Tucson speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Nov. 13, 2026
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.
Data centers
The description of the proposed "massive data center" near the Willcox Playa states that it would demand more than 6 gigawatts (GW) of power to function when completed. When I was younger, I worked at Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in Washington State. The total power output from the generators at Grand Coulee is approximately 6.81 GW. Tucson Electric Power projected peak demand of approximately 2.5 GW in 2026. That means the proposed data center could require more than twice the peak electricity demand of TEP’s service territory. So, I wonder what benefits we would receive from a data center requiring such an enormous amount of electricity.
Alan Roehl, P.E.
Green Valley
Does TPD have any respect for streetcars?
While coming home on a streetcar, we were stopped for half an hour because the police had two of their vehicles parked on the tracks while dealing with an issue at the old hotel building being renovated in Downtown. Are they blind about the tracks in the street and the whole tram right behind them? Or do they not care about making people wait to get home or get to work? SunLink needs more authority to make the police move when they clearly don't need to be there.
Ryland Plassmann
Midtown
A new MAGA meaning
Last Tuesday's election validates the fact that there are still more of us who are the antithesis of the vile and anti-American traits witnessed in most Trumpian MAGA cultists. And there are still more of us who are clued into facts and reality than those who revel in their ignorance and are euphemistically referred to as "low information voters."
Maybe now, with reinvigorated feelings of relief and hope, we could appropriate MAGA's catchphrase and really make America great again.
Angela Muto
SaddleBrooke
Principles
Frank Hartline’s Nov. 1 op-ed about why he hasn’t left the Republican party, despite the party losing its way, was excellent.
Thomas E. Ricks, in his book “First Principles,” emphasized restoring principles. He used a partial quote from a letter George Washington wrote to James Warren in March 1779.
“Our conflict is not likely to cease so soon as every good man would wish. The measure of inequity is not yet filled — and unless we can return a little more to first principles, and act a little more upon patriotic ground, I do not know when it will — or — what may be the issue of the contest — speculation — peculation — engrossing —forestalling — with all their concomitants, afford too many melancholy proofs of the decay of public virtue; and too glaring instances of its being the interest and desire of too many, who would wish to be thought friends, to continue the war.”
If cooler heads prevail, we as a nation can be governed for the benefit of all. Let go of the vendettas.
Gerald Schwartz LCDR USN(Ret)
Foothills
‘The Wages of War’
The 1996 video game of that same name wasn't re-released. But its innards are on full display in Iran: the devastating cost of the business of battle. Heavily redacted and sanitized versions of our war are reported nightly on oligarch-filtered and controlled media, so here’s a teeny tiny tidbit of un-sanitized news you’re not getting. Our modern warfare uses Reaper drones costing tens of millions of dollars each, flying at a cost of thousands of dollars an hour, firing missiles costing more than $100,000 each — to kill people.
Those are the abominable wages of this inexcusable war.
Rick Rappaport
Oro Valley
Biggs: Without merit, without manners
On election eve, it became evident early in the evening that voters had soundly rejected Andy Biggs in his bid to become Arizona governor. Voters overwhelmingly chose Katie Hobbs to continue her leadership in leading our state as governor. When the race was called at 8:30 p.m., Biggs did not show any simple manners or civility by acknowledging Hobbs and her victory, nor did he concede. That is the mark of a lesser man; definitely not the qualities of a leader. According to the Star, he spoke to the crowd for a few minutes without mentioning Hobbs, then left the stage surrounded by armed members of the Arizona Rangers and sequestered himself. In my opinion, the Arizona Rangers are nothing more than a right-wing armed militia. That should alarm us all. Is this important in the greater scheme of things? Probably not, but it does show how important it is for political parties to nominate quality candidates for public office.
Jeanne Herstad
SaddleBrooke
Dems didn’t win — Americans did
Just as MAGA were not Republicans, voters of all political persuasions repudiated President Trump and his vile destruction of all we stand for as a decent country. The midterms were our first opportunity to tell him and the world we are still a democracy and will do our Constitutional duty.
We cannot wait until January. Republicans in Congress must shake off the evil spell they have been under and join with Democrats to undo the harm he has done and will continue to do if not stopped. Return to your conservative values. You no longer need to do his bidding.
Start with no funds for the arch, pass legislation like President Reagan did, providing a pathway to legal status for nearly 3 million undocumented immigrants in the 1980s, etc.
Jack Walters
Northeast side
Circular firing squads
On the eve of their greatest victory in decades, the Democrats are already discussing firing party leadership. Their failure? Not having produced this victory sooner. Or perhaps a failure to be as rhetorically debased as the opposition.
How soon we forget who the actual enemy is.
A few points:
1) The midterm results are a repudiation of President Donald Trump and his regime. It is not a sudden turn to progressive ideology.
2) Registered Democrats are less than one-third of eligible voters. It’s my opinion that the broad public does not trust progressives, and we have to avoid overreaching.
3) Yes, our policies regarding Israel need radical change. But skillful means are required here — not hot-headed rhetoric and lynchings of our own team.
4) As Bismarck famously observed: “Politics is the art of the possible.” Experience and incumbency have value, and defrocking our leadership may be emotionally gratifying in the short term, but it weakens us in the long term.
Must we always be our own worst enemy?
Larry DeWitt
Northeast side
UA 29, TCU 28
It took guts for University of Arizona coach Brent Brennan to go with a pooch kick, which helped propel the Cats to an amazing last-minute win over TCU. That pooch kick was a big punch to TCU. How about we combine the punch to TCU and the guts it took to make the pooch kick call into a gut punch. But wait! Isn't it really the gut pooch?!
Woody Marshall
West side
What Veterans Day means
Patriotism takes many forms, from the outwardly mundane to the extraordinary. It’s the simple act of saluting the flag at Veterans Day parades. It’s the determination to wait for hours in long lines to vote. This is what we saw last Tuesday and what can save our democracy from authoritarianism. But at its essence, patriotism is courage.
It’s the courage to put on the uniform and serve many months in distant lands, away from home and family while living in miserable conditions. It’s the strength to face times of sheer terror and the stamina to endure seemingly interminable periods of boredom.
Patriotism is the fortitude to speak out when the government takes actions that are in diametric opposition to the cherished principles of our Constitution. This is particularly true when it’s unpopular to do so.
It’s the courage and wisdom to rise above political ideology and get involved whenever your country needs help.
Dan Gipple
Southeast sid
Midterm reflections
Good morning, friends!
Today, I celebrate Deb Haaland, New Mexico’s next governor and the first Native American woman to lead an American state. A remarkable milestone!
I remain a proud Republican, believing in free speech, entrepreneurship, hard work, merit and personal responsibility. But I don't believe political differences should prevent us from celebrating one another.
Perhaps that is where our country needs to go: beyond labels, blame and division, toward understanding.
The speeches of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., and the great orator and war chief, Tecumseh are ageless and profound. If their unpopular voices were silenced, we would all be at a loss.
A saying often attributed to the poet Rumi reminds us: “Yesterday, I was clever and wanted to change the world, today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” My prayer is for the wisdom to begin there.
His most beautiful invitation is: “Out beyond our ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing is a field. I will meet you there.”
May we find that field together.
Jeanne Osgood
Vail
Warrior ethos?
Macho-man Pete Hegseth struts and poses, blathering on about a “warrior ethos.” As a baby boomer, I met many WWII veterans (enlistees, draftees and professionals) and for much of my life have read books on the two World Wars and the Korean War. Never once have I read or heard about this "ethos." We never had a warrior class or tradition like Japan and Germany, but our citizen soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors engaged in the nastiest, most disgusting, depressing, dangerous and terrifying job in the world and beat them. I've read and heard from many vets, including my father, that the blowhard loud-mouths (sound familiar?) tended to be the first to fold when the bullets started flying. For 250 years, we never had, and we don't need a "warrior class" in our military. By definition, our military men and women are warriors.
Vance Holliday
Foothills
Afghan heroes deported to Afghanistan
Before Trump was president, our country held respect throughout the world for our ideals of freedom and justice. After President George W. Bush started the Afghanistan war on Oct. 7, 2001, freedom-yearning Afghans, hoping to liberate themselves from Taliban oppression, began helping our forces as translators and guides.
The ill-conceived war didn't work out so well. Twenty years later, on Aug. 30, 2021, President Biden honored the Doha surrender agreement signed by Trump in February 2020, and pulled out the last Americans and some of our Afghan allies from the country.
Those Afghans risked their lives in hostile Taliban territory to help us, and we gave them shelter here. But now, Trump is preparing to deport Afghan immigrants back to Afghanistan where those with ties to U.S. forces could face deadly danger . This betrayal is a crime against those who risked their lives on our behalf. It crushes the possibility of other freedom fighters ever trusting us in the future.
For shame.
Bruce Joffe
South Tucson
The current state of global warming
The Earth is in an unprecedented state of climate strain, with the years 2015-25 confirmed as the hottest 11-year period on record. Global temperatures consistently hover near or above 2.2 degrees farenheit above pre-industrial levels, pushing the planet toward the limits established by the Paris Agreement.
The primary catalyst for this warming remains the record-high concentrations of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide in our atmosphere.
Consequences of a rapidly warming planet:
– Intense storms: Warmer air holds more moisture, fueling heavier rainfall, severe flash floods and stronger hurricanes.
– Severe droughts: Higher temperatures speed up evaporation, drying out soils and shrinking drinking water supplies.
– Wildfires: Extended dry periods and heat create longer, more destructive wildfire seasons.
Becky Conners
North side
Let's take a deep breath
The election's over and, while most of us are elated at election results, it's not too early to take a deep breath and assess possibilities. One outcome that looms is that the Democrats, following tradition, may shoot themselves in the foot. On this score, two potential major issues come to the fore: first, emboldened, ambitious, young newcomers to both the Senate and House may buck the "old pros" who know the ropes. Instead of taking their time and learning how to achieve goals, impatient newbies may create internecine warfare within the party, thereby jeopardizing chances for sustaining their recent victory and chances for presidential victory in 2028. The second possibility is congressional Democrats overpromising, again jeopardizing all they have gained. Let's hope we all take a deep breath.
Barbara Benjamin
Foothills
We the people
When Trump won the popular vote by 1.48 percentage points in 2024, we watched elite law firms, powerful universities, big tech, corporate leaders, media companies, the GOP, and too many Democratic elected officials decide it was in their personal best interest to defer to Trump. We had a wide range of outstanding candidates who fought hard and won on Nov. 3. I am deeply grateful to them. That said, all credit goes to the American people who understood no one was coming to save us. Trump and his minions were determined to destroy our country, betray our allies, and enrich themselves. The American people stood up and fought back. We have been working every day for this massive repudiation of Trump and MAGA. We have a chance to hold people accountable, repair, reform, and improve our beloved country. That work begins now.
Janet Marcotte
Northeast side
Respect veterans
I would like to request that Gov. Katie Hobbs and Lieutenant Governor-elect John Giles correct what I consider a discourtesy to Arizona's Veterans by Arizona Motor Vehicle Division policy. Currently, if a veteran renews a driver's license or ID card online, the "veteran" designation is removed from that document. The only way to retain the designation is to journey to the MVD. Why? A veteran doesn't lose that distinction just because a few years have passed, so why is it necessary to go to the agency and produce a DD214 to prove it once again? Hopefully, our leaders can restore government respect to those who have participated in service to their country.
Rick Cohn
West side
What the pundits aren't saying
It's not just the price of gasoline. And no, J.D. Vance, it's not just the Iran debacle. And it's not that both President Trump and Elon Musk tried to buy the election, Trump with outright bribery, Musk with buying all the media for a propaganda blitz.
I'm convinced it's much deeper than that. What both Trump and Musk represent is something deeply un-American, and what America, in its 250-year history, has stood for, and at its onset, unique-representative democracy, a proud voice of the people.
And what both of them just got is democracy in spades, what King George, in his arrogance, got in 1776: a huge comeuppance. Hopefully both learned a bit of humility. Hopefully they will learn that here, at least, the people still win. And if they haven't, they both will be big losers.
John Schmidt
Southwest side
More like this...
Data centers
The description of the proposed "massive data center" near the Willcox Playa states that it would demand more than 6 gigawatts (GW) of power to function when completed. When I was younger, I worked at Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in Washington State. The total power output from the generators at Grand Coulee is approximately 6.81 GW. Tucson Electric Power projected peak demand of approximately 2.5 GW in 2026. That means the proposed data center could require more than twice the peak electricity demand of TEP’s service territory. So, I wonder what benefits we would receive from a data center requiring such an enormous amount of electricity.
Alan Roehl, P.E.
Green Valley
Does TPD have any respect for streetcars?
While coming home on a streetcar, we were stopped for half an hour because the police had two of their vehicles parked on the tracks while dealing with an issue at the old hotel building being renovated in Downtown. Are they blind about the tracks in the street and the whole tram right behind them? Or do they not care about making people wait to get home or get to work? SunLink needs more authority to make the police move when they clearly don't need to be there.
Ryland Plassmann
Midtown
A new MAGA meaning
Last Tuesday's election validates the fact that there are still more of us who are the antithesis of the vile and anti-American traits witnessed in most Trumpian MAGA cultists. And there are still more of us who are clued into facts and reality than those who revel in their ignorance and are euphemistically referred to as "low information voters."
Maybe now, with reinvigorated feelings of relief and hope, we could appropriate MAGA's catchphrase and really make America great again.
Angela Muto
SaddleBrooke
Principles
Frank Hartline’s Nov. 1 op-ed about why he hasn’t left the Republican party, despite the party losing its way, was excellent.
Thomas E. Ricks, in his book “First Principles,” emphasized restoring principles. He used a partial quote from a letter George Washington wrote to James Warren in March 1779.
“Our conflict is not likely to cease so soon as every good man would wish. The measure of inequity is not yet filled — and unless we can return a little more to first principles, and act a little more upon patriotic ground, I do not know when it will — or — what may be the issue of the contest — speculation — peculation — engrossing —forestalling — with all their concomitants, afford too many melancholy proofs of the decay of public virtue; and too glaring instances of its being the interest and desire of too many, who would wish to be thought friends, to continue the war.”
If cooler heads prevail, we as a nation can be governed for the benefit of all. Let go of the vendettas.
Gerald Schwartz LCDR USN(Ret)
Foothills
‘The Wages of War’
The 1996 video game of that same name wasn't re-released. But its innards are on full display in Iran: the devastating cost of the business of battle. Heavily redacted and sanitized versions of our war are reported nightly on oligarch-filtered and controlled media, so here’s a teeny tiny tidbit of un-sanitized news you’re not getting. Our modern warfare uses Reaper drones costing tens of millions of dollars each, flying at a cost of thousands of dollars an hour, firing missiles costing more than $100,000 each — to kill people.
Those are the abominable wages of this inexcusable war.
Rick Rappaport
Oro Valley
Biggs: Without merit, without manners
On election eve, it became evident early in the evening that voters had soundly rejected Andy Biggs in his bid to become Arizona governor. Voters overwhelmingly chose Katie Hobbs to continue her leadership in leading our state as governor. When the race was called at 8:30 p.m., Biggs did not show any simple manners or civility by acknowledging Hobbs and her victory, nor did he concede. That is the mark of a lesser man; definitely not the qualities of a leader. According to the Star, he spoke to the crowd for a few minutes without mentioning Hobbs, then left the stage surrounded by armed members of the Arizona Rangers and sequestered himself. In my opinion, the Arizona Rangers are nothing more than a right-wing armed militia. That should alarm us all. Is this important in the greater scheme of things? Probably not, but it does show how important it is for political parties to nominate quality candidates for public office.
Jeanne Herstad
SaddleBrooke
Dems didn’t win — Americans did
Just as MAGA were not Republicans, voters of all political persuasions repudiated President Trump and his vile destruction of all we stand for as a decent country. The midterms were our first opportunity to tell him and the world we are still a democracy and will do our Constitutional duty.
We cannot wait until January. Republicans in Congress must shake off the evil spell they have been under and join with Democrats to undo the harm he has done and will continue to do if not stopped. Return to your conservative values. You no longer need to do his bidding.
Start with no funds for the arch, pass legislation like President Reagan did, providing a pathway to legal status for nearly 3 million undocumented immigrants in the 1980s, etc.
Jack Walters
Northeast side
Circular firing squads
On the eve of their greatest victory in decades, the Democrats are already discussing firing party leadership. Their failure? Not having produced this victory sooner. Or perhaps a failure to be as rhetorically debased as the opposition.
How soon we forget who the actual enemy is.
A few points:
1) The midterm results are a repudiation of President Donald Trump and his regime. It is not a sudden turn to progressive ideology.
2) Registered Democrats are less than one-third of eligible voters. It’s my opinion that the broad public does not trust progressives, and we have to avoid overreaching.
3) Yes, our policies regarding Israel need radical change. But skillful means are required here — not hot-headed rhetoric and lynchings of our own team.
4) As Bismarck famously observed: “Politics is the art of the possible.” Experience and incumbency have value, and defrocking our leadership may be emotionally gratifying in the short term, but it weakens us in the long term.
Must we always be our own worst enemy?
Larry DeWitt
Northeast side
UA 29, TCU 28
It took guts for University of Arizona coach Brent Brennan to go with a pooch kick, which helped propel the Cats to an amazing last-minute win over TCU. That pooch kick was a big punch to TCU. How about we combine the punch to TCU and the guts it took to make the pooch kick call into a gut punch. But wait! Isn't it really the gut pooch?!
Woody Marshall
West side
What Veterans Day means
Patriotism takes many forms, from the outwardly mundane to the extraordinary. It’s the simple act of saluting the flag at Veterans Day parades. It’s the determination to wait for hours in long lines to vote. This is what we saw last Tuesday and what can save our democracy from authoritarianism. But at its essence, patriotism is courage.
It’s the courage to put on the uniform and serve many months in distant lands, away from home and family while living in miserable conditions. It’s the strength to face times of sheer terror and the stamina to endure seemingly interminable periods of boredom.
Patriotism is the fortitude to speak out when the government takes actions that are in diametric opposition to the cherished principles of our Constitution. This is particularly true when it’s unpopular to do so.
It’s the courage and wisdom to rise above political ideology and get involved whenever your country needs help.
Dan Gipple
Southeast sid
Midterm reflections
Good morning, friends!
Today, I celebrate Deb Haaland, New Mexico’s next governor and the first Native American woman to lead an American state. A remarkable milestone!
I remain a proud Republican, believing in free speech, entrepreneurship, hard work, merit and personal responsibility. But I don't believe political differences should prevent us from celebrating one another.
Perhaps that is where our country needs to go: beyond labels, blame and division, toward understanding.
The speeches of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., and the great orator and war chief, Tecumseh are ageless and profound. If their unpopular voices were silenced, we would all be at a loss.
A saying often attributed to the poet Rumi reminds us: “Yesterday, I was clever and wanted to change the world, today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” My prayer is for the wisdom to begin there.
His most beautiful invitation is: “Out beyond our ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing is a field. I will meet you there.”
May we find that field together.
Jeanne Osgood
Vail
Warrior ethos?
Macho-man Pete Hegseth struts and poses, blathering on about a “warrior ethos.” As a baby boomer, I met many WWII veterans (enlistees, draftees and professionals) and for much of my life have read books on the two World Wars and the Korean War. Never once have I read or heard about this "ethos." We never had a warrior class or tradition like Japan and Germany, but our citizen soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors engaged in the nastiest, most disgusting, depressing, dangerous and terrifying job in the world and beat them. I've read and heard from many vets, including my father, that the blowhard loud-mouths (sound familiar?) tended to be the first to fold when the bullets started flying. For 250 years, we never had, and we don't need a "warrior class" in our military. By definition, our military men and women are warriors.
Vance Holliday
Foothills
Afghan heroes deported to Afghanistan
Before Trump was president, our country held respect throughout the world for our ideals of freedom and justice. After President George W. Bush started the Afghanistan war on Oct. 7, 2001, freedom-yearning Afghans, hoping to liberate themselves from Taliban oppression, began helping our forces as translators and guides.
The ill-conceived war didn't work out so well. Twenty years later, on Aug. 30, 2021, President Biden honored the Doha surrender agreement signed by Trump in February 2020, and pulled out the last Americans and some of our Afghan allies from the country.
Those Afghans risked their lives in hostile Taliban territory to help us, and we gave them shelter here. But now, Trump is preparing to deport Afghan immigrants back to Afghanistan where those with ties to U.S. forces could face deadly danger . This betrayal is a crime against those who risked their lives on our behalf. It crushes the possibility of other freedom fighters ever trusting us in the future.
For shame.
Bruce Joffe
South Tucson
The current state of global warming
The Earth is in an unprecedented state of climate strain, with the years 2015-25 confirmed as the hottest 11-year period on record. Global temperatures consistently hover near or above 2.2 degrees farenheit above pre-industrial levels, pushing the planet toward the limits established by the Paris Agreement.
The primary catalyst for this warming remains the record-high concentrations of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide in our atmosphere.
Consequences of a rapidly warming planet:
– Intense storms: Warmer air holds more moisture, fueling heavier rainfall, severe flash floods and stronger hurricanes.
– Severe droughts: Higher temperatures speed up evaporation, drying out soils and shrinking drinking water supplies.
– Wildfires: Extended dry periods and heat create longer, more destructive wildfire seasons.
Becky Conners
North side
Let's take a deep breath
The election's over and, while most of us are elated at election results, it's not too early to take a deep breath and assess possibilities. One outcome that looms is that the Democrats, following tradition, may shoot themselves in the foot. On this score, two potential major issues come to the fore: first, emboldened, ambitious, young newcomers to both the Senate and House may buck the "old pros" who know the ropes. Instead of taking their time and learning how to achieve goals, impatient newbies may create internecine warfare within the party, thereby jeopardizing chances for sustaining their recent victory and chances for presidential victory in 2028. The second possibility is congressional Democrats overpromising, again jeopardizing all they have gained. Let's hope we all take a deep breath.
Barbara Benjamin
Foothills
We the people
When Trump won the popular vote by 1.48 percentage points in 2024, we watched elite law firms, powerful universities, big tech, corporate leaders, media companies, the GOP, and too many Democratic elected officials decide it was in their personal best interest to defer to Trump. We had a wide range of outstanding candidates who fought hard and won on Nov. 3. I am deeply grateful to them. That said, all credit goes to the American people who understood no one was coming to save us. Trump and his minions were determined to destroy our country, betray our allies, and enrich themselves. The American people stood up and fought back. We have been working every day for this massive repudiation of Trump and MAGA. We have a chance to hold people accountable, repair, reform, and improve our beloved country. That work begins now.
Janet Marcotte
Northeast side
Respect veterans
I would like to request that Gov. Katie Hobbs and Lieutenant Governor-elect John Giles correct what I consider a discourtesy to Arizona's Veterans by Arizona Motor Vehicle Division policy. Currently, if a veteran renews a driver's license or ID card online, the "veteran" designation is removed from that document. The only way to retain the designation is to journey to the MVD. Why? A veteran doesn't lose that distinction just because a few years have passed, so why is it necessary to go to the agency and produce a DD214 to prove it once again? Hopefully, our leaders can restore government respect to those who have participated in service to their country.
Rick Cohn
West side
What the pundits aren't saying
It's not just the price of gasoline. And no, J.D. Vance, it's not just the Iran debacle. And it's not that both President Trump and Elon Musk tried to buy the election, Trump with outright bribery, Musk with buying all the media for a propaganda blitz.
I'm convinced it's much deeper than that. What both Trump and Musk represent is something deeply un-American, and what America, in its 250-year history, has stood for, and at its onset, unique-representative democracy, a proud voice of the people.
And what both of them just got is democracy in spades, what King George, in his arrogance, got in 1776: a huge comeuppance. Hopefully both learned a bit of humility. Hopefully they will learn that here, at least, the people still win. And if they haven't, they both will be big losers.
John Schmidt
Southwest side
