donald's nose is out of joint. Do you think any previous award candidates or prize hopefuls ever called a member of the nominating committee to lobby for the prize? How incredibly vulgar and tawdry - but consider the askee. Trump seeing himself as Nobel Prize material is absurd - but it seems absurdity rules the day. This supremely unqualified individual managed to be elected President again. Should he receive a Nobel nomination or, God forbid, actually be awarded the Nobel Prize, it will forever be tarnished and rendered meaningless, as was the Presidential Medal of Freedom when awarded to Rush Limbaugh by Donald Trump.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Craig Miller, Northwest side
Trump stated he wants to end the war in Ukraine so he can get into heaven. His press secretary said he wasn't joking.
He's the least Christian President ever. Maybe start acting like a Christian:
Stop the incessant lies, it is a commandment. Start treating the most vulnerable better. Christ said "what you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me". Compassion and kindness were what Christ taught, not demonizing everyone who you don't like.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Graeme Williams, Southeast side
I see where President Trump had a private conversation with Russia's President Putin. Trump then said that after talking to Putin, he wants to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines in this country. I guess Trump had to talk to his boss about the best way to rig elections before starting his big push to make American elections just as free and fair as Russian elections. Putin knows a lot about turning countries into dictatorships.
Graeme Williams
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Craig Miller, Northwest side
Putin owns Trump. It was disgusting to see Trump give red carpet treatment to a murderous tyrant. He invaded Ukraine and caused hundreds of thousands of deaths. Trump in ever pursuit of a deal would reward Putin with giving up Ukraine territory. Putin would've achieved his aims while conceding nothing. Not a great deal. Thank God Trump wasn't president when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He would've given Japan Hawaii in a deal.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- James Abels, Midtown
The 8/18/25 opinion columns are both right. School should be virtually year-round and children need a break from formal education.
I would prefer a schedule of 9 weeks on, 1 week off. It would them a week’s break that could be extended to 2 weeks if they are given the assignments for the extra week off. Every weekend is a break if children learn to manage their time.
However, teaching the three R’s is inadequate. Children need to be taught life skills, employment skills, reasoning/prioritizing skills and various other skills. Educational achievement and cooperation should be recognized as more important than athletic skills.
And if like me, after years of being conditioned to have the summer off, I felt like I should have still have the summer off. But I did not let my feelings overrule my thinking.
James Abels
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Dan Bannon, Midtown
So much is not being explained in the tragic Epstein /Trump friendship and scandal. One might and can read about Russian models and Deutsche Bank having to pay $150 million due to its involvement. I do hope both parties will push for total disclosure. Trump’s revealing statement about victims tells us a lot.
Dan Bannon
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Terese Lindgren, Green Valley
Blaming immigrants for the housing crisis is flat-out wrong. Housing costs are skyrocketing because of restrictive zoning, soaring construction expenses, and years of undersupply—not because immigrants need a place to live.
In fact, immigrants are essential to building homes. Nearly a quarter of America’s construction workforce is foreign-born. Without them, housing production would stall, and prices would climb even faster.
Pointing fingers at immigrants won’t lower rent or build a single house. Real solutions mean building more homes and removing barriers — not scapegoating the very people helping us keep roofs over our heads.
Terese Lindgren
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Lawrence Mazin, SaddleBrooke
Donald Trump has found his historical role model at last: Neville Chamberlain. Chamberlain handed Hitler part of Czechoslovakia in the name of “peace in our time.” If history repeats itself, we’ll soon see Trump on stage, red tie down to his knees, announcing: “Peace in our time … plus a new Trump Tower Moscow built entirely with Trump Crypto. Very classy, the best tower, believe me.”
Trump will declare it “the most beautiful agreement ever, folks. Nobody’s ever done peace like me.” At a rally, I can already hear him: “Putin told me he’s going to respect Ukraine’s borders… eventually. And you know what? I believe him. He looked me in the eyes. Strong eyes. Tiger eyes. Very manly eyes.” Meanwhile, Ukraine vanishes from the map faster than Trump Steaks.
If we’re going to reenact the 1930s, let’s at least remember how the original version ended. Spoiler alert: not great.
Lawrence Mazin
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Deb Klumpp, Oro Valley
Many thanks to John Murphy for his excellent article "What loss of science means for us". The many deaths attributable to Covid-19 science denial and Covid vaccine hesitancy/refusal (politically driven) are perfect illustrations. This led to "ignorance and superstition finding fertile ground" as science deniers turned to horse de-wormer and other quack remedies while Trump continued his downplaying of the virus.
Now we have an anti-vaccine person heading up Health and Human Services. Maybe Trump can reverse the science showing tobacco use is a major health hazard or at least have the warning on cigarette packages removed. The Creation Museum in Petersburg KY (which of course attracts the religious right) had a display showing dinosaurs roaming earth at the same time as humans -- unashamedly disseminating outrageously false information for non-thinkers and the gullible to embrace. Remember, Trump loves the uneducated. What is truly tragic is that an article like Mr. Murphy's needs to be written and is relevant to our country today.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Richard Grayson, West side
As the first Arizona No Labels Party candidate to appear on the ballot — in the September 23 special election for the state’s 7th Congressional District — I want to make something clear: Arizona’s No Labels Party has no connection with the national group of the same name. That organization has endorsed Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor who resigned in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal, in the New York City mayoral race.
Our state party’s new chair, former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson, has already emphasized this separation. Although I initially opposed his proposal to change our party’s name, I now realize I was wrong. I do not want to be linked with Andrew Cuomo in any way.
I am a progressive who opposes sexual harassment of women, believing that I share these values with Green Party candidate Eduardo Quintana and Democratic nominee Adelita Grijalva.
Richard Grayson
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
The shameful denial of science
Many thanks to John Murphy for his excellent article “What loss of science means for us”. The many deaths attributable to COVID-19 science denial and COVID vaccine hesitancy/refusal (politically driven) are perfect illustrations. This led to “ignorance and superstition finding fertile ground” as science deniers turned to horse de-wormer and other quack remedies while Trump continued his downplaying of the virus.
Now we have an anti-vaccine person heading up Health and Human Services. Maybe Trump can reverse the science showing tobacco use is a major health hazard or at least have the warning on cigarette packages removed. The Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, (which of course attracts the religious right) had a display showing dinosaurs roaming earth at the same time as humans — unashamedly disseminating outrageously false information for non-thinkers and the gullible to embrace. Remember, Trump loves the uneducated. What is truly tragic is that an article like Mr. Murphy’s needs to be written and is relevant to our country today.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Re: What loss of science means for us
This wonderful piece beautifully underscores the crucial importance of science as a method and worldview. The hallmark of science ignorance is a tendency to praise its primacy when it comports with one’s biases, but to discount its inevitable conclusions when it doesn’t.
As newborns and toddlers, the kernel of scientific inquiry is inherent in us all as we first struggle to adapt to being in the world. Through an intrinsic curiosity we all possess at our genesis, that fuels a natural drive to observe, challenge, modify and assimilate, we insensibly acquire our most rudimentary capabilities of walking, talking and self-awareness. Our instinctive nature is de facto scientific.
But tragedy fatefully ensues when these inborn inclinations are allowed to atrophy through insufficient encouragement and cultivation. By a certain age, what might have emerged as a lifelong pattern of critical thinking is arrested in many, who then easily fall victim to the variety of undisciplined reason permeating our contemporary discourse, where half-baked, purely utilitarian dogmas prosper.
Robert Gavlak
Midtown
Tucson physical therapist deportation
I have been a physical therapist in Tucson for over 35 years and have known Vone Phrommany for more than 10 years. He is one of the most kind, caring, thoughtful people I have ever met. His patients absolutely love him, and his co-workers/friends are honored and blessed to have him in our lives.
Without a moment’s notice, he will provide a patient, friend or stranger with his time, expertise or if need be, financial support.
Yes, he made a dumb teenage mistake. Who of us hasn’t? He didn’t hurt anyone and long ago paid the price (or so he thought).
There will always be loyal followers who blindly believe people like Vone represent the worst of the worst and don’t belong in “our” country. Vone would provide care to you as readily as he would to anyone else. He would do so because, in fact, he represents the very best of what we can all aspire to be.
Mitch Blum
North side
Camp Cochise
Thanks to Greg Hansen for his article on UA football history at Camp Cochise.
The teams that experienced the intensity and cohesive atmosphere that only an isolated football community can create were some of the best squads ever to play at Arizona Stadium.
I played football at Buena H.S. (Sierra Vista) in the late ’70s, early ’80s under Coach Truman Williamson.
We had 2-a day practice (7 a.m, and 3:30-6 p.m.) for 2 weeks prior to the start of season.
We both hated and loved it.
We hated and loved our coaches.
By the end of preseason camp, we were a cohesive “Band of Brothers” who had endured together and created a true team.
I believe that this type of preseason experience helps to solidify the Brotherhood culture of a football team.
Bring back Camp Cochise!
Dan Egan
East side
Mines over mountains?
Why is it so hard to have nice things? Why are Canada and Japan finding it so easy to tear down our mountains? Tucson has specific attractions, including and most important, glorious mountain views and sunsets, followed by winter sun, hiking and mostly clean air. Currently, we have growing worry about scarce water supply. Why are we even considering open-pit mines? Even from space, the many open pit mines are ugly and leave us with uninhabitable, unhealable scars.
Bea Manderscheid
Northeast side
Two sides of the same coin
Sunday’s Tucson Opinion writers brought two different approaches to the same problem: stagnation. I doubt that anyone living in Tucson is “content as a retirement community,” and while one author laments the loss of Project Blue, saying we turned our backs on “thousands of high paying construction jobs and a massive infusion of capital into our economy.” I believe those were short-term and unsubstantiated promises compared to the long-term devastation based on a “plan” to offset the extraordinary volume of water and electricity that would result. The second author proposed linking “research, education and policy discourse” to connect Arizona’s local experience to global lessons. Though we need solutions to finding dynamic career paths now, reaching out to successful communities with limited resources like ours could help build a future for our children here in Tucson.
Christie Cummins
Midtown
No law he won’t break for personal gain
The ‘Posse Comitatus Act’ (18 U.S.C. § 1385), 1878, prohibits the use of the U.S. military to enforce civilian laws, with some exceptions outlined in the Constitution or by Congress. This means that active-duty military personnel may not be used for domestic law enforcement activities.
Exceptions may be made when specifically authorized by the Constitution or by two-thirds approval by both Houses of Congress, not by the president.
This is a fundamental principle in the United States, aimed at preventing the military from interfering with civilian affairs and protecting individual liberties.
With an auto-signature, National Guard troops already illegally deployed to Washington, D.C., will begin carrying firearms to conduct their mission in the city, where crime was already down 30%. It seems that while riding in his “tank,” he saw a homeless person and was disgusted. Imagine what the homeless person thought when he saw Trump.
There is no law this man will not break.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Peace in our time
Donald Trump has found his historical role model at last: Neville Chamberlain. Chamberlain handed Hitler part of Czechoslovakia in the name of “peace in our time.” If history repeats itself, we’ll soon see Trump on stage, red tie down to his knees, announcing: “Peace in our time … plus a new Trump Tower Moscow built entirely with Trump Crypto. Very classy, the best tower, believe me.”
Trump will declare it “the most beautiful agreement ever, folks. Nobody’s ever done peace like me.” At a rally, I can already hear him: “Putin told me he’s going to respect Ukraine’s borders… eventually. And you know what? I believe him. He looked me in the eyes. Strong eyes. Tiger eyes. Very manly eyes.” Meanwhile, Ukraine vanishes from the map faster than Trump Steaks.
If we’re going to reenact the 1930s, let’s at least remember how the original version ended. Spoiler alert: not great.
Lawrence Mazin
SaddleBrooke
Stop scapegoating immigrants on housing
Blaming immigrants for the housing crisis is flat-out wrong. Housing costs are skyrocketing because of restrictive zoning, soaring construction expenses, and years of undersupply — not because immigrants need a place to live.
In fact, immigrants are essential to building homes. Nearly a quarter of America’s construction workforce is foreign-born. Without them, housing production would stall, and prices would climb even faster.
Pointing fingers at immigrants won’t lower rent or build a single house. Real solutions mean building more homes and removing barriers — not scapegoating the very people helping us keep roofs over our heads.
Terese Lindgren
Green Valley
Russia and the Epstein-Trump friendship
So much is not being explained in the tragic Epstein-Trump friendship and scandal. One might and can read about Russian models and Deutsche Bank having to pay $150 million due to its involvement. I do hope both parties will push for total disclosure. Trump’s revealing statement about victims tells us a lot.
Dan Bannon
Midtown
Endless summer merger
The Aug. 18 opinion columns are both right. School should be virtually year-round, and children need a break from formal education.
I would prefer a schedule of nine weeks on, one week off. It would give them a week’s break that could be extended to two weeks if they are given the assignments for the extra week off. Every weekend is a break if children learn to manage their time.
However, teaching the three R’s is inadequate. Children need to be taught life skills, employment skills, reasoning/prioritizing skills and various other skills. Educational achievement and cooperation should be recognized as more important than athletic skills.
And if, like me, after years of being conditioned to have the summer off, I felt like I should still have the summer off. But I did not let my feelings overrule my thinking.
James Abels
Midtown
Trump capitulation
Putin owns Trump. It was disgusting to see Trump give red carpet treatment to a murderous tyrant. He invaded Ukraine and caused hundreds of thousands of deaths. Trump in ever pursuit of a deal would reward Putin with giving up Ukraine territory. Putin would’ve achieved his aims while conceding nothing. Not a great deal. Thank God Trump wasn’t president when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He would’ve given Japan Hawaii in a deal.
Craig Miller
Northwest side
Talk to the boss
I see where President Trump had a private conversation with Russia’s President Putin. Trump then said that after talking to Putin, he wants to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines in this country. I guess Trump had to talk to his boss about the best way to rig elections before starting his big push to make American elections just as free and fair as Russian elections. Putin knows a lot about turning countries into dictatorships.
Graeme Williams
Southeast side
Water-use solution
Water use is a big concern in Arizona, as it should be. As we just learned,a Hyper Scale Data Center could use 200 million gallons of water per year. That is a huge amount and should be avoided in a desert. The business sector says it is worth the water use because it makes money and creates business development. Yet in Tucson, the average 150-acre golf course uses 200 million gallons of water a year. Ergo, for every data center business interests want to open, they need to close one golf course. That is Net Zero water use increase. The downside is that the business interests will have to learn to play pickleball. The 200 million gallons of water numbers came off the internet, so they must be true, Look it up.
Richard Bechtold
West side
Phoenix-Tucson rail
I agree with Myla Lutes-Clark that a passenger rail line between Tucson and Phoenix would be great! However, it appears to be decades in the future. An action that could be taken right now would be a frequent bus between the cities. A fully loaded bus is much more fuel-efficient per passenger mile than individual vehicles. Until the frequency of a train becomes substantial, the rail line sits there unused much of the time. The existing roads, however, support multiple uses and become more economically efficient. To ensure buses does not get stuck in traffic, they could use “high occupancy vehicle” lanes. To make these lanes more efficient, so they don’t sit empty much of the time, variable tolls can be applied to the lane for other vehicles. The toll would be increased or decreased as required to keep the lane occupied with vehicles running at the speed limit.
Trains are great! We can demonstrate passenger need for them through implementing buses right now.
Harold Hallikainen
East side
Re: Parents’ Marana lawsuit, plus Ukraine
Regarding two recent letters: As I read the article about the young man typing a threat on his school-provided laptop, angry about a recent grade he wrote a letter ... but never sent it and erased the whole thing. I suppose he was initially advised that key-stroke tracking software was installed, but obviously forgot this in his anger. As I type this, I erased an ugly (perhaps illegal) remark about recent LTE finger-pointing at Biden’s actions regarding Ukraine. I surely don’t want my venting to go on my permanent record.
Charlene Brewster
Marana
Arizona No Labels Party
As the first Arizona No Labels Party candidate to appear on the ballot — in the Sept. 23 special election for the state’s 7th Congressional District — I want to make something clear: Arizona’s No Labels Party has no connection with the national group of the same name. That organization has endorsed Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor who resigned in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal, in the New York City mayoral race.
Our state party’s new chair, former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson, has already emphasized this separation. Although I initially opposed his proposal to change our party’s name, I now realize I was wrong. I do not want to be linked with Andrew Cuomo in any way.
I am a progressive who opposes sexual harassment of women, believing that I share these values with Green Party candidate Eduardo Quintana and Democratic nominee Adelita Grijalva.
Richard Grayson
West side
- Carl Foster, Green Valley
Just to make sure I understand, if Russia invaded Alaska and gained control over a section of our territory, we would then be OK with a peace agreement that cedes that territory to them. I don’t think so. I know that we as the people of a free and sovereign nation would rise up, just as the Ukrainians have done, to defend our nation, and settle for nothing less than removal of the invaders from our land. Why should we expect anything less from our allies? Neither Trump nor our European allies should bend a knee to a dictator who is doing exactly what Hitler did, gain territory by military force.
Carl Foster
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Ricardo Small, Northeast side
The legend of Brighty the Burro of the Grand Canyon excludes the whole truth. During a winter when some tourists were stranded at the Grand Canyon and were out of food, they killed Brighty and ate him. This factual omission is typical of Park Service personnel who often try to deceive the public. They now say they did nothing wrong in letting the Dragon Bravo fire burn out of control and destroy the North Rim. Far from the truth. The Park's superintendent and every single one of the honchos who let that fire get out of control are criminally negligent and should be fired. You do not allow a fire to burn during the hot, dry summer months in a forest where the fuel load is extreme. You wait until the winter months to use fire to thin out that dense vegetation.
Ricardo Small
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Tom McGorray, Northwest side
I believe presidents should not be able to pardon people for crimes. It's an idea that questions the separation of powers.
This power should not exist with the executive.
It can undermine the Rule of Law. Granting a pardon can override the outcomes of extensive investigations, trials, and judicial processes. This can give the impression that certain individuals are above the law, eroding trust in the justice system.
The most common criticism is that presidents use the power to reward political allies, friends, and family.
Recent pardons issued by Donald Trump to associates who were charged in connection with his administration or campaign were wrong.
Biden’s numerous pardons of his son and hundreds of others were wrong.
Shifting the power to a non-partisan board or commission that would review and recommend pardons, may be the answer.
Requiring some form of congressional review or approval for pardons may be the answer.
Presidential pardons have a history of controversy and self-serving applications that has led to abuse.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mary Zimmerman, SaddleBrooke
The USDA slashed a pandemic era program that provided a billion dollars in funding to schools and food banks to buy supplies from local farmers to help low-income families. Meanwhile the USDA managed to spend $16,000 to buy a giant banner with Trump's face to hang on its headquarters. It does seem a bit like North Korea to have banners and pictures of the dear leader everywhere while the population goes hungry.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Barbara Moore, East side
The budget just passed for Homeland Security includes $45 billion for incarceration. That amount of money would provide Medicaid coverage for the coming year for the people in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Oklahoma.
Barbara Moore
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sister Karen Berry, Midtown
Oh horrors! The wounded children of Gaza are invading the United States! Raise the drawbridge, arm the citadel. Laura Loomer has spoken. Donald Trump has listened. Marco Rubio has abandoned common sense. And these children are accompanied by adults! Oh, my goodness! These wounded children, with their amputated limbs, aren't traveling alone. They are coming with adults! Raise the drawbridge ... man the citadel ... God help us.
Sister Karen Berry
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Loyal M. Johnson Jr., Oro Valley
The LTEs now focus on President Trump’s actions in attempting to find a resolution of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. First, I do not recall any significant by the Biden Administration to attempt to resolve the conflict, just send more arms. The more interesting question is: What would you do, since you seem to have the answers? Continue sending arms with the resulting slaughter of young men until there are no young men left? Or continue to talk, and if the talks to not result in an acceptable solution, bring Russia to their knees with onerous sanction. And then, even with the debilitating sanctions, will Russia bend? If not, then what, endless conflict? Your erudite answer for the resolution of this conflict would be most welcome for the entire world.
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Kathy Krucker, Midtown
Trump’s red-carpet welcome for Vladimir Putin in Alaska was a sickening sight. The Alaska summit was a total betrayal to Ukraine – a sovereign country that was invaded without provocation by Russia. The citizens of Ukraine continue to suffer unspeakable brutality and war crimes perpetrated by Vladimir Putin.
Decorated Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath said it best: “I’m sorry but it’s hard to get over the picture of the airmen (US airmen) on their knees, in front of the Russian jet, rolling out the red carpet for a mass murderer. Just never thought I’d see that.”
The only deal that must be made by the “art of the deal” President is one that unequivocally supports Ukraine: Russia must pull its troops out of Ukraine, end its occupation of illegally seized territories, stop the indiscriminate bombing and brutality, and return the 20,000 abducted Ukrainian children. Shockingly Trump echoes Putin’s position, leaving him free to continue to do whatever they hell he wants in Ukraine.
Kathy Krucker
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Robert Gavlak, Midtown
This wonderful piece beautifully underscores the crucial importance of science as a method and worldview. The hallmark of science ignorance is a tendency to praise its primacy when it comports with ones biases, but to discount its inevitable conclusions when it doesn’t.
As newborns and toddlers the kernel of scientific inquiry is inherent in us all as we first struggle to adapt to being in the world. Through an intrinsic curiosity we all possess at our genesis, that fuels a natural drive to observe, challenge, modify and assimilate, we insensibly acquire our most rudimentary capabilities of walking, talking and self-awareness. Our instinctive nature is de facto scientific.
But tragedy fatefully ensues when these inborn inclinations are allowed to atrophy through insufficient encouragement and cultivation. By a certain age what might have emerged as a lifelong pattern of critical thinking is arrested in many, who then easily fall victim to the variety of undisciplined reason permeating our contemporary discourse, where half-baked, purely utilitarian dogmas prosper.
Robert Gavlak
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sheldon Metz, Northeast side
The 'Posse Comitatus Act' (18 U.S.C. § 1385), 1878, prohibits the use of the U.S. military to enforce civilian laws, with some exceptions outlined in the Constitution or by Congress. This means that active-duty military personnel may not be used for domestic law enforcement activities.
Exceptions may be made when specifically authorized by the Constitution or by two-thirds approval by both Houses of Congress, not by the president.
This is a fundamental principle in the United States, aimed at preventing the military from interfering with civilian affairs and protecting individual liberties.
With an auto-signature, National Guard troops already illegally deployed to Washington, D.C., will begin carrying firearms to conduct their mission in the city, where crime was already down 30%. It seems that while riding in his “tank,” he saw a homeless person and was disgusted. Imagine what the homeless person thought when he saw Trump.
There is no law this man will not break.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Children of Gaza
Oh horrors! The wounded children of Gaza are invading the United States! Raise the drawbridge, arm the citadel. Laura Loomer has spoken. Donald Trump has listened. Marco Rubio has abandoned common sense. And these children are accompanied by adults! Oh, my goodness! These wounded children, with their amputated limbs, aren’t traveling alone. They are coming with adults! Raise the drawbridge ... man the citadel ... God help us.
Sister Karen Berry
Midtown
Word to the wise
I wonder how many people currently on Medicaid or Medicare will examine their benefits before the midterm elections in 2026 and be perfectly happy because the prediction of disastrous reductions had not come to fruition. In a quite clever move, the politicians and architects of OBBBA included provisions for many of the most damaging cuts in funding of critical federal programs like Medicaid and Medicare to not take effect until January 1, 2027. The means voters will not see any changes until after the midterm elections in 2026.
So, a word to the wise — pay attention to this fact. You will see changes come January 2027, including reductions and the provision that most Medicaid recipients will be required to work, volunteer, or attend school for eighty hours per month.
The midterm elections couldn’t be more important.
Duke Southard
Green Valley
Red carpet for a war criminal
Trump’s red-carpet welcome for Vladimir Putin in Alaska was a sickening sight. The Alaska summit was a total betrayal to Ukraine — a sovereign country that was invaded without provocation by Russia. The citizens of Ukraine continue to suffer unspeakable brutality and war crimes perpetrated by Vladimir Putin.
Decorated Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath said it best: “I’m sorry but it’s hard to get over the picture of the airmen (US airmen) on their knees, in front of the Russian jet, rolling out the red carpet for a mass murderer. Just never thought I’d see that.”
The only deal that must be made by the “art of the deal” President is one that unequivocally supports Ukraine: Russia must pull its troops out of Ukraine, end its occupation of illegally seized territories, stop the indiscriminate bombing and brutality, and return the 20,000 abducted Ukrainian children. Shockingly Trump echoes Putin’s position, leaving him free to continue to do whatever they hell he wants in Ukraine.
Kathy Krucker
Midtown
City Council and NDAs
Here we go again. Another company with an NDA wants to locate to Tucson. What part of “you work at the pleasure and for the people of Tucson” does the council not get after the Project Blue fiasco? Now they are writing a rule to allow 7.48 million gallons of water use per month? That’s pretty specific. I smell a rat. Why not a nice round number like 6 million? How about you are allowed to build provided you don’t mess with environment and tell us who you are? Hiding behind NDAs is just BS. Everybody in your industry knows your business. We like our clean air, the water that we have, and the smaller community we crave. We are not Phoenix!
Doug Heaberlin
Vail
Parents’ lawsuit against Marana
I was surprised to read in Sunday’s article that the mother of the student suspended from a Marana high school say that her son made “one little mistake that he didn’t even realize was as big a mistake as it turned out to be ... and everything he trusted kind of turned on him.” What was he trusting? In this day of frequent deadly school shootings, to feel that some threats should be taken less seriously, as a “joke” and a First Amendment right, whether posted or not, is careless and irresponsible. We have had little warning or oversight in the past to say who will actually act on those threats, whether now or in the future. The thought occurred to him and he let it be known. That is why schools have had to implement the surveillance systems for school safety and the parents are informed of its existence.
Christie Cummins
Midtown
Election results and early ballots
Election night is filled with anticipation and excitement for candidates and for voters. Most expect results within hours after polls close. Unfortunately, early ballots, delivered 27 days before the election, take 2 or 3 days to count. Early ballots go through a rigorous process, like verifying signatures in person, counting and recounting affidavits, the envelopes that hold the ballot and have your signature. Dealing with many issues takes time. Election officials work diligently to make sure every vote is counted. Kudos to them for their hard work!
Early Ballots when returned early, provide many benefits to voters and election officials.
For voters, benefits include:
- Convenience and flexibility
- Avoiding potential obstacles like bad weather, long lines or work conflicts
- Potential for increased voter turnout
For election officials:
- Allows more time to resolve irregularities
- Ensures accuracy and transparency
- Financial savings, reduces need to staff and equip additional locations
Turning in your early ballot on Election Day negates all the benefits. Do everyone a favor, return your early ballot as soon as possible.
Elda Lopez
Southwest side
What I need
I wonder what the phone call sounded like when Trump called governors and asked them to send military troops to Washington, D.C.
Governors: How many troops do you need?
Trump: I’ll tell you what I want to do. I just need 11,780.
Peter Bakke
SaddleBrooke
Vote out the ACC now
The ACC has failed us. They get over $80k/yr for one meeting/month. They repeatedly vote for you to pay more for electricity, give away your money and water to gas power plants and force you to pay for pipelines.
They decided AZ doesn’t subsidize in anything but fossil fuels.
They want you to pay for a pipeline investment of natural gas subsidized even though in 2024 APS reported $5.12 billion in revenue.
The ACC enables APS and TEP to raise your costs for this revenue. Typical stock dividend of APS is 10%. So you are paying the shareholders this dividend. You pay for the gas power plant development. You pay for the infrastructure and then you get billed extra for dividends and CEO salaries as you live thru brownouts and blackouts.
The ACC should stop forcing out solar developers, businesses and jobs. They should stop giving money to other states for gas while increasing our energy costs.
Vote for better ACC representatives like Clara Pratte in 2026.
Carissa Sipp
Midtown
Brighty killed and eaten by tourists
The legend of Brighty the Burro of the Grand Canyon excludes the whole truth. During a winter when some tourists were stranded at the Grand Canyon and were out of food, they killed Brighty and ate him. This factual omission is typical of Park Service personnel who often try to deceive the public. They now say they did nothing wrong in letting the Dragon Bravo fire burn out of control and destroy the North Rim. Far from the truth. The Park’s superintendent and every single one of the honchos who let that fire get out of control are criminally negligent and should be fired. You do not allow a fire to burn during the hot, dry summer months in a forest where the fuel load is extreme. You wait until the winter months to use fire to thin out that dense vegetation.
Ricardo Small
Northeast side
Fraud waste and abuse
The budget just passed for Homeland Security includes $45 billion for incarceration. That amount of money would provide Medicaid coverage for the coming year for the people in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Oklahoma.
Barbara Moore
East side
Would we stand for it?
Just to make sure I understand, if Russia invaded Alaska and gained control over a section of our territory, we would then be OK with a peace agreement that ceded that territory to them. I don’t think so. I know that we as the people of a free and sovereign nation would rise up, just as the Ukrainians have done, to defend our nation, and settle for nothing less than removal of the invaders from our land. Why should we expect anything less from our allies? Neither Trump nor our European allies should bend a knee to a dictator who is doing exactly what Hitler did, gain territory by military force.
Carl Foster
Green Valley
Ukraine
The LTEs now focus on President Trump’s actions in attempting to find a resolution of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. First, I do not recall any significant by the Biden Administration to attempt to resolve the conflict, just send more arms. The more interesting question is: What would you do, since you seem to have the answers? Continue sending arms with the resulting slaughter of young men until there are no young men left? Or continue to talk, and if the talks to not result in an acceptable solution, bring Russia to their knees with onerous sanction. And then, even with the debilitating sanctions, will Russia bend? If not, then what, endless conflict? Your erudite answer for the resolution of this conflict would be most welcome for the entire world.
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Shades of North Korea
The USDA slashed a pandemic era program that provided a billion dollars in funding to schools and food banks to buy supplies from local farmers to help low-income families. Meanwhile the USDA managed to spend $16,000 to buy a giant banner with Trump’s face to hang on its headquarters. It does seem a bit like North Korea to have banners and pictures of the dear leader everywhere while the population goes hungry.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Presidential pardons
I believe presidents should not be able to pardon people for crimes. It’s an idea that questions the separation of powers.
This power should not exist with the executive.
It can undermine the Rule of Law. Granting a pardon can override the outcomes of extensive investigations, trials, and judicial processes. This can give the impression that certain individuals are above the law, eroding trust in the justice system.
The most common criticism is that presidents use the power to reward political allies, friends, and family.
Recent pardons issued by Donald Trump to associates who were charged in connection with his administration or campaign were wrong.
Biden’s numerous pardons of his son and hundreds of others were wrong.
Shifting the power to a non-partisan board or commission that would review and recommend pardons, may be the answer.
Requiring some form of congressional review or approval for pardons may be the answer.
Presidential pardons have a history of controversy and self-serving applications that has led to abuse.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
- Duke Southard, Green Valley
I wonder how many people currently on Medicaid or Medicare will examine their benefits before the mid-term elections in 2026 and be perfectly happy because the prediction of disastrous reductions had not come to fruition. In a quite clever move, the politicians and architects of OBBBA included provisions for many of the most damaging cuts in funding of critical federal programs like Medicaid and Medicare to not take effect until January 1, 2027. The means voters will not see any changes until after the midterm elections in 2026.
So, a word to the wise — pay attention to this fact. You will see changes come January 2027, including reductions and the provision that most Medicaid recipients will be required to work, volunteer, or attend school for eighty hours per month.
The mid-term elections couldn’t be more important.
Duke Southard
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- William Durbin, Foothills
This is from The Economist.
"If Mr. Trump and his fellow Republicans were really concerned about public safety in the city, they would not have put DC in an unnecessary fiscal straitjacket. Congress has sweeping powers over the city’s finances, and earlier this year Republicans used them to force it to slash spending, even though its budget was already balanced (unlike the federal government’s). That has made it impossible for the city to increase spending on the police — or anything else. It has money sitting in the bank that Congress will not allow it to spend. It is defund the police, Republican-style."
William Durbin
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Max LaPlante, Southeast side
The Gaza death toll rises to 61,600 Palestinians. Aid workers and journalists are now targets as well by the Israeli military. When I see the videos and pictures of the starving Palestinians, my mind can't help but return to those haunting images in 1945 of those poor souls starving to death and clinging to life in the camps around Germany and elsewhere in war torn Europe. People in these camps were skin and bones barely able to walk. Some were barely able to move. Netanyahu seems hell bent on exterminating the Palestinians, just as Germany was trying to exterminate the Jews in World War II. Somehow, Netanyahu feels that every Palestinian is a member of Hamas and the only way to eliminate Hamas is to exterminate every Palestinian, regardless if they are innocent men, women, and children. Netanyahu now wants to take over Gaza City and displace the population. Netanyahu claims that the news showing the Palestinians starving is fake news. Netanyahu needs to spend a week inside Gaza.
Max LaPlante
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Toni Kane, Oro Valley
Trump is shameless. As a LTE stated, he would not have federal troops stop the January 6th attack, but he is deploying the same troops in Washington, D.C. despite crime rates decreasing in D.C. Hopefully these troops (plus the FBI) will not be thugs like the ICE agents and will cooperate with the local police.
Toni Kane
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Gerald Schwartz, Foothills
Does President Trump's loyal friend follow the news in general or just selected sources? Does the name Abrego Garcia ring a bell? He was in the US with a protection order but deported by "mistake" to El Salvador. I'm not going to debate whether he should be deported or not. That will be up to the courts as it should be. His wife and child are US citizens so if he is deported it will be the equivalent of a forced divorce which many oppose. Incidentally I would not recommend El Salvador and particularly San Salvador as a vacation spot. I've been there for humanitarian reasons. We stayed in a walled compound with armed guards.
Gerald Schwartz
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Richard Rebl, East side
One can look at President Trump and think that he is finally at the ultimate peak of his power with his Maga army and co-conspirators in every powerful position in the House and the government cabinet; however, I would respectfully point out the wisdom of D. Earl Stephens that points to the shortcomings of Mr. Trump. One has only to look at Mr. Trump’s overreach to notice that not only is it is continually beaten back, but other people react with indignation and anger, usually as a nation with people of all stripes, nationalities, and walks of life. Mr. Trump exists in his own reality sphere and while every day seems to add to his cruelty there is an end in sight because as a nation of people, we can end his terrorism of our lives and get back to the important work of restoring what was once a great nation from what it now is – a weak despotic greed-driven egotistical wasteland.
Richard Rebl
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Cynthia Duncan, Midtown
The time for coal as a power source is in the past. We have wind, sun, gravity, wave, water, and biophotovoltaics. Why would we possibly ever want to burn something that emits more carbon into the atmosphere for power? Small Nuclear is where we’ll need to “bridge the gap”. Unnatural gas is not an option – leaks everywhere, is a more potent greenhouse gas, and breaks down into carbon in the atmosphere. I am unconvinced that I need a data center, but I sure could use a break in the weather.
Cynthia Duncan
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Albrecht Classen, Midtown
Obviously, Trump wants to win the Nobel Peace Prize, so he needs a truce and then maybe peace between the aggressor Russia and victimized Ukraine. As a selfish dealmaker, he is reckless in his gambles and looks out only for his personal interests in that deal, probably mining rights in Ukraine, while Putin is already looking like a winner because the US President is struggling, begging him to make peace. Two bullies met in Alaska, and each tried hard to bluff the other. Both are bent on sacrificing an entire country and people for their global machinations and economic interests. Putin, the clear winner of this meeting, knows already that in a few years he can launch another war and gain yet another chunk of territory to restore the reach of the Stalinist Soviet Union, so 2014 (Crimea), 2022 (eastern Ukraine), 2028 (who knows). Anyone who trusts Putin, like Trump, is bound to be bitten the next time around. This dealmaker knows so little about his Russian puppet master.
Albrecht Classen
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Barbara Benjamin, Foothills
Trump asks others to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize. While some of the "faithful" may be willing to nominate him, he doesn't seem to know the difference between "piece" and "peace." He claims he wants to end the war in Ukraine, yet he consistently blames Zelenskyy and Ukraine for the war while ignoring the fact that Putin started the war in an attempt to restore the "glory" of the former Soviet Union piece by piece. For Putin, there can be no peace unless Ukraine gives itself up piece by piece. Trump appears to agree with Putin. As a result, |Trump wants Ukraine to cede areas of itself to Russia thus promoting "piece" meal. Trump needs a dictionary or someone to explain the difference between "piece" and "peace."
Barbara Benjamin
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mary Zimmerman, SaddleBrooke
In the words of the great Maya Angelou, "when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." Apparently, a lot of voters forgot the over 30,000 lies told during Trump's first term. Then there was the mishandling of the Covid crisis resulting in over a million deaths and rampant inflation. January 6th should have been a real wake-up call but was overlooked. Perhaps you felt Trump would run America like a business, this would be a good thing, and you voted for a guy with numerous bankruptcies. What could possibly go wrong? So, here we are with all the lies, corruption, and incompetency we experienced in the first Trump term only many times worse. We should have believed him the first time.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Don Ries, Southeast side
In 1960 as a sophomore at an excellent public high school we read George Orwell's classic 1984. I never thought our government would engage in doublespeak, but I was wrong. Three months into the Trump Administration Trump and FBI director Kash Patel took credit for the major decrease in crime in Washington D.C. Now Trump sends the National Guard into D.C. because of the rise in crime. The Department of Justice, (DOJ), has an office to investigate the weaponization of the law. The DOJ is doing exactly that by investigating New York state AG Leticia James for the prosecution of Trump for tax fraud. Trump was indicted by a grand jury and convicted on 34 counts of fraud by a jury of his peers, while he had a huge defense team. This is weaponization of the law by the DOJ.
Don Ries
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Peter Bakke, SaddleBrooke
I wonder what the phone call sounded like when Trump called governors and asked them to send military troops to Washington, D.C.
Gonvernors: How many troops do you need?
Trump: I’ll tell you what I want to do. I just need 11,780.
Peter Bakke
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Putin punched Trump to the ground
Obviously, Trump wants to win the Nobel Peace Prize, so he needs a truce and then maybe peace between the aggressor Russia and victimized Ukraine. As a selfish dealmaker, he is reckless in his gambles and looks out only for his personal interests in that deal, probably mining rights in Ukraine, while Putin is already looking like a winner because the US President is struggling, begging him to make peace. Two bullies met in Alaska, and each tried hard to bluff the other. Both are bent on sacrificing an entire country and people for their global machinations and economic interests. Putin, the clear winner of this meeting, knows already that in a few years he can launch another war and gain yet another chunk of territory to restore the reach of the Stalinist Soviet Union, so 2014 (Crimea), 2022 (eastern Ukraine), 2028 (who knows). Anyone who trusts Putin, like Trump, is bound to be bitten the next time around. This dealmaker knows so little about his Russian puppetmaster.
Albrecht Classen
Midtown
One man’s inhumanity to all of us
One can look at President Trump and think that he is finally at the ultimate peak of his power with his Maga army and co-conspirators in every powerful position in the House and the government cabinet; however, I would respectfully point out the wisdom of D. Earl Stephens that points to the shortcomings of Mr. Trump. One has only to look at Mr. Trump’s overreach to notice that not only is it is continually beaten back, but other people react with indignation and anger, usually as a nation with people of all stripes, nationalities, and walks of life. Mr. Trump exists in his own reality sphere and while every day seems to add to his cruelty there is an end in sight because as a nation of people, we can end his terrorism of our lives and get back to the important work of restoring what was once a great nation from what it now is — a weak despotic greed-driven egotistical wasteland.
Richard Rebl
East side
Spiffy Gaza development
A recent letter to the editor suggested a “bold solution to an old problem.” Once Gaza has been destroyed and 61,000 Palestinians murdered, a spiffy new development will bring peace and stability to the region. Presumably the Palestinians will just forget what has been done to them.
I am reminded of the Roman historian Tacitus who said “They created a desolation and called it peace.”
Two thousand years ago a bold solution was offered to people: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, love thy neighbor as thyself, and as you do to the least among you so too you do unto your God. For seventy-five years there has been not one minute of peace in Israel because that solution has never been applied to the Palestinians.
Susie Morris
Midtown
Deportations/arrests
Does President Trump’s loyal friend follow the news in general or just selected sources? Does the name Abrego Garcia ring a bell? He was in the US with a protection order but deported by “mistake” to El Salvador. I’m not going to debate whether he should be deported or not. That will be up to the courts as it should be. His wife and child are US citizens so if he is deported it will be the equivalent of a forced divorce which many oppose. Incidentally I would not recommend El Salvador and particularly San Salvador as a vacation spot. I’ve been there for humanitarian reasons. We stayed in a walled compound with armed guards.
Gerald Schwartz
Foothills
Global warming
The time for coal as a power source is in the past. We have wind, sun, gravity, wave, water, and biophotovoltaics. Why would we possibly ever want to burn something that emits more carbon into the atmosphere for power? Small Nuclear is where we’ll need to “bridge the gap”. Unnatural gas is not an option — leaks everywhere, is a more potent greenhouse gas, and breaks down into carbon in the atmosphere. I am unconvinced that I need a data center, but I sure could use a break in the weather.
Cynthia Duncan
Midtown
Labor and environmentalists
Erica Prather wrote an editorial in which she stated labor and environmentalists should work together. I agree.
I do not agree with her complaint that opponents of Project Blue started their statements by stating their credentials. She stated that “would any less educated and lower-class blue-collar worker feel welcome to speak their mind under these virtue- hoarding conditions?” First, since when is it “virtue-hoarding” to state your expertise in a field germane to the discussion? Instead I call that important information to determine whether to listen carefully to someone.
Next, I would gladly listen to a blue-collar worker if they were giving an opinion in their area of expertise. Such an opinion would be informative, not virtue-hoarding.
The problem with Prather’s original statement is that it assumes all opinions are equal, whether informed by expertise or not. Haven’t we had enough of that?
Howard Strause
Foothills
Trump unabashed
Trump is shameless. As a LTE stated, he would not have federal troops stop the January 6th attack, but he is deploying the same troops in Washington, D.C. despite crime rates decreasing in D.C. Hopefully these troops (plus the FBI) will not be thugs like the ICE agents and will cooperate with the local police.
Toni Kane
Oro Valley
Netanyahu in need of sensitivity training
The Gaza death toll rises to 61,600 Palestinians. Aid workers and journalists are now targets as well by the Israeli military. When I see the videos and pictures of the starving Palestinians, my mind can’t help but return to those haunting images in 1945 of those poor souls starving to death and clinging to life in the camps around Germany and elsewhere in war torn Europe. People in these camps were skin and bones barely able to walk. Some were barely able to move. Netanyahu seems hell bent on exterminating the Palestinians, just as Germany was trying to exterminate the Jews in World War II. Somehow, Netanyahu feels that every Palestinian is a member of Hamas and the only way to eliminate Hamas is to exterminate every Palestinian, regardless if they are innocent men, women, and children. Netanyahu now wants to take over Gaza City and displace the population. Netanyahu claims that the news showing the Palestinians starving is fake news. Netanyahu needs to spend a week inside Gaza.
Max LaPlante
Southeast side
Affordable housing
The controversy around affordable housing is an endless discussion with no viable solutions. Today, housing construction averages $190 per square foot not counting land. A 1,000-square-foot house, small by many accounts, would cost $190,000. With today’s interest rates, that is a steep hill to climb for the average wage earner. Obviously, lower interest rates would help and the elimination of onerous building regulations would accelerate construction. Short of these changes, affordable housing means government assistance. One interesting question is why the housing shortage has become much worse in the last several years. One possible explanation is that 10 million plus, plus illegal immigrants have entered the country in the last four years and all need a place to stay. To exaggerate the problem, the government pays for their housing, allowing landlords to charge what they desire because the law of supply and demand is nonexistent when government money is involved. Could this invasion be the root cause of the housing shortage?
Loyal M. Johnson Jr.
Oro Valley
Piece or no peace
Trump asks others to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize. While some of the “faithful” may be willing to nominate him, he doesn’t seem to know the difference between “piece” and “peace.” He claims he wants to end the war in Ukraine, yet he consistently blames Zelenskyy and Ukraine for the war while ignoring the fact that Putin started the war in an attempt to restore the “glory” of the former Soviet Union piece by piece. For Putin, there can be no peace unless Ukraine gives itself up piece by piece. Trump appears to agree with Putin. As a result, |Trump wants Ukraine to cede areas of itself to Russia thus promoting “piece” meal. Trump needs a dictionary or someone to explain the difference between “piece” and “peace.”
Barbara Benjamin
Foothills
A lot of people did not pay attention
In the words of the great Maya Angelou, “when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” Apparently, a lot of voters forgot the over 30,000 lies told during Trump’s first term. Then there was the mishandling of the Covid crisis resulting in over a million deaths and rampant inflation. January 6th should have been a real wake-up call but was overlooked. Perhaps you felt Trump would run America like a business, this would be a good thing, and you voted for a guy with numerous bankruptcies. What could possibly go wrong? So, here we are with all the lies, corruption, and incompetency we experienced in the first Trump term only many times worse. We should have believed him the first time.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Trump’s doublespeak
In 1960 as a sophomore at an excellent public high school we read George Orwell’s classic 1984. I never thought our government would engage in doublespeak, but I was wrong. Three months into the Trump Administration Trump and FBI director Kash Patel took credit for the major decrease in crime in Washington D.C. Now Trump sends the National Guard into D.C. because of the rise in crime. The Department of Justice, (DOJ), has an office to investigate the weaponization of the law. The DOJ is doing exactly that by investigating New York state AG Leticia James for the prosecution of Trump for tax fraud. Trump was indicted by a grand jury and convicted on 34 counts of fraud by a jury of his peers, while he had a huge defense team. This is weaponization of the law by the DOJ.
Don Ries
Southeast side
Opera Buffa
I am re-submitting a letter dated 8/2/25, satire on Melania Trump’s being nominated for the head of the Kennedy Opera House.
William Muto
SaddleBrooke
Critical factors in schools
A career educator, I must respond to recent letters from LTE contributors who suggest they comprehend all the challenges faced in today’s schools regarding parental choice, teacher unionism, and the quality of teachers and educational leadership.
These contributors’ “comprehension” is apparently grounded in research like reading about test scores, watching teachers teach for several years, and perhaps receiving discipline from some principal. Add a dab of anti-union bias, and they believe they know all the factors that create successful schools.
With “school choice,” parents are generally selecting, not a school, but a peer group — a “neighborhood” of students. Unlike public school neighborhoods, private and charter schools do not serve significant numbers of children in poverty or those with profound disabilities or those who do not use English well. Half of public-school children live in low-income families and cannot depend on regular medical care, good nutrition, or neighborhood safety. Understanding these variables is critical, and armchair critics should learn about them before pontificating from their soapboxes.
Jim Christ
East side
Tucson’s top 5 assets
When I was in 4th grade at University Heights Elementary on Park Ave we learned about Arizona’s five Cs: Citrus, Cotton, Cattle, Copper and Climate. This was about 1960. Now we know citrus, cotton, cattle and copper have been destructive and the climate has drastically changed.
In the discussion and rejection of Project Blue we are challenged to understand our city and how to build an economy that supports each person and the beautiful desert in health. Clean air and water are priceless. So I am asking for ideas and a discussion of Tucson so we build on what supports life and not what we can exploit.
What are the top 5 attributes of Tucson that will help the city thrive?
These are a few ideas. Please send your ideas to ld20demsaz@gmail.com
The tapestry of human cultures
The Sonoran Desert which city leaders have preserved for the past 100 years that we now enjoy with hiking trails in every direction
The University of Arizona astronomy work.
Rosemary Bolza
Midtown
- Philip Reinecker, East side
I consider myself a sports aficionado and generally enjoy all the major ones. I have been watching something out of the ordinary, even for me: Little League Baseball. 11-12-13 year old lads from all over the world coming together to compete for the ultimate championship. Their skills don't match up with college or pro but their guts and enthusiasm far exceed what I am used to. They are amateurs, in the true sense of the word. They have no salaries, endorsements, NIL, portals, bonuses or the like. They play because they enjoy doing so and cannot be faulted for occasional errors in the field. When it is over they don't retire to mansions, Corvettes and luxury vacations. They go back to doing whatever it is that little boys do. So refreshing. Oh, how I long for those thrilling days of yesteryear when sports was truly sporting.
Philip Reinecker
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sheldon Metz, Northeast side
Last month, the Labor Department announced that wholesale inflation rose unexpectedly by 0.9%, indicating President Donald Trump's sweeping import taxes are pushing prices up, and that consumers may soon see higher prices. This was the biggest increase since March 2022. Trump will blame Biden or Obama.
Food increased 1.4%, while vegetables rose 38.9%. This is the result of tariffs creeping in and “making everyone rich.” If you need a refrigerator or stove for the food you can no longer afford, appliances only increased 5%. Why aren’t those countries paying these tariffs, as the “stable genius" claimed?
Unfortunately, with the firings and secrecy Trump invoked throughout his departments, Americans will no longer be informed of the factual numbers of jobs, inflation, unemployment, the census, undocumented workers, Medicaid or Medicare recipients or Social Security cuts. Briefings will be controlled, with misinformation being the priority.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Bryan Lane, Green Valley
A murderer and a grifter meet in Alaska and, based on their presser, mainly discussed the "Russia hoax thing."
But where's the ceasefire agreement the grifter just had to have as a condition of meeting?
The murderer ends the meeting in English demanding they meet "next time in Moscow." Delay, delay, delay.
The grifter thinks this is a great idea, might be worthy of a Nobel Prize. Meanwhile, Ukraine burns.
The victim, who was left in Kiev out of the loop thinks, "Moscow ... not on your life. I remember what happened to Putin's chef!" But he wonders if anyone out there remembers 1938 Munich and a follow-on Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.
Bryan Lane
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Monica Wadsworth-seibel, Northeast side
I have a few comments in response to Mr. Peng's opinion piece touting the use of coal. He specifically sites China's increasing use. Has Mr. Peng had the opportunity to experience China's pollution due to coal usage? I was in China in 2005 and 2008. Whether in Guangzhou, Jiangmen, Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Shanghai, Dunhuang -- or even rural parts of Inner Mongolia -- the air was so brown and caustic that I thought I was suffering from strep throat. In an entire month in Jiangmen, I saw the blue sky for one day. The rest of the time, it was a brown soup through which you could not see the sun.
Perhaps Mr. Peng's focus on our "need" for increased energy use is a bit dismissive of the price we'll be paying for AI and data centers. Don't take our relatively clear, blue skies for granted!
Monica Wadsworth-seibel
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Duane Barbour, Midtown
240 million registered voters in America. 77 million voted for Trump. Math says that 32.08 per cent voted for Trump.
I say that 67.92 per cent did not vote for Trump. Resist. Go vote. We must vote.
Duane Barbour
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Chuck Cabrera, Oro Valley
There have been actual videos and first-hand reports confirming extensive mistreatment in ICE detention centers. In too many cases these incarcerated human beings cannot even meet with their attorney. As for those U.S. citizens serving time in U.S. prisons, all have been convicted through due process of a trial while a huge amount of the ICE arrestees had no such benefit nor evidence of any actual criminal action. It is also factually untrue that Biden's administration was totally responsible for the "Illegal invasion." illegal border crossings have been occurring for decades.
As for Mr. Johnson's concern for incarcerated U.S. citizen criminals, the current president pardoned over 1,200 duly convicted individuals for the illegal invasion of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021. This and the unethical action of ICE officials (wearing masks, refusing to identify themselves etc.) warrants criticism of this president's policies. One question, Mr. Johnson: If you are so concerned regarding criminals, how can you support a 34-count convicted felon?
Chuck Cabrera
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Defund the police, GOP style
This is from The Economist.
“If Mr. Trump and his fellow Republicans were really concerned about public safety in the city, they would not have put DC in an unnecessary fiscal straitjacket. Congress has sweeping powers over the city’s finances, and earlier this year Republicans used them to force it to slash spending, even though its budget was already balanced (unlike the federal government’s). That has made it impossible for the city to increase spending on the police — or anything else. It has money sitting in the bank that Congress will not allow it to spend. It is defund the police, Republican-style.”
William Durbin
Foothills
Do you want to be alive when America dies?
240 million registered voters in America. 77 million voted for Trump. Math says that 32.08 percent voted for Trump.
I say that 67.92 per cent did not vote for Trump. Resist. Go vote. We must vote.
Duane Barbour
Midtown
Detention centers
There have been actual videos and first-hand reports confirming extensive mistreatment in ICE detention centers. In too many cases these incarcerated human beings cannot even meet with their attorney. As for those U.S. citizens serving time in U.S. prisons, all have been convicted through due process of a trial while a huge amount of the ICE arrestees had no such benefit nor evidence of any actual criminal action. It is also factually untrue that Biden’s administration was totally responsible for the “Illegal invasion.” illegal border crossings have been occurring for decades.
As for Mr. Johnson’s concern for incarcerated U.S. citizen criminals, the current president pardoned over 1,200 duly convicted individuals for the illegal invasion of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021. This and the unethical action of ICE officials (wearing masks, refusing to identify themselves etc.) warrants criticism of this president’s policies. One question, Mr. Johnson: If you are so concerned regarding criminals, how can you support a 34-count convicted felon?
Chuck Cabrera
Oro Valley
Mental health, gun violence, homelessness
I just learned today that critical funding for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is threatened. NIMH funds critical research that sustains the advancement of mental health treatment for all of us. Consider the importance of mental health to reduce gun violence, homelessness, suicide, and addiction. Virtually all Americans agree that we need to prioritize mental health interventions, to reduce these persistent and worsening problems. Today, all NIMH K-Grant applicants were notified that their funding could be eliminated on Oct 1, 2025, which would halt a significant amount of pending research nationwide for the treatment of depression, psychosis, PTSD, and addiction, and would also directly harm the careers of many clinical researchers. I am urging my representatives to become educated on this matter, vote to prioritize and sustain the advancement of mental health interventions for our nation, and take steps to prevent the executive branch from illegally blocking appropriated funding.
Charles Kaplan MD
Northwest side
Finally a sport I can be proud of
I consider myself a sports aficionado and generally enjoy all the major ones. I have been watching something out of the ordinary, even for me: Little League Baseball. 11-12-13 year old lads from all over the world coming together to compete for the ultimate championship. Their skills don’t match up with college or pro but their guts and enthusiasm far exceed what I am used to. They are amateurs, in the true sense of the word. They have no salaries, endorsements, NIL, portals, bonuses or the like. They play because they enjoy doing so and cannot be faulted for occasional errors in the field. When it is over they don’t retire to mansions, Corvettes and luxury vacations. They go back to doing whatever it is that little boys do. So refreshing. Oh, how I long for those thrilling days of yesteryear when sports was truly sporting.
Philip Reinecker
East side
Mr. Peng and the use of coal
I have a few comments in response to Mr. Peng’s opinion piece touting the use of coal. He specifically sites China’s increasing use. Has Mr. Peng had the opportunity to experience China’s pollution due to coal usage? I was in China in 2005 and 2008. Whether in Guangzhou, Jiangmen, Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Shanghai, Dunhuang — or even rural parts of Inner Mongolia — the air was so brown and caustic that I thought I was suffering from strep throat. In an entire month in Jiangmen, I saw the blue sky for one day. The rest of the time, it was a brown soup through which you could not see the sun.
Perhaps Mr. Peng’s focus on our “need” for increased energy use is a bit dismissive of the price we’ll be paying for AI and data centers. Don’t take our relatively clear, blue skies for granted!
Monica Wadsworth-seibel
Northeast side
Where are the test scores?
As Mr. Johnson is so sure of the benefits of private and parochial education and the billion plus tax dollars provided through Arizona’s voucher system, perhaps he would like to provide proof of their success? A comparison of their scores on state mandated tests with public school scores would put the question to rest. No doubt he has access to those scores?
But wait! Private and parochial schools aren’t required to administer those tests and publish results. So what is he basing his conclusion on?
Imagine what that billion could do for our public schools.
Todd Ackerman
Foothills
Prices surge as we pay the tariffs
Last month, the Labor Department announced that wholesale inflation rose unexpectedly by 0.9%, indicating President Donald Trump’s sweeping import taxes are pushing prices up, and that consumers may soon see higher prices. This was the biggest increase since March 2022. Trump will blame Biden or Obama.
Food increased 1.4%, while vegetables rose 38.9%. This is the result of tariffs creeping in and “making everyone rich.” If you need a refrigerator or stove for the food you can no longer afford, appliances only increased 5%. Why aren’t those countries paying these tariffs, as the “stable genius” claimed?
Unfortunately, with the firings and secrecy Trump invoked throughout his departments, Americans will no longer be informed of the factual numbers of jobs, inflation, unemployment, the census, undocumented workers, Medicaid or Medicare recipients or Social Security cuts. Briefings will be controlled, with misinformation being the priority.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Two-faced Ciscomani
Juan Ciscomani’s smiling face after last month’s passage of President Trump’s budget plan, literally showed his two-faced representation of Arizona’s voters. Smiling jubilantly, Ciscomani supported the bill in an about-face on his earlier claims to protect Medicaid, celebrating a budget bill directed at benefiting the ultra-wealthy. Hoping that he could sell the illusion that the bill benefits middle and lower-income families, Ciscomani parroted the party message while avoiding town hall meetings to answer the electorate. His earlier claims to fight cuts to Medicare and rural health care have evaporated, and he now follows his party members as evasive politicians, hoping that gerrymandering efforts will allow them to remain in office. I urge Arizona voters to see through Ciscomani’s two-faced promises and vote him out of office.
Roger Shanley
East side
Where’s the immediate ceasefire?
A murderer and a grifter meet in Alaska and, based on their presser, mainly discussed the “Russia hoax thing.”
But where’s the ceasefire agreement the grifter just had to have as a condition of meeting?
The murderer ends the meeting in English demanding they meet “next time in Moscow.” Delay, delay, delay.
The grifter thinks this is a great idea, might be worthy of a Nobel Prize. Meanwhile, Ukraine burns.
The victim, who was left in Kiev out of the loop thinks, “Moscow ... not on your life. I remember what happened to Putin’s chef!” But he wonders if anyone out there remembers 1938 Munich and a follow-on Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact.
Bryan Lane
Green Valley
Comcast/Xfinity
Have you tried to get help from this company? Well, it’s almost impossible. Besides getting transferred to various departments, automated voice help and physically going to one of their addresses that no longer exists, I have concluded they have sold you their services but do not care if you need help fixing things when something goes wrong. For six weeks I have been on a wild goose chase. Still paying them for no service. I do have a ticket number that was to secure a representative calling to set an appointment within 48 hours. Well, it’s been six weeks. I think of the elderly who enjoy watching TV or people having to stay inside due to extreme heat conditions. Sad that customer service has been thrown out of various companies and replaced with automated voice systems. Comcast/Xfinity should be ashamed for making it so hard to get any help when needed. Cox Cable is the best.
Joni Chandler
Midtown
- Karen Papagapitos, Northwest side
Loyal M. Johnson has often asked for help in his LTEs regarding disapproval of current administrative actions. This time LMJ believes any criticism of how detainees in detention centers are being mistreated is baseless. Where was the outrage in the past four years of how prisoners who were U.S. citizens were being mistreated, he asks?
I tried to puzzle out his illogical reasoning in order to help him once again. Here goes.
1) LMJ has obviously never heard of the Innocence Project, founded in 1992, that helps wrongfully convicted prisoners.
2) Prisoners were given due process, allowed to make a phone call and assigned a public defender if they could not afford one. Whereas the individuals in the detention centers, whether accused of a crime or not, are not given these privileges provided under our legal system.
If LMJ had lived in Germany in the early 1940s, would he have considered any criticism of how Jews were detained in horrific camps equally baseless?
Karen Papagapitos
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Fred DiNoto, Northwest side
I am going to do a little parody on Mr. Trump.
Things are getting a little hot with all this Epstein business in the news every day. So, what can I do to take the heat off of me? I know, let's fabricate some lies about the criminal conditions in D.C. My Maga followers will believe it. Let CNN and MSNBC fact check all they want. Who will they believe -- "Fake News", or me?
All this business with Putin, Ukraine and Epstein are making me lose my focus. How can I concentrate on my golf game with all these phone calls and meetings going on? Hegseth did say there was a golf course at Elmendorf AFB though.
I suppose I could take some of the millions of dollars that it is going to pay for the troops in Washington and put it towards more police and housing. Nah. Fore.
Fred DiNoto
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- David Redkey, Downtown
In 2023, Arizona promised reform after SB1291 — but families are still being robbed. A “soft” or "light" conservatorship meant to protect assets became years of outside control: orders with no preserved hearing record, ex-parte medical reports from unrelated cases, and fee approvals that look more like paychecks to insiders than care for a vulnerable person. Not a single jury trial has vindicated those rights, and I’m one of many still denied justice.
Worse, the Probate Advisory Panel required by law hasn’t even reached quorum nearly two years after enactment, blocking oversight the public was promised. Even Court Accountant’s report in my case shows over-budget spending, missing invoices, unexplained transfers, and large payees — but still approved.
I’m running for Congress to fix this. Federally enforceable reforms when the state fails to protect their vulnerable citizens. If you believe the law should protect people — not enrich insiders — join me in demanding real accountability now.
David Redkey
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
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