Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.
1
- Mark Adams, Northwest side
Our society today is riddled with mass shootings, racism, antisemitism and lots of hatred being spewed towards others. It all fosters the feeling of little hope for us in our wonderful great Democracy, our United States. Well, something happened that has brought hope back to me and my wife. We were celebrating our 35 year anniversary at the P. F. Chang restaurant in Tucson the night of May 29 and, when we were finished, requested the check. The waitress informed us that our bill was paid in full by a couple at an adjoining table who had just left. We were flabbergasted! It gave us Hope that there are wonderful loving people that are here in our country that are full of love. It gives us hope that there are many others like them in our wonderful Democracy, our United States!!
Mark Adams
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
2
- Sue Thompson, SaddleBrooke
Along with a recent report of there being 12 horses that have recently died at Churchill Downs Race Track (for now the cause is unknown)...now we have this. The heroic “horses that carry service-members’ flag-draped caskets to their final resting places in Arlington National Cemetery” are dying. In this case, the Army is at fault. I know that Memorial Day Weekend has just passed, so let me make the point that I don't put the blame here on the veterans or even the untrained army men and women at the lowest level here. However, the apparent insinuations written in this news article are inexcusable. The horses didn't die (or even deserve to die) because they were "old"...as seems to be indefensibly implied here as some type of justification. They died from human neglect. Even a six-year old can tell you that a horse that is starving...is probably really starving.
Sue Thompson
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
3
- Christopher Rodarte, Midtown
Re: the May 29 letter "Harris as President?."
The Star printed a letter on May 29 in which the writer bemoaned its proclivity to print 'liberal opinions without a balanced opinion from the conservative viewpoint". The writer then boasts being "smart enough" to back his attack on Kamala Harris, whom he dismisses as "an unqualified word-salad woman'". As a lawyer who served as a District Attorney, an Attorney General and as a U.S. Senator, she certainly has more experience than a T.V. reality show grifter who has declared bankruptcy a number of times. Word-salad, also called jargon aphasia, refers to incoherent speech, sometimes associated with schizophrenia, or to patients with dementia or Alzheimer's. The writer feels compelled to add "woman" to his perceived list of failings he attributes to the Vice-President, thereby managing to tick off three boxes in one foul sentence: ignorant, offensive and misogynistic. Kudos to the Star for printing his vile letter; once again it is proven to be a paper that does present all viewpoints-even reprehensible ones.
Christopher Rodarte
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
4
- Karen Schickedanz, SaddleBrooke
How did you "celebrate" Memorial Day? Perhaps with a family get-together? Or maybe attending a parade? Or remembering a fallen loved one who fought for his/her country? All those are great.
But it seems a number of our fellow citizens "celebrated" by shooting, injuring and killing their fellow citizens. From a Florida beach to Chicago city streets to right in our own backyard in Phoenix and Mesa, America's killing spree continued.
Will this violence never end? I fear not. There isn't the will to do anything about it but send thoughts and prayers.
Karen Schickedanz
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
5
- Ken Paul Chernock, Northwest side
Can't decide? Let's flip a coin. But what if your coin has only one side? You might think this is ridiculous. A coin HAS to have two sides. A one-sided coin is physically impossible! Yet we easily apply that idea to politics, religion, sex, and just about anything else, besides coins. We will never solve any problem as long as we believe there is only one possible solution. Not til we recognize the existence of the 'other' side will be able to reach a middle ground where BOTH sides can exist... I almost said, 'with each other,' but just like a coin is ONE coin with two sides, so are we ONE people, just with two different points of view.
Ken Paul Chernock
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
6
- Jack Walters, Northeast side
Every year on the weekend of May 30, the dead from foreign wars are honored. Taps and the National Anthem are played. The attendees, who can, stand with their hats off and hand over heart. This has always been an emotional event.
We attended the event this year at Udall Park with the Arizona Winds on Saturday and at Reid Park with the Tucson Pops on Sunday. At both musical events the Armed Forces Medley was played, with service members, past or present asked to stand when their service melody is played. As I looked around, to applaud those who stood, it registered that fewer veterans were standing. I realized that the major wars are receding and that fewer veterans from those conflicts are still alive today.
As we grow older the remaining veterans from wars are declining rapidly.
Unless there is another major conflict there will continue to be fewer veterans to recognize.
Jack Walters
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
7
- David Pearse, Foothills
Re: the May 8 article "Affirmative action and the logic of reparations."
Contrary to what Brent Harold would have us believe, the U.S. did not become an economic superpower on the backs of slaves. To the contrary, cotton contributed only 5% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 1860, and at that time northern factories manufactured nine-tenths of industrial goods in the country. Investments in slaves actually impeded industrialization and economic growth in the South, so that overall it was undeniably and unequivocally economically negative for that region.
The negative effects on economic growth can be seen even today in that the more dependent on slavery a state was, the poorer it is today. Arkansas, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Alabama, all previous slave-holding states, today have the lowest GDP per capita of all states.
I suggest that Mr. Harold collect voluntary reparations from his fellow liberal/progressives rather than forcing the rest of us to support his dubious reasons for them.
David Pearse
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
8
- Sue Thompson, SaddleBrooke
On April 5, 2023, the Attorney General of Maryland reported that “More than 150 Catholic priests and others associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore sexually abused more than 600 children over the past 80 years”. This is not Maryland. This is just Baltimore City. Today, the Illinois state Attorney General reported that there were 1997 cases of priestly sexual abuse of children in that state from 1950 to 2019. And, yet, you are worried about books and librarians? Can you name a single gay guy, dressed in drag, that has been reported to be “grooming” little boys? No?
You can't name one? Yet, you ignore the “saintly” priests? You need to get a clue. Those are your groomers.
Sue Thompson
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
9
- Douglas R. Holm, East side
I'm a retired CPA so I think I know somewhat more about this topic than the average person. On April 10, 1973 (50 years ago) the Star published a letter of mine that stated people with higher incomes actually pay a higher percentage of income tax on their total incomes than people with lower incomes. This fact has not been disproved. The latest IRS data for 2018 - following the Trump Tax Cuts- found the top 1% of taxpayers paid 40% of all income taxes paid. The top 10% paid 71% and the top 50% paid 97%. Sure, you can find wealthy taxpayers who paid little or no income taxes in any given year: but they probably reduced their net worth by investing in a scheme that causes you to lose, say, $1,000,000 in order to save $400,000 in taxes.
Douglas R. Holm
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
10
- Beth Smith, Oro Valley
Found liable for defamation and sexual abuse, Trump’s defense was “she was not my type.” Sexual assault is not driven by attraction. It is an act of violence and should be called out for what it is. For Trump, women are objects to be abused at will. Unfortunately, he is not alone.
One in six American women are victims of attempted or completed rape, their self-concept and their sense of bodily autonomy forever diminished.
With Roe v. Wade overturned and red states banning abortion access, women being further assaulted by the institutions that should protect them.
According to a CNN report, some women are choosing sterilization as a sad but rational reaction to the possibility that their reproductive health options are a thing of the past. I don’t judge them for it. They recognize an existential crisis is heading their way.
I am afraid for women—for the attacks so many will endure and their inability to choose their own fate.
We must do better.
Beth Smith
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
11
- James McLin, East side
Ron DeSantis main platform is to make the US just “…just like Florida”. What does that entail? In no particular order:
1. Reduce free speech to those who agree with him.
2. Suppress voter rights for minorities and qualified citizens released from prison.
3. Suppress women’s access to medical treatment.
4. Take over the educational systems to only teach what he thinks is correct.
5. Make an unfriendly atmosphere for businesses to grow in the state.
6. Appoint unqualified people to major cabinet positions and the educational system.
7. Ban books that don’t fall into his philosophy.
8. Reduce or eliminate the safety net for the working poor.
Personally I don’t want to be “… just like Florida”. He wants to drag us back to the 19th century where our hard earned rights don’t exist.
Scary that he is a major Republican candidate for president.
James McLin
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
12
- Updated
Environment
over highway
Re: the May 26 article "Judge lets environmentalists' challenge to Interstate 11 proceed."
To the Editor:
It is a good decision that at least raises the possibility of considering our environment over a new highway. But the key environmental issue is that I-11 should not be built at all; the idea that the solution to heavy traffic is a new highway is so 20th century! In the 21st century, the money allocated for this highway should be spent on public transportation, specifically a commuter rail system, preferably electric, at least from Tucson to Phoenix and possibly points beyond. The New Mexico Rail Runner might be examined as a possible model for construction of an even better and more eco-friendly route in Arizona.
Joshua Freeman
North side
Why doesn't PCC
turn hotels into
student housing?
Re: the May 28 article "PCC may tear down hotels needing repair."
I was shocked to read that plans for Pima County Community College’s Drachman hotel properties — Frontier Motel, Copper Cactus and Tucson Inn — plan does not include a possibility for housing. With Tucson’s housing shortage, transforming these historic hotels into affordable student housing for both PCC and UA students or even members of the public could become a revenue center to offset the expected renovation costs while preserving the historic value of the asset. Collaborating with a community-minded partner that might bring money to the table, such as HSL Properties/Management, for advice/investment/renovation/operation might create a win-win-win situation for the community, business, government and the college. Why demolish potential housing when the three properties could thrive again, like the Sahara Apartments on Stone Ave.
Debe Campbell
Southeast side
Star is balanced
Re: the May 29 letter "Harris as President?"
The Star printed a letter on May 29 in which the writer bemoaned its proclivity to print "liberal opinions without a balanced opinion from the conservative viewpoint." The writer then boasts of being "smart enough" to back his attack on Kamala Harris, whom he dismisses as "an unqualified word-salad woman." As a lawyer who served as a District Attorney, an Attorney General and as a U.S. Senator, she certainly has more experience than a TV reality show grifter who has declared bankruptcy a number of times. Word salad, also called jargon aphasia, refers to incoherent speech, sometimes associated with schizophrenia, or to patients with dementia or Alzheimer's. The writer feels compelled to add "woman" to his perceived list of failings he attributes to the Vice-President, thereby managing to tick off three boxes in one foul sentence: ignorant, offensive and misogynistic. Kudos to the Star for printing his vile letter; once again, it is proven to be a paper that does present all viewpoints — even reprehensible ones.
Christopher Rodarte
Midtown
Remembrance of
the fallen in war
Every year on Memorial Day weekend, the dead from foreign wars are honored. Taps and the national anthem are played. The attendees, who can, stand with their hats off and hand over heart. This has always been an emotional event.
We attended the event this year at Udall Park with the Arizona Winds on Saturday and at Reid Park with the Tucson Pops on Sunday. At both musical events, the Armed Forces Medley was played, with service members, past or present asked to stand when their service melody is played. As I looked around to applaud those who stood, it registered that fewer veterans were standing. I realized that the major wars are receding and that fewer veterans from those conflicts are still alive today.
As we grow older the remaining veterans from wars are declining rapidly.
Unless there is another major conflict there will continue to be fewer veterans to recognize.
Jack Walters
Northeast side
There's still hope
Our society today is riddled with mass shootings, racism, antisemitism and lots of hatred being spewed towards others. It all fosters the feeling of little hope for us in our wonderful great Democracy, our United States. Well, something happened that has brought hope back to me and my wife. We were celebrating our 35-year anniversary at the P. F. Chang restaurant in Tucson the night of May 29 and, when we were finished, requested the check. The waitress informed us that our bill was paid in full by a couple at an adjoining table who had just left. We were flabbergasted! It gave us hope that there are wonderful loving people that are here in our country that are full of love. It gives us hope that there are many others like them in our wonderful Democracy, our United States!
Mark Adams
Northwest side
Second thoughts
on CFSD
I’m a CFSD resident who was active in the campaign that elected three current CFSD governing board members. This may have been a mistake. Our district has spent months arguing about a perfectly appropriate policy on transgender students in schools, in the process losing its focus on education.
Through my child’s experience with the CFHS math department this year, I’ve learned that CFSD administrators have prioritized PR over math instruction. More alarmingly, I’ve learned that over 50% of the students in my child’s math class scored below the level of “proficient” as defined by the district.
Anecdotally, I’ve learned that many CFSD parents plan to enroll their kids in online summer math classes because they feel math instruction at CFHS is lacking. Those parents are contributing to the problem.
Rather than demanding quality math instruction in our public schools, we pay for private tutoring and pat ourselves on the back for our “wokeness” on social issues. It’s hypocrisy on the highest level.
Carrie Clancy
Foothills
Memorial Day
celebrations
How did you celebrate Memorial Day? Perhaps with a family get-together? Or maybe attending a parade? Or remembering a fallen loved one who fought for his/her country? All those are great.
But it seems a number of our fellow citizens "celebrated" by shooting, injuring and killing their fellow citizens. From a Florida beach to Chicago city streets to right in our own backyard in Phoenix and Mesa, America's killing spree continued.
Will this violence never end? I fear not. There isn't the will to do anything about it but send thoughts and prayers.
Karen Schickedanz
SaddleBrooke
Human neglect seems
to mean dead horses
Along with a recent report of there being 12 horses that have recently died at Churchill Downs Race Track (for now the cause is unknown) ... now we have this. The heroic “horses that carry service-members’ flag-draped caskets to their final resting places in Arlington National Cemetery” are dying. In this case, the Army is at fault. I know that Memorial Day Weekend has just passed, so let me make the point that I don't put the blame here on the veterans or even the untrained army men and women at the lowest level here. However, the apparent insinuations written in this news article are inexcusable. The horses didn't die (or even deserve to die) because they were "old,". .. as seems to be indefensibly implied here as some type of justification. They died from human neglect. Even a 6-year old can tell you that a horse that is starving ... is probably really starving.
Sue Thompson
SaddleBrooke
Heads or tails
Can't decide? Let's flip a coin. But what if your coin has only one side? You might think this is ridiculous. A coin HAS to have two sides. A one-sided coin is physically impossible! Yet we easily apply that idea to politics, religion, sex, and just about anything else, besides coins. We will never solve any problem as long as we believe there is only one possible solution. Not til we recognize the existence of the 'other' side will we be able to reach a middle ground where BOTH sides can exist ... I almost said, 'with each other,' but just like a coin is ONE coin with two sides, so are we ONE people, just with two different points of view.
Ken Paul Chernock
Northwest side
Investing in Tucson
Re: the May 28 article "Tucson renters are running out of time."
God forbid investors invest in Tucson. Instead we should continue to let Tucson be the humdrum crusty city in Phoenix’s shadow. Or readers can stop using their bias and personal experience to support an agenda that doesn’t advance or benefit Tucson’s growth. The fact of the matter is residential investment properties in Tucson have become desirable and at an all-time high; almost 95% of the time these investors are buying distressed properties that have been run into the ground by careless owners and tenants. Why should they apologize for upgrading, renovating, making Tucson look more appealing and demanding respectable rents?
Emmanuel Mouzourakis, Realtor/property manager
West side
13
- Hal Brown, East side
ABORTION CONTROVERSY
It is time for all the people in each state solve this insane controversy about the abortion issue by putting it on ballot for all to vote on.
Or it should be on a country wide ballot so that everyone can vote on it. This is the only fair way to solve this problem. It can’t be left up to a few hundred people in the states or US House and Senate.
Hal Brown
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
14
- Flora Frederick, Midtown
DIVERSITY means accepting all people’s similarities and differences with love and with no hate, no bigotry, and no violence. Diversity is one of the strengths of the US.
EQUITY means all people are equal under the law. All people have the same legal rights. I think it was former President Barack Obama who talked about “a level playing field and everyone playing by the same rules.”
INCLUSION means all people are included and accepted in a peaceful society. No one group is left out for any reason.
Flora Frederick
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
15
- Deb Klumpp, Oro Valley
What a surprise! Donald Trump, in his bizarre and insultingly inappropriate Memorial Day tweet, so accurately described a faction of his own supporters (and himself). He called out "terrorists, misfits, lunatic thugs, communist, Marxist and fascist pigs". Donald, I'm amazed. I never thought you'd be so truthful. Are you finally looking at the truth of Jan. 6? And saying our nation has never been in greater peril, right on. I am astounded at your newfound insights. What gives?
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
16
- Cynthia Bordelon, Downtown
My grandfather and other World War II veterans bravely fought to help defeat the rise of fascism in the world. In the aftermath, the United States emerged as a superpower and a beacon of democracy. Today, that beacon has dimmed.
Throughout history, some politicians have exploited fear to gain and hold power. Today, they support banning books, restricting reproductive autonomy, and suppressing our right to vote.
Fear leads to polarization and “us” versus “them.” But there is no “them.” There is only “We the People.” These precious words in the Constitution proclaim that our democracy derives its power from the people themselves - all of us, not just a vocal minority. Over the years, our democracy has ebbed and flowed, but it’s resilient. We will bounce back from this new low of political outrageousness. If you can find a library book on World War II that hasn’t been banned, read it and you will see. Freedom is in our blood after all.
Cynthia Bordelon
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
17
- Lori Cinnamond, Foothills
For the past couple of months, we have watched the drama play out. Republicans claim we need to tighten our belt, "cut up credit cards." Democrats point out that raising the debt ceiling is not about the budget, it is about paying our bills. Both sides have a point. However, it appears that the Republicans are shedding crocodile tears. If they were honestly interested in cutting expenses, I can point to a couple of places they could get more bang for their buck! Shay Assad, former Raytheon exec, reported on a recent 60 minutes, "The Pentagon overpays for almost everything." Hundreds of billions of dollars are lost by price gauging by American "patriots." The IRs estimates it loses 381 billion a year in unpaid owed taxes. Those are just a couple of places that Congress could recover 100s of billions of dollars. Why do they chose to look another way? Don't be fooled people, this Kabuki theatre, it is not about a balanced budget!
Lori Cinnamond
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
18
- Aston Bloom, East side
I was horrified to read the article in the Star of 5-28-23 titled "Lawmakers look to kids to fill labor gap". This country seems to be moving backwards, way backwards! 14-year-olds serving alcohol in bars and restaurants? 14- and 15-year-olds working till 9 p.m. on school nights? These are just two examples of laws being considered in various state legislatures. There was only one sentence about what should be an obvious solution to the labor shortage: "The most obvious is allowing more legal immigration, which is politically divisive but has been a cornerstone of the country's ability to grow for years in the face of an aging population." I realize that illegal immigration is politically divisive, but I don't see why legal immigration should be. So let's work on that solution and let children be kids and grow up safely!
Aston Bloom
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
19
- Thad Appelman, Northwest side
Re: May 27 letter “Sedition by any other name is sedition’. Sue Thompson asks why the Jan. 6 lieutenants are going to prison in droves, while the general is untouched. The lieutenants were not billionaires. In today’s America, money in huge quantities can buy your way out. No one, not even the Department of Justice, will tackle the team of high buck lawyers he would assemble. Yes, a sad commentary on where we are.
Thad Appelman
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
20
- Updated
Ciscomani is refreshing change
I get a kick out of all the negative letters about Juan Ciscomani. He is really a bad guy because he wants to balance the Federal Budget. He has never said anything about cutting Social Security benefits or Medicare. Tell me we cannot cut something out of our bloated budget. The Progressives want to continue printing money and kick the can down the road, increasing inflation and creating a burden for our children. The Progressives are scared to death of Ciscomani because he is young, intelligent and speaks to the common man. He is not a Congressman who just votes the party line blindly as the previous incumbent did. Juan is a refreshing change!
Doug Shymway
Green Valley
Turn asylees into recruits
If asylum-seekers at the US border were given this immediate option, it could be a win-win situation for all involved. If he or she is of military service age, offer immediate enlistment. From the border to boot camp, an asylee would have the opportunity to fill a slot in the military that the armed services recruitment is having difficulty filling. That recruit would have two years to learn a trade skill, learn English, serve as a soldier wherever needed, have housing and meals, earn a salary, pay taxes, and in the end, earn citizenship through service. During those two years, accompanying family members could use the salary to settle and build a sustainable future to welcome their soldier home as productive residents of a community.
Debe Campbell
Southeast side
Numbered bands on guns
Re: the May 20 article “Falconer reunited with lost hawk after it drops in on Tucson couple.”
I and most probably others were grateful for the family the hawk visited, who then contacted the correct people to return it to its owner.
A good ending for the hawk and its owner. Wonderful!
Then, a flash of clarity.
I replaced the word falconer or bird with the word guns or gun owner: Guns have numbered bands that can be used to trace them back to their owners. Skill classes take years to become a gun owner. A gun owner must be licensed by the state. Apprentice gun owners have to be sponsored for a license by master gun owners. Gun owners must have their holding facility inspected before they are allowed to keep a gun.
Absolutely the perfect outline for a good ending to protect: children, seniors, bible students, parade watchers, shoppers and on and on.
We can do this. We must do this. Let’s do this now.
Judy Mercer
Oro Valley
Child labor
Re: the May 28 article “Lawmakers look to kids to fill labor gap.”
I was horrified to read this article. This country seems to be moving backward, way backward! Fourteen-year-olds serving alcohol in bars and restaurants? Fourteen and 15-year-olds working till 9 p.m. on school nights? These are just two examples of laws being considered in various state legislatures. There was only one sentence about what should be an obvious solution to the labor shortage: “The most obvious is allowing more legal immigration, which is politically divisive but has been a cornerstone of the country’s ability to grow for years in the face of an aging population.” I realize that illegal immigration is politically divisive, but I don’t see why legal immigration should be. So let’s work on that solution and let children be kids and grow up safely!
Aston Bloom
East side
Debt ceiling standoff is Kabuki Theatre
For the past couple of months, we have watched the drama play out. Republicans claim we need to tighten our belt, “cut up credit cards.” Democrats point out that raising the debt ceiling is not about the budget, it is about paying our bills. Both sides have a point. However, it appears that the Republicans are shedding crocodile tears. If they were honestly interested in cutting expenses, I can point to a couple of places they could get more bang for their buck! Shay Assad, former Raytheon exec, reported on a recent “60 Minutes,” that “The Pentagon overpays for almost everything.” Hundreds of billions of dollars are lost by price gouging by American “patriots.” The IRs estimates it loses 381 billion a year in unpaid owed taxes. Those are just a couple of places where Congress could recover 100s of billions of dollars. Why do they choose to look another way? Don’t be fooled, people, this Kabuki theatre is not about a balanced budget!
Lori Cinnamond
Foothills
O’odham Border Patrol killing
Re: the May 28 article “History linked to O’odham Border Patrol killing.”
Thanks to Tim Steller for his thoughtful essay on the shooting of my friend and occasional coworker Ray Mattia, who died at the hands of Border Patrol agents on May 18 in the community of Menagers Dam on the Tohono O’odham Nation. Ray and I had worked together occasionally over the past ten years on archaeological surveys and cultural resource monitoring projects. Ray brought a deep love and knowledge of the land surrounding his community along the Mexican border. He recently assisted an archaeological contractor on a three-month survey near his community. I will miss his stories and knowledge of his Sonoran Desert homeland and his friendship. I certainly hope justice will prevail in the investigations of this tragic incident. My thoughts and prayers go out to Ray’s family.
Peter Steere
Three Points
Sidewalks, bike lanes, and freeways
Re: the May 25 letter “Sidewalks/ bike lanes.”
The letter writer nailed it.
It was stated not so long ago that, per capita, Tucson has more red light runners than any city in the nation.
Okay. Apples are usually red, and oranges are another color.
I was a professional driver for a good part of my life, but you don’t have to drive a million miles all around the country before you soon realize there is a big difference between Tucson and cities even half this size. Most have a loop or crosstown freeway, or maybe both. It is obvious that the more traffic you have on freeways, the less traffic you have going through intersections (red lights). Freeways save lives, be it pedestrians, bikers or other drivers.
I would bet that you’d have a hard time finding a city the size of Tucson with so few miles of freeway. And a freeway from Nogales to Phoenix by way of Avra Valley will do practically nothing to alleviate traffic in Tucson.
David Hatch
Southeast side
We the People
My grandfather and other World War II veterans bravely fought to help defeat the rise of fascism in the world. In the aftermath, the United States emerged as a superpower and a beacon of democracy. Today, that beacon has dimmed.
Throughout history, some politicians have exploited fear to gain and hold power. Today, they support banning books, restricting reproductive autonomy and suppressing our right to vote.
Fear leads to polarization and “us” versus “them.” But there is no “them.” There is only “We the People.” These precious words in the Constitution proclaim that our democracy derives its power from the people themselves — all of us, not just a vocal minority. Over the years, our democracy has ebbed and flowed, but it’s resilient. We will bounce back from this new low of political outrageousness. If you can find a library book on World War II that hasn’t been banned, read it, and you will see. Freedom is in our blood, after all.
Cynthia Bordelon
Downtown
Truth serum?
What a surprise! Donald Trump, in his bizarre and insultingly inappropriate Memorial Day tweet, so accurately described a faction of his own supporters (and himself). He called out “terrorists, misfits, lunatic thugs, communist, Marxist and fascist pigs.” Donald, I’m amazed. I never thought you’d be so truthful. Are you finally looking at the truth of Jan. 6? And saying our nation has never been in greater peril, right on. I am astounded at your newfound insights. What gives?
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
21
- Burl Dunn, Downtown
I’ve had two occasions wherein a person with a gun reached for their hip. Once I walked over from my gas pump towards a man to ask him directions. Another time I rounded a corner at the same time a man was coming around the corner towards me. Both men made a reach for their guns! Now we have Stand Your Ground laws. The man who shot a young boy who accidently came to his door said he shot because he was afraid. Being afraid is not enough. You have to see a weapon or be attacked. All these men had guns and yet they were afraid. The more we allow guns out on the streets the more cowards with guns will kill innocent people.
Burl Dunn
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
22
- Gary Blanchard, Green Valley
NY Rep. George Santos was arrested after being indicted on several federal charges including Money Laundering and Wire Fraud involving campaign money. Santos is a Republican and flipped a historically Democrat Congressional seat in NY. He has only been a Congressman since January. This FBI investigation and Indictment was done at break neck speed. Compare it to the FBI/USDOJ's four year investigation of Hunter Biden. The Supervisory FBI agent overseeing the case was removed from it due to alleged partisan politics. A Whistleblower IRS agent has claimed that there is political interference in the investigation. Congressman Comer of KY just detailed 170 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) filed by banks involving $10 million in wire transfers from foreign persons to numerous shell LLCs operated by Biden family members. A former federal prosecutor reported to the USDOJ in 2018 about then VP Joe Biden allegedly having received bribery money for a foreign policy decision made on Ukraine. Why is equal justice not being applied to the Biden family's foreign influence peddling?
Gary Blanchard
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
23
- Nancy Jacques, Northeast side
We’re looking at national debt wrong. When spending is high, (wars, pandemic) you raise taxes! If you want pride in country and not hurt people, tax the wealthy, corporations! After WWII? Earn $5000, pay nearly one-quarter of it in taxes, top earners 90 percent! Under Reagan, rich paid 70 percent tax rate, corporations 46 percent. When he lowered rates, debt increased.
Bush and Trump tax cuts cost $10 trillion in debt, 57 percent increase. Biden’s plan cuts nearly 3 trillion, and ethically, a word Republicans cans with program cuts, including Rep. Ciscomani. Biden would increase corporate taxes from 21 to 28 percent. Foreign earning of multinationals from 15-21 percent. Top earners from 37-39.6 percent, plus other details, including plugging tax loopholes. Also, he’d lower certain tax programs for us plebians. Remember, facts show ad nauseum that trickle-down econ fails. It INCREASES gaps between rich and poor. We, the majority, deserve a fair shake, not cuts in programs! Research yourself. Speak out!
Nancy Jacques
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
24
- Rick Cohn, West side
Kevin McCarthy has declared war on the national debt. His only proposed weapon is to reduce spending, including rightfully deserved benefits earned by veterans and Medicare participants.
Why is he ignoring increasing the government's income? Specifically, he should offer to eradicate the largesse granted to billionaires and corporations by Trump's tax cuts.
Demanding that Biden accede to all his demands without offering anything in return is imperious. If he wants his agenda to be taken seriously, he should start by offering something upfront to commence the negotiations.
Rick Cohn
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
25
- Frank Bergen, North side
Back in January Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) might have appeared to be the obvious choice to become Speaker of the House of Representatives. He had coveted this position for years and now he would finally grab the gavel. But not all members of his slim majority were convinced Kevin should be their leader. So began a game of give and take, resulting in promises to individuals and groups within the fractured caucus in exchange for votes for Kevin for Speaker. After 15 ballots he gained his prize… and then came the critical issue of raising the debt ceiling. With conflicting demands coming from his troops Kevin asked select members to lead negotiations which, as I write, continue to be bogged down. And now Kevin, Speaker of the House and supposedly commander of his caucus, stands tall and tells all the world: “Not my fault.” I’d venture to predict Kevin will be just plain Representative McCarthy before July 4.
Frank Bergen
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
26
- John Roldan, Southwest side
Why is the President “considering the 14th Amendment" in context with the current debt ceiling?
Section 4 of the 14th Amendment states: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.”
In Perry v. United States, the Supreme Court held that the public debt clause in Section 4 applied:
“By virtue of the power to borrow money ‘on the credit of the United States,’ Congress is authorized to pledge that credit as assurance of payment as stipulated,—as the highest assurance the Government can give, its plighted faith. To say that Congress may withdraw or ignore that pledge, is to assume that the Constitution contemplates a vain promise, a pledge having no other sanction than the pleasure and convenience of the pledgor.”
Therefore, there is reason to say THAT CONSTITUTIONAL SECTION MEANS WE MUST PAY THE DEBT, regardless if the GOP's refusal to do so.
John Roldan
Southwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
27
- Edward Beshore, North side
Re: Mike Carran’s 5/25 op-ed “Mineral Mining Reform is Critical”
Carran hits it on the nose. Climate change is urgent and requires we all show up with solutions. Permitting new mines should not mean environmental destruction, but it won’t come for free. We can’t stabilize the climate without the materials and grid infrastructure needed to deliver and store energy from carbon-free sources of electricity.
The recent SunZia transmission line approval is an example of necessary progress towards this end.
Environmentalist Bill McKibben reminds us that “We don’t live only in our backyard; we also share one” — our planet. He says that idealism requires realism and emergencies demand urgency. [1]
Climate change represents a huge economic opportunity and chance to rid ourselves of the incredible toxic, costly, and unjust legacy of fossil fuels.
Solving the problem will involve comprise and our willingness to act quickly to avoid the worst.
Congress — hear Carran’s words. Act.
Edward Beshore
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
28
- John McLean, Northeast side
While I understand the author's argument for permitting reform (local opinion, 25 May), the greater urgency is for reform (repeal?) of the 1872 mining law that allows for exploitation of public resources by foreign companies. Let me suggest that any reform of the permitting process be done in conjunction with a complete overhaul of the 1872 mining law.
John McLean
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
29
- Ron Lancaster, North side
The core of the Republican Party has become the party of change and chains. Like the barbarians of old, they have emerged from someplace unhealthy to cause this national sickness. They say "Freedom" but mean "Destruction."
It is the crafty who lead the charge, using the unthinking as their soldiers of misfortune. We shall long remember that it was the mobs who, with the help of the Christian right and smarmy politicians made us into a feeble, fear-filled nation.
Ron Lancaster
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
30
- Steven Brown, Midtown
In today's edition (May 25) you printed an opinion piece by George Will that contained the following statement. " A life that is human begins at conception. This is a tenet not of abstruse theology but of elementary biology. "
This is not true. In fact I will go so far as to say it's a lie. Biology says nothing at all about when things begin. It is true that many Biologists will say that a human life begins at conception, but they are being guided in their thinking by their own beliefs. Picking a starting point for human life is a political and religious choice. Incorporating that choice into law is a violation of the 1st Amendment.
Steven Brown
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
31
- John Prugh, Foothills
Republicans are not "fiscal conservatives". Holding the Debt Ceiling hostage while demanding cuts in spending is purely political theater and hypocrisy. In December 2017 Republicans passed tax cuts (reducing revenue) yet increased spending from $3.92 trillion (Obama’s FY2017 budget) to $4.11 trillion. Even before Covid set in, Republicans had increased discretionary spending from $1.2 trillion to $1.6 trillion and the budget deficit by more than $300 billion. Such fiscal malfeasance has become a characteristic of Republicans: in 2001 and 2003 they cut taxes and increased spending and turned Clinton’s budget surplus into a deficit. Championing a war in Iraq, Republicans managed to double the national debt from $5.8 trillion to $11.9 trillion in 8 short years. Do we really want Republicans threatening the full faith and credit of the United States Treasury when they have proven themselves so fiscally irresponsible?
John Prugh
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
32
- Updated
‘Tamale Bill’ was just a ploy
The “Tamale Bill,” House Bill 2509, would supposedly help families sell homemade food. But it was actually a ploy by the right-wing Americans for prosperity, the Institute for Justice, and the Libre Initiative, which all oppose any regulation of businesses.
The Arizona Department of Health Services opposed the bill, as did the Arizona Restaurant Association. Governor Katie Hobbs rightly vetoed the bill, saying it would “significantly increase the risk of foodborne illness” because it didn’t include ways to oversee and inspect these home chefs.
Rep. Nancy Gutierrez said, “This is a Koch Brothers bill, so as much as they say it was for the Tamale ladies, it was not. It was for deregulation. So that’s the truth of that.”
The right-wing fronts shamelessly used tamale cartoons and Latinas selling tamales to perpetrate their subterfuge. But the stink of the radical right always exposes them.
Larry Bodine
Foothills
George Santos vs. Hunter Biden
N.Y. Rep. George Santos was arrested after being indicted on several federal charges, including money laundering and wire fraud involving campaign money. Santos is a Republican and flipped a historically Democrat Congressional seat in N.Y. He has only been a Congressman since January. This FBI investigation and indictment was done at breakneck speed. Compare it to the FBI/USDOJ’s four-year investigation of Hunter Biden. The supervisory FBI agent overseeing the case was removed from it due to alleged partisan politics. A whistleblower IRS agent has claimed that there is political interference in the investigation. Congressman James Comer of Kentucky just detailed 170 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) filed by banks involving $10 million in wire transfers from foreign persons to numerous shell LLCs operated by Biden family members. A former federal prosecutor reported to the USDOJ in 2018 about then VP Joe Biden allegedly having received bribery money for a foreign policy decision made on Ukraine. Why is equal justice not being applied to the Biden family’s foreign influence peddling?
Gary Blanchard
Green Valley
Stand-your-ground gun laws
I’ve had two occasions wherein a person with a gun reached for their hip. Once, I walked over from my gas pump towards a man to ask him directions. Another time I rounded a corner at the same time a man was coming around the corner towards me. Both men made a reach for their guns! Now we have stand-your-ground laws. The man who shot a young boy who accidentally came to his door said he shot because he was afraid. Being afraid is not enough. You have to see a weapon or be attacked. All these men had guns, and yet they were afraid. The more we allow guns out on the streets, the more cowards with guns will kill innocent people.
Burl Dunn
Downtown
The US is a secular nation
Despite the claims of Christian Nationalists, the United States was established as a secular nation, not a Christian one. The basis of the US government is based on the US Constitution, NOT the Bible. Many of the framers of the Constitution were Deists, not Christians; they believed in God but not in Jesus. The framers deliberately left any mention of God out of the Constitution. Religious diversity is one of the strengths of the United States.
Much of the Constitution is based on the structure of the Iroquois League; Benjamin Franklin was very familiar with the Iroquois League.
The idea of individual personal freedom is indigenous to North America, where Native Americans have practiced it for many centuries, and probably for millennia.
Flora Frederick
Midtown
Double up
Kevin McCarthy has declared war on the national debt. His only proposed weapon is to reduce spending, including rightfully deserved benefits earned by veterans and Medicare participants.
Why is he ignoring increasing the government’s income? Specifically, he should offer to eradicate the largesse granted to billionaires and corporations by Trump’s tax cuts.
Demanding that President Joe Biden accedes to all his demands without offering anything in return is imperious. If he wants his agenda to be taken seriously, he should start by offering something upfront to commence the negotiations.
Rick Cohn
West side
Disability employment
While browsing through a large organization’s “supplier diversity” portal, I saw that they value diversity and inclusion in the supply chain, which not only helps them meet their business objectives, but also the desire to grow jobs and stimulate the local community.
This organization along with the majority of private sector companies focus on other marginalized communities and typically leave out enterprise nonprofit organizations employing people with disabilities. The enterprise nonprofits provide quality products and value-added services that meet today’s complex business environment while employing those who are typically left on the sidelines… people who are blind or have significant disabilities. According to the BLS, the workforce participation rate in the U.S. for Americans with disabilities is about 21%, compared to 62.6% for non-disabled.
If your organization wants to grow jobs and boost your local economy, put Disability in your DEI&A equation.
David Steinmetz
Northwest side
Sensible way to fix the debt
We’re looking at the national debt wrong. When spending is high (wars, pandemic), you raise taxes! If you want pride in your country and to not hurt people, tax the wealthy corporations! After WWII? Earn $5,000, pay nearly one-quarter of it in taxes, top earners 90%. Under Reagan, the rich paid 70% tax rate, and corporations 46%. When he lowered rates, debt increased.
Bush and Trump tax cuts cost $10 trillion in debt, and there was a 57% increase. Biden’s plan cuts nearly 3 trillion, and ethically, a word Republicans with program cuts, including Rep. Ciscomani. Biden would increase corporate taxes from 21 to 28%. Foreign earning of multinationals from 15-21%. Top earners from 37-39.6%, plus other details, including plugging tax loopholes. Also, he’d lower certain tax programs for us plebeians. Remember, facts show ad nauseam that trickle-down econ fails. It increases gaps between the rich and the poor. We, the majority, deserve a fair shake, not cuts in programs. Research yourself. Speak out!
Nancy Jacques
Northeast side
Turner memory
The local angle of the Tina Turner article in today’s paper missed the time that Tina was in Tucson on July 14, 1984, at TCC Music Hall, as the opening act for Lionel Richie. I was at the concert with a group of friends, and the concert roadies invited us to the after-concert party at the Arizona Inn. It was a very laid-back evening around the pool, with Lionel and Tina very friendly and relaxed after putting on a really great show. This was just after Tina’s “Private Dancer” comeback album was released on May 29, 1984. She will always be a superstar for the ages and an inspiration for dreams coming true.
Deb Childers
Northwest side
Idealism requires realism
Re: the May 25 article “Mineral mining reform is critical.”
Carran hits it on the nose. Climate change is urgent and requires we all show up with solutions. Permitting new mines should not mean environmental destruction, but it won’t come for free. We can’t stabilize the climate without the materials and grid infrastructure needed to deliver and store energy from carbon-free sources of electricity.
The recent SunZia transmission line approval is an example of necessary progress toward this end.
Environmentalist Bill McKibben reminds us that “We don’t live only in our backyard; we also share one” — our planet. He says that idealism requires realism, and emergencies demand urgency.
Climate change represents a huge economic opportunity and a chance to rid ourselves of the incredibly toxic, costly, and unjust legacy of fossil fuels.
Solving the problem will involve compromising and our willingness to act quickly to avoid the worst.
Congress — hear Carran’s words. Act.
Edward Beshore
North side
Permitting reform for mining
Re: the May 25 article “Mineral mining reform is critical.”
While I understand the author’s argument for permitting reform, the greater urgency is for reform (repeal?) of the 1872 mining law that allows for the exploitation of public resources by foreign companies. Let me suggest that any reform of the permitting process be done in conjunction with a complete overhaul of the 1872 mining law.
John McLean
Northeast side
‘Not my fault’
Back in January, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) might have appeared to be the obvious choice to become Speaker of the House of Representatives. He had coveted this position for years, and now he would finally grab the gavel. But not all members of his slim majority were convinced he should be their leader. So began a game of give and take, resulting in promises to individuals and groups within the fractured caucus in exchange for votes for Kevin for Speaker. After 15 ballots, he gained his prize … and then came the critical issue of raising the debt ceiling. With conflicting demands coming from his troops, McCarthy asked select members to lead negotiations which, as I write, continue to be bogged down. And now Kevin, Speaker of the House and supposedly commander of his caucus, stands tall and tells all the world: “Not my fault.” I’d venture to predict Kevin will be just plain Representative McCarthy before July 4.
Frank Bergen
North side
Jan. 6 payback
I just read that the Oath Keepers leader got 18 big, long years of jail time! I can never figure out what “oath” these folk think they are keeping. I also can’t figure out what the Proud Boys are so “proud” about?
Sue Thompson
SaddleBrooke
Why is 14th Amendment being discussed?
Why is the President “considering the 14th Amendment” in context with the current debt ceiling?
Section 4 of the 14th Amendment states: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.”
In Perry v. United States, the Supreme Court held that the public debt clause in Section 4 applied:
“By virtue of the power to borrow money ‘on the credit of the United States,’ Congress is authorized to pledge that credit as assurance of payment as stipulated — as the highest assurance the Government can give, its plighted faith. To say that Congress may withdraw or ignore that pledge, is to assume that the Constitution contemplates a vain promise, a pledge having no other sanction than the pleasure and convenience of the pledgor.”
Therefore, there is reason to say that constitutional section means we must pay the debt, regardless of the GOP’s refusal to do so.
John Roldan
Southwest side
Will got it wrong
Re: the May 25 article “The American middle is finding its voice on abortion.”
An opinion piece by George Will contained the following statement. “A life that is human begins at conception. This is a tenet not of abstruse theology but of elementary biology. “
This is not true. In fact, I will go so far as to say it’s a lie. Biology says nothing at all about when things begin. It is true that many Biologists will say that human life begins at conception, but they are guided in their thinking by their own beliefs. Picking a starting point for human life is a political and religious choice. Incorporating that choice into law is a violation of the First Amendment.
Steven Brown
Midtown
The fiscally irresponsible GOP
Republicans are not “fiscal conservatives.” Holding the Debt Ceiling hostage while demanding cuts in spending is purely political theater and hypocrisy. In December 2017, Republicans passed tax cuts (reducing revenue) yet increased spending from $3.92 trillion (Obama’s FY2017 budget) to $4.11 trillion. Even before COVID set in, Republicans had increased discretionary spending from $1.2 trillion to $1.6 trillion and the budget deficit by more than $300 billion. Such fiscal malfeasance has become a characteristic of Republicans: in 2001 and 2003, they cut taxes and increased spending and turned Clinton’s budget surplus into a deficit. Championing a war in Iraq, Republicans managed to double the national debt from $5.8 trillion to $11.9 trillion in eight short years. Do we really want Republicans threatening the full faith and credit of the United States Treasury when they have proven themselves so fiscally irresponsible?
John Prugh
Foothills
The new barbarians
The core of the Republican Party has become the party of change and chains. Like the barbarians of old, they have emerged from someplace unhealthy to cause this national sickness. They say “Freedom” but mean “Destruction.”
It is the crafty who lead the charge, using the unthinking as their soldiers of misfortune. We shall long remember that it was the mobs who, with the help of the Christian right and smarmy politicians made us into a feeble, fear-filled nation.
Ron Lancaster
North side
33
- Terry Hawkins, Southeast side
Here she is again, sore loser Kari Lake, with her picture plastered on the front page, being told AGAIN "no" you didn't receive enough votes to win and there was no monkey business with the votes. Yawn. The majority of us learned, when we were adolescents, that sometimes we're going to lose and when we do, we accept our loss(es) and move on. Adolescents tend to be narcissists (i.e. Lake and Trump) and blame others when they lose, using humiliation and bullying tactics to try to get their way. Fortunately, most of us move on from adolescence to adulthood. Imagine what it would be like if we had such a person leading our state or, our country. Oh yeah, we do know...the ongoing adolescent misbehavior has resulted in an exhausted nation trying to deal with/appease the ongoing temper tantrums. Yawn.
Terry Hawkins
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
34
- Mary Beth Schneider, East side
Shame on the Republicans!! The Republican Party is putting fear; anxiety along with possible future devastation on the citizens of the country without and concerns for their fellow citizens.
It’s such a “power play” they should be ashamed of! Where is the bipartisan support to keep the county going? When after the debit limit has been increased then negotiate . Think of all our fellow citizens that are dependent of their “social/ veteran and all the contractors whi keep the government running. These checks which they have worked for, been taxed for and planned their livelihoods around. This is shameful and I hope you are “spanked” in the coming elections.
Mary Beth Schneider
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
35
- Sonia Heindel, South side
I know the subject of Abortions is a hard topic to swallow for many men and women who are flabbergasted by the way this country is divided over who should do the right thing. What it comes down to is what is best for the woman by not being bombarded by constant demands to not to have a abortion. Is it the woman making this decision, or you ? No one has the right to tell others what to do with their care. For those people who want to have a women carry a pregnancy to term, you can not make this decision for her, it is her choice. When a woman decides to not want a child after giving birth, are you going to take this child in to raise or let this child be taken to foster care, the ball is in your court, every one wants to keep women from having control, but to not take the responsibility for what happens to the child afterwards.
Sonia Heindel
South side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
36
- Patrick Mulloy, Oro Valley
Thank you, Christi Driggs, for your response on Wednesday to the Monday 15 May “Trump Deranged Syndrome” posting. I too have reached my saturation point with Loyal’s almost incessant stream of malignant missives of MAGA misinformation. Whining about problems, misstating or making up “facts”, 100% partisan blame and zero solutions.
Nice to see you have done research to support the facts and have not relied on unsubstantiated conspiracy theory drivel from Fox, Newsmax or other right-wing nut sources.
Patrick Mulloy
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
37
- Maureen Salz, Oro Valley
The shooting in New Mexico shows that one is not safe even in one’s own home. Thanks pro gun advocates for once again making us less secure no matter where we are.
Maureen Salz
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
38
- Dr Pam Farris, Northwest side
The GOP debt ceiling bill would severely cut Veterans benefits.
Dr Pam Farris
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
39
- Nate Baker, North side
John Crisp's opinion says it would be a great idea if Joe Biden won the 2024 election so that it sets up Kamala Harris to be president. Wow. Just what we need. We'll go from a guy who doesn't know where he is to an unqualified word salad woman. We're already an embarrassment on the world stage. It would only get worse. The Daily Star continues to run these liberal opinions without a balanced opinion from the conservative viewpoint. There were 6 letters to the editor related to politics in the same day’s paper. Five of them were anti-conservative. I don't see the balance. Thank goodness most of us are smart enough to see the foolishness of liberal and socialist opinions about how great Harris would be as president. She would lead us further into a comedy store.
Nate Baker
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
40
- Richard Harper, Northeast side
May is the 50th anniversary of the return of our Prisoners of War from Vietnam. I recently visited Coronado Island where their historical society had a display about the Prisoners of War imprisoned in North Vietnam. Even though they were tortured, those hero servicemen survived to come home. One of those men was John McCain a political adversary of Donald Trump, who demeaned Senator McCain’s service to our nation by bad mouthing his heroism. I visited the beaches at Normandy, the cemeteries throughout France and Belgium paying my respects to the brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. When Trump was in Europe and decided not to visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in 2018 he said, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” My great uncle was killed on a troop ship with hundreds of other infantrymen off the Normandy shore. I know one thing; Trump is no hero; there is nothing great about Trump and never will be.
Richard Harper
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
41
- Updated
Gas price fixing in Arizona
So let me get this straight. Oil prices are dropping and are off 4.4% this year. We are producing oil in the Permian Basin in Texas at record levels. No disruptions in refineries or pipelines that bring our gasoline from southern Texas. But somehow, we are paying a lot higher rates in Arizona than the rest of the country. If you check the gasoline prices in the rest of the country on Gasbuddy.com, you will find that the majority of the rest of the country is paying anywhere from the high 2s to the low 3s per gallon this week.
So why is Arizona paying around $4.80 to $5.20 a gallon for gasoline? This anomaly has never happened before. I think we are getting taken for a ride by BIG OIL. Something stinks.
David Keating
Northeast side
GOP bill cuts VA benefits
The GOP debt ceiling bill would severely cut veterans’ benefits.
Dr. Pam Farris
Northwest side
Thanks, fellow letter writer
Re: the May 17 letter “Brainwashed.”
Thank you to the letter writer for your response. I, too, have reached my saturation point with another letter writer’s almost incessant stream of malignant missives of MAGA misinformation. Whining about problems, misstating or making up “facts,” 100% partisan blame and zero solutions.
Nice to see you have done research to support the facts and have not relied on unsubstantiated conspiracy theory drivel from Fox, Newsmax or other right-wing nut sources.
Patrick Mulloy
Oro Valley
Abortions
I know the subject of abortions is a hard topic to swallow for many men and women who are flabbergasted by the way this country is divided over who should do the right thing. What it comes down to is what is best for the woman by not being bombarded by constant demands to not have an abortion. Is it the woman making this decision, or you? No one has the right to tell others what to do with their care.
For those people who want to have women carry a pregnancy to term, you cannot make this decision for her; it is her choice. When a woman decides not to want a child after giving birth, are you going to take this child in to raise or let this child be taken to foster care? The ball is in your court; everyone wants to keep women from having control but to not take the responsibility for what happens to the child afterward.
Sonia Heindel
South side
New Mexico shootings
The shooting in New Mexico shows that one is not safe even in one’s own home. Thanks, pro gun advocates, for once again making us less secure no matter where we are.
Maureen Salz
Oro Valley
Too much about the loser
Enough. Our newspaper has devoted too many column inches to Kari Lake and her platoon of lawyers. Lake lost the governor’s race six months ago, and she’s still the loser. In the beginning, her election defeat appeals were newsworthy. Now, Lake’s continuing protests have dropped to the who-really-cares category. Your capitol correspondent should work on other stories until a judge slams the final legal appeal door on Lake. I’m sure that development will be in the news.
Joe Schula
Foothills
On the other side
Re: the May 22 letter “Santa Ritas mayhem.”
The author of the letter was wondering where our Congressman and Senator were when we needed them most.
I’ve got news for you. They’re on the other side. You can’t represent your constituents when your donors are on the other side. Too much money at stake.
John Arnold
Green Valley
Debt ceiling
Shame on the Republicans! The Republican Party is putting fear and anxiety along with possible future devastation on the citizens of the country without concerns for their fellow citizens.
It’s such a “power play” they should be ashamed of! Where is the bipartisan support to keep the county going? When the debit limit has been increased, then negotiate. Think of all our fellow citizens that are dependent and all the contractors that keep the government running. These checks, which they have worked for, been taxed for and planned their livelihoods around. This is shameful, and I hope you are “spanked” in the coming elections.
Mary Beth Schneider
East side
Tired of sore-loser politicians
Here she is again, sore loser Kari Lake, with her picture plastered on the front page, being told AGAIN “no” you didn’t receive enough votes to win and there was no monkey business with the votes. Yawn. The majority of us learned, when we were adolescents, that sometimes we’re going to lose and when we do, we accept our loss(es) and move on. Adolescents tend to be narcissists (i.e. Lake and Trump) and blame others when they lose, using humiliation and bullying tactics to try to get their way.
Fortunately, most of us move on from adolescence to adulthood. Imagine what it would be like if we had such a person leading our state or, our country. Oh yeah, we do know … the ongoing adolescent misbehavior has resulted in an exhausted nation trying to deal with/appease the ongoing temper tantrums. Yawn.
Terry Hawkins
Southeast side
Harris as President?
Re: the May 24 article “President Harris might be good for our republic.”
John Crisp’s opinion says it would be a great idea if Joe Biden won the 2024 election so that it sets up Kamala Harris to be president. Wow. Just what we need. We’ll go from a guy who doesn’t know where he is to an unqualified word-salad woman. We’re already an embarrassment on the world stage. It would only get worse.
The Daily Star continues to run these liberal opinions without a balanced opinion from the conservative viewpoint. There were six letters to the editor related to politics in the same day’s paper. Five of them were anti-conservative. I don’t see the balance. Thank goodness most of us are smart enough to see the foolishness of liberal and socialist opinions about how great Harris would be as president. She would lead us further into a comedy store.
Nate Baker
North side
Unrealistic expectations?
Re: the May 25 article “Power line from N.M. to Southern Arizona wins final US approval.”
Approval of the $8 billion SunZia electric project allegedly promises lower power costs for consumers, good-paying-union-jobs and completion by 2025. Really!?
Mike Carran’s Op-Ed piece contrasts these promises with the severe shortage of key minerals required for turbines. The Arizona Corporation Commission seems ever-ready to increase electricity rates in spite of solar power advances. And have we ever heard lately that good-paying union jobs were increasing in the Southwest?
Yes, question this project and its promises! Henry Brean’s article should have been entitled: Who Wins in Approval of AZ-NM Power Line?
Michael Craig
West side
Dershowitz
Kudos to Judge Tuchi for holding Alan Dershowitz and two other attorneys responsible for the $140,000 in legal fees owed by Maricopa County in the bogus lawsuit brought by Kari Lake and Mark Finchem. For Alan Dershowitz to throw himself on the mercy of the court because of his poor health is ludicrous. Dershowitz has made a habit of grabbing the limelight in all kinds of controversial and high profile cases. So much so that I have wondered if he has retained any core values or beliefs.
We all have to pay the consequences for our actions and Alan Dershowitz is no exception. That he has chosen poorly and lent his name to help in defending the indefensible is no one’s problem but his own. I believe justice was done here and am overjoyed that Maricopa County will be reimbursed for this expensive attack on it’s integrity and on the sanctity of our voting system.
Dale Charkow
Foothills
POWs anniversary of return home
May is the 50th anniversary of the return of our Prisoners of War from Vietnam. I recently visited Coronado Island, where their historical society had a display about the Prisoners of War imprisoned in North Vietnam. Even though they were tortured, those hero servicemen survived to come home. One of those men was John McCain, a political adversary of Donald Trump, who demeaned Sen. McCain’s service to our nation by bad-mouthing his heroism.
I visited the beaches at Normandy, and the cemeteries throughout France and Belgium, paying my respects to the brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. When Trump was in Europe and decided not to visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in 2018 he said, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” My great uncle was killed on a troop ship with hundreds of other infantrymen off the Normandy shore. I know one thing; Trump is no hero; there is nothing great about Trump, and never will be.
Richard Harper
Northeast side
42
- Laura Bartkowski, Northwest side
Recently while driving, I passed an American flag being flown at Half-Staff … again …
I wondered why our nation was in mourning this time?
My next thought was; another shooting…someone’s daughter, son, mom, dad, sister, brother, grandma or grandpa is unexpectedly gone forever.
Can’t we at least DO SOMETHING?
Or continue to wring our hands and leave the Grand Old Flag at Half-Staff, in mourning forever, while our families suffer these incredibly difficult losses.
The choice is ours.
Laura Bartkowski
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
43
- Susan Syracuse, East side
I recently walked the strike line with my son, Joe, who is a screen writer in LA and that was on one of the signs. Writers are fighting because of this and because of the issue with unregulated AI. We used to have gas station attendants, more grocery store checkers, bank tellers not ATMs. The writers are striking to decrease corporate greed and decrease workers being replaced by AI and machines. They are striking for our future and taking the hit for all of us.
We need to stand up to the corporations like they are doing. This will help prevent more unemployment, more low wages. One way is by cancelling our Netflix subscriptions. They are refusing to come to the table and negotiate for fair contracts for the writers and appropriate regulation of AI. Please call them and cancel your subscription. Tell them you will re-subscribe when the agree to come to the table and agree to negotiate with the writers.
Susan Syracuse
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
44
- Gerald Farrington, retired community college professor of history, political science, and law, SaddleBrooke
Willie Sutton, a notorious bank robber, was supposedly asked why he robbed banks. He was reputed to have replied “because that’s where the money is.” It’s both funny and true; it’s funny because it’s so obviously true.
Similarly, if I were asked, “Why do you want to tax the rich?” My answer would be “because that’s where the money is.” I think it’s also both funny and true, and it is funny because it is so obviously true.
Shall we add to both the humor and truth of the metaphor? “What do banks and the rich have in common?” “They both have safe deposit boxes that are impossible to crack.” But one has a key and the other does not. Want to take a crack at which one has the key?
The current debt ceiling and budget impasse is about revenue and spending. Any idea where more revenue can be found? The key?
A Republican moderate is as rare as a Republican humorist.
Gerald Farrington, retired community college professor of history, political science, and law
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
45
- Dan Pendergrass, West side
Using the credit card analogy that has been used in this forum, I'd like to submit the following: Two siblings want to control the family budget. One wants to treat their rich friends to a resort stay, bribe a local judge and punish members of other religions; the other wants to fix the house (roof, plumbing, etc..) and improve the healthcare insurance for their aging parents. Sibling one threatens to force the house into foreclosure unless they get what they want even though sibling two had already made arrangements to fix the house and take care of the parents. Sibling one is the house Republicans, sibling two is Biden. Now you know why Biden has an approval rating. Time to disown sibling one.
Dan Pendergrass
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
46
- Michelle Rill, North side
Whether one is flying out of Tucson International Airport, Sky Harbor Airport, or any of the small regional airports in our state, we can all see that traveling by air has lost a lot of its glamour over the years. This has become even more so after the pandemic. The airports and the planes are overcrowded and flights are delayed for who knows why. That's to say nothing about the aging infrastructure long overdue for an upgrade. Congress can fix this by passing a clean bill reauthorizing the FAA, but even that is in danger due to political infighting. I hope that Senator Sinema can help make this legislation happen in her position as Chairman of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee. In the past, this bill has been held up for a long time, even years, due to political meddling, but this cannot happen this time, as the flying public deserve solutions now, not years down the road.
Michelle Rill
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
47
- John Knight, Northeast side
Supposedly civil discourse is super-charged today. Ideologues assert the correctness of their views so stridently that some, on the fringes of mental health, simply go off the rails and use violence to "argue their views". It's not just politics. For example, road rage incidents abound, and mass shooters have become commonplace. I submit that all our lives will be better if everyone just catches their breath and steps away from violent behavior. Don't throw that punch, or brick or or or. Don't reach for your gun because you are angry. Just don't. Sure, my suggestion is simplistic. But I think people are tired of the tension in our world. Why aren't more people promoting restraint and moderate behavior? Have we declined so far that the virtue of such conduct is no longer recognized? I hope not. Embrace civility and encourage others to do so also.
John Knight
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
48
- Jerry Morris, SaddleBrooke
Without citing any specific anti-franchisee actions or statements by Julie Su, the current nominee for Secretary of Labor, Sherri Fishman, claims she is "poses an existential threat to franchise businesses." I am angry at anti-labor, anti-government pundits crying wolf. They make unsubstantiated claims about an impending loss of jobs or businesses to scare people into taking ill-considered action. In this case it is clearly to help her customers, franchising businesses, at the expense of those who labor for small businesses and potentially at the expense of franchisees themselves. All workers deserve the full protection of the labor laws that many workers gave their health and even their lives to get enacted. Franchisees deserve the full protection of contract and labor laws a well. Businesses offering franchises are not the only party to consider in selecting a Secretary of Labor. Don't contact your senators because someone scared you with innuendo. Only contact them if you have all the facts in hand and have a well-reasoned opinion.
Jerry Morris
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
49
- Dr Pamela Farris, Northwest side
Congress passes the spending budgets, sends them to the President who signs them. The each year the Congress then turns around and says, the debt ceiling on debts we, The Congress, approved, May or
May not be raised. Huh? It’s like giving a kid his allowance then saying you can’t spend it and have to give a portion back.
This is a totally absurd “two step dance” designed to make Congress look fiscally responsible, the President look bad, and stoke fear in those who rely on Social Security, Medicaid, SNAP, military pay, and Veterans Benefits. All the while members of Congress collect their $174,000 salary, healthcare, pharmacy, and gym benefits while ranting how wonderful they are in front of the cameras.
This is beyond disgusting. It’s cruel.
Dr Pamela Farris
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
50
- Updated
Disaster in the making
I’m a Democrat who’s been living in Tucson for the past 21 years. I’ve said for years we need a border wall and the only way people should be able to immigrate is through proper gateways and processes. It’s really not rocket science, is it?
We hear that starting soon, for who knows how long, authorities may have to start “street releasing” — meaning immigrants with no food, no housing, no health care and no jobs will simply be released onto the streets.
How does that sound? Sounds like a disaster to me. And frightening.
Economics, lawlessness, and climate change will result in millions of immigrants swamping the US in the coming years.
Do any legislators in Phoenix or Washington D.C. care about fixing the southern border crisis? Anyone?
Peter Bakke
SaddleBrooke
House extorts Uncle Sam
Using the credit card analogy that has been used in this forum, I’d like to submit the following: Two siblings want to control the family budget. One wants to treat their rich friends to a resort stay, bribe a local judge and punish members of other religions; the other wants to fix the house (roof, plumbing, etc.) and improve the health-care insurance for their aging parents. Sibling one threatens to force the house into foreclosure unless they get what they want, even though sibling two had already made arrangements to fix the house and take care of the parents. Sibling one is the House Republicans; sibling two is President Joe Biden. Now you know why Biden has an approval rating. Time to disown sibling one.
Dan Pendergrass
West side
Message to McCarthy
Willie Sutton, a notorious bank robber, was supposedly asked why he robbed banks. He was reputed to have replied, “because that’s where the money is.” It’s both funny and true; it’s funny because it’s so obviously true.
Similarly, if I were asked, “Why do you want to tax the rich?” My answer would be, “because that’s where the money is.” I think it’s also both funny and true, and it is funny because it is so obviously true.
Shall we add to both the humor and truth of the metaphor? “What do banks and the rich have in common?” “They both have safe deposit boxes that are impossible to crack.” But one has a key, and the other does not. Want to take a crack at which one has the key?
The current debt ceiling and budget impasse are about revenue and spending. Any idea where more revenue can be found? The key?
A Republican moderate is as rare as a Republican humorist.
Gerald Farrington, retired community college professor of history, political science, and law
SaddleBrooke
The Debt Ceiling limit is absurd
Congress passes the spending budgets, and sends them to the President, who signs them. Then each year, Congress turns around and says, the debt ceiling on debts we, The Congress, approved may or may not be raised. Huh? It’s like giving a kid his allowance and then saying you can’t spend it and have to give a portion back.
This is a totally absurd “two-step dance” designed to make Congress look fiscally responsible, the President look bad, and stoke fear in those who rely on Social Security, Medicaid, SNAP, military pay, and Veterans Benefits. All the while, members of Congress collect their $174,000 salary, healthcare, pharmacy, and gym benefits while ranting about how wonderful they are in front of the cameras.
This is beyond disgusting. It’s cruel.
Dr. Pamela Farris
Northwest side
Writers strike
I recently walked the strike line with my son, Joe, a screenwriter in L.A. Writers are fighting because of this and the issue with unregulated AI. We used to have gas station attendants, more grocery store checkers, and bank tellers instead of ATMs. The writers are striking to decrease corporate greed and decrease workers being replaced by AI and machines. They are striking for our future and taking the hit for all of us.
We need to stand up to the corporations like they are doing. This will help prevent more unemployment and more low wages. One way is by canceling our Netflix subscriptions. They are refusing to come to the table and negotiate fair contracts for the writers and appropriate regulation of AI. Please call them and cancel your subscription. Tell them you will re-subscribe when they agree to come to the table and agree to negotiate with the writers.
Susan Syracuse
East side
Flag at half-staff
Recently while driving, I passed an American flag being flown at half-staff … again …
I wondered why our nation was in mourning this time?
My next thought was; another shooting … someone’s daughter, son, mom, dad, sister, brother, grandma or grandpa is unexpectedly gone forever.
Can’t we at least do something?
Or continue to wring our hands and leave the Grand Old Flag at half-staff, in mourning forever, while our families suffer these incredibly difficult losses.
The choice is ours.
Laura Bartkowski
Northwest side
Lack of transparency in land transfer
Re: the May 21 article “It’s OK to ask O’odham about plans for land.”
Till Steller’s suggestion we ask for specifics on the pending transfer of 10 acres to Tohono O’odham Nation is appropriate.
This lack of transparency without public engagement reminds me of another Ward 1 back-room deal, the 2013 proposed sale of El Rio Golf Course to Grand Canyon University at below market price.
As generational Tucsonans may remember, that property complex was a type of consolation offered to Barrio Libre neighborhood that was razed in 1960s and 1970s to build the Tucson Community Center and surrounding gentrification. With this history and the proposal’s lack of transparency, insulted barrio residents voiced strong objections, and the proposal was withdrawn.
Ward 1 developers have received massive giveaways while residents continually pay more in taxes, utilities, fees and basics. The Caterpillar building received 50 million in incentives while parks and public services are funding starved.
Tucson could elect officials that make developers pay their fair share instead of shifting expenses to citizens with transparency and public engagement for proposals impacting neighborhoods.
Candace Charvoz Frank
West side
FAA reauthorization
Whether one is flying out of Tucson International Airport, Sky Harbor Airport, or any of the small regional airports in our state, we can all see that traveling by air has lost a lot of its glamour over the years. This has become even more so after the pandemic. The airports and the planes are overcrowded, and flights are delayed for who knows why. That’s to say nothing about the aging infrastructure long overdue for an upgrade. Congress can fix this by passing a clean bill reauthorizing the FAA, but even that is in danger due to political infighting. I hope that Senator Kyrsten Sinema can help make this legislation happen in her position as Chairman of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee. In the past, this bill has been held up for a long time, even years, due to political meddling, but this cannot happen this time, as the flying public deserves solutions now, not years down the road.
Michelle Rill
North side
Anti-franchisees?
Re: the May 24 article “New Biden nominee has it out for critical Arizona businesses.”
Without citing any specific anti-franchisee actions or statements by Julie Su, the current nominee for Secretary of Labor, Sherri Fishman, claims she “poses an existential threat to franchise businesses.” I am angry at anti-labor, anti-government pundits crying wolf. They make unsubstantiated claims about an impending loss of jobs or businesses to scare people into taking ill-considered action. In this case, it is clearly to help her customers, franchising businesses, at the expense of those who labor for small businesses and potentially at the expense of franchisees themselves. All workers deserve the full protection of the labor laws that many workers gave their health and even their lives to get enacted. Franchisees deserve the full protection of contract and labor laws as well. Businesses offering franchises are not the only party to consider in selecting a Secretary of Labor. Don’t contact your senators because someone scared you with innuendo. Only contact them if you have all the facts in hand and have a well-reasoned opinion.
Jerry Morris
SaddleBrooke
Civil behavior
Supposedly civil discourse is super-charged today. Ideologues assert the correctness of their views so stridently that some, on the fringes of mental health, simply go off the rails and use violence to “argue their views.” It’s not just politics. For example, road rage incidents abound, and mass shooters have become commonplace. I submit that all our lives will be better if everyone just catches their breath and steps away from violent behavior. Don’t throw that punch, or brick or or or. Don’t reach for your gun because you are angry. Just don’t. Sure, my suggestion is simplistic. But I think people are tired of the tension in our world. Why aren’t more people promoting restraint and moderate behavior? Have we declined so far that the virtue of such conduct is no longer recognized? I hope not. Embrace civility and encourage others to do so also.
John Knight
Northeast side
51
- Updated
The downside of franchising
Re: the May 24 article “New Biden nominee has it out for critical Arizona businesses.”
In a recent op-ed, the writer, who owns a company that promotes investing in franchises, does not mention any negatives. I was the Central California sales director for the world’s largest haircutting franchise and also for a regional pizza franchise.
Owning a franchise does not guarantee a high income. In many instances, you’ve just bought yourself a 24/7 job. Monthly franchise fees can be onerous, rigid operating rules suppress innovation, ongoing training and support is often minimal or non-existent. But the worst problem is the commercial rent lease terms. Most are “triple net” leases, meaning you pay a pro rata portion of the landlord’s property taxes, insurance, and maintenance in addition to the rent. Some also take a percentage of your gross sales.
I tell anyone who asks to avoid buying a franchise and instead buy a distributorship. There are less upfront and ongoing costs, and you can still benefit from a proven business method.
Ron Lent
East side
More funding for housing, not police
On June 6, the mayor and council are scheduled to vote on the 2023-24 budget. The Tucson Police Department (TPD) is currently allocated $217 million, a $59 million increase from the FY 22-23 budget, and vastly more than any other city department. In comparison, only $9 million of general funds are budgeted for Housing and Community Development (HCD).
We are in a housing crisis. There has been a 300% increase in unsheltered homelessness from 2018 to 2023. Rather than paying the police to sweep or cite people living outside, let’s invest in accessible and affordable housing at the scale needed. The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that there are only 24 accessible and available units in the Tucson metro area for every 100 extremely low-income households. HCD has made great strides over the past few years, including opening low-barrier transitional housing and even starting a non-profit development arm. Let’s give that $59 million increase to HCD, not TPD.
Raye Winch
West side
A shared land and water ethic
I recently spent a few days at the Black River on Apache tribal lands. Wildlife was abundant and the river ran clear and strong; the fishing was good and the land intact. The ground was not being ripped asunder by for-profit Canadian or Australian mining companies, as it has been here in Southern Arizona and Nevada, increasingly, under an antiquated mining law, federal fast-tracking for dubious ‘Greenwashing’ claims, and congressional delegations beholden to campaign-coffer replenishment priorities. We, as the predominant culture — with a shared land and water ethic — can learn much from how our Native American communities manage their lands: for source-water protection, public recreation, wildlife habitat, and preservation for enjoyment by future generations.
Stu Williams, retired water resources specialist and former executive director,
Save The Scenic Santa Ritas Association
Midtown
DeSantis should learn from history
If Ron DeSantis becomes president, he will be the first Italian-American and only the third Roman Catholic to occupy the White House. You would think that being rather recently descended from immigrants would be a source of pride for him and might have provided him a moral guidepost as he strives to become chief executive of a nation of immigrants. Clearly, this is not the case. Were DeSantis to read any of the history books he is so eager to ban, he would learn that, only a century ago, people of his nationality and religion were just as much targets of hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan as were Blacks and Jews. Immigration laws were passed to prevent people with names like his from starting new lives in the U.S. Looking at a man who appears so eager to run away from who he is makes me wonder what else he is running away from. Perhaps the scrutiny of a Presidential campaign will provide us some answers.
Steve Robinson
Oro Valley
Debt ceiling
I am a Democrat with common sense. Common sense concludes that Republicans should not be holding the debt ceiling hostage. To my knowledge, it has historically been a yes or no vote to raise it. Our country usually pays its debts. The place for negotiations is in budget hearings. The President has the constitutional right to raise the debt ceiling without an act of Congress (14th Amendment, Section Four). This is a legitimate way to end the Republican political power play over the debt ceiling.
Toni Kane
Oro Valley
Guns, guns, guns
Almost every day, the newspaper has a new mass shooting. And another letter demanding our Congress pass some kind of law. But Congress is so screwed up it can’t even manage its own budget. Recent surveys have found 433.9 million firearms in American civilian possession. Worldwide the military has 133 million, police have 23 million guns. The 2021 US census showed 331.9 million people. It’s too late for ‘gun sales control’ legislation. Do we really want the Federal Gun Police knocking on every door, entering and taking all weapons? Doesn’t sound like my America. We, and yes, the evil political gun lobby, have invented this disease. We lead the world in gun possession. We must lead the world in finding a solution to the latest lethal epidemic infesting our country.
Thad Appelman
Northwest side
Nurses multitasking
Re: the May 31 article “Best and worst: A tale of two ERs.”
As a retired RN, I’ve seen the scene described in this piece. As an injured patient, I have BEEN in this scene myself. I hope the writer is only venting her frustration and personal pain as she went through this ordeal with her father, and not indicting the first hospital for its apparent ‘neglect’ of its patients. She answers her own questions as she described her father being triaged at both ERs. He was NOT being neglected, he was being treated in order of priorities, among others. Tests had been performed; needs established. Sad that his pain could not be immediately addressed, but his ‘needs’ were. Not only do ER staff have to deal with serious and multiple issues, they also have to somehow deal with people coming in for tummy aches, and dealing with the families, all with a semblance of professional manner. Anyone who has ever heard, “are we there yet?” more than once per hour knows what I’m talking about.
Ken Chernock
Northwest side
Keep money in circulation
Where does the tax money go for social government programs? It goes to the poor who buy stuff and then it goes right back up the money food chain to the top where it is not taxed enough. The rich buy expensive things, and money goes down the money food chain to people who make stuff and round and round it goes.
No matter how we do it, it is better for the whole country to keep the money circulating. It helps those at the bottom who will spend it. If we stop the circulation of money via spending cuts it is bad for the economy.
The Republicans would have you believe the money spent on government programs is wasted, meaning it has no further value, which is not true.
If we refuse to spend money we slow the economy.
As blood flow keeps us alive, so does money flow. Keep the economy alive.
Donald Plummer
Northwest side
Mining
I have worked over 20 years in the mining industry in Arizona. My experience includes safety, environment and security aspects associated with copper mining. I was born, raised and have lived my entire life in Arizona. It’s always a mystery to me about the concerns raised against mining copper in areas where the copper can be mined safely and in an environmental responsible manner. I find it particularly interesting that the people who live in the Green Valley area are so concerned about the Rosemont Copper mines when they live in the shadows of several substantial copper mines. After all, they choose to live there, yet complain about an old/new copper mine in the Santa Rita Mountains. My question is why they complain about the Rosemont mines when they chose to live near others. It seems ambivalent and contrary to me. Just my observation. Yes, I do support the Rosemont Copper Project. We need the minerals to continue our progress as an independent country.
Keith Adams
Northwest side
52
- Thad Appelman, Northwest side
Almost every day, the newspaper has a new mass shooting. And another letter demanding our Congress pass some kind of law. But Congress is so screwed up it can’t even manage its own budget. Recent surveys have found 433.9 million firearms in American civilian possession. Worldwide military has 133 million, police have 23 million. 433.9 million guns. The 2021 US census showed 331.9 million people. It’s too late for ‘gun sales control’ legislation. Do we really want the Federal Gun Police knocking on every door, entering and taking all weapons? Doesn’t sound like my America. We, and yes, the evil political gun lobby, have invented this disease. We lead the world in gun possession. We must lead the world in finding a solution to the latest lethal epidemic infesting our country.
Thad Appelman
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
53
- Toni Kane, Oro Valley
I am a Democrat with common sense. Common sense concludes that Republicans should not be holding the debt ceiling hostage. To my knowledge, it has historically been a yes or no vote to raise it. Our country usually pays its debts. The place for negotiations is in budget hearings. The President has the constitutional right to raise the debt ceiling without an act of Congress (14th Amendment, Section Four). This is a legitimate way to end the Republican political power play over the debt ceiling.
Toni Kane
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
54
- Steve Robinson, Oro Valley
If Ron DeSantis becomes President, he will be the first Italian-American and only the third Roman Catholic to occupy the White House. You would think that being rather recently descended from immigrants would be a source of pride for him, and might have provided him a moral guidepost as he strives to become chief executive of a nation of immigrants. Clearly, this is not the case. Were DeSantis to read any of the history books he is so eager to ban, he would learn that, only a century ago, people of his nationality and religion were just as much targets of hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan as were Blacks and Jews. Immigration laws were passed to prevent people with names like his from starting new lives in the U.S. Looking at a man who appears so eager to run away from who he is makes me wonder what else he is running away from. Perhaps the scrutiny of a Presidential campaign will provide us some answers.
Steve Robinson
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
55
- Donald Plummer, Northwest side
Where does the tax money go for social govt. programs?
It goes to the poor who buy stuff and then it goes right back up the money food chain to the top where it is not taxed enough. The rich buy expensive things and money goes down the money food chain to people who make stuff and round and round it goes.
No matter how we do it, it is better for the whole country to keep the money circulating. It helps those at bottom who will spend it. If we stop the circulation of money via spending cuts it is bad for the economy.
. The Rs would have you believe the money spent on government programs is wasted meaning it has no further value which is not true.
If we refuse to spend money we slow the economy.
As blood flow keeps us alive so does money flow keep the economy alive .
Donald Plummer
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
More like this...
- Mark Adams, Northwest side
Our society today is riddled with mass shootings, racism, antisemitism and lots of hatred being spewed towards others. It all fosters the feeling of little hope for us in our wonderful great Democracy, our United States. Well, something happened that has brought hope back to me and my wife. We were celebrating our 35 year anniversary at the P. F. Chang restaurant in Tucson the night of May 29 and, when we were finished, requested the check. The waitress informed us that our bill was paid in full by a couple at an adjoining table who had just left. We were flabbergasted! It gave us Hope that there are wonderful loving people that are here in our country that are full of love. It gives us hope that there are many others like them in our wonderful Democracy, our United States!!
Mark Adams
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sue Thompson, SaddleBrooke
Along with a recent report of there being 12 horses that have recently died at Churchill Downs Race Track (for now the cause is unknown)...now we have this. The heroic “horses that carry service-members’ flag-draped caskets to their final resting places in Arlington National Cemetery” are dying. In this case, the Army is at fault. I know that Memorial Day Weekend has just passed, so let me make the point that I don't put the blame here on the veterans or even the untrained army men and women at the lowest level here. However, the apparent insinuations written in this news article are inexcusable. The horses didn't die (or even deserve to die) because they were "old"...as seems to be indefensibly implied here as some type of justification. They died from human neglect. Even a six-year old can tell you that a horse that is starving...is probably really starving.
Sue Thompson
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Christopher Rodarte, Midtown
Re: the May 29 letter "Harris as President?."
The Star printed a letter on May 29 in which the writer bemoaned its proclivity to print 'liberal opinions without a balanced opinion from the conservative viewpoint". The writer then boasts being "smart enough" to back his attack on Kamala Harris, whom he dismisses as "an unqualified word-salad woman'". As a lawyer who served as a District Attorney, an Attorney General and as a U.S. Senator, she certainly has more experience than a T.V. reality show grifter who has declared bankruptcy a number of times. Word-salad, also called jargon aphasia, refers to incoherent speech, sometimes associated with schizophrenia, or to patients with dementia or Alzheimer's. The writer feels compelled to add "woman" to his perceived list of failings he attributes to the Vice-President, thereby managing to tick off three boxes in one foul sentence: ignorant, offensive and misogynistic. Kudos to the Star for printing his vile letter; once again it is proven to be a paper that does present all viewpoints-even reprehensible ones.
Christopher Rodarte
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Karen Schickedanz, SaddleBrooke
How did you "celebrate" Memorial Day? Perhaps with a family get-together? Or maybe attending a parade? Or remembering a fallen loved one who fought for his/her country? All those are great.
But it seems a number of our fellow citizens "celebrated" by shooting, injuring and killing their fellow citizens. From a Florida beach to Chicago city streets to right in our own backyard in Phoenix and Mesa, America's killing spree continued.
Will this violence never end? I fear not. There isn't the will to do anything about it but send thoughts and prayers.
Karen Schickedanz
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Ken Paul Chernock, Northwest side
Can't decide? Let's flip a coin. But what if your coin has only one side? You might think this is ridiculous. A coin HAS to have two sides. A one-sided coin is physically impossible! Yet we easily apply that idea to politics, religion, sex, and just about anything else, besides coins. We will never solve any problem as long as we believe there is only one possible solution. Not til we recognize the existence of the 'other' side will be able to reach a middle ground where BOTH sides can exist... I almost said, 'with each other,' but just like a coin is ONE coin with two sides, so are we ONE people, just with two different points of view.
Ken Paul Chernock
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Jack Walters, Northeast side
Every year on the weekend of May 30, the dead from foreign wars are honored. Taps and the National Anthem are played. The attendees, who can, stand with their hats off and hand over heart. This has always been an emotional event.
We attended the event this year at Udall Park with the Arizona Winds on Saturday and at Reid Park with the Tucson Pops on Sunday. At both musical events the Armed Forces Medley was played, with service members, past or present asked to stand when their service melody is played. As I looked around, to applaud those who stood, it registered that fewer veterans were standing. I realized that the major wars are receding and that fewer veterans from those conflicts are still alive today.
As we grow older the remaining veterans from wars are declining rapidly.
Unless there is another major conflict there will continue to be fewer veterans to recognize.
Jack Walters
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- David Pearse, Foothills
Re: the May 8 article "Affirmative action and the logic of reparations."
Contrary to what Brent Harold would have us believe, the U.S. did not become an economic superpower on the backs of slaves. To the contrary, cotton contributed only 5% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 1860, and at that time northern factories manufactured nine-tenths of industrial goods in the country. Investments in slaves actually impeded industrialization and economic growth in the South, so that overall it was undeniably and unequivocally economically negative for that region.
The negative effects on economic growth can be seen even today in that the more dependent on slavery a state was, the poorer it is today. Arkansas, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Alabama, all previous slave-holding states, today have the lowest GDP per capita of all states.
I suggest that Mr. Harold collect voluntary reparations from his fellow liberal/progressives rather than forcing the rest of us to support his dubious reasons for them.
David Pearse
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sue Thompson, SaddleBrooke
On April 5, 2023, the Attorney General of Maryland reported that “More than 150 Catholic priests and others associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore sexually abused more than 600 children over the past 80 years”. This is not Maryland. This is just Baltimore City. Today, the Illinois state Attorney General reported that there were 1997 cases of priestly sexual abuse of children in that state from 1950 to 2019. And, yet, you are worried about books and librarians? Can you name a single gay guy, dressed in drag, that has been reported to be “grooming” little boys? No?
You can't name one? Yet, you ignore the “saintly” priests? You need to get a clue. Those are your groomers.
Sue Thompson
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Douglas R. Holm, East side
I'm a retired CPA so I think I know somewhat more about this topic than the average person. On April 10, 1973 (50 years ago) the Star published a letter of mine that stated people with higher incomes actually pay a higher percentage of income tax on their total incomes than people with lower incomes. This fact has not been disproved. The latest IRS data for 2018 - following the Trump Tax Cuts- found the top 1% of taxpayers paid 40% of all income taxes paid. The top 10% paid 71% and the top 50% paid 97%. Sure, you can find wealthy taxpayers who paid little or no income taxes in any given year: but they probably reduced their net worth by investing in a scheme that causes you to lose, say, $1,000,000 in order to save $400,000 in taxes.
Douglas R. Holm
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Beth Smith, Oro Valley
Found liable for defamation and sexual abuse, Trump’s defense was “she was not my type.” Sexual assault is not driven by attraction. It is an act of violence and should be called out for what it is. For Trump, women are objects to be abused at will. Unfortunately, he is not alone.
One in six American women are victims of attempted or completed rape, their self-concept and their sense of bodily autonomy forever diminished.
With Roe v. Wade overturned and red states banning abortion access, women being further assaulted by the institutions that should protect them.
According to a CNN report, some women are choosing sterilization as a sad but rational reaction to the possibility that their reproductive health options are a thing of the past. I don’t judge them for it. They recognize an existential crisis is heading their way.
I am afraid for women—for the attacks so many will endure and their inability to choose their own fate.
We must do better.
Beth Smith
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- James McLin, East side
Ron DeSantis main platform is to make the US just “…just like Florida”. What does that entail? In no particular order:
1. Reduce free speech to those who agree with him.
2. Suppress voter rights for minorities and qualified citizens released from prison.
3. Suppress women’s access to medical treatment.
4. Take over the educational systems to only teach what he thinks is correct.
5. Make an unfriendly atmosphere for businesses to grow in the state.
6. Appoint unqualified people to major cabinet positions and the educational system.
7. Ban books that don’t fall into his philosophy.
8. Reduce or eliminate the safety net for the working poor.
Personally I don’t want to be “… just like Florida”. He wants to drag us back to the 19th century where our hard earned rights don’t exist.
Scary that he is a major Republican candidate for president.
James McLin
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Environment
over highway
Re: the May 26 article "Judge lets environmentalists' challenge to Interstate 11 proceed."
To the Editor:
It is a good decision that at least raises the possibility of considering our environment over a new highway. But the key environmental issue is that I-11 should not be built at all; the idea that the solution to heavy traffic is a new highway is so 20th century! In the 21st century, the money allocated for this highway should be spent on public transportation, specifically a commuter rail system, preferably electric, at least from Tucson to Phoenix and possibly points beyond. The New Mexico Rail Runner might be examined as a possible model for construction of an even better and more eco-friendly route in Arizona.
Joshua Freeman
North side
Why doesn't PCC
turn hotels into
student housing?
Re: the May 28 article "PCC may tear down hotels needing repair."
I was shocked to read that plans for Pima County Community College’s Drachman hotel properties — Frontier Motel, Copper Cactus and Tucson Inn — plan does not include a possibility for housing. With Tucson’s housing shortage, transforming these historic hotels into affordable student housing for both PCC and UA students or even members of the public could become a revenue center to offset the expected renovation costs while preserving the historic value of the asset. Collaborating with a community-minded partner that might bring money to the table, such as HSL Properties/Management, for advice/investment/renovation/operation might create a win-win-win situation for the community, business, government and the college. Why demolish potential housing when the three properties could thrive again, like the Sahara Apartments on Stone Ave.
Debe Campbell
Southeast side
Star is balanced
Re: the May 29 letter "Harris as President?"
The Star printed a letter on May 29 in which the writer bemoaned its proclivity to print "liberal opinions without a balanced opinion from the conservative viewpoint." The writer then boasts of being "smart enough" to back his attack on Kamala Harris, whom he dismisses as "an unqualified word-salad woman." As a lawyer who served as a District Attorney, an Attorney General and as a U.S. Senator, she certainly has more experience than a TV reality show grifter who has declared bankruptcy a number of times. Word salad, also called jargon aphasia, refers to incoherent speech, sometimes associated with schizophrenia, or to patients with dementia or Alzheimer's. The writer feels compelled to add "woman" to his perceived list of failings he attributes to the Vice-President, thereby managing to tick off three boxes in one foul sentence: ignorant, offensive and misogynistic. Kudos to the Star for printing his vile letter; once again, it is proven to be a paper that does present all viewpoints — even reprehensible ones.
Christopher Rodarte
Midtown
Remembrance of
the fallen in war
Every year on Memorial Day weekend, the dead from foreign wars are honored. Taps and the national anthem are played. The attendees, who can, stand with their hats off and hand over heart. This has always been an emotional event.
We attended the event this year at Udall Park with the Arizona Winds on Saturday and at Reid Park with the Tucson Pops on Sunday. At both musical events, the Armed Forces Medley was played, with service members, past or present asked to stand when their service melody is played. As I looked around to applaud those who stood, it registered that fewer veterans were standing. I realized that the major wars are receding and that fewer veterans from those conflicts are still alive today.
As we grow older the remaining veterans from wars are declining rapidly.
Unless there is another major conflict there will continue to be fewer veterans to recognize.
Jack Walters
Northeast side
There's still hope
Our society today is riddled with mass shootings, racism, antisemitism and lots of hatred being spewed towards others. It all fosters the feeling of little hope for us in our wonderful great Democracy, our United States. Well, something happened that has brought hope back to me and my wife. We were celebrating our 35-year anniversary at the P. F. Chang restaurant in Tucson the night of May 29 and, when we were finished, requested the check. The waitress informed us that our bill was paid in full by a couple at an adjoining table who had just left. We were flabbergasted! It gave us hope that there are wonderful loving people that are here in our country that are full of love. It gives us hope that there are many others like them in our wonderful Democracy, our United States!
Mark Adams
Northwest side
Second thoughts
on CFSD
I’m a CFSD resident who was active in the campaign that elected three current CFSD governing board members. This may have been a mistake. Our district has spent months arguing about a perfectly appropriate policy on transgender students in schools, in the process losing its focus on education.
Through my child’s experience with the CFHS math department this year, I’ve learned that CFSD administrators have prioritized PR over math instruction. More alarmingly, I’ve learned that over 50% of the students in my child’s math class scored below the level of “proficient” as defined by the district.
Anecdotally, I’ve learned that many CFSD parents plan to enroll their kids in online summer math classes because they feel math instruction at CFHS is lacking. Those parents are contributing to the problem.
Rather than demanding quality math instruction in our public schools, we pay for private tutoring and pat ourselves on the back for our “wokeness” on social issues. It’s hypocrisy on the highest level.
Carrie Clancy
Foothills
Memorial Day
celebrations
How did you celebrate Memorial Day? Perhaps with a family get-together? Or maybe attending a parade? Or remembering a fallen loved one who fought for his/her country? All those are great.
But it seems a number of our fellow citizens "celebrated" by shooting, injuring and killing their fellow citizens. From a Florida beach to Chicago city streets to right in our own backyard in Phoenix and Mesa, America's killing spree continued.
Will this violence never end? I fear not. There isn't the will to do anything about it but send thoughts and prayers.
Karen Schickedanz
SaddleBrooke
Human neglect seems
to mean dead horses
Along with a recent report of there being 12 horses that have recently died at Churchill Downs Race Track (for now the cause is unknown) ... now we have this. The heroic “horses that carry service-members’ flag-draped caskets to their final resting places in Arlington National Cemetery” are dying. In this case, the Army is at fault. I know that Memorial Day Weekend has just passed, so let me make the point that I don't put the blame here on the veterans or even the untrained army men and women at the lowest level here. However, the apparent insinuations written in this news article are inexcusable. The horses didn't die (or even deserve to die) because they were "old,". .. as seems to be indefensibly implied here as some type of justification. They died from human neglect. Even a 6-year old can tell you that a horse that is starving ... is probably really starving.
Sue Thompson
SaddleBrooke
Heads or tails
Can't decide? Let's flip a coin. But what if your coin has only one side? You might think this is ridiculous. A coin HAS to have two sides. A one-sided coin is physically impossible! Yet we easily apply that idea to politics, religion, sex, and just about anything else, besides coins. We will never solve any problem as long as we believe there is only one possible solution. Not til we recognize the existence of the 'other' side will we be able to reach a middle ground where BOTH sides can exist ... I almost said, 'with each other,' but just like a coin is ONE coin with two sides, so are we ONE people, just with two different points of view.
Ken Paul Chernock
Northwest side
Investing in Tucson
Re: the May 28 article "Tucson renters are running out of time."
God forbid investors invest in Tucson. Instead we should continue to let Tucson be the humdrum crusty city in Phoenix’s shadow. Or readers can stop using their bias and personal experience to support an agenda that doesn’t advance or benefit Tucson’s growth. The fact of the matter is residential investment properties in Tucson have become desirable and at an all-time high; almost 95% of the time these investors are buying distressed properties that have been run into the ground by careless owners and tenants. Why should they apologize for upgrading, renovating, making Tucson look more appealing and demanding respectable rents?
Emmanuel Mouzourakis, Realtor/property manager
West side
- Hal Brown, East side
ABORTION CONTROVERSY
It is time for all the people in each state solve this insane controversy about the abortion issue by putting it on ballot for all to vote on.
Or it should be on a country wide ballot so that everyone can vote on it. This is the only fair way to solve this problem. It can’t be left up to a few hundred people in the states or US House and Senate.
Hal Brown
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Flora Frederick, Midtown
DIVERSITY means accepting all people’s similarities and differences with love and with no hate, no bigotry, and no violence. Diversity is one of the strengths of the US.
EQUITY means all people are equal under the law. All people have the same legal rights. I think it was former President Barack Obama who talked about “a level playing field and everyone playing by the same rules.”
INCLUSION means all people are included and accepted in a peaceful society. No one group is left out for any reason.
Flora Frederick
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Deb Klumpp, Oro Valley
What a surprise! Donald Trump, in his bizarre and insultingly inappropriate Memorial Day tweet, so accurately described a faction of his own supporters (and himself). He called out "terrorists, misfits, lunatic thugs, communist, Marxist and fascist pigs". Donald, I'm amazed. I never thought you'd be so truthful. Are you finally looking at the truth of Jan. 6? And saying our nation has never been in greater peril, right on. I am astounded at your newfound insights. What gives?
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Cynthia Bordelon, Downtown
My grandfather and other World War II veterans bravely fought to help defeat the rise of fascism in the world. In the aftermath, the United States emerged as a superpower and a beacon of democracy. Today, that beacon has dimmed.
Throughout history, some politicians have exploited fear to gain and hold power. Today, they support banning books, restricting reproductive autonomy, and suppressing our right to vote.
Fear leads to polarization and “us” versus “them.” But there is no “them.” There is only “We the People.” These precious words in the Constitution proclaim that our democracy derives its power from the people themselves - all of us, not just a vocal minority. Over the years, our democracy has ebbed and flowed, but it’s resilient. We will bounce back from this new low of political outrageousness. If you can find a library book on World War II that hasn’t been banned, read it and you will see. Freedom is in our blood after all.
Cynthia Bordelon
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Lori Cinnamond, Foothills
For the past couple of months, we have watched the drama play out. Republicans claim we need to tighten our belt, "cut up credit cards." Democrats point out that raising the debt ceiling is not about the budget, it is about paying our bills. Both sides have a point. However, it appears that the Republicans are shedding crocodile tears. If they were honestly interested in cutting expenses, I can point to a couple of places they could get more bang for their buck! Shay Assad, former Raytheon exec, reported on a recent 60 minutes, "The Pentagon overpays for almost everything." Hundreds of billions of dollars are lost by price gauging by American "patriots." The IRs estimates it loses 381 billion a year in unpaid owed taxes. Those are just a couple of places that Congress could recover 100s of billions of dollars. Why do they chose to look another way? Don't be fooled people, this Kabuki theatre, it is not about a balanced budget!
Lori Cinnamond
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Aston Bloom, East side
I was horrified to read the article in the Star of 5-28-23 titled "Lawmakers look to kids to fill labor gap". This country seems to be moving backwards, way backwards! 14-year-olds serving alcohol in bars and restaurants? 14- and 15-year-olds working till 9 p.m. on school nights? These are just two examples of laws being considered in various state legislatures. There was only one sentence about what should be an obvious solution to the labor shortage: "The most obvious is allowing more legal immigration, which is politically divisive but has been a cornerstone of the country's ability to grow for years in the face of an aging population." I realize that illegal immigration is politically divisive, but I don't see why legal immigration should be. So let's work on that solution and let children be kids and grow up safely!
Aston Bloom
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Thad Appelman, Northwest side
Re: May 27 letter “Sedition by any other name is sedition’. Sue Thompson asks why the Jan. 6 lieutenants are going to prison in droves, while the general is untouched. The lieutenants were not billionaires. In today’s America, money in huge quantities can buy your way out. No one, not even the Department of Justice, will tackle the team of high buck lawyers he would assemble. Yes, a sad commentary on where we are.
Thad Appelman
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Ciscomani is refreshing change
I get a kick out of all the negative letters about Juan Ciscomani. He is really a bad guy because he wants to balance the Federal Budget. He has never said anything about cutting Social Security benefits or Medicare. Tell me we cannot cut something out of our bloated budget. The Progressives want to continue printing money and kick the can down the road, increasing inflation and creating a burden for our children. The Progressives are scared to death of Ciscomani because he is young, intelligent and speaks to the common man. He is not a Congressman who just votes the party line blindly as the previous incumbent did. Juan is a refreshing change!
Doug Shymway
Green Valley
Turn asylees into recruits
If asylum-seekers at the US border were given this immediate option, it could be a win-win situation for all involved. If he or she is of military service age, offer immediate enlistment. From the border to boot camp, an asylee would have the opportunity to fill a slot in the military that the armed services recruitment is having difficulty filling. That recruit would have two years to learn a trade skill, learn English, serve as a soldier wherever needed, have housing and meals, earn a salary, pay taxes, and in the end, earn citizenship through service. During those two years, accompanying family members could use the salary to settle and build a sustainable future to welcome their soldier home as productive residents of a community.
Debe Campbell
Southeast side
Numbered bands on guns
Re: the May 20 article “Falconer reunited with lost hawk after it drops in on Tucson couple.”
I and most probably others were grateful for the family the hawk visited, who then contacted the correct people to return it to its owner.
A good ending for the hawk and its owner. Wonderful!
Then, a flash of clarity.
I replaced the word falconer or bird with the word guns or gun owner: Guns have numbered bands that can be used to trace them back to their owners. Skill classes take years to become a gun owner. A gun owner must be licensed by the state. Apprentice gun owners have to be sponsored for a license by master gun owners. Gun owners must have their holding facility inspected before they are allowed to keep a gun.
Absolutely the perfect outline for a good ending to protect: children, seniors, bible students, parade watchers, shoppers and on and on.
We can do this. We must do this. Let’s do this now.
Judy Mercer
Oro Valley
Child labor
Re: the May 28 article “Lawmakers look to kids to fill labor gap.”
I was horrified to read this article. This country seems to be moving backward, way backward! Fourteen-year-olds serving alcohol in bars and restaurants? Fourteen and 15-year-olds working till 9 p.m. on school nights? These are just two examples of laws being considered in various state legislatures. There was only one sentence about what should be an obvious solution to the labor shortage: “The most obvious is allowing more legal immigration, which is politically divisive but has been a cornerstone of the country’s ability to grow for years in the face of an aging population.” I realize that illegal immigration is politically divisive, but I don’t see why legal immigration should be. So let’s work on that solution and let children be kids and grow up safely!
Aston Bloom
East side
Debt ceiling standoff is Kabuki Theatre
For the past couple of months, we have watched the drama play out. Republicans claim we need to tighten our belt, “cut up credit cards.” Democrats point out that raising the debt ceiling is not about the budget, it is about paying our bills. Both sides have a point. However, it appears that the Republicans are shedding crocodile tears. If they were honestly interested in cutting expenses, I can point to a couple of places they could get more bang for their buck! Shay Assad, former Raytheon exec, reported on a recent “60 Minutes,” that “The Pentagon overpays for almost everything.” Hundreds of billions of dollars are lost by price gouging by American “patriots.” The IRs estimates it loses 381 billion a year in unpaid owed taxes. Those are just a couple of places where Congress could recover 100s of billions of dollars. Why do they choose to look another way? Don’t be fooled, people, this Kabuki theatre is not about a balanced budget!
Lori Cinnamond
Foothills
O’odham Border Patrol killing
Re: the May 28 article “History linked to O’odham Border Patrol killing.”
Thanks to Tim Steller for his thoughtful essay on the shooting of my friend and occasional coworker Ray Mattia, who died at the hands of Border Patrol agents on May 18 in the community of Menagers Dam on the Tohono O’odham Nation. Ray and I had worked together occasionally over the past ten years on archaeological surveys and cultural resource monitoring projects. Ray brought a deep love and knowledge of the land surrounding his community along the Mexican border. He recently assisted an archaeological contractor on a three-month survey near his community. I will miss his stories and knowledge of his Sonoran Desert homeland and his friendship. I certainly hope justice will prevail in the investigations of this tragic incident. My thoughts and prayers go out to Ray’s family.
Peter Steere
Three Points
Sidewalks, bike lanes, and freeways
Re: the May 25 letter “Sidewalks/ bike lanes.”
The letter writer nailed it.
It was stated not so long ago that, per capita, Tucson has more red light runners than any city in the nation.
Okay. Apples are usually red, and oranges are another color.
I was a professional driver for a good part of my life, but you don’t have to drive a million miles all around the country before you soon realize there is a big difference between Tucson and cities even half this size. Most have a loop or crosstown freeway, or maybe both. It is obvious that the more traffic you have on freeways, the less traffic you have going through intersections (red lights). Freeways save lives, be it pedestrians, bikers or other drivers.
I would bet that you’d have a hard time finding a city the size of Tucson with so few miles of freeway. And a freeway from Nogales to Phoenix by way of Avra Valley will do practically nothing to alleviate traffic in Tucson.
David Hatch
Southeast side
We the People
My grandfather and other World War II veterans bravely fought to help defeat the rise of fascism in the world. In the aftermath, the United States emerged as a superpower and a beacon of democracy. Today, that beacon has dimmed.
Throughout history, some politicians have exploited fear to gain and hold power. Today, they support banning books, restricting reproductive autonomy and suppressing our right to vote.
Fear leads to polarization and “us” versus “them.” But there is no “them.” There is only “We the People.” These precious words in the Constitution proclaim that our democracy derives its power from the people themselves — all of us, not just a vocal minority. Over the years, our democracy has ebbed and flowed, but it’s resilient. We will bounce back from this new low of political outrageousness. If you can find a library book on World War II that hasn’t been banned, read it, and you will see. Freedom is in our blood, after all.
Cynthia Bordelon
Downtown
Truth serum?
What a surprise! Donald Trump, in his bizarre and insultingly inappropriate Memorial Day tweet, so accurately described a faction of his own supporters (and himself). He called out “terrorists, misfits, lunatic thugs, communist, Marxist and fascist pigs.” Donald, I’m amazed. I never thought you’d be so truthful. Are you finally looking at the truth of Jan. 6? And saying our nation has never been in greater peril, right on. I am astounded at your newfound insights. What gives?
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
- Burl Dunn, Downtown
I’ve had two occasions wherein a person with a gun reached for their hip. Once I walked over from my gas pump towards a man to ask him directions. Another time I rounded a corner at the same time a man was coming around the corner towards me. Both men made a reach for their guns! Now we have Stand Your Ground laws. The man who shot a young boy who accidently came to his door said he shot because he was afraid. Being afraid is not enough. You have to see a weapon or be attacked. All these men had guns and yet they were afraid. The more we allow guns out on the streets the more cowards with guns will kill innocent people.
Burl Dunn
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Gary Blanchard, Green Valley
NY Rep. George Santos was arrested after being indicted on several federal charges including Money Laundering and Wire Fraud involving campaign money. Santos is a Republican and flipped a historically Democrat Congressional seat in NY. He has only been a Congressman since January. This FBI investigation and Indictment was done at break neck speed. Compare it to the FBI/USDOJ's four year investigation of Hunter Biden. The Supervisory FBI agent overseeing the case was removed from it due to alleged partisan politics. A Whistleblower IRS agent has claimed that there is political interference in the investigation. Congressman Comer of KY just detailed 170 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) filed by banks involving $10 million in wire transfers from foreign persons to numerous shell LLCs operated by Biden family members. A former federal prosecutor reported to the USDOJ in 2018 about then VP Joe Biden allegedly having received bribery money for a foreign policy decision made on Ukraine. Why is equal justice not being applied to the Biden family's foreign influence peddling?
Gary Blanchard
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Nancy Jacques, Northeast side
We’re looking at national debt wrong. When spending is high, (wars, pandemic) you raise taxes! If you want pride in country and not hurt people, tax the wealthy, corporations! After WWII? Earn $5000, pay nearly one-quarter of it in taxes, top earners 90 percent! Under Reagan, rich paid 70 percent tax rate, corporations 46 percent. When he lowered rates, debt increased.
Bush and Trump tax cuts cost $10 trillion in debt, 57 percent increase. Biden’s plan cuts nearly 3 trillion, and ethically, a word Republicans cans with program cuts, including Rep. Ciscomani. Biden would increase corporate taxes from 21 to 28 percent. Foreign earning of multinationals from 15-21 percent. Top earners from 37-39.6 percent, plus other details, including plugging tax loopholes. Also, he’d lower certain tax programs for us plebians. Remember, facts show ad nauseum that trickle-down econ fails. It INCREASES gaps between rich and poor. We, the majority, deserve a fair shake, not cuts in programs! Research yourself. Speak out!
Nancy Jacques
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Rick Cohn, West side
Kevin McCarthy has declared war on the national debt. His only proposed weapon is to reduce spending, including rightfully deserved benefits earned by veterans and Medicare participants.
Why is he ignoring increasing the government's income? Specifically, he should offer to eradicate the largesse granted to billionaires and corporations by Trump's tax cuts.
Demanding that Biden accede to all his demands without offering anything in return is imperious. If he wants his agenda to be taken seriously, he should start by offering something upfront to commence the negotiations.
Rick Cohn
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Frank Bergen, North side
Back in January Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) might have appeared to be the obvious choice to become Speaker of the House of Representatives. He had coveted this position for years and now he would finally grab the gavel. But not all members of his slim majority were convinced Kevin should be their leader. So began a game of give and take, resulting in promises to individuals and groups within the fractured caucus in exchange for votes for Kevin for Speaker. After 15 ballots he gained his prize… and then came the critical issue of raising the debt ceiling. With conflicting demands coming from his troops Kevin asked select members to lead negotiations which, as I write, continue to be bogged down. And now Kevin, Speaker of the House and supposedly commander of his caucus, stands tall and tells all the world: “Not my fault.” I’d venture to predict Kevin will be just plain Representative McCarthy before July 4.
Frank Bergen
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- John Roldan, Southwest side
Why is the President “considering the 14th Amendment" in context with the current debt ceiling?
Section 4 of the 14th Amendment states: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.”
In Perry v. United States, the Supreme Court held that the public debt clause in Section 4 applied:
“By virtue of the power to borrow money ‘on the credit of the United States,’ Congress is authorized to pledge that credit as assurance of payment as stipulated,—as the highest assurance the Government can give, its plighted faith. To say that Congress may withdraw or ignore that pledge, is to assume that the Constitution contemplates a vain promise, a pledge having no other sanction than the pleasure and convenience of the pledgor.”
Therefore, there is reason to say THAT CONSTITUTIONAL SECTION MEANS WE MUST PAY THE DEBT, regardless if the GOP's refusal to do so.
John Roldan
Southwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Edward Beshore, North side
Re: Mike Carran’s 5/25 op-ed “Mineral Mining Reform is Critical”
Carran hits it on the nose. Climate change is urgent and requires we all show up with solutions. Permitting new mines should not mean environmental destruction, but it won’t come for free. We can’t stabilize the climate without the materials and grid infrastructure needed to deliver and store energy from carbon-free sources of electricity.
The recent SunZia transmission line approval is an example of necessary progress towards this end.
Environmentalist Bill McKibben reminds us that “We don’t live only in our backyard; we also share one” — our planet. He says that idealism requires realism and emergencies demand urgency. [1]
Climate change represents a huge economic opportunity and chance to rid ourselves of the incredible toxic, costly, and unjust legacy of fossil fuels.
Solving the problem will involve comprise and our willingness to act quickly to avoid the worst.
Congress — hear Carran’s words. Act.
Edward Beshore
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- John McLean, Northeast side
While I understand the author's argument for permitting reform (local opinion, 25 May), the greater urgency is for reform (repeal?) of the 1872 mining law that allows for exploitation of public resources by foreign companies. Let me suggest that any reform of the permitting process be done in conjunction with a complete overhaul of the 1872 mining law.
John McLean
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Ron Lancaster, North side
The core of the Republican Party has become the party of change and chains. Like the barbarians of old, they have emerged from someplace unhealthy to cause this national sickness. They say "Freedom" but mean "Destruction."
It is the crafty who lead the charge, using the unthinking as their soldiers of misfortune. We shall long remember that it was the mobs who, with the help of the Christian right and smarmy politicians made us into a feeble, fear-filled nation.
Ron Lancaster
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Steven Brown, Midtown
In today's edition (May 25) you printed an opinion piece by George Will that contained the following statement. " A life that is human begins at conception. This is a tenet not of abstruse theology but of elementary biology. "
This is not true. In fact I will go so far as to say it's a lie. Biology says nothing at all about when things begin. It is true that many Biologists will say that a human life begins at conception, but they are being guided in their thinking by their own beliefs. Picking a starting point for human life is a political and religious choice. Incorporating that choice into law is a violation of the 1st Amendment.
Steven Brown
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- John Prugh, Foothills
Republicans are not "fiscal conservatives". Holding the Debt Ceiling hostage while demanding cuts in spending is purely political theater and hypocrisy. In December 2017 Republicans passed tax cuts (reducing revenue) yet increased spending from $3.92 trillion (Obama’s FY2017 budget) to $4.11 trillion. Even before Covid set in, Republicans had increased discretionary spending from $1.2 trillion to $1.6 trillion and the budget deficit by more than $300 billion. Such fiscal malfeasance has become a characteristic of Republicans: in 2001 and 2003 they cut taxes and increased spending and turned Clinton’s budget surplus into a deficit. Championing a war in Iraq, Republicans managed to double the national debt from $5.8 trillion to $11.9 trillion in 8 short years. Do we really want Republicans threatening the full faith and credit of the United States Treasury when they have proven themselves so fiscally irresponsible?
John Prugh
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
‘Tamale Bill’ was just a ploy
The “Tamale Bill,” House Bill 2509, would supposedly help families sell homemade food. But it was actually a ploy by the right-wing Americans for prosperity, the Institute for Justice, and the Libre Initiative, which all oppose any regulation of businesses.
The Arizona Department of Health Services opposed the bill, as did the Arizona Restaurant Association. Governor Katie Hobbs rightly vetoed the bill, saying it would “significantly increase the risk of foodborne illness” because it didn’t include ways to oversee and inspect these home chefs.
Rep. Nancy Gutierrez said, “This is a Koch Brothers bill, so as much as they say it was for the Tamale ladies, it was not. It was for deregulation. So that’s the truth of that.”
The right-wing fronts shamelessly used tamale cartoons and Latinas selling tamales to perpetrate their subterfuge. But the stink of the radical right always exposes them.
Larry Bodine
Foothills
George Santos vs. Hunter Biden
N.Y. Rep. George Santos was arrested after being indicted on several federal charges, including money laundering and wire fraud involving campaign money. Santos is a Republican and flipped a historically Democrat Congressional seat in N.Y. He has only been a Congressman since January. This FBI investigation and indictment was done at breakneck speed. Compare it to the FBI/USDOJ’s four-year investigation of Hunter Biden. The supervisory FBI agent overseeing the case was removed from it due to alleged partisan politics. A whistleblower IRS agent has claimed that there is political interference in the investigation. Congressman James Comer of Kentucky just detailed 170 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) filed by banks involving $10 million in wire transfers from foreign persons to numerous shell LLCs operated by Biden family members. A former federal prosecutor reported to the USDOJ in 2018 about then VP Joe Biden allegedly having received bribery money for a foreign policy decision made on Ukraine. Why is equal justice not being applied to the Biden family’s foreign influence peddling?
Gary Blanchard
Green Valley
Stand-your-ground gun laws
I’ve had two occasions wherein a person with a gun reached for their hip. Once, I walked over from my gas pump towards a man to ask him directions. Another time I rounded a corner at the same time a man was coming around the corner towards me. Both men made a reach for their guns! Now we have stand-your-ground laws. The man who shot a young boy who accidentally came to his door said he shot because he was afraid. Being afraid is not enough. You have to see a weapon or be attacked. All these men had guns, and yet they were afraid. The more we allow guns out on the streets, the more cowards with guns will kill innocent people.
Burl Dunn
Downtown
The US is a secular nation
Despite the claims of Christian Nationalists, the United States was established as a secular nation, not a Christian one. The basis of the US government is based on the US Constitution, NOT the Bible. Many of the framers of the Constitution were Deists, not Christians; they believed in God but not in Jesus. The framers deliberately left any mention of God out of the Constitution. Religious diversity is one of the strengths of the United States.
Much of the Constitution is based on the structure of the Iroquois League; Benjamin Franklin was very familiar with the Iroquois League.
The idea of individual personal freedom is indigenous to North America, where Native Americans have practiced it for many centuries, and probably for millennia.
Flora Frederick
Midtown
Double up
Kevin McCarthy has declared war on the national debt. His only proposed weapon is to reduce spending, including rightfully deserved benefits earned by veterans and Medicare participants.
Why is he ignoring increasing the government’s income? Specifically, he should offer to eradicate the largesse granted to billionaires and corporations by Trump’s tax cuts.
Demanding that President Joe Biden accedes to all his demands without offering anything in return is imperious. If he wants his agenda to be taken seriously, he should start by offering something upfront to commence the negotiations.
Rick Cohn
West side
Disability employment
While browsing through a large organization’s “supplier diversity” portal, I saw that they value diversity and inclusion in the supply chain, which not only helps them meet their business objectives, but also the desire to grow jobs and stimulate the local community.
This organization along with the majority of private sector companies focus on other marginalized communities and typically leave out enterprise nonprofit organizations employing people with disabilities. The enterprise nonprofits provide quality products and value-added services that meet today’s complex business environment while employing those who are typically left on the sidelines… people who are blind or have significant disabilities. According to the BLS, the workforce participation rate in the U.S. for Americans with disabilities is about 21%, compared to 62.6% for non-disabled.
If your organization wants to grow jobs and boost your local economy, put Disability in your DEI&A equation.
David Steinmetz
Northwest side
Sensible way to fix the debt
We’re looking at the national debt wrong. When spending is high (wars, pandemic), you raise taxes! If you want pride in your country and to not hurt people, tax the wealthy corporations! After WWII? Earn $5,000, pay nearly one-quarter of it in taxes, top earners 90%. Under Reagan, the rich paid 70% tax rate, and corporations 46%. When he lowered rates, debt increased.
Bush and Trump tax cuts cost $10 trillion in debt, and there was a 57% increase. Biden’s plan cuts nearly 3 trillion, and ethically, a word Republicans with program cuts, including Rep. Ciscomani. Biden would increase corporate taxes from 21 to 28%. Foreign earning of multinationals from 15-21%. Top earners from 37-39.6%, plus other details, including plugging tax loopholes. Also, he’d lower certain tax programs for us plebeians. Remember, facts show ad nauseam that trickle-down econ fails. It increases gaps between the rich and the poor. We, the majority, deserve a fair shake, not cuts in programs. Research yourself. Speak out!
Nancy Jacques
Northeast side
Turner memory
The local angle of the Tina Turner article in today’s paper missed the time that Tina was in Tucson on July 14, 1984, at TCC Music Hall, as the opening act for Lionel Richie. I was at the concert with a group of friends, and the concert roadies invited us to the after-concert party at the Arizona Inn. It was a very laid-back evening around the pool, with Lionel and Tina very friendly and relaxed after putting on a really great show. This was just after Tina’s “Private Dancer” comeback album was released on May 29, 1984. She will always be a superstar for the ages and an inspiration for dreams coming true.
Deb Childers
Northwest side
Idealism requires realism
Re: the May 25 article “Mineral mining reform is critical.”
Carran hits it on the nose. Climate change is urgent and requires we all show up with solutions. Permitting new mines should not mean environmental destruction, but it won’t come for free. We can’t stabilize the climate without the materials and grid infrastructure needed to deliver and store energy from carbon-free sources of electricity.
The recent SunZia transmission line approval is an example of necessary progress toward this end.
Environmentalist Bill McKibben reminds us that “We don’t live only in our backyard; we also share one” — our planet. He says that idealism requires realism, and emergencies demand urgency.
Climate change represents a huge economic opportunity and a chance to rid ourselves of the incredibly toxic, costly, and unjust legacy of fossil fuels.
Solving the problem will involve compromising and our willingness to act quickly to avoid the worst.
Congress — hear Carran’s words. Act.
Edward Beshore
North side
Permitting reform for mining
Re: the May 25 article “Mineral mining reform is critical.”
While I understand the author’s argument for permitting reform, the greater urgency is for reform (repeal?) of the 1872 mining law that allows for the exploitation of public resources by foreign companies. Let me suggest that any reform of the permitting process be done in conjunction with a complete overhaul of the 1872 mining law.
John McLean
Northeast side
‘Not my fault’
Back in January, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) might have appeared to be the obvious choice to become Speaker of the House of Representatives. He had coveted this position for years, and now he would finally grab the gavel. But not all members of his slim majority were convinced he should be their leader. So began a game of give and take, resulting in promises to individuals and groups within the fractured caucus in exchange for votes for Kevin for Speaker. After 15 ballots, he gained his prize … and then came the critical issue of raising the debt ceiling. With conflicting demands coming from his troops, McCarthy asked select members to lead negotiations which, as I write, continue to be bogged down. And now Kevin, Speaker of the House and supposedly commander of his caucus, stands tall and tells all the world: “Not my fault.” I’d venture to predict Kevin will be just plain Representative McCarthy before July 4.
Frank Bergen
North side
Jan. 6 payback
I just read that the Oath Keepers leader got 18 big, long years of jail time! I can never figure out what “oath” these folk think they are keeping. I also can’t figure out what the Proud Boys are so “proud” about?
Sue Thompson
SaddleBrooke
Why is 14th Amendment being discussed?
Why is the President “considering the 14th Amendment” in context with the current debt ceiling?
Section 4 of the 14th Amendment states: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.”
In Perry v. United States, the Supreme Court held that the public debt clause in Section 4 applied:
“By virtue of the power to borrow money ‘on the credit of the United States,’ Congress is authorized to pledge that credit as assurance of payment as stipulated — as the highest assurance the Government can give, its plighted faith. To say that Congress may withdraw or ignore that pledge, is to assume that the Constitution contemplates a vain promise, a pledge having no other sanction than the pleasure and convenience of the pledgor.”
Therefore, there is reason to say that constitutional section means we must pay the debt, regardless of the GOP’s refusal to do so.
John Roldan
Southwest side
Will got it wrong
Re: the May 25 article “The American middle is finding its voice on abortion.”
An opinion piece by George Will contained the following statement. “A life that is human begins at conception. This is a tenet not of abstruse theology but of elementary biology. “
This is not true. In fact, I will go so far as to say it’s a lie. Biology says nothing at all about when things begin. It is true that many Biologists will say that human life begins at conception, but they are guided in their thinking by their own beliefs. Picking a starting point for human life is a political and religious choice. Incorporating that choice into law is a violation of the First Amendment.
Steven Brown
Midtown
The fiscally irresponsible GOP
Republicans are not “fiscal conservatives.” Holding the Debt Ceiling hostage while demanding cuts in spending is purely political theater and hypocrisy. In December 2017, Republicans passed tax cuts (reducing revenue) yet increased spending from $3.92 trillion (Obama’s FY2017 budget) to $4.11 trillion. Even before COVID set in, Republicans had increased discretionary spending from $1.2 trillion to $1.6 trillion and the budget deficit by more than $300 billion. Such fiscal malfeasance has become a characteristic of Republicans: in 2001 and 2003, they cut taxes and increased spending and turned Clinton’s budget surplus into a deficit. Championing a war in Iraq, Republicans managed to double the national debt from $5.8 trillion to $11.9 trillion in eight short years. Do we really want Republicans threatening the full faith and credit of the United States Treasury when they have proven themselves so fiscally irresponsible?
John Prugh
Foothills
The new barbarians
The core of the Republican Party has become the party of change and chains. Like the barbarians of old, they have emerged from someplace unhealthy to cause this national sickness. They say “Freedom” but mean “Destruction.”
It is the crafty who lead the charge, using the unthinking as their soldiers of misfortune. We shall long remember that it was the mobs who, with the help of the Christian right and smarmy politicians made us into a feeble, fear-filled nation.
Ron Lancaster
North side
- Terry Hawkins, Southeast side
Here she is again, sore loser Kari Lake, with her picture plastered on the front page, being told AGAIN "no" you didn't receive enough votes to win and there was no monkey business with the votes. Yawn. The majority of us learned, when we were adolescents, that sometimes we're going to lose and when we do, we accept our loss(es) and move on. Adolescents tend to be narcissists (i.e. Lake and Trump) and blame others when they lose, using humiliation and bullying tactics to try to get their way. Fortunately, most of us move on from adolescence to adulthood. Imagine what it would be like if we had such a person leading our state or, our country. Oh yeah, we do know...the ongoing adolescent misbehavior has resulted in an exhausted nation trying to deal with/appease the ongoing temper tantrums. Yawn.
Terry Hawkins
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mary Beth Schneider, East side
Shame on the Republicans!! The Republican Party is putting fear; anxiety along with possible future devastation on the citizens of the country without and concerns for their fellow citizens.
It’s such a “power play” they should be ashamed of! Where is the bipartisan support to keep the county going? When after the debit limit has been increased then negotiate . Think of all our fellow citizens that are dependent of their “social/ veteran and all the contractors whi keep the government running. These checks which they have worked for, been taxed for and planned their livelihoods around. This is shameful and I hope you are “spanked” in the coming elections.
Mary Beth Schneider
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sonia Heindel, South side
I know the subject of Abortions is a hard topic to swallow for many men and women who are flabbergasted by the way this country is divided over who should do the right thing. What it comes down to is what is best for the woman by not being bombarded by constant demands to not to have a abortion. Is it the woman making this decision, or you ? No one has the right to tell others what to do with their care. For those people who want to have a women carry a pregnancy to term, you can not make this decision for her, it is her choice. When a woman decides to not want a child after giving birth, are you going to take this child in to raise or let this child be taken to foster care, the ball is in your court, every one wants to keep women from having control, but to not take the responsibility for what happens to the child afterwards.
Sonia Heindel
South side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Patrick Mulloy, Oro Valley
Thank you, Christi Driggs, for your response on Wednesday to the Monday 15 May “Trump Deranged Syndrome” posting. I too have reached my saturation point with Loyal’s almost incessant stream of malignant missives of MAGA misinformation. Whining about problems, misstating or making up “facts”, 100% partisan blame and zero solutions.
Nice to see you have done research to support the facts and have not relied on unsubstantiated conspiracy theory drivel from Fox, Newsmax or other right-wing nut sources.
Patrick Mulloy
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Maureen Salz, Oro Valley
The shooting in New Mexico shows that one is not safe even in one’s own home. Thanks pro gun advocates for once again making us less secure no matter where we are.
Maureen Salz
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Nate Baker, North side
John Crisp's opinion says it would be a great idea if Joe Biden won the 2024 election so that it sets up Kamala Harris to be president. Wow. Just what we need. We'll go from a guy who doesn't know where he is to an unqualified word salad woman. We're already an embarrassment on the world stage. It would only get worse. The Daily Star continues to run these liberal opinions without a balanced opinion from the conservative viewpoint. There were 6 letters to the editor related to politics in the same day’s paper. Five of them were anti-conservative. I don't see the balance. Thank goodness most of us are smart enough to see the foolishness of liberal and socialist opinions about how great Harris would be as president. She would lead us further into a comedy store.
Nate Baker
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Richard Harper, Northeast side
May is the 50th anniversary of the return of our Prisoners of War from Vietnam. I recently visited Coronado Island where their historical society had a display about the Prisoners of War imprisoned in North Vietnam. Even though they were tortured, those hero servicemen survived to come home. One of those men was John McCain a political adversary of Donald Trump, who demeaned Senator McCain’s service to our nation by bad mouthing his heroism. I visited the beaches at Normandy, the cemeteries throughout France and Belgium paying my respects to the brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. When Trump was in Europe and decided not to visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in 2018 he said, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” My great uncle was killed on a troop ship with hundreds of other infantrymen off the Normandy shore. I know one thing; Trump is no hero; there is nothing great about Trump and never will be.
Richard Harper
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Gas price fixing in Arizona
So let me get this straight. Oil prices are dropping and are off 4.4% this year. We are producing oil in the Permian Basin in Texas at record levels. No disruptions in refineries or pipelines that bring our gasoline from southern Texas. But somehow, we are paying a lot higher rates in Arizona than the rest of the country. If you check the gasoline prices in the rest of the country on Gasbuddy.com, you will find that the majority of the rest of the country is paying anywhere from the high 2s to the low 3s per gallon this week.
So why is Arizona paying around $4.80 to $5.20 a gallon for gasoline? This anomaly has never happened before. I think we are getting taken for a ride by BIG OIL. Something stinks.
David Keating
Northeast side
GOP bill cuts VA benefits
The GOP debt ceiling bill would severely cut veterans’ benefits.
Dr. Pam Farris
Northwest side
Thanks, fellow letter writer
Re: the May 17 letter “Brainwashed.”
Thank you to the letter writer for your response. I, too, have reached my saturation point with another letter writer’s almost incessant stream of malignant missives of MAGA misinformation. Whining about problems, misstating or making up “facts,” 100% partisan blame and zero solutions.
Nice to see you have done research to support the facts and have not relied on unsubstantiated conspiracy theory drivel from Fox, Newsmax or other right-wing nut sources.
Patrick Mulloy
Oro Valley
Abortions
I know the subject of abortions is a hard topic to swallow for many men and women who are flabbergasted by the way this country is divided over who should do the right thing. What it comes down to is what is best for the woman by not being bombarded by constant demands to not have an abortion. Is it the woman making this decision, or you? No one has the right to tell others what to do with their care.
For those people who want to have women carry a pregnancy to term, you cannot make this decision for her; it is her choice. When a woman decides not to want a child after giving birth, are you going to take this child in to raise or let this child be taken to foster care? The ball is in your court; everyone wants to keep women from having control but to not take the responsibility for what happens to the child afterward.
Sonia Heindel
South side
New Mexico shootings
The shooting in New Mexico shows that one is not safe even in one’s own home. Thanks, pro gun advocates, for once again making us less secure no matter where we are.
Maureen Salz
Oro Valley
Too much about the loser
Enough. Our newspaper has devoted too many column inches to Kari Lake and her platoon of lawyers. Lake lost the governor’s race six months ago, and she’s still the loser. In the beginning, her election defeat appeals were newsworthy. Now, Lake’s continuing protests have dropped to the who-really-cares category. Your capitol correspondent should work on other stories until a judge slams the final legal appeal door on Lake. I’m sure that development will be in the news.
Joe Schula
Foothills
On the other side
Re: the May 22 letter “Santa Ritas mayhem.”
The author of the letter was wondering where our Congressman and Senator were when we needed them most.
I’ve got news for you. They’re on the other side. You can’t represent your constituents when your donors are on the other side. Too much money at stake.
John Arnold
Green Valley
Debt ceiling
Shame on the Republicans! The Republican Party is putting fear and anxiety along with possible future devastation on the citizens of the country without concerns for their fellow citizens.
It’s such a “power play” they should be ashamed of! Where is the bipartisan support to keep the county going? When the debit limit has been increased, then negotiate. Think of all our fellow citizens that are dependent and all the contractors that keep the government running. These checks, which they have worked for, been taxed for and planned their livelihoods around. This is shameful, and I hope you are “spanked” in the coming elections.
Mary Beth Schneider
East side
Tired of sore-loser politicians
Here she is again, sore loser Kari Lake, with her picture plastered on the front page, being told AGAIN “no” you didn’t receive enough votes to win and there was no monkey business with the votes. Yawn. The majority of us learned, when we were adolescents, that sometimes we’re going to lose and when we do, we accept our loss(es) and move on. Adolescents tend to be narcissists (i.e. Lake and Trump) and blame others when they lose, using humiliation and bullying tactics to try to get their way.
Fortunately, most of us move on from adolescence to adulthood. Imagine what it would be like if we had such a person leading our state or, our country. Oh yeah, we do know … the ongoing adolescent misbehavior has resulted in an exhausted nation trying to deal with/appease the ongoing temper tantrums. Yawn.
Terry Hawkins
Southeast side
Harris as President?
Re: the May 24 article “President Harris might be good for our republic.”
John Crisp’s opinion says it would be a great idea if Joe Biden won the 2024 election so that it sets up Kamala Harris to be president. Wow. Just what we need. We’ll go from a guy who doesn’t know where he is to an unqualified word-salad woman. We’re already an embarrassment on the world stage. It would only get worse.
The Daily Star continues to run these liberal opinions without a balanced opinion from the conservative viewpoint. There were six letters to the editor related to politics in the same day’s paper. Five of them were anti-conservative. I don’t see the balance. Thank goodness most of us are smart enough to see the foolishness of liberal and socialist opinions about how great Harris would be as president. She would lead us further into a comedy store.
Nate Baker
North side
Unrealistic expectations?
Re: the May 25 article “Power line from N.M. to Southern Arizona wins final US approval.”
Approval of the $8 billion SunZia electric project allegedly promises lower power costs for consumers, good-paying-union-jobs and completion by 2025. Really!?
Mike Carran’s Op-Ed piece contrasts these promises with the severe shortage of key minerals required for turbines. The Arizona Corporation Commission seems ever-ready to increase electricity rates in spite of solar power advances. And have we ever heard lately that good-paying union jobs were increasing in the Southwest?
Yes, question this project and its promises! Henry Brean’s article should have been entitled: Who Wins in Approval of AZ-NM Power Line?
Michael Craig
West side
Dershowitz
Kudos to Judge Tuchi for holding Alan Dershowitz and two other attorneys responsible for the $140,000 in legal fees owed by Maricopa County in the bogus lawsuit brought by Kari Lake and Mark Finchem. For Alan Dershowitz to throw himself on the mercy of the court because of his poor health is ludicrous. Dershowitz has made a habit of grabbing the limelight in all kinds of controversial and high profile cases. So much so that I have wondered if he has retained any core values or beliefs.
We all have to pay the consequences for our actions and Alan Dershowitz is no exception. That he has chosen poorly and lent his name to help in defending the indefensible is no one’s problem but his own. I believe justice was done here and am overjoyed that Maricopa County will be reimbursed for this expensive attack on it’s integrity and on the sanctity of our voting system.
Dale Charkow
Foothills
POWs anniversary of return home
May is the 50th anniversary of the return of our Prisoners of War from Vietnam. I recently visited Coronado Island, where their historical society had a display about the Prisoners of War imprisoned in North Vietnam. Even though they were tortured, those hero servicemen survived to come home. One of those men was John McCain, a political adversary of Donald Trump, who demeaned Sen. McCain’s service to our nation by bad-mouthing his heroism.
I visited the beaches at Normandy, and the cemeteries throughout France and Belgium, paying my respects to the brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. When Trump was in Europe and decided not to visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in 2018 he said, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” My great uncle was killed on a troop ship with hundreds of other infantrymen off the Normandy shore. I know one thing; Trump is no hero; there is nothing great about Trump, and never will be.
Richard Harper
Northeast side
- Laura Bartkowski, Northwest side
Recently while driving, I passed an American flag being flown at Half-Staff … again …
I wondered why our nation was in mourning this time?
My next thought was; another shooting…someone’s daughter, son, mom, dad, sister, brother, grandma or grandpa is unexpectedly gone forever.
Can’t we at least DO SOMETHING?
Or continue to wring our hands and leave the Grand Old Flag at Half-Staff, in mourning forever, while our families suffer these incredibly difficult losses.
The choice is ours.
Laura Bartkowski
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Susan Syracuse, East side
I recently walked the strike line with my son, Joe, who is a screen writer in LA and that was on one of the signs. Writers are fighting because of this and because of the issue with unregulated AI. We used to have gas station attendants, more grocery store checkers, bank tellers not ATMs. The writers are striking to decrease corporate greed and decrease workers being replaced by AI and machines. They are striking for our future and taking the hit for all of us.
We need to stand up to the corporations like they are doing. This will help prevent more unemployment, more low wages. One way is by cancelling our Netflix subscriptions. They are refusing to come to the table and negotiate for fair contracts for the writers and appropriate regulation of AI. Please call them and cancel your subscription. Tell them you will re-subscribe when the agree to come to the table and agree to negotiate with the writers.
Susan Syracuse
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Gerald Farrington, retired community college professor of history, political science, and law, SaddleBrooke
Willie Sutton, a notorious bank robber, was supposedly asked why he robbed banks. He was reputed to have replied “because that’s where the money is.” It’s both funny and true; it’s funny because it’s so obviously true.
Similarly, if I were asked, “Why do you want to tax the rich?” My answer would be “because that’s where the money is.” I think it’s also both funny and true, and it is funny because it is so obviously true.
Shall we add to both the humor and truth of the metaphor? “What do banks and the rich have in common?” “They both have safe deposit boxes that are impossible to crack.” But one has a key and the other does not. Want to take a crack at which one has the key?
The current debt ceiling and budget impasse is about revenue and spending. Any idea where more revenue can be found? The key?
A Republican moderate is as rare as a Republican humorist.
Gerald Farrington, retired community college professor of history, political science, and law
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Dan Pendergrass, West side
Using the credit card analogy that has been used in this forum, I'd like to submit the following: Two siblings want to control the family budget. One wants to treat their rich friends to a resort stay, bribe a local judge and punish members of other religions; the other wants to fix the house (roof, plumbing, etc..) and improve the healthcare insurance for their aging parents. Sibling one threatens to force the house into foreclosure unless they get what they want even though sibling two had already made arrangements to fix the house and take care of the parents. Sibling one is the house Republicans, sibling two is Biden. Now you know why Biden has an approval rating. Time to disown sibling one.
Dan Pendergrass
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Michelle Rill, North side
Whether one is flying out of Tucson International Airport, Sky Harbor Airport, or any of the small regional airports in our state, we can all see that traveling by air has lost a lot of its glamour over the years. This has become even more so after the pandemic. The airports and the planes are overcrowded and flights are delayed for who knows why. That's to say nothing about the aging infrastructure long overdue for an upgrade. Congress can fix this by passing a clean bill reauthorizing the FAA, but even that is in danger due to political infighting. I hope that Senator Sinema can help make this legislation happen in her position as Chairman of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee. In the past, this bill has been held up for a long time, even years, due to political meddling, but this cannot happen this time, as the flying public deserve solutions now, not years down the road.
Michelle Rill
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- John Knight, Northeast side
Supposedly civil discourse is super-charged today. Ideologues assert the correctness of their views so stridently that some, on the fringes of mental health, simply go off the rails and use violence to "argue their views". It's not just politics. For example, road rage incidents abound, and mass shooters have become commonplace. I submit that all our lives will be better if everyone just catches their breath and steps away from violent behavior. Don't throw that punch, or brick or or or. Don't reach for your gun because you are angry. Just don't. Sure, my suggestion is simplistic. But I think people are tired of the tension in our world. Why aren't more people promoting restraint and moderate behavior? Have we declined so far that the virtue of such conduct is no longer recognized? I hope not. Embrace civility and encourage others to do so also.
John Knight
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Jerry Morris, SaddleBrooke
Without citing any specific anti-franchisee actions or statements by Julie Su, the current nominee for Secretary of Labor, Sherri Fishman, claims she is "poses an existential threat to franchise businesses." I am angry at anti-labor, anti-government pundits crying wolf. They make unsubstantiated claims about an impending loss of jobs or businesses to scare people into taking ill-considered action. In this case it is clearly to help her customers, franchising businesses, at the expense of those who labor for small businesses and potentially at the expense of franchisees themselves. All workers deserve the full protection of the labor laws that many workers gave their health and even their lives to get enacted. Franchisees deserve the full protection of contract and labor laws a well. Businesses offering franchises are not the only party to consider in selecting a Secretary of Labor. Don't contact your senators because someone scared you with innuendo. Only contact them if you have all the facts in hand and have a well-reasoned opinion.
Jerry Morris
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Dr Pamela Farris, Northwest side
Congress passes the spending budgets, sends them to the President who signs them. The each year the Congress then turns around and says, the debt ceiling on debts we, The Congress, approved, May or
May not be raised. Huh? It’s like giving a kid his allowance then saying you can’t spend it and have to give a portion back.
This is a totally absurd “two step dance” designed to make Congress look fiscally responsible, the President look bad, and stoke fear in those who rely on Social Security, Medicaid, SNAP, military pay, and Veterans Benefits. All the while members of Congress collect their $174,000 salary, healthcare, pharmacy, and gym benefits while ranting how wonderful they are in front of the cameras.
This is beyond disgusting. It’s cruel.
Dr Pamela Farris
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Disaster in the making
I’m a Democrat who’s been living in Tucson for the past 21 years. I’ve said for years we need a border wall and the only way people should be able to immigrate is through proper gateways and processes. It’s really not rocket science, is it?
We hear that starting soon, for who knows how long, authorities may have to start “street releasing” — meaning immigrants with no food, no housing, no health care and no jobs will simply be released onto the streets.
How does that sound? Sounds like a disaster to me. And frightening.
Economics, lawlessness, and climate change will result in millions of immigrants swamping the US in the coming years.
Do any legislators in Phoenix or Washington D.C. care about fixing the southern border crisis? Anyone?
Peter Bakke
SaddleBrooke
House extorts Uncle Sam
Using the credit card analogy that has been used in this forum, I’d like to submit the following: Two siblings want to control the family budget. One wants to treat their rich friends to a resort stay, bribe a local judge and punish members of other religions; the other wants to fix the house (roof, plumbing, etc.) and improve the health-care insurance for their aging parents. Sibling one threatens to force the house into foreclosure unless they get what they want, even though sibling two had already made arrangements to fix the house and take care of the parents. Sibling one is the House Republicans; sibling two is President Joe Biden. Now you know why Biden has an approval rating. Time to disown sibling one.
Dan Pendergrass
West side
Message to McCarthy
Willie Sutton, a notorious bank robber, was supposedly asked why he robbed banks. He was reputed to have replied, “because that’s where the money is.” It’s both funny and true; it’s funny because it’s so obviously true.
Similarly, if I were asked, “Why do you want to tax the rich?” My answer would be, “because that’s where the money is.” I think it’s also both funny and true, and it is funny because it is so obviously true.
Shall we add to both the humor and truth of the metaphor? “What do banks and the rich have in common?” “They both have safe deposit boxes that are impossible to crack.” But one has a key, and the other does not. Want to take a crack at which one has the key?
The current debt ceiling and budget impasse are about revenue and spending. Any idea where more revenue can be found? The key?
A Republican moderate is as rare as a Republican humorist.
Gerald Farrington, retired community college professor of history, political science, and law
SaddleBrooke
The Debt Ceiling limit is absurd
Congress passes the spending budgets, and sends them to the President, who signs them. Then each year, Congress turns around and says, the debt ceiling on debts we, The Congress, approved may or may not be raised. Huh? It’s like giving a kid his allowance and then saying you can’t spend it and have to give a portion back.
This is a totally absurd “two-step dance” designed to make Congress look fiscally responsible, the President look bad, and stoke fear in those who rely on Social Security, Medicaid, SNAP, military pay, and Veterans Benefits. All the while, members of Congress collect their $174,000 salary, healthcare, pharmacy, and gym benefits while ranting about how wonderful they are in front of the cameras.
This is beyond disgusting. It’s cruel.
Dr. Pamela Farris
Northwest side
Writers strike
I recently walked the strike line with my son, Joe, a screenwriter in L.A. Writers are fighting because of this and the issue with unregulated AI. We used to have gas station attendants, more grocery store checkers, and bank tellers instead of ATMs. The writers are striking to decrease corporate greed and decrease workers being replaced by AI and machines. They are striking for our future and taking the hit for all of us.
We need to stand up to the corporations like they are doing. This will help prevent more unemployment and more low wages. One way is by canceling our Netflix subscriptions. They are refusing to come to the table and negotiate fair contracts for the writers and appropriate regulation of AI. Please call them and cancel your subscription. Tell them you will re-subscribe when they agree to come to the table and agree to negotiate with the writers.
Susan Syracuse
East side
Flag at half-staff
Recently while driving, I passed an American flag being flown at half-staff … again …
I wondered why our nation was in mourning this time?
My next thought was; another shooting … someone’s daughter, son, mom, dad, sister, brother, grandma or grandpa is unexpectedly gone forever.
Can’t we at least do something?
Or continue to wring our hands and leave the Grand Old Flag at half-staff, in mourning forever, while our families suffer these incredibly difficult losses.
The choice is ours.
Laura Bartkowski
Northwest side
Lack of transparency in land transfer
Re: the May 21 article “It’s OK to ask O’odham about plans for land.”
Till Steller’s suggestion we ask for specifics on the pending transfer of 10 acres to Tohono O’odham Nation is appropriate.
This lack of transparency without public engagement reminds me of another Ward 1 back-room deal, the 2013 proposed sale of El Rio Golf Course to Grand Canyon University at below market price.
As generational Tucsonans may remember, that property complex was a type of consolation offered to Barrio Libre neighborhood that was razed in 1960s and 1970s to build the Tucson Community Center and surrounding gentrification. With this history and the proposal’s lack of transparency, insulted barrio residents voiced strong objections, and the proposal was withdrawn.
Ward 1 developers have received massive giveaways while residents continually pay more in taxes, utilities, fees and basics. The Caterpillar building received 50 million in incentives while parks and public services are funding starved.
Tucson could elect officials that make developers pay their fair share instead of shifting expenses to citizens with transparency and public engagement for proposals impacting neighborhoods.
Candace Charvoz Frank
West side
FAA reauthorization
Whether one is flying out of Tucson International Airport, Sky Harbor Airport, or any of the small regional airports in our state, we can all see that traveling by air has lost a lot of its glamour over the years. This has become even more so after the pandemic. The airports and the planes are overcrowded, and flights are delayed for who knows why. That’s to say nothing about the aging infrastructure long overdue for an upgrade. Congress can fix this by passing a clean bill reauthorizing the FAA, but even that is in danger due to political infighting. I hope that Senator Kyrsten Sinema can help make this legislation happen in her position as Chairman of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee. In the past, this bill has been held up for a long time, even years, due to political meddling, but this cannot happen this time, as the flying public deserves solutions now, not years down the road.
Michelle Rill
North side
Anti-franchisees?
Re: the May 24 article “New Biden nominee has it out for critical Arizona businesses.”
Without citing any specific anti-franchisee actions or statements by Julie Su, the current nominee for Secretary of Labor, Sherri Fishman, claims she “poses an existential threat to franchise businesses.” I am angry at anti-labor, anti-government pundits crying wolf. They make unsubstantiated claims about an impending loss of jobs or businesses to scare people into taking ill-considered action. In this case, it is clearly to help her customers, franchising businesses, at the expense of those who labor for small businesses and potentially at the expense of franchisees themselves. All workers deserve the full protection of the labor laws that many workers gave their health and even their lives to get enacted. Franchisees deserve the full protection of contract and labor laws as well. Businesses offering franchises are not the only party to consider in selecting a Secretary of Labor. Don’t contact your senators because someone scared you with innuendo. Only contact them if you have all the facts in hand and have a well-reasoned opinion.
Jerry Morris
SaddleBrooke
Civil behavior
Supposedly civil discourse is super-charged today. Ideologues assert the correctness of their views so stridently that some, on the fringes of mental health, simply go off the rails and use violence to “argue their views.” It’s not just politics. For example, road rage incidents abound, and mass shooters have become commonplace. I submit that all our lives will be better if everyone just catches their breath and steps away from violent behavior. Don’t throw that punch, or brick or or or. Don’t reach for your gun because you are angry. Just don’t. Sure, my suggestion is simplistic. But I think people are tired of the tension in our world. Why aren’t more people promoting restraint and moderate behavior? Have we declined so far that the virtue of such conduct is no longer recognized? I hope not. Embrace civility and encourage others to do so also.
John Knight
Northeast side
The downside of franchising
Re: the May 24 article “New Biden nominee has it out for critical Arizona businesses.”
In a recent op-ed, the writer, who owns a company that promotes investing in franchises, does not mention any negatives. I was the Central California sales director for the world’s largest haircutting franchise and also for a regional pizza franchise.
Owning a franchise does not guarantee a high income. In many instances, you’ve just bought yourself a 24/7 job. Monthly franchise fees can be onerous, rigid operating rules suppress innovation, ongoing training and support is often minimal or non-existent. But the worst problem is the commercial rent lease terms. Most are “triple net” leases, meaning you pay a pro rata portion of the landlord’s property taxes, insurance, and maintenance in addition to the rent. Some also take a percentage of your gross sales.
I tell anyone who asks to avoid buying a franchise and instead buy a distributorship. There are less upfront and ongoing costs, and you can still benefit from a proven business method.
Ron Lent
East side
More funding for housing, not police
On June 6, the mayor and council are scheduled to vote on the 2023-24 budget. The Tucson Police Department (TPD) is currently allocated $217 million, a $59 million increase from the FY 22-23 budget, and vastly more than any other city department. In comparison, only $9 million of general funds are budgeted for Housing and Community Development (HCD).
We are in a housing crisis. There has been a 300% increase in unsheltered homelessness from 2018 to 2023. Rather than paying the police to sweep or cite people living outside, let’s invest in accessible and affordable housing at the scale needed. The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that there are only 24 accessible and available units in the Tucson metro area for every 100 extremely low-income households. HCD has made great strides over the past few years, including opening low-barrier transitional housing and even starting a non-profit development arm. Let’s give that $59 million increase to HCD, not TPD.
Raye Winch
West side
A shared land and water ethic
I recently spent a few days at the Black River on Apache tribal lands. Wildlife was abundant and the river ran clear and strong; the fishing was good and the land intact. The ground was not being ripped asunder by for-profit Canadian or Australian mining companies, as it has been here in Southern Arizona and Nevada, increasingly, under an antiquated mining law, federal fast-tracking for dubious ‘Greenwashing’ claims, and congressional delegations beholden to campaign-coffer replenishment priorities. We, as the predominant culture — with a shared land and water ethic — can learn much from how our Native American communities manage their lands: for source-water protection, public recreation, wildlife habitat, and preservation for enjoyment by future generations.
Stu Williams, retired water resources specialist and former executive director,
Save The Scenic Santa Ritas Association
Midtown
DeSantis should learn from history
If Ron DeSantis becomes president, he will be the first Italian-American and only the third Roman Catholic to occupy the White House. You would think that being rather recently descended from immigrants would be a source of pride for him and might have provided him a moral guidepost as he strives to become chief executive of a nation of immigrants. Clearly, this is not the case. Were DeSantis to read any of the history books he is so eager to ban, he would learn that, only a century ago, people of his nationality and religion were just as much targets of hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan as were Blacks and Jews. Immigration laws were passed to prevent people with names like his from starting new lives in the U.S. Looking at a man who appears so eager to run away from who he is makes me wonder what else he is running away from. Perhaps the scrutiny of a Presidential campaign will provide us some answers.
Steve Robinson
Oro Valley
Debt ceiling
I am a Democrat with common sense. Common sense concludes that Republicans should not be holding the debt ceiling hostage. To my knowledge, it has historically been a yes or no vote to raise it. Our country usually pays its debts. The place for negotiations is in budget hearings. The President has the constitutional right to raise the debt ceiling without an act of Congress (14th Amendment, Section Four). This is a legitimate way to end the Republican political power play over the debt ceiling.
Toni Kane
Oro Valley
Guns, guns, guns
Almost every day, the newspaper has a new mass shooting. And another letter demanding our Congress pass some kind of law. But Congress is so screwed up it can’t even manage its own budget. Recent surveys have found 433.9 million firearms in American civilian possession. Worldwide the military has 133 million, police have 23 million guns. The 2021 US census showed 331.9 million people. It’s too late for ‘gun sales control’ legislation. Do we really want the Federal Gun Police knocking on every door, entering and taking all weapons? Doesn’t sound like my America. We, and yes, the evil political gun lobby, have invented this disease. We lead the world in gun possession. We must lead the world in finding a solution to the latest lethal epidemic infesting our country.
Thad Appelman
Northwest side
Nurses multitasking
Re: the May 31 article “Best and worst: A tale of two ERs.”
As a retired RN, I’ve seen the scene described in this piece. As an injured patient, I have BEEN in this scene myself. I hope the writer is only venting her frustration and personal pain as she went through this ordeal with her father, and not indicting the first hospital for its apparent ‘neglect’ of its patients. She answers her own questions as she described her father being triaged at both ERs. He was NOT being neglected, he was being treated in order of priorities, among others. Tests had been performed; needs established. Sad that his pain could not be immediately addressed, but his ‘needs’ were. Not only do ER staff have to deal with serious and multiple issues, they also have to somehow deal with people coming in for tummy aches, and dealing with the families, all with a semblance of professional manner. Anyone who has ever heard, “are we there yet?” more than once per hour knows what I’m talking about.
Ken Chernock
Northwest side
Keep money in circulation
Where does the tax money go for social government programs? It goes to the poor who buy stuff and then it goes right back up the money food chain to the top where it is not taxed enough. The rich buy expensive things, and money goes down the money food chain to people who make stuff and round and round it goes.
No matter how we do it, it is better for the whole country to keep the money circulating. It helps those at the bottom who will spend it. If we stop the circulation of money via spending cuts it is bad for the economy.
The Republicans would have you believe the money spent on government programs is wasted, meaning it has no further value, which is not true.
If we refuse to spend money we slow the economy.
As blood flow keeps us alive, so does money flow. Keep the economy alive.
Donald Plummer
Northwest side
Mining
I have worked over 20 years in the mining industry in Arizona. My experience includes safety, environment and security aspects associated with copper mining. I was born, raised and have lived my entire life in Arizona. It’s always a mystery to me about the concerns raised against mining copper in areas where the copper can be mined safely and in an environmental responsible manner. I find it particularly interesting that the people who live in the Green Valley area are so concerned about the Rosemont Copper mines when they live in the shadows of several substantial copper mines. After all, they choose to live there, yet complain about an old/new copper mine in the Santa Rita Mountains. My question is why they complain about the Rosemont mines when they chose to live near others. It seems ambivalent and contrary to me. Just my observation. Yes, I do support the Rosemont Copper Project. We need the minerals to continue our progress as an independent country.
Keith Adams
Northwest side
- Thad Appelman, Northwest side
Almost every day, the newspaper has a new mass shooting. And another letter demanding our Congress pass some kind of law. But Congress is so screwed up it can’t even manage its own budget. Recent surveys have found 433.9 million firearms in American civilian possession. Worldwide military has 133 million, police have 23 million. 433.9 million guns. The 2021 US census showed 331.9 million people. It’s too late for ‘gun sales control’ legislation. Do we really want the Federal Gun Police knocking on every door, entering and taking all weapons? Doesn’t sound like my America. We, and yes, the evil political gun lobby, have invented this disease. We lead the world in gun possession. We must lead the world in finding a solution to the latest lethal epidemic infesting our country.
Thad Appelman
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Toni Kane, Oro Valley
I am a Democrat with common sense. Common sense concludes that Republicans should not be holding the debt ceiling hostage. To my knowledge, it has historically been a yes or no vote to raise it. Our country usually pays its debts. The place for negotiations is in budget hearings. The President has the constitutional right to raise the debt ceiling without an act of Congress (14th Amendment, Section Four). This is a legitimate way to end the Republican political power play over the debt ceiling.
Toni Kane
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Steve Robinson, Oro Valley
If Ron DeSantis becomes President, he will be the first Italian-American and only the third Roman Catholic to occupy the White House. You would think that being rather recently descended from immigrants would be a source of pride for him, and might have provided him a moral guidepost as he strives to become chief executive of a nation of immigrants. Clearly, this is not the case. Were DeSantis to read any of the history books he is so eager to ban, he would learn that, only a century ago, people of his nationality and religion were just as much targets of hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan as were Blacks and Jews. Immigration laws were passed to prevent people with names like his from starting new lives in the U.S. Looking at a man who appears so eager to run away from who he is makes me wonder what else he is running away from. Perhaps the scrutiny of a Presidential campaign will provide us some answers.
Steve Robinson
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Donald Plummer, Northwest side
Where does the tax money go for social govt. programs?
It goes to the poor who buy stuff and then it goes right back up the money food chain to the top where it is not taxed enough. The rich buy expensive things and money goes down the money food chain to people who make stuff and round and round it goes.
No matter how we do it, it is better for the whole country to keep the money circulating. It helps those at bottom who will spend it. If we stop the circulation of money via spending cuts it is bad for the economy.
. The Rs would have you believe the money spent on government programs is wasted meaning it has no further value which is not true.
If we refuse to spend money we slow the economy.
As blood flow keeps us alive so does money flow keep the economy alive .
Donald Plummer
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
Lloyd to get clarity on Arizona basketball future this week | Greg Hansen
