Tucson speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Oct. 16, 2026
- Updated
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.
Great memory of RichRod
I was watching Arizona’s 52-31 win over West Virginia on Saturday, and it brought back memories of meeting ex-UA football coach Rich Rodgiuez at Fini’s restaurant back in November 2018. I was with my girlfriend at the time, and I looked over and thought that it might be him at the bar, having a beer with fellow golf friends. We had never met. We walked over, and I said, "Are you RichRod?" and he stood up and said, "Yes, I am!” He was a total gentleman; we talked a little about the great job he did while here, about his son and my reaction to his firing being part of sports politics. He was very modest, and what an impression he left on my ex. He would have spent more time with us, but he had a beer and friends waiting, which I realized, so we said thank you and said goodbye. We both, I'm sure, will never forget that time!
James Coughlin
Northeast side
AI will follow the money
Every AI leader warns that it will become exponentially smarter every six months and go far beyond any human capacity. Yet your Congress and the President do nothing.
New medicines and inventions can go through years of reviews and testing. Hell, last month they were protecting us from lettuce bugs, but now, with the potential to destroy banking, power grids, medical services, water systems and create horrific weapons and diseases, they hide under the sheet of “self-regulation.”
To their credit, all AI leaders say they need to slow down; the dangers are too great, but none do or will, because to slow down is to lose, and the losses will be measured in trillions.
There are so many forgotten examples of what should be obvious to all. My favorite being the seven big tobacco companies joining arms and swearing their product was not addictive or cancerous.
Good God, please vote smart this election!
Richard Kimball
Midtown
Community oversight of data centers
A recent letter (“Data Centers”) claimed that opposing new data center construction will halt economic progress and set commercial application of information technology back 75 years. This misrepresents today’s building surge and trivializes legitimate community concerns.
Every digital service cited — streaming, cloud storage, online banking, e-commerce, social media and early AI tools — existed long before the current construction boom. The digital economy is not suddenly vulnerable, nor does its future depend on approving every proposed facility.
What has changed is the explosive rise of generative AI and machine learning workloads, which require massive, power-intensive campuses. Communities are being asked to absorb the environmental, infrastructure, and often tax incentive burdens of an industry racing to build capacity for AI models demanding unprecedented electricity, cooling and land.
Residents are not anti-technology. They are insisting on responsible planning. Opposing reckless, resource-heavy expansion is not halting progress. It is the fundamental due diligence required to protect the community.
Anthony Gary
Foothills
Medicare on-time payment
Recently I received an email from President Trump announcing that I would receive a one-time payment of $90 to offset the cost of my October Medicare premium. The email also implies that this was approved by Congress. The exact wording was “provided by”. Really? Does he think $90 will buy senior votes? This payment did not come from any altruistic motive for improving people's lives; it is clearly a self-serving, albeit crass, attempt to bribe people to vote for his party. It’s disturbing and insulting. I’m taking this $90, paid for by taxpayers, and donating $30 each to candidates that I wanted to support but didn’t have the resources to do so. Thanks, Trump! I encourage fellow recipients to do the same if possible. Also, public viewing of a military execution? For pity’s sake, that is so disgusting and not who we are as Americans. Make your voice heard and vote.
Gail Slentz
North side
How low can we go?
Every morning I wake up wondering what fresh hell President Trump and his minions have created. Last week hit an all-time low. Trump suggested that it would be a small price to pay to have Iran take out Los Angeles and San Diego. I wonder if our Commander in Chief knows that 115,607 active-duty military and 230,000 veterans call San Diego home.
Then there is Pete Hegseth, former Fox News host, now Secretary of Defense, calling for a live-stream execution. I guess he got the idea from jihadist terrorists. Surely we are better than this, although electing Trump to a second term really makes me wonder. Think carefully this November when you cast your ballot. Let's get rid of the Trump enablers who helped to create the straits we are in.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Save the Republican Party
I believe that having a strong Democratic and Republican Party is essential to our Democratic system of governance. I have some admiration for both parties. I am alarmed that the Republican Party is now under attack from within. The enemy is the extreme branch known as MAGA. It has ultimate control over the party, and it keeps a low stance, a bit like a virus. Candidates fear it, cabinet officials fear it, and Trump fears it. Republicans, including Trump, are now loath to use MAGA! to rally the troops because it has become a toxic brand to many people. If you are a Republican and share any similar feelings, you might understand my concern. It is ironic that it might be necessary to vote for the other party this time to save your own.
Michael Burdoo
West side
Be careful with your vote
If you vote for Juan Ciscomani, you are voting for Donald Trump. Please don't.
David Hass
Foothills
Tamara Moot's op-ed
I am 101 years old. I cried when I read Tamara Moots’ op-ed last week about the Grandmother cottonwood. I felt her anger, and underneath her agony, I felt her humanity. What will it take to recognize kindness and face these common dangers to us all? Is there any empathy left, any understanding? Are we just going to kill each other off by any means?
Years ago, when I was teaching little children, I felt close to God every day. Now we don't seem to care enough. Have we learned anything at all?
We are going to lose our free way of life if we don't stand up for truth.
Alice Treiber
Midtown
Lochiel Grandmother tree
Driving around town, I and my geriatric eyes mistook a young saguaro for a girl in a green jumpsuit, hitchhiking.
I don’t believe in the soul.
I do believe, to paraphrase Ed Abbey, “sentiment without action rots your soul.”
What’s left of me and my soul camps out in the heart of this 200-year-old cottonwood, the last of the grandmother trees still standing in the path of the new border wall, her sisters chainsawed into trash.
I’ve got water and enough trail mix to last a week; I’ve got a harness, rope, my old jackknife and hard rubber climbing spurs for scaling the trunk when the agents of the state, their gloves sparking, arrive to arrest me.
Smiling, I imagine them chasing this aching grandpa body up through the leaves and into the unbelievable, breathable air.
Jefferson Carter
Midtown
‘None so blind …’
The letter "November election" provided a window into the fantasy world of MAGA. It made me ponder what it's like for the 30% going through the world wearing virtual reality goggles. The author tells us how Trump "works every day" — meaning when he's not sleeping through meetings or working on his next AI/photoshop project, like when he depicted the Obamas as apes. Yes, he's working very hard — to enrich himself and his family at every turn, at our expense. The letter writer claims that Democrats in Washington "meekly do whatever the leaders say.” No bigger silent sheep exist in Washington than the Republicans. The president has told Republicans to "cheat like hell" to prevail in November. Such integrity! He's told Iran to go ahead and nuke L.A. and San Diego. Worry about your freedom? Ask those citizens killed by ICE, who lost a lot more than their freedom. Just another day in Trump land.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
To each his own
The article that former First Lady Michelle Obama is extremely opposed to changes made by the current president to the White House is ridiculous. Personally, I think the helicopter pad is a much better and more useful idea than the basketball court her husband had constructed. Almost every president put his own touches on the residence he inhabits for at least four years. Besides the basketball court, the Obamas made changes to the State Dining Room, the Old Family Dining Room, added more solar panels and made other visible refurbishments. Why does this even matter to her?
Martha Cunningham
Northwest side
I gotta agree
Fulsome thanks to Bruce Johnson for his letter to the editor on Oct. 7, "I gotta vent," for excoriating the shameful and indefensible behavior of the news media and people of this country toward President Joe Biden. All true: the "threats insults and humiliation" directed at his wife and children. All true: the press attacks, "24/7 being drawn and quartered, every sentence dissected, constantly pressured to do this or that, without an ounce of moral support.”
Honest people remember all of that scurrilous, undeserved treatment. Too bad Mr. Trump hasn't had to face any of that from the press and public.
Gary Susko
Midtown
Execution methods — an alternative
Lethal injection, firing squad, electric chair, gas chamber, hanging. All have been considered in recent editorial and expert commentary. But there is an alternative: the French alternative. No, not that one: what they do now. They don't execute anybody.
(This fits with my church's teaching, which has gone on record at almost every one of its general conventions since 1958 advocating the abolition of the death penalty.)
John Leech
Foothills
Who backs Ciscomani?
It is disheartening to see the face of Rep. Juan Ciscomani flooding our TV and computer screens now. Here’s an elected official who, for a year and a half, would not even hold an open public meeting because he’d have been drowned out in boos. These Ciscomani ads claim he’s been a champion of working families. Huh? Ciscomani voted nearly 100% of the time to please his wealthy donors and to enable Trump — a violation of his oath to protect the Constitution. Now those billionaires are giving Ciscomani’s campaign unlimited funds to smear his opponent. The sheer number of ads can make it seem he has broad public support. Don’t fall for it. Ciscomani doesn’t care about you. Vote for JoAnna Mendoza and let’s get on with creating an economy that rewards all of us, not just the billionaire class.
Mark Hengesbaugh
Foothills
Join us for the No Kings Rally
As a retired American government teacher, I know the importance of voting. This year's election could be one of the most important in our lifetime. People all over the Tucson area will be joining the No Kings rallies on Saturday, Oct. 17. I will be attending the one on River Road and Via Entrada at 9:30 a.m. Come join us!
Dan Beamer
Northwest side
Parking meter fees hurt businesses
Here is a suggestion for the complaints of downtown and Fourth Avenue merchants that high parking meter fees are driving away customers. Make all parking free (or at least substantially lowered) and replace the lost income to the city by restarting the fees for buses and streetcars. Free bus fares cause safety concerns for the drivers and passengers alike. Replacing income from meters with income from transit solves two distinct problems with the same solution.
Ronald Lent
East side
Building skills, building futures
I’ve reskilled throughout my career, and one lesson has stayed with me. The ability to learn, adapt and take on something new can make all the difference.
That’s why Pima Community College matters to Southern Arizona.
Not everyone follows a straight path from high school to a four-year degree and into one career. People change careers. Industries change. Workers need new skills. Parents return to school. And sometimes the next opportunity requires learning something completely different.
Pima College gives people a way to do that right here in our community with small classes, qualified faculty and programs tied to the needs of our community. With low tuition rates, it makes that opportunity accessible to more people.
A stronger community is one where people have the chance to keep learning, keep adapting and keep contributing. Pima Community College plays an important role in making that possible. That’s why I support Proposition 430 and hope voters will do the same.
Salvador Aguirre
Midtown
Trump is on the ballot
Election Day is near. Trump's name is not on the ballot ... actually, it is. Every GOP representative and senator who enabled Trump to carry out his attempted destruction of our democracy is on the ballot. Both GOP Houses of Congress allowed Trump to cut taxes for the wealthy, impose tariffs against our allies and us and disable healthcare, education and social services. They allowed drastic increases in the cost of gas, food, housing and environmental destruction. They allowed Trump to start a war that is endless and has decimated our military's preparedness, costing us billions. The GOP Congress approved Pete Hegseth and Todd Blanche . The GOP Congress allowed Trump to follow Russell Vought and Stephen Miller of Project 2025. The GOP Congress was blatantly complicit in creating this disaster.
Richard Bechtold
West side
Grandmother tree murder
Tamara Moots’ eulogy for the murder of this wonderful cottonwood tree brought tears to my eyes.
Yes, the arrogance of rich humans determines what lifeforms live or die. She got it right.
I have many desert plants in my front and back yards.
When they are damaged by storms, I cry.
Our species cannot survive without trees and plant lifeforms. Read the Bible. God made them first.
Karen Papagapitos
Northwest side
Ancient trees
My mornings typically start with coffee and the Arizona Daily Star followed by The Guardian. The Star had a moving opinion piece by Tamara Moots, “Murder of the Grandmother Tree,” about the destruction of the ancient cottonwood tree on the border. In today’s Guardian is an article about another ancient tree in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, that somehow survived Dutch elm disease, which killed most of Ireland’s elm trees. The photo of the wych elm tree, named “Bendy Tree,” shows the tree leaning almost horizontal due to high winds off the Irish Sea. The tree is appreciated for “providing shade, wellbeing and health benefits, stories, culture and pride of place.” It is interesting to compare and contrast these perspectives. Your readers might like to see another view of what is valued.
Diana Holmes
Oro Valley
Grandmother cottonwood toppled
Four ancient cottonwood trees at Lochiel on the US/Mexico border were sacrificed for wall-building progress; they were judged to be blocking. Four living beings, much older than most of us on this Earth, were killed because a double wall across the beautiful San Rafael Valley east of Nogales is deemed to be necessary for our national security. Killing these ancient trees for a lie the current administration wants us to believe is an abomination and a sacrilege. We must call it what it is.
Jim Marx
Midtown
We need to talk about indoor heat
As the summer heat finally winds down, we need to address a mounting public health crisis: indoor heat. When we think of extreme heat in Tucson, we think of outdoor temperatures soaring into triple digits. However, high indoor temperatures can be just as deadly. According to Pima County statistics, of the 179 heat-related deaths in Pima County this year, almost 40% (70 deaths) occurred inside. If a tenant’s AC unit breaks during the summer, the landlord has five days to repair the unit. If landlords fail to act, tenants can fix the issue themselves (if they have the funds) but can only recoup $300 or half a month's rent from the landlord. Landlords should be required to provide temporary relief (window units or hotels), and tenants should be able to recoup higher costs if needed. Summers are getting hotter, and we need to protect against more indoor heat deaths.
Beryl Trudinger-Smith
Midtown
Thanks for a positive comment
I wish to thank Mr. Tom McGorray for his pleasant and uplifting letter, “Lucky Seven,” on Oct. 6.
We need more of these types of letters.
Maria Frisby
West side
Above the law?
The Star’s article on Oct. 5 pointed out that “fake electors” are aiming to block future prosecution.
The Republican Party controls Arizona and passes the laws. In Arizona, Republicans control the Senate and the House; even the Arizona Supreme Court justices were mostly appointed by Republican governors.
Not to mention the fourth branch of government, i.e., ACC, is all Republicans.
Voters need to balance the game and balance Arizona’s economy.
Dan Bannon
Midtown
Make your world a better place
Hate what’s happening in the world today? Can’t stand the politicians who are ruining everything? You have the power to change that. Take the time to get to know the people who will improve your life.
Consult reliable sources for information about candidates’ qualifications and positions on issues that matter to you. Be discerning. Check political ads for accuracy using online sources like Snopes, PolitiFact and Verify.
Citizens who do not vote elect bad officials. Eligibility enables us to vote, but only voting enables good candidates to win.
Yes, politics can be depressing, but the solution is not to walk away. The solution is to change the politics you despise. Choose to be part of that solution. Make your world a better place by voting for it.
Nancy Atherton
Foothills
Yes on Prop. 430
Pima Community College offers local students something incredibly valuable — a high-quality education close to home at a fraction of the cost of a university.
Pima College costs about one-fifth of what students pay at Arizona’s public universities. Students learn in smaller classes from qualified, experienced faculty who are there to teach and help them succeed. They get more personal attention while preparing for the jobs our community needs — from healthcare and public safety to education, technology and the skilled trades.
An affordable education here allows students to gain new skills, advance their careers and build their futures in Southern Arizona. They bring those skills back to our workplaces, businesses and communities, strengthening our region from the ground up.
Proposition 430 will help ensure Pima Community College has the facilities and technology students need to succeed. It’s at the end of the ballot, so don’t miss it. Join me in voting yes on Prop. 430.
Fausto Hopkins
North side
Protecting our community against gun violence
Last week, there were two acts of gun violence that occurred in Marana/Northwest Tucson; however, this is not the first act of gun violence we have seen in Arizona.
As a graduate student in public health, I am familiar with the impacts these acts can have on a community and the need for community members to speak up and advocate. I am asking for politicians and community members to urge an increase in required permits to conceal carry weapons, hold stronger background checks, and work towards implementing the Pass Secure Storage (or Child Access Prevention) Law in Arizona.
No, I am not asking for the removal of your firearms; simply, I am asking for us to recognize that gun violence affects everyone. Through advocacy and unity, I hope Arizona can come together to work on protecting our communities by improving laws on firearm permits, background checks and secure firearm storage.
Rachel Figueroa
Marana
Two sides of the coin
An Op-ed this week in the Star lambasts the platform of Democratic Socialists as if they were the entire Democratic Party. I think most Democrats reject the Democratic Socialist platform. The piece touts the glories of Republicans, completely ignoring that there are white nationalists and neo-Nazis in the Republican Party as counterparts to Democratic Socialists. I don't for a moment think that such white nationalist, neo-Nazi views reflect the views of the clear majority of Republicans.
Michael Price
Northwest side
Parking problems go beyond Fourth Avenue
The City of Tucson wants to be business-friendly, but approving businesses or parking reductions without sufficient on-site parking can simply transfer the burden to neighboring businesses and residents.
Supporting new businesses is important, but it should not come at the expense of established businesses and nearby residents. When adequate parking is not required, competition for limited street parking creates frustration and unnecessary conflict among neighbors.
Being business-friendly should include protecting the businesses and residents who are already there.
Lupita Shestko-Montiel
Midtown
Thoughts on stamps and Mount Lemmon
On the recent article about stamp collecting: I have two collections dating back to the early 1960s with stamps from around the world and from foreign students who visited us. I took this collection in 10 years ago and was told just to put the stamps on an envelope and use them. That’s their value. The whole collection went back up on the closet shelf in hopes that the tide will turn.
The recent letter to the editor about bicycle riders on Mount Lemmon spoke of 20 riders all in a line. It would truly be nice if they would ride five bicyclists with the space of a car so when we pass you, there is not a head-on collision, or we get too close to the cyclists. There is nowhere on Mount Lemmon where you can pass 20 bicyclists safely. You have to do your part.
Penny Gassan
West side
County ignores residents
A zoning meeting was held to change zoning in a Buffer & SR area to Type 1 Conditional near Old Spanish Trail and Irvington Road. A rural area near Saguaro Park. A 10-acre parcel in a residential area is for sale. Buyer wants to put in a large animal hospital. Large building, arenas, lights, approximately 13 employees. Traffic, noise, lights, animal and medical waste, animal infections and disease. A wildlife corridor runs through the property. Everything else is single-family residences. The county does not maintain the roads, as we all know. Neighbors voiced their objections, but the Administrator ruled against us. Why is it that the local government will not listen and serve the residents of Tucson and Pima County. They only want to serve commercial projects, I guess, for higher-paying taxes. I guess the residents haven't paid enough all these years. Can you imagine living right next door to, or behind, a large animal hospital? The county seems to think it’s OK. And it's in the SR & Buffer Zone.
Lois Bowen
Southeast side
Parking
My wife and I enjoy the Arizona Theatre Company, but avoid it unless there is something we really want to see due to the parking issues. Meters have limited time slots, and we have to go feed the meter when we park (if we can find a space) at intermission, if there is one. As noted in Tim Steller's opinion, we are nearly 80 and have difficulty dealing with the apps necessary to park and the fact that nearly 50% of meters don't accept coins, we are excluded. We would go more often if parking were available.
Robert Emery
Foothills
Heat-safety regulations across industries
I’m writing to advocate for stronger and more consistent workplace heat-safety regulations across industries. I’m concerned by the rising number of heat-related injuries and illnesses in Arizona, which disproportionately affect those who work outdoors and in manual labor positions.
I believe that workplaces should have heat safety and mitigation plans/regulations because:
– Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths. Without proper ways to provide heat protection and hydration, many workers face health problems and even death.
– Regulations need to be put in place to continue working in extreme heat, enforcing them and ensuring hydration and shade creates more sustainable working conditions.
– Heat-related illnesses increase emergency room visits; having a preventative system reduces and maintains productivity.
With the implementation of proper funding and regulations, Arizonans would greatly benefit with reductions in the number of annual heat-related deaths and hospital/emergency room visits. Safer working conditions should be properly established and enforced so that Arizonans can work safely.
Daniela Valdez
Midtown
2026 election
Trump’s approach to governing is causing unneeded chaos, corruption and cruelty in the USA and around the world. We clearly see this every day now. His approach is not serving America well. He is surrounded by yes-men and with a cabinet stacked with billionaires. This is not normal. This is not right. No more wars, reducing debt, being honest, lowering prices; these goals are now a joke . Their approach is un-American and sometimes illegal. It was only a few years ago that most Republicans would be sickened by the current federal policies; now they seem to support them. Trump is not on the ballot, but his enablers are; please do not support the enablers. It’s time for a change. Please vote for only Independents and Democrats this November.
Ron Wilcocks
Foothills
2026 vote
My Catholic church has been on the wrong side of moral, ethical and spiritual life and culture many times. From the Crusades, Spanish Inquisition, slavery and anti-colonialism, anti-Semitism, clerical abuse cover-up, and yes, Trump Ver. 1 and 2, clergy and the church have just plain been wrong, out of step, and dangerously close to past historical infractions. Our church has not been the champion of 'your tired, poor and huddled masses' the past 10 years. Shame on us! Please, please, Catholic leadership and parishioners, see the vision of the corrupt and non-Christian current administration's actions. Provide the direction to 60 million Catholics in the United States to morality and the Catholic norms that Pope Francis has directed us. I applaud and embrace the separation of church and state but also espouse the power of the homily pulpit and pastoral counsel. Please, fellow Catholics, be the change Pope Francis asked us to be.
John (Jay) Van Echo, PE
West side
Nuclear bombs
I wonder if Arizona Republicans realize that if Iran actually has nuclear weapons and takes Trump up on his suggestion to bomb L.A. and San Diego, the poisonous fallout will blanket Arizona. I wonder if they care about the ensuing deaths since they already endorsed the cutoff of funds to USAID, which will kill thousands; the deaths and injuries to law enforcement during the Jan. 6 insurrection; the cutoff of healthcare and food assistance that could lead to deaths from lack of crucial medicine and starvation; and the elimination of pollution regulations that will lead to the return of toxic air and water. Please save us by voting for Democrats.
Dee Maitland
Marana
Yes on Prop 319
Vote yes on Prop 319, the statewide ballot initiative brought forward by the legislature to ban all forms of photo enforcement in Arizona.
Tucson voters recognized the predatory nature of photo enforcement, red light cameras in particular, and voted overwhelmingly to ban all forms of photo enforcement within the city in 2015. Now more cities are realizing what we knew then: photo enforcement is more about generating revenue for camera suppliers and cities than it is about safety. Drivers have the right to face their accusers; therefore, the only valid citations should be those issued by the officer who witnesses the violation and can testify in court. We need police, not cameras.
Ban photo enforcement in Arizona … vote yes on Prop 319.
Paul Peterson
East side
Daily Star’s cutbacks
I, too, have had a print edition of newspapers my entire life. The Arizona Daily Star is now cutting back and making some only-digital issues? How about people without great electronics who won’t have access? I think that's a travesty.
Catherine Grossman
Midtown
Protect our planet
President Trump and the Republican Party don’t care if our air and water are clean, if our environment worsens, or if they are making life unsustainable.
The Republicans in the House and Senate, along with the EPA Administrator, are upending decades of environmental regulations that kept the air we breathe and water we drink safe. Their growing interest in data centers and artificial intelligence has fueled a surge in electricity demand that will increase air and water pollution and raise electricity bills.
All Arizona House and Senate Republicans voted for the “Big Beautiful Bill” that took a sledgehammer to climate progress, raised energy bills, jeopardized hundreds of thousands of clean energy jobs and made us, our kids and our communities sick from increased pollution. They sided with billionaire executives and polluters instead of families and communities.
We need real leadership on climate change, and to hold accountable those Republicans who put polluters first. We have that opportunity on Nov. 3.
Teresa Jenkins
SaddleBrooke
Loss of cottonwood tree in Lochiel
I was one of the last to see the 200-year-old Grandmother Cottonwood Tree that blocked border wall construction at Lochiel, Arizona. As I stood under it on Oct. 4, I had a political thought: “This tree was probably a seedling when Thomas Jefferson was alive.”
Sixteen hours later (on the morning of Oct. 5), armed, uniformed Border Patrol agents shoved aside protesters and cut down the tree. Now the wall construction can proceed.
The loss of the big tree has affected me more than I expected. Mostly, it made me think about politics and the passage of time. What plants and animals may be inconvenient according to future politics — or conversely, when might sections of the border wall become inconvenient?
On Oct. 4, my friends and I wondered how long this particular controversial section of the wall might last. Our best guess was: “Until the next administration, or maybe the one after that.”
But the old cottonwood won’t be a part of that future.
David DeGroot
Northwest side
Voting and health
As ballots mail out, I urge everyone to exercise their right to vote. While it is easy to get jaded about politics and the “system,” it is important to recognize that the impacts of voting (or not voting) can be wide-ranging.
Take, for example, cuts to SNAP and AHCCCS under H.R. 1, hurting families across Arizona. If more people voted differently, would it be fair to assume that these cuts could have been avoided?
As a Master of Public Health student at the University of Arizona, the concept of the “Political Determinants of Health,” or how political decisions impact health, has come to the forefront. Votes are not simply choices between people and parties; they are choices about policies and priorities that shape our communities and, ultimately, our health.
One person may feel insignificant, but collectively, we have the power to shape our communities. So, when your ballot arrives, use your power.
Mon Lacea
North side
Bad AI
With all the new tech, I have wondered what the future of reading and writing will be. At one time, script was eliminated from the curriculum in some primary schools and then returned. With AI everywhere, it is even in my email with auto correct changing my texts and effectively making my intent into bad jokes. I was initially amused. My eyesight has deteriorated seriously and increasingly enjoy audiobooks. Remember books on tape? YouTube offers many books from my favorite authors for free, and I have lately listened to AI-generated stories. They are so awful and obviously AI. I laugh at the terrible mispronunciation and fake accents. Today I was struck by the errors in the subtitles. For example, "foals" became "fools" in a story about horses in Texas. It happens so often, and it is obvious that there is no editing or quality control. I think it will make learning to spell more difficult for young learners.
Barbara Moore
East side
Reality check
The concept or belief that the economy can depend on continued growth based on consumerism is illogical. As the supply of essential resources declines and, in turn, becomes more expensive, the economy will have to be driven by other activities. When I read about people outraged by energy costs, they must be reminded that oil is limited and the population of the world is ever-increasing, so the demand will exceed the supply. At some point, the use of alternative energy sources will not be a choice. We also must consider that the massive waste in the way we live is not sustainable. What if manufacturers could only have new models every three years instead of every year? The emphasis would be on repair and parts manufacturing. Having a new phone every year is a luxury we might not be able to afford. I know some of you will say this is all a fantasy, but consider Arizona's dire water situation. There will be a point when water will become very expensive.
Kalvin Smith
Midtown
Variety? This ‘spice’ we don't need
I fear an Oct. 4 letter to the editor is attempting to sane-wash Donald Trump, who is not simply “an extremely unlikeable human being.” He is mired in a level of corruption and lawlessness that would make Nixon blush. His incompetence and that of those surrounding him endanger the country. Trump is manifestly unfit to hold the office of the presidency and disgraces that office every time he appears, or worse, opens his mouth. He lies nonstop and constantly threatens to “punish” those who criticize him — the president is meant to serve all the people, even those who disagree with him. Trump’s questionable “positive things” are dwarfed by the magnitude of his indecency and lack of character.
S. Ross Emmanuel
Southeast side
Candidate integrity
This is in response to an Oct. 3 letter to the editor that indicates that Andy Biggs has integrity, but Katie Hobbs does not. May I remind all of our readers that Biggs was a 2020 election denier and urged Arizona Republicans, including the speaker of the statehouse, not to certify valid election results. Biggs claimed voter fraud, with, of course, zero proof. Voters need to remember this when voting.
John Kaufman
SaddleBrooke
Need to save lives in the desert
For more than 20 years, Humane Borders has maintained water stations in the Sonoran Desert. Their main purpose is to save migrant lives. But the water is available for hikers, hunters, or anyone wandering in the desert. Now the federal agencies in charge of public lands have ordered Humane Borders to remove its water stations. The organization has done so, apparently to maintain its “law-abiding” reputation.
I was a Humane Borders volunteer for 10 years. I saw much evidence of life-saving water use, usually in the form of discarded belongings, even from mothers with small children who left baby clothing near our stations.
In my opinion, Humane Borders’ decision to comply with the government’s immoral directive was wrong. The best way to fight against the Trump administration’s authoritarian culture of cruelty is to resist and to help others in need, whatever the consequences may be.
Stephen Saltonstall
Northeast side
Safe and secure voting for everyone
If you vote by mail, you can drop off your signed and completed mail-in ballot at a secure Ballot Drop Box near you. They open Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 8 a.m. and will remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until Election Day, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. Ballots are picked up twice a day and are carefully monitored. Locate one near you on your county recorder’s website (example: recorder.pima.gov/dropboxes). The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 23.
If you vote in person, take advantage of a nearby Early Voting Site and vote when it’s convenient. Life happens even on election day. Go to your county recorder’s website/earlyvotingsites. Your vote is too important to leave to chance.
Know your candidates, vote the entire ballot. The sooner you vote, the less likely you are to have people calling, texting and coming to your door. Voting early is good for all of us.
When we vote, we win!
Betsy Wexler
Oro Valley
Catching up is hard to do
I hear complaints about the condition of our roads and the ongoing construction.
The City of Tucson is in the fifth year of a 10-year effort to touch every neighborhood street in the city. See the progress that has been made and projects in process in both neighborhood and collector streets at tucne.ws/tdbsss.
Also, in March, the voters approved RTANext. The City has approved a tentative list of 28 road rehabilitation projects, of which six were selected for construction in FY 26/27 on a $144 million project. Work is already in process on Irvington — Houghton to Kolb, one of the worst. The other five segments are on Silverbell, Swan, Alvernon, Kolb and Wrightstown.
Also, work continues on RTA Projects and other safety, bicycle and pedestrian improvements. Yes, catching up is progressing.
Dale Calvert
Northeast side
Voters beware: Demand proof
With Election Day only a month away and early voting about to begin, we've entered the cesspool phase of politics. One tactic to be aware of is when a candidate paraphrases what his or her opponent supposedly said about an issue without providing an actual contextual quote that exists in audio, video or printed format. A good example is the claim by CD 6's GOP candidate that his opponent wants to defund the police. Of course, if his opponent ever unambiguously said or wrote that, we'd be hearing and/or reading an actual quote instead of a characterization of one. The failure to furnish any such evidence is strong evidence that it does not exist. While it is true that this tactic may sway some on the fringe, it is based on the premise that voters are stupid and inattentive. But because you are not, don't fall for this crap.
Bruce Skolnik
Northeast side
‘Scalia/Ginsberg’ opera
I went to the "comic" opera “Scalia/Ginsburg.” The comedy was largely Scalia’s exaggerated pounding around the stage and being subjected to unending left-wing barbs, cheered on by the audience. The Constitution came up, pitting the sober originalist position versus the romantic living views of the Constitution.
For Ginsburg, “Scalia/Ginsburg” was a “dream come true.” Scalia, an enthusiastic singer, doubting the author would let him and Ginsburg play the singing roles themselves, finished with, “Even so, it may be a good show.”
The third person on the set, the “Commentator,” was a distraction, better done without. This was not an opera, rather a musical. Notwithstanding the excellent orchestra, the production didn’t measure up.
Don Clarke
Sahuarita
The obvious answer
You don't need a degree in psychology to understand what's happening and the whys and wherefores when it comes to drivers speeding. Why do some drivers go 70 mph in a 40 zone? Or constantly 15 to 20 mph over the speed limit?
I can think of at least three reasons. No. 1: complete lack of enforcement. No. 2: everyone else is doing it. No. 3: I'm one of the best drivers on the road ... I won't be in an accident!
Maybe it's because of better pay/benefits in other cities ... or maybe the police force is stretched too thin . Whatever the reason, everyone knows "When the cat's away, the mice will play," and in this case the cats are nowhere to be found!
We don't have the enforcement that we so need. Something has to change.
Maybe a different mayor could figure it out!
David Hatch
Southeast side
Reinvent Fourth Ave. and ICE out!
Tim Steller's Oct. 4 column "4th Ave. woes go beyond parking" provided well-prepared food for thought, so here are my undercooked proposals which might cause a stomachache to some:
1) Inaugurate the "Fourth Avenue International Arts and Diversity District" with exhibits and performance spaces.
2) Do away with the parking meters and give everyone three free hours, and only ticket repeat offenders
OR
3) Pull up the pavement (minus the Sun Link streetcar) and make Fourth Avenue a pedestrian mall with a robust shade canopy of native trees to mitigate rising heat.
4) Increase Sun Link service to shuttle people back and forth from existing parking garages and lots (all free).
5) Have a center on Fourth Avenue to support those struggling with homelessness and substance use.
6) Vote out all politicians who support ICE, which scares away local residents and foreign visitors, further harming the economy.
7) Bring back Magpie's pizza.
Richard Boren
Midtown
Biggs’ run for governor
We are $40T in debt, yet "conservative" Andy Biggs has done nothing to stop the obscene spending. Our Constitution and rule of law have burned to the ground, yet "conservative" Biggs did nothing but stand by and watch them burn. Biggs says he is a leader and anti-corruption. Biggs says he will put Arizona first. That would be easier to believe if, during all his years in Congress, he had put our country first. He didn't. We have to stop electing people like Andy Biggs to office.
Dave Rollins
Patagonia
More like this...
Great memory of RichRod
I was watching Arizona’s 52-31 win over West Virginia on Saturday, and it brought back memories of meeting ex-UA football coach Rich Rodgiuez at Fini’s restaurant back in November 2018. I was with my girlfriend at the time, and I looked over and thought that it might be him at the bar, having a beer with fellow golf friends. We had never met. We walked over, and I said, "Are you RichRod?" and he stood up and said, "Yes, I am!” He was a total gentleman; we talked a little about the great job he did while here, about his son and my reaction to his firing being part of sports politics. He was very modest, and what an impression he left on my ex. He would have spent more time with us, but he had a beer and friends waiting, which I realized, so we said thank you and said goodbye. We both, I'm sure, will never forget that time!
James Coughlin
Northeast side
AI will follow the money
Every AI leader warns that it will become exponentially smarter every six months and go far beyond any human capacity. Yet your Congress and the President do nothing.
New medicines and inventions can go through years of reviews and testing. Hell, last month they were protecting us from lettuce bugs, but now, with the potential to destroy banking, power grids, medical services, water systems and create horrific weapons and diseases, they hide under the sheet of “self-regulation.”
To their credit, all AI leaders say they need to slow down; the dangers are too great, but none do or will, because to slow down is to lose, and the losses will be measured in trillions.
There are so many forgotten examples of what should be obvious to all. My favorite being the seven big tobacco companies joining arms and swearing their product was not addictive or cancerous.
Good God, please vote smart this election!
Richard Kimball
Midtown
Community oversight of data centers
A recent letter (“Data Centers”) claimed that opposing new data center construction will halt economic progress and set commercial application of information technology back 75 years. This misrepresents today’s building surge and trivializes legitimate community concerns.
Every digital service cited — streaming, cloud storage, online banking, e-commerce, social media and early AI tools — existed long before the current construction boom. The digital economy is not suddenly vulnerable, nor does its future depend on approving every proposed facility.
What has changed is the explosive rise of generative AI and machine learning workloads, which require massive, power-intensive campuses. Communities are being asked to absorb the environmental, infrastructure, and often tax incentive burdens of an industry racing to build capacity for AI models demanding unprecedented electricity, cooling and land.
Residents are not anti-technology. They are insisting on responsible planning. Opposing reckless, resource-heavy expansion is not halting progress. It is the fundamental due diligence required to protect the community.
Anthony Gary
Foothills
Medicare on-time payment
Recently I received an email from President Trump announcing that I would receive a one-time payment of $90 to offset the cost of my October Medicare premium. The email also implies that this was approved by Congress. The exact wording was “provided by”. Really? Does he think $90 will buy senior votes? This payment did not come from any altruistic motive for improving people's lives; it is clearly a self-serving, albeit crass, attempt to bribe people to vote for his party. It’s disturbing and insulting. I’m taking this $90, paid for by taxpayers, and donating $30 each to candidates that I wanted to support but didn’t have the resources to do so. Thanks, Trump! I encourage fellow recipients to do the same if possible. Also, public viewing of a military execution? For pity’s sake, that is so disgusting and not who we are as Americans. Make your voice heard and vote.
Gail Slentz
North side
How low can we go?
Every morning I wake up wondering what fresh hell President Trump and his minions have created. Last week hit an all-time low. Trump suggested that it would be a small price to pay to have Iran take out Los Angeles and San Diego. I wonder if our Commander in Chief knows that 115,607 active-duty military and 230,000 veterans call San Diego home.
Then there is Pete Hegseth, former Fox News host, now Secretary of Defense, calling for a live-stream execution. I guess he got the idea from jihadist terrorists. Surely we are better than this, although electing Trump to a second term really makes me wonder. Think carefully this November when you cast your ballot. Let's get rid of the Trump enablers who helped to create the straits we are in.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Save the Republican Party
I believe that having a strong Democratic and Republican Party is essential to our Democratic system of governance. I have some admiration for both parties. I am alarmed that the Republican Party is now under attack from within. The enemy is the extreme branch known as MAGA. It has ultimate control over the party, and it keeps a low stance, a bit like a virus. Candidates fear it, cabinet officials fear it, and Trump fears it. Republicans, including Trump, are now loath to use MAGA! to rally the troops because it has become a toxic brand to many people. If you are a Republican and share any similar feelings, you might understand my concern. It is ironic that it might be necessary to vote for the other party this time to save your own.
Michael Burdoo
West side
Be careful with your vote
If you vote for Juan Ciscomani, you are voting for Donald Trump. Please don't.
David Hass
Foothills
Tamara Moot's op-ed
I am 101 years old. I cried when I read Tamara Moots’ op-ed last week about the Grandmother cottonwood. I felt her anger, and underneath her agony, I felt her humanity. What will it take to recognize kindness and face these common dangers to us all? Is there any empathy left, any understanding? Are we just going to kill each other off by any means?
Years ago, when I was teaching little children, I felt close to God every day. Now we don't seem to care enough. Have we learned anything at all?
We are going to lose our free way of life if we don't stand up for truth.
Alice Treiber
Midtown
Lochiel Grandmother tree
Driving around town, I and my geriatric eyes mistook a young saguaro for a girl in a green jumpsuit, hitchhiking.
I don’t believe in the soul.
I do believe, to paraphrase Ed Abbey, “sentiment without action rots your soul.”
What’s left of me and my soul camps out in the heart of this 200-year-old cottonwood, the last of the grandmother trees still standing in the path of the new border wall, her sisters chainsawed into trash.
I’ve got water and enough trail mix to last a week; I’ve got a harness, rope, my old jackknife and hard rubber climbing spurs for scaling the trunk when the agents of the state, their gloves sparking, arrive to arrest me.
Smiling, I imagine them chasing this aching grandpa body up through the leaves and into the unbelievable, breathable air.
Jefferson Carter
Midtown
‘None so blind …’
The letter "November election" provided a window into the fantasy world of MAGA. It made me ponder what it's like for the 30% going through the world wearing virtual reality goggles. The author tells us how Trump "works every day" — meaning when he's not sleeping through meetings or working on his next AI/photoshop project, like when he depicted the Obamas as apes. Yes, he's working very hard — to enrich himself and his family at every turn, at our expense. The letter writer claims that Democrats in Washington "meekly do whatever the leaders say.” No bigger silent sheep exist in Washington than the Republicans. The president has told Republicans to "cheat like hell" to prevail in November. Such integrity! He's told Iran to go ahead and nuke L.A. and San Diego. Worry about your freedom? Ask those citizens killed by ICE, who lost a lot more than their freedom. Just another day in Trump land.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
To each his own
The article that former First Lady Michelle Obama is extremely opposed to changes made by the current president to the White House is ridiculous. Personally, I think the helicopter pad is a much better and more useful idea than the basketball court her husband had constructed. Almost every president put his own touches on the residence he inhabits for at least four years. Besides the basketball court, the Obamas made changes to the State Dining Room, the Old Family Dining Room, added more solar panels and made other visible refurbishments. Why does this even matter to her?
Martha Cunningham
Northwest side
I gotta agree
Fulsome thanks to Bruce Johnson for his letter to the editor on Oct. 7, "I gotta vent," for excoriating the shameful and indefensible behavior of the news media and people of this country toward President Joe Biden. All true: the "threats insults and humiliation" directed at his wife and children. All true: the press attacks, "24/7 being drawn and quartered, every sentence dissected, constantly pressured to do this or that, without an ounce of moral support.”
Honest people remember all of that scurrilous, undeserved treatment. Too bad Mr. Trump hasn't had to face any of that from the press and public.
Gary Susko
Midtown
Execution methods — an alternative
Lethal injection, firing squad, electric chair, gas chamber, hanging. All have been considered in recent editorial and expert commentary. But there is an alternative: the French alternative. No, not that one: what they do now. They don't execute anybody.
(This fits with my church's teaching, which has gone on record at almost every one of its general conventions since 1958 advocating the abolition of the death penalty.)
John Leech
Foothills
Who backs Ciscomani?
It is disheartening to see the face of Rep. Juan Ciscomani flooding our TV and computer screens now. Here’s an elected official who, for a year and a half, would not even hold an open public meeting because he’d have been drowned out in boos. These Ciscomani ads claim he’s been a champion of working families. Huh? Ciscomani voted nearly 100% of the time to please his wealthy donors and to enable Trump — a violation of his oath to protect the Constitution. Now those billionaires are giving Ciscomani’s campaign unlimited funds to smear his opponent. The sheer number of ads can make it seem he has broad public support. Don’t fall for it. Ciscomani doesn’t care about you. Vote for JoAnna Mendoza and let’s get on with creating an economy that rewards all of us, not just the billionaire class.
Mark Hengesbaugh
Foothills
Join us for the No Kings Rally
As a retired American government teacher, I know the importance of voting. This year's election could be one of the most important in our lifetime. People all over the Tucson area will be joining the No Kings rallies on Saturday, Oct. 17. I will be attending the one on River Road and Via Entrada at 9:30 a.m. Come join us!
Dan Beamer
Northwest side
Parking meter fees hurt businesses
Here is a suggestion for the complaints of downtown and Fourth Avenue merchants that high parking meter fees are driving away customers. Make all parking free (or at least substantially lowered) and replace the lost income to the city by restarting the fees for buses and streetcars. Free bus fares cause safety concerns for the drivers and passengers alike. Replacing income from meters with income from transit solves two distinct problems with the same solution.
Ronald Lent
East side
Building skills, building futures
I’ve reskilled throughout my career, and one lesson has stayed with me. The ability to learn, adapt and take on something new can make all the difference.
That’s why Pima Community College matters to Southern Arizona.
Not everyone follows a straight path from high school to a four-year degree and into one career. People change careers. Industries change. Workers need new skills. Parents return to school. And sometimes the next opportunity requires learning something completely different.
Pima College gives people a way to do that right here in our community with small classes, qualified faculty and programs tied to the needs of our community. With low tuition rates, it makes that opportunity accessible to more people.
A stronger community is one where people have the chance to keep learning, keep adapting and keep contributing. Pima Community College plays an important role in making that possible. That’s why I support Proposition 430 and hope voters will do the same.
Salvador Aguirre
Midtown
Trump is on the ballot
Election Day is near. Trump's name is not on the ballot ... actually, it is. Every GOP representative and senator who enabled Trump to carry out his attempted destruction of our democracy is on the ballot. Both GOP Houses of Congress allowed Trump to cut taxes for the wealthy, impose tariffs against our allies and us and disable healthcare, education and social services. They allowed drastic increases in the cost of gas, food, housing and environmental destruction. They allowed Trump to start a war that is endless and has decimated our military's preparedness, costing us billions. The GOP Congress approved Pete Hegseth and Todd Blanche . The GOP Congress allowed Trump to follow Russell Vought and Stephen Miller of Project 2025. The GOP Congress was blatantly complicit in creating this disaster.
Richard Bechtold
West side
Grandmother tree murder
Tamara Moots’ eulogy for the murder of this wonderful cottonwood tree brought tears to my eyes.
Yes, the arrogance of rich humans determines what lifeforms live or die. She got it right.
I have many desert plants in my front and back yards.
When they are damaged by storms, I cry.
Our species cannot survive without trees and plant lifeforms. Read the Bible. God made them first.
Karen Papagapitos
Northwest side
Ancient trees
My mornings typically start with coffee and the Arizona Daily Star followed by The Guardian. The Star had a moving opinion piece by Tamara Moots, “Murder of the Grandmother Tree,” about the destruction of the ancient cottonwood tree on the border. In today’s Guardian is an article about another ancient tree in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, that somehow survived Dutch elm disease, which killed most of Ireland’s elm trees. The photo of the wych elm tree, named “Bendy Tree,” shows the tree leaning almost horizontal due to high winds off the Irish Sea. The tree is appreciated for “providing shade, wellbeing and health benefits, stories, culture and pride of place.” It is interesting to compare and contrast these perspectives. Your readers might like to see another view of what is valued.
Diana Holmes
Oro Valley
Grandmother cottonwood toppled
Four ancient cottonwood trees at Lochiel on the US/Mexico border were sacrificed for wall-building progress; they were judged to be blocking. Four living beings, much older than most of us on this Earth, were killed because a double wall across the beautiful San Rafael Valley east of Nogales is deemed to be necessary for our national security. Killing these ancient trees for a lie the current administration wants us to believe is an abomination and a sacrilege. We must call it what it is.
Jim Marx
Midtown
We need to talk about indoor heat
As the summer heat finally winds down, we need to address a mounting public health crisis: indoor heat. When we think of extreme heat in Tucson, we think of outdoor temperatures soaring into triple digits. However, high indoor temperatures can be just as deadly. According to Pima County statistics, of the 179 heat-related deaths in Pima County this year, almost 40% (70 deaths) occurred inside. If a tenant’s AC unit breaks during the summer, the landlord has five days to repair the unit. If landlords fail to act, tenants can fix the issue themselves (if they have the funds) but can only recoup $300 or half a month's rent from the landlord. Landlords should be required to provide temporary relief (window units or hotels), and tenants should be able to recoup higher costs if needed. Summers are getting hotter, and we need to protect against more indoor heat deaths.
Beryl Trudinger-Smith
Midtown
Thanks for a positive comment
I wish to thank Mr. Tom McGorray for his pleasant and uplifting letter, “Lucky Seven,” on Oct. 6.
We need more of these types of letters.
Maria Frisby
West side
Above the law?
The Star’s article on Oct. 5 pointed out that “fake electors” are aiming to block future prosecution.
The Republican Party controls Arizona and passes the laws. In Arizona, Republicans control the Senate and the House; even the Arizona Supreme Court justices were mostly appointed by Republican governors.
Not to mention the fourth branch of government, i.e., ACC, is all Republicans.
Voters need to balance the game and balance Arizona’s economy.
Dan Bannon
Midtown
Make your world a better place
Hate what’s happening in the world today? Can’t stand the politicians who are ruining everything? You have the power to change that. Take the time to get to know the people who will improve your life.
Consult reliable sources for information about candidates’ qualifications and positions on issues that matter to you. Be discerning. Check political ads for accuracy using online sources like Snopes, PolitiFact and Verify.
Citizens who do not vote elect bad officials. Eligibility enables us to vote, but only voting enables good candidates to win.
Yes, politics can be depressing, but the solution is not to walk away. The solution is to change the politics you despise. Choose to be part of that solution. Make your world a better place by voting for it.
Nancy Atherton
Foothills
Yes on Prop. 430
Pima Community College offers local students something incredibly valuable — a high-quality education close to home at a fraction of the cost of a university.
Pima College costs about one-fifth of what students pay at Arizona’s public universities. Students learn in smaller classes from qualified, experienced faculty who are there to teach and help them succeed. They get more personal attention while preparing for the jobs our community needs — from healthcare and public safety to education, technology and the skilled trades.
An affordable education here allows students to gain new skills, advance their careers and build their futures in Southern Arizona. They bring those skills back to our workplaces, businesses and communities, strengthening our region from the ground up.
Proposition 430 will help ensure Pima Community College has the facilities and technology students need to succeed. It’s at the end of the ballot, so don’t miss it. Join me in voting yes on Prop. 430.
Fausto Hopkins
North side
Protecting our community against gun violence
Last week, there were two acts of gun violence that occurred in Marana/Northwest Tucson; however, this is not the first act of gun violence we have seen in Arizona.
As a graduate student in public health, I am familiar with the impacts these acts can have on a community and the need for community members to speak up and advocate. I am asking for politicians and community members to urge an increase in required permits to conceal carry weapons, hold stronger background checks, and work towards implementing the Pass Secure Storage (or Child Access Prevention) Law in Arizona.
No, I am not asking for the removal of your firearms; simply, I am asking for us to recognize that gun violence affects everyone. Through advocacy and unity, I hope Arizona can come together to work on protecting our communities by improving laws on firearm permits, background checks and secure firearm storage.
Rachel Figueroa
Marana
Two sides of the coin
An Op-ed this week in the Star lambasts the platform of Democratic Socialists as if they were the entire Democratic Party. I think most Democrats reject the Democratic Socialist platform. The piece touts the glories of Republicans, completely ignoring that there are white nationalists and neo-Nazis in the Republican Party as counterparts to Democratic Socialists. I don't for a moment think that such white nationalist, neo-Nazi views reflect the views of the clear majority of Republicans.
Michael Price
Northwest side
Parking problems go beyond Fourth Avenue
The City of Tucson wants to be business-friendly, but approving businesses or parking reductions without sufficient on-site parking can simply transfer the burden to neighboring businesses and residents.
Supporting new businesses is important, but it should not come at the expense of established businesses and nearby residents. When adequate parking is not required, competition for limited street parking creates frustration and unnecessary conflict among neighbors.
Being business-friendly should include protecting the businesses and residents who are already there.
Lupita Shestko-Montiel
Midtown
Thoughts on stamps and Mount Lemmon
On the recent article about stamp collecting: I have two collections dating back to the early 1960s with stamps from around the world and from foreign students who visited us. I took this collection in 10 years ago and was told just to put the stamps on an envelope and use them. That’s their value. The whole collection went back up on the closet shelf in hopes that the tide will turn.
The recent letter to the editor about bicycle riders on Mount Lemmon spoke of 20 riders all in a line. It would truly be nice if they would ride five bicyclists with the space of a car so when we pass you, there is not a head-on collision, or we get too close to the cyclists. There is nowhere on Mount Lemmon where you can pass 20 bicyclists safely. You have to do your part.
Penny Gassan
West side
County ignores residents
A zoning meeting was held to change zoning in a Buffer & SR area to Type 1 Conditional near Old Spanish Trail and Irvington Road. A rural area near Saguaro Park. A 10-acre parcel in a residential area is for sale. Buyer wants to put in a large animal hospital. Large building, arenas, lights, approximately 13 employees. Traffic, noise, lights, animal and medical waste, animal infections and disease. A wildlife corridor runs through the property. Everything else is single-family residences. The county does not maintain the roads, as we all know. Neighbors voiced their objections, but the Administrator ruled against us. Why is it that the local government will not listen and serve the residents of Tucson and Pima County. They only want to serve commercial projects, I guess, for higher-paying taxes. I guess the residents haven't paid enough all these years. Can you imagine living right next door to, or behind, a large animal hospital? The county seems to think it’s OK. And it's in the SR & Buffer Zone.
Lois Bowen
Southeast side
Parking
My wife and I enjoy the Arizona Theatre Company, but avoid it unless there is something we really want to see due to the parking issues. Meters have limited time slots, and we have to go feed the meter when we park (if we can find a space) at intermission, if there is one. As noted in Tim Steller's opinion, we are nearly 80 and have difficulty dealing with the apps necessary to park and the fact that nearly 50% of meters don't accept coins, we are excluded. We would go more often if parking were available.
Robert Emery
Foothills
Heat-safety regulations across industries
I’m writing to advocate for stronger and more consistent workplace heat-safety regulations across industries. I’m concerned by the rising number of heat-related injuries and illnesses in Arizona, which disproportionately affect those who work outdoors and in manual labor positions.
I believe that workplaces should have heat safety and mitigation plans/regulations because:
– Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths. Without proper ways to provide heat protection and hydration, many workers face health problems and even death.
– Regulations need to be put in place to continue working in extreme heat, enforcing them and ensuring hydration and shade creates more sustainable working conditions.
– Heat-related illnesses increase emergency room visits; having a preventative system reduces and maintains productivity.
With the implementation of proper funding and regulations, Arizonans would greatly benefit with reductions in the number of annual heat-related deaths and hospital/emergency room visits. Safer working conditions should be properly established and enforced so that Arizonans can work safely.
Daniela Valdez
Midtown
2026 election
Trump’s approach to governing is causing unneeded chaos, corruption and cruelty in the USA and around the world. We clearly see this every day now. His approach is not serving America well. He is surrounded by yes-men and with a cabinet stacked with billionaires. This is not normal. This is not right. No more wars, reducing debt, being honest, lowering prices; these goals are now a joke . Their approach is un-American and sometimes illegal. It was only a few years ago that most Republicans would be sickened by the current federal policies; now they seem to support them. Trump is not on the ballot, but his enablers are; please do not support the enablers. It’s time for a change. Please vote for only Independents and Democrats this November.
Ron Wilcocks
Foothills
2026 vote
My Catholic church has been on the wrong side of moral, ethical and spiritual life and culture many times. From the Crusades, Spanish Inquisition, slavery and anti-colonialism, anti-Semitism, clerical abuse cover-up, and yes, Trump Ver. 1 and 2, clergy and the church have just plain been wrong, out of step, and dangerously close to past historical infractions. Our church has not been the champion of 'your tired, poor and huddled masses' the past 10 years. Shame on us! Please, please, Catholic leadership and parishioners, see the vision of the corrupt and non-Christian current administration's actions. Provide the direction to 60 million Catholics in the United States to morality and the Catholic norms that Pope Francis has directed us. I applaud and embrace the separation of church and state but also espouse the power of the homily pulpit and pastoral counsel. Please, fellow Catholics, be the change Pope Francis asked us to be.
John (Jay) Van Echo, PE
West side
Nuclear bombs
I wonder if Arizona Republicans realize that if Iran actually has nuclear weapons and takes Trump up on his suggestion to bomb L.A. and San Diego, the poisonous fallout will blanket Arizona. I wonder if they care about the ensuing deaths since they already endorsed the cutoff of funds to USAID, which will kill thousands; the deaths and injuries to law enforcement during the Jan. 6 insurrection; the cutoff of healthcare and food assistance that could lead to deaths from lack of crucial medicine and starvation; and the elimination of pollution regulations that will lead to the return of toxic air and water. Please save us by voting for Democrats.
Dee Maitland
Marana
Yes on Prop 319
Vote yes on Prop 319, the statewide ballot initiative brought forward by the legislature to ban all forms of photo enforcement in Arizona.
Tucson voters recognized the predatory nature of photo enforcement, red light cameras in particular, and voted overwhelmingly to ban all forms of photo enforcement within the city in 2015. Now more cities are realizing what we knew then: photo enforcement is more about generating revenue for camera suppliers and cities than it is about safety. Drivers have the right to face their accusers; therefore, the only valid citations should be those issued by the officer who witnesses the violation and can testify in court. We need police, not cameras.
Ban photo enforcement in Arizona … vote yes on Prop 319.
Paul Peterson
East side
Daily Star’s cutbacks
I, too, have had a print edition of newspapers my entire life. The Arizona Daily Star is now cutting back and making some only-digital issues? How about people without great electronics who won’t have access? I think that's a travesty.
Catherine Grossman
Midtown
Protect our planet
President Trump and the Republican Party don’t care if our air and water are clean, if our environment worsens, or if they are making life unsustainable.
The Republicans in the House and Senate, along with the EPA Administrator, are upending decades of environmental regulations that kept the air we breathe and water we drink safe. Their growing interest in data centers and artificial intelligence has fueled a surge in electricity demand that will increase air and water pollution and raise electricity bills.
All Arizona House and Senate Republicans voted for the “Big Beautiful Bill” that took a sledgehammer to climate progress, raised energy bills, jeopardized hundreds of thousands of clean energy jobs and made us, our kids and our communities sick from increased pollution. They sided with billionaire executives and polluters instead of families and communities.
We need real leadership on climate change, and to hold accountable those Republicans who put polluters first. We have that opportunity on Nov. 3.
Teresa Jenkins
SaddleBrooke
Loss of cottonwood tree in Lochiel
I was one of the last to see the 200-year-old Grandmother Cottonwood Tree that blocked border wall construction at Lochiel, Arizona. As I stood under it on Oct. 4, I had a political thought: “This tree was probably a seedling when Thomas Jefferson was alive.”
Sixteen hours later (on the morning of Oct. 5), armed, uniformed Border Patrol agents shoved aside protesters and cut down the tree. Now the wall construction can proceed.
The loss of the big tree has affected me more than I expected. Mostly, it made me think about politics and the passage of time. What plants and animals may be inconvenient according to future politics — or conversely, when might sections of the border wall become inconvenient?
On Oct. 4, my friends and I wondered how long this particular controversial section of the wall might last. Our best guess was: “Until the next administration, or maybe the one after that.”
But the old cottonwood won’t be a part of that future.
David DeGroot
Northwest side
Voting and health
As ballots mail out, I urge everyone to exercise their right to vote. While it is easy to get jaded about politics and the “system,” it is important to recognize that the impacts of voting (or not voting) can be wide-ranging.
Take, for example, cuts to SNAP and AHCCCS under H.R. 1, hurting families across Arizona. If more people voted differently, would it be fair to assume that these cuts could have been avoided?
As a Master of Public Health student at the University of Arizona, the concept of the “Political Determinants of Health,” or how political decisions impact health, has come to the forefront. Votes are not simply choices between people and parties; they are choices about policies and priorities that shape our communities and, ultimately, our health.
One person may feel insignificant, but collectively, we have the power to shape our communities. So, when your ballot arrives, use your power.
Mon Lacea
North side
Bad AI
With all the new tech, I have wondered what the future of reading and writing will be. At one time, script was eliminated from the curriculum in some primary schools and then returned. With AI everywhere, it is even in my email with auto correct changing my texts and effectively making my intent into bad jokes. I was initially amused. My eyesight has deteriorated seriously and increasingly enjoy audiobooks. Remember books on tape? YouTube offers many books from my favorite authors for free, and I have lately listened to AI-generated stories. They are so awful and obviously AI. I laugh at the terrible mispronunciation and fake accents. Today I was struck by the errors in the subtitles. For example, "foals" became "fools" in a story about horses in Texas. It happens so often, and it is obvious that there is no editing or quality control. I think it will make learning to spell more difficult for young learners.
Barbara Moore
East side
Reality check
The concept or belief that the economy can depend on continued growth based on consumerism is illogical. As the supply of essential resources declines and, in turn, becomes more expensive, the economy will have to be driven by other activities. When I read about people outraged by energy costs, they must be reminded that oil is limited and the population of the world is ever-increasing, so the demand will exceed the supply. At some point, the use of alternative energy sources will not be a choice. We also must consider that the massive waste in the way we live is not sustainable. What if manufacturers could only have new models every three years instead of every year? The emphasis would be on repair and parts manufacturing. Having a new phone every year is a luxury we might not be able to afford. I know some of you will say this is all a fantasy, but consider Arizona's dire water situation. There will be a point when water will become very expensive.
Kalvin Smith
Midtown
Variety? This ‘spice’ we don't need
I fear an Oct. 4 letter to the editor is attempting to sane-wash Donald Trump, who is not simply “an extremely unlikeable human being.” He is mired in a level of corruption and lawlessness that would make Nixon blush. His incompetence and that of those surrounding him endanger the country. Trump is manifestly unfit to hold the office of the presidency and disgraces that office every time he appears, or worse, opens his mouth. He lies nonstop and constantly threatens to “punish” those who criticize him — the president is meant to serve all the people, even those who disagree with him. Trump’s questionable “positive things” are dwarfed by the magnitude of his indecency and lack of character.
S. Ross Emmanuel
Southeast side
Candidate integrity
This is in response to an Oct. 3 letter to the editor that indicates that Andy Biggs has integrity, but Katie Hobbs does not. May I remind all of our readers that Biggs was a 2020 election denier and urged Arizona Republicans, including the speaker of the statehouse, not to certify valid election results. Biggs claimed voter fraud, with, of course, zero proof. Voters need to remember this when voting.
John Kaufman
SaddleBrooke
Need to save lives in the desert
For more than 20 years, Humane Borders has maintained water stations in the Sonoran Desert. Their main purpose is to save migrant lives. But the water is available for hikers, hunters, or anyone wandering in the desert. Now the federal agencies in charge of public lands have ordered Humane Borders to remove its water stations. The organization has done so, apparently to maintain its “law-abiding” reputation.
I was a Humane Borders volunteer for 10 years. I saw much evidence of life-saving water use, usually in the form of discarded belongings, even from mothers with small children who left baby clothing near our stations.
In my opinion, Humane Borders’ decision to comply with the government’s immoral directive was wrong. The best way to fight against the Trump administration’s authoritarian culture of cruelty is to resist and to help others in need, whatever the consequences may be.
Stephen Saltonstall
Northeast side
Safe and secure voting for everyone
If you vote by mail, you can drop off your signed and completed mail-in ballot at a secure Ballot Drop Box near you. They open Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 8 a.m. and will remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until Election Day, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. Ballots are picked up twice a day and are carefully monitored. Locate one near you on your county recorder’s website (example: recorder.pima.gov/dropboxes). The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 23.
If you vote in person, take advantage of a nearby Early Voting Site and vote when it’s convenient. Life happens even on election day. Go to your county recorder’s website/earlyvotingsites. Your vote is too important to leave to chance.
Know your candidates, vote the entire ballot. The sooner you vote, the less likely you are to have people calling, texting and coming to your door. Voting early is good for all of us.
When we vote, we win!
Betsy Wexler
Oro Valley
Catching up is hard to do
I hear complaints about the condition of our roads and the ongoing construction.
The City of Tucson is in the fifth year of a 10-year effort to touch every neighborhood street in the city. See the progress that has been made and projects in process in both neighborhood and collector streets at tucne.ws/tdbsss.
Also, in March, the voters approved RTANext. The City has approved a tentative list of 28 road rehabilitation projects, of which six were selected for construction in FY 26/27 on a $144 million project. Work is already in process on Irvington — Houghton to Kolb, one of the worst. The other five segments are on Silverbell, Swan, Alvernon, Kolb and Wrightstown.
Also, work continues on RTA Projects and other safety, bicycle and pedestrian improvements. Yes, catching up is progressing.
Dale Calvert
Northeast side
Voters beware: Demand proof
With Election Day only a month away and early voting about to begin, we've entered the cesspool phase of politics. One tactic to be aware of is when a candidate paraphrases what his or her opponent supposedly said about an issue without providing an actual contextual quote that exists in audio, video or printed format. A good example is the claim by CD 6's GOP candidate that his opponent wants to defund the police. Of course, if his opponent ever unambiguously said or wrote that, we'd be hearing and/or reading an actual quote instead of a characterization of one. The failure to furnish any such evidence is strong evidence that it does not exist. While it is true that this tactic may sway some on the fringe, it is based on the premise that voters are stupid and inattentive. But because you are not, don't fall for this crap.
Bruce Skolnik
Northeast side
‘Scalia/Ginsberg’ opera
I went to the "comic" opera “Scalia/Ginsburg.” The comedy was largely Scalia’s exaggerated pounding around the stage and being subjected to unending left-wing barbs, cheered on by the audience. The Constitution came up, pitting the sober originalist position versus the romantic living views of the Constitution.
For Ginsburg, “Scalia/Ginsburg” was a “dream come true.” Scalia, an enthusiastic singer, doubting the author would let him and Ginsburg play the singing roles themselves, finished with, “Even so, it may be a good show.”
The third person on the set, the “Commentator,” was a distraction, better done without. This was not an opera, rather a musical. Notwithstanding the excellent orchestra, the production didn’t measure up.
Don Clarke
Sahuarita
The obvious answer
You don't need a degree in psychology to understand what's happening and the whys and wherefores when it comes to drivers speeding. Why do some drivers go 70 mph in a 40 zone? Or constantly 15 to 20 mph over the speed limit?
I can think of at least three reasons. No. 1: complete lack of enforcement. No. 2: everyone else is doing it. No. 3: I'm one of the best drivers on the road ... I won't be in an accident!
Maybe it's because of better pay/benefits in other cities ... or maybe the police force is stretched too thin . Whatever the reason, everyone knows "When the cat's away, the mice will play," and in this case the cats are nowhere to be found!
We don't have the enforcement that we so need. Something has to change.
Maybe a different mayor could figure it out!
David Hatch
Southeast side
Reinvent Fourth Ave. and ICE out!
Tim Steller's Oct. 4 column "4th Ave. woes go beyond parking" provided well-prepared food for thought, so here are my undercooked proposals which might cause a stomachache to some:
1) Inaugurate the "Fourth Avenue International Arts and Diversity District" with exhibits and performance spaces.
2) Do away with the parking meters and give everyone three free hours, and only ticket repeat offenders
OR
3) Pull up the pavement (minus the Sun Link streetcar) and make Fourth Avenue a pedestrian mall with a robust shade canopy of native trees to mitigate rising heat.
4) Increase Sun Link service to shuttle people back and forth from existing parking garages and lots (all free).
5) Have a center on Fourth Avenue to support those struggling with homelessness and substance use.
6) Vote out all politicians who support ICE, which scares away local residents and foreign visitors, further harming the economy.
7) Bring back Magpie's pizza.
Richard Boren
Midtown
Biggs’ run for governor
We are $40T in debt, yet "conservative" Andy Biggs has done nothing to stop the obscene spending. Our Constitution and rule of law have burned to the ground, yet "conservative" Biggs did nothing but stand by and watch them burn. Biggs says he is a leader and anti-corruption. Biggs says he will put Arizona first. That would be easier to believe if, during all his years in Congress, he had put our country first. He didn't. We have to stop electing people like Andy Biggs to office.
Dave Rollins
Patagonia
