Tucson Speaks Out: Feb. 13 letters of the day

As someone recently diagnosed with early-stage cancer, I am extremely grateful to the doctors and medical professionals who treated me. I’m also thankful that we have the technology to catch cancers like mine early. As I’ve gotten more familiar with cancer treatments, I’ve realized the important role of nuclear diagnostics in identifying and treating cancer and other disease. Unfortunately, not all doctors are utilizing these diagnostic tools due to the complicated reimbursement methods that Medicare currently uses. That needs to change, and I’m hoping that Senators Sinema and Kelly are able to support the FIND Act, which is a bipartisan, budget-neutral bill that would protect Medicare beneficiaries' access to advanced diagnostic imaging procedures that identify dangerous conditions like cancer. It is critical in our nation’s fight against cancer and other devastating diseases.

Chris Coronado

Midtown

ACC Republicans have heads in AZ sand

I suppose it had to come to this. Our Republican Corporation Commissioners have now stuck their heads deeper into the Arizona sand created by overuse of groundwater and declining water tables. How? By starting a process to eliminate the paltry requirements that utilities must meet for renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Arizona, once a leader in both of these areas, now has the dubious honor of indirectly pushing for more fossil fuel power plants when cloudier states are pushing more renewables.

It's disappointing that these "regulators" now are talking about how we should just let the market regulate. How about doing your job by making sure the utility companies actually help all of us customers ... by providing cheap and clean renewables and supporting more energy efficiency! These standards have saved us money and helped our state. This new directive is a big step backward. Luckily, it's an election year for the ACC.

Bruce Plenk, former Solar Energy Coordinator for the City of Tucson 

Northeast side

Hoffman vs. Satan

Re: the Feb. 8 article "Panel votes to ban Satan displays from public property in Arizona."

Jake Hoffman, a state senator from Queen Creek, wants to ban images of Satan — “someone who is universally known to be an explicit enemy of God” — on public property. This enmity, he says, is known to “literally, everyone.” Satanic displays desecrate public property, Hoffman argues; Christmas trees and menorahs still make the approved list.

Apparently, Hoffman believes his brain is synced to that of every other person on the planet, and we all know the same things. But many cultures venerate deities that have nothing to do with the Judeo-Christian God. Do they rate a spot on the courthouse lawn?

It hasn’t come up yet, but what about H.P. Lovecraft’s crowded pantheon? Is Hoffman okay with an octopus-headed, bat-winged, clawed humanoid (Cthulhu)? Or Yog-Sothoth, who manifests as a solid, liquid, gas, or mass of iridescent spheres? As Old Ones from other regions of the space-time continuum, they never met God and could care less. They’re indifferent, yes, but not hostile.

Michael Rule

Midtown

Ciscomani and the border

Republicans, including my Congressman Juan Ciscomani, have a border policy. They exaggerate with military terms like "invasion" and then pose for photos standing near the border. When legislation strengthening border enforcement is reached by sincere senators, including conservative Lankford from his party, he obeys Mr. Trump's order not to fix the problem before the election.

Ciscomani presents himself to voters as a moderate. Voting to impeach a sitting cabinet member and for zealots to be Speaker of the House of Representatives is not moderate. His only action on the border was to support his benefactor, former Governor Ducey, in the $100-plus million plus boondoggle placing box cars purchased without competitive bids near the international boundary.

The last moderate Republican who tried to be helpful was Jim Kolbe. Ciscomani, you and your colleagues are no Jim Kolbe.

Barry Kirschner

Midtown

Switch parties

Re: the Feb. 6 letter "Will Dems share blame if Trump is re-elected?"

I concur with the letter writer. He said that Democrats should switch parties and vote for Nikki Haley, and I agree. Arizona is a semi-closed primary state, except unaffiliated voters can choose one of either primary to vote in. Democrats could also switch to “Independent” and then vote in the Republican primary for Nikki Haley. This may be tolerable for those Democrats who can’t stomach switching to the Republican Party. Additionally, I don’t believe it is too late. As Haley has stated, thus far she has 17 delegates and Trump has 32. The race is far from over.

Jerry Spaniol

East side

Presidential election

As an 80-year-old Independent, I find it disgusting that we have two candidates that will surpass 80 for president. Neither one can remember things they should at 60. Neither can I! We have an opportunity to elect the first woman for president who is capable, has experience, and an immigrant. What are Republicans thinking! Trump is for Trump, not our country. I feel for Biden and his memory that is similar to mine. The job has aged every president because it is demanding. Remember Bush, Obama, Clinton when first elected and four years after. Clearly different. And they were not near 80! The USA deserves better than this. Think about who you are voting for. This country is a leader and deserves the best, not a relic of the past! And someone moral and honest, at the very least.

Dave and Ann Locey

Foothills

Border bill and Sinema's future

Sen. Sinema played a leading role in the effort to pass bipartisan legislation to deal with our border issues. The collapse of that legislation shows she was mistaken to believe that Republican politicians could be counted on to act in a bipartisan manner to solve this difficult problem. I hope this failure persuades her not to run for re-election since her faith in bipartisan compromise is naive while Republican politicians remain subservient to Trump.

Brian Clymer

Northwest side

Age limit in federal elections

Re: the Feb. 9 letter "Sinema cries wolf."

It seems that both Biden and Trump and their handlers are twisted up making excuses for the age-related gaffs that both candidates constantly make. Both seem motivated by self-centeredness and show a disregard for what is best for the country. Many polls have shown that the electorate wants neither man as president in the next four years. Gavin Newsom or Gretchen Whitmer would crush Trump in the upcoming election, but both have elected not to challenge Biden, even though Biden’s candidacy could very well lead to another Trump presidency, which would be disastrous. Of course, if it comes down to it, I will hold my nose and vote for Biden, but, really, there should be an age limit of 70 for all federal elected officials.

Sean Bruner

West side

Attacking Satan

Re: the Feb. 8 article "Panel votes to ban Satan displays from public property in Arizona."

I am so relieved that our astute Republican legislators are finally attacking Arizona’s real problems. It has bothered me for some time, all the satanism openly displayed in our public places. I, for one, will look forward to the Wildcats beating the ASU Sun Angels next year.

Gary Moeller

Southwest side

Ranger DelMastro is a bad manager

Re: the Feb. 3 article "Sabino Canyon patrol on temporary hold."

Our group (Friends of the Santa Catalina Trails) was the first to get the axe from Santa Catalina District Ranger Donato DelMastro. Since 2015 we have donated over 13,000 hours maintaining the Pima Canyon, Butterfly, and Davis Spring trails, plus others recently. We complained to the ranger that the mountain biking group TORCA “ambushed” us on the Sunset Trail on Aug. 27, 2023. TORCA insisted on redoing our work to install a banked turn so that downhill bikers could go faster. We asked the Forest Service for protection against future such attacks. Instead of protecting us, Ranger Disastro made it very clear that he wanted one of our work event leaders to step down, as TORCA’s president had done. When we did not offer to do that, he revoked our volunteer partnership agreement. It appears that Ranger Disastro is into abusing his partners instead of fostering volunteerism. That is bad management, and we won’t go along with it.

Tori Woodard

Midtown

Vaccination by US citizens

Re: the Feb. 9 letter "Migrants carrying contagious diseases."

The letter writer commented on a CNN report about all the millions of foreign migrants who have entered illegally without vaccinations. While it is not good, and we should have some concern, I am much more concerned about the people who live here and are not getting them. Along with the parents who are not vaccinating their children! I feel sure that number is much higher than the undocumented migrants. Many of our younger citizens don't even know what polio is. I don't want anyone to get sick if there is a way to prevent it.

Tim Dugan

Green Valley

Just asking

Donald Trump has many legal problems these days as he campaigns to be elected as president again. Two questions come to mind regarding possible outcomes.

First, when he took office for his first term as president, he swore an oath to “…. protect and defend the Constitution …”. Later, in defiance of the Constitution, he attempted to disrupt the orderly transfer of power to Joe Biden, which culminated in the storming of the US Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021. He now faces legal prosecution for his actions (or inactions) that day. So, what if he wins the upcoming election but decides not to take the oath of office to support the Constitution? Can he be president without taking such an oath?

Second, if he is found guilty of a crime and goes to prison, but he is elected president, can he pardon himself to get out of prison? Just asking.

Christopher Roe

Southeast side

U of A to end $27M in jobs

This suggests that $27M will solve part of the $177M problem by not filling currently vacant positions. This is true only if during the prior year, all of those positions were filled. If some were already unfilled last year, the potential future benefit would be reduced accordingly.

Plans to cut salaries across the board by 5% to 15% for up to 80 different spending units might generate real savings. However, this type of cut makes the questionable assumption that all units contribute equally to achieving the Universities' mission. Failing to consider what influences mission attainment brings to mind President Robbins' statement about all bleeding stopping eventually. This may apply to a single individual who eventually dies. But the athletic department running at a deficit and having received transfers or loans of more than $50 million and contributing little mission attainment suggests something else. Bleeding continues, but the source of blood comes from cuts in units whose ability to achieve the mission will be reduced.

Philip Korn

Foothills

One judge deciding 2024 election?

Re: the Feb. 9 article "Justices skeptical of case."

Justice Elena Kagan wonders why the people of one state (Colorado) should be able to decide who will be our next president.

Republicans will choose an alternate party candidate if the first candidate is disqualified. The second candidate might win. Everything will be just fine for democracy, Ms. Kagan.

By rejecting Colorado’s request, Ms. Kagan will personally decide the election because a candidate with a criminal record probably can’t win. The Democrat will be a shoo-in, even if he is sleepy and forgetful. She accuses others of doing exactly what she is doing: rigging the election.

Ms. Kagan’s loyalty to President Biden is smart political thinking but extremely misguided and even subversive constitutional thinking. It could set a precedent for an endless wave of rogues and ruffians hijacking future American elections at all levels.

Kimball Shinkoskey

Downtown

The choice is easy

If you vote for Joe Biden, yes, it's possible he may die in office.

But if you vote for Trump, it's certain that Democracy dies.

I am not willing to see our country abandon Democracy and the Rule of Law, so for me, it's an easy choice to make this November.

Karen Micallef

Oro Valley

Immigration laws

Re: the Feb. 11 letter "Do not be fooled."

A letter writer quotes Title 8 of the U.S. Code, Sec. 1182(f), giving the President the power to close the border "Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens ... would be detrimental to the interests of the United States". This, of course, would hurt his standing with his base, who do not believe such entry is detrimental to the interests of the United States.

We are supposed to be a republic where Congress makes the rules and the President enforces them. Unfortunately, too many Congresses have deferred the rule-making to the President. And now we have a Congress that refuses to give the President direction. Apparently, Mike Johnson and his friends would prefer the President operate as an authoritarian which is, of course, what they want Trump to be.

If we are to be a Republic Congress needs to address the border.

Steven Brown

Midtown