Tucson Speaks Out: May 3

I keep reading MAGA voters who now claim they didn’t vote for this, whatever this is! Really, what did you vote for? Banners of Trump’s face hanging off federal buildings in D.C.; Trump's name added to the Kennedy Center and the Institute of Peace; a demolition of the East Wing of the White House, a planned flooring mod to the West Wing walkway or a gold-plated Oval Office which makes Versailles pale? How about Trump's signature on our currency (not done in over 165 years)? Need a passport? Soon, you’ll have Trump's picture on it. Is there no end to the blatant narcissism? Please don’t say you didn’t know. Look at his history and repeated business failures, all visible before you voted.

Ok, so now you see the light. (or maybe a war of choice and gas prices through the roof finally got your attention). Good. Vote appropriately in November.

Norman Patten

Midtown

A dark day

John Roberts’ campaign to eviscerate the Voting Rights Act began in the Obama administration and culminated April 29.

In 2013, Roberts authored Shelby County v Holder, eliminating requirements that states with a discriminatory past must pre-clear election law changes. In 2019, he authored Rucho v. Common Cause, allowing partisan gerrymandering. Now, Roberts and his five radical, not conservative, collaborators gutted the last key VRA provision.

They've shielded the white class by essentially prohibiting the use of race-conscious data in redistricting, which had protected the voting power of minorities. This allows states to eliminate any majority-minority district in the country.

Six states, and counting, are already re-drawing maps in furtherance of a permanent Republican House majority.

The deck is stacked against the pro-Democracy movement. But, as we celebrate our 250th anniversary, we can vote in record numbers to elect a record number of Democrats. Show that Arizona can help tip the scales to preserve our Democracy. It’s on us.

Dan Gipple

Southeast side

Prison camp proposal for Marana

This week marks the 80th anniversary of the closure of the final WWII internment camp for Japanese American citizens. Locally, we have a haunting reminder of that dark period in the Gordon Hirabayashi Campground. Those interned there had been “relocated”, detained solely for their ethnicity, and subjected to forced labor to construct the Catalina Highway. Those same prejudices are alive today. Detention centers are sprouting up across the country, warehousing families in deplorable conditions – and one is proposed right here in Marana. This plan is a direct contradiction to the heritage, the strength of our inclusive community. Our Congressman, Juan Ciscomani, has been missing in action. He has failed to stand against this proposal. Instead, he has handed over to the Trump Administration the power he was given by us, his constituents, leaving us without a voice when we need it most. It’s time to send him packing in November.

Steve Kelsey

East side

Gerrymandered legislative districts

On April 30, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states cannot create Legislative Districts based on race. In an effort to maintain Republican control of Congress, the Trump Administration is encouraging Republican-controlled states to immediately recreate (gerrymander) Congressional Legislative maps.

Warren Peterson (Arizona Senate President and Republican candidate for State Attorney General) stated: “Our maps are racist,” and the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission should meet and “fix” them.” In fact, Republicans created the current maps.

The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) was created via voters’ approval of a voter initiative in 2000. Republican Governors have held office during the IRC selection process of the 2001, 2011 and 2021 five-member IRC, which resulted in Republican control of the IRC. Due to Republican governors' appointment of the selection committee, Republicans maintained majorities in both the Arizona Senate and House.

The Governor elected this coming November will control the creation of the 2031 IRC maps, which will be the basis for the 2032/40 Arizona elections. Re-elect Governor Hobbs.

Randall Garmon

North side

Birthright citizenship

"Americans divided on Birthright Citizenship" (Star, May 1), raises serious questions about our knowledge of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Despite the clear language of the 14th Amendment, the Administration and a significant portion of the public want to deny it. One wonders how many of the other rights enshrined in the Constitution they would like to discard - pesky laws that give rights to annoying people.

Ignorance of the essential value of the Constitution is not new: during the Communist scare of the 1950s, the ACLU conducted an experiment in which they sat outside of shopping centers, asking people to sign a petition. The petition was actually the Bill of Rights. Few recognized it, most refused to sign, and some angrily accused them of being Communists. Trump's adulation of neo-Communist dictator Putin makes it awkward to accuse opponents of being Communists, but his followers might well consider the consequences of tampering with rights enshrined in the Constitution, bought with blood. Your ancestors might want a word with you.

Abraham R. Byrd III

North side

Thou shalt not murder?

Are all you Republican-led states that banned abortion happy now?

Our government thinks it is all right to have a death penalty option.

Our government thinks it is all right to bomb humans in other countries, including pregnant women and children.

U.S. Fifth District Circuit Court of Appeals, however, determines it is not all right to terminate a pregnancy with Mifepristone in the U.S. because it may be destroying a pre-human that has existed for less than 10 weeks. Yes, Mifepristone must be administered within the first 10 weeks and has been used safely in other parts of the world for 30 years. Yes, our government claims to value the pre-human over the will and the health of an actual female human being.

Sorry, but your hypocrisy is showing.

Cindy Soffrin

Northeast side

No shame involved

Upon reading Gary Stoeger's LTE of April 30, I was reminded of the letter I believe he's referring to. That letter never suggested that only billionaires benefited from Trump's tax cuts, only that the more well-off benefited the most. The letter took issue with Mr. Stoeger's comments about enjoying more golf games with his tax savings, while Trump's OBBB implemented the largest and most devastating cuts to Medicaid and other social safety nets in U.S. history. As I recall, the letter was not abusive at all, nor did it resort to name-calling or personal attacks, except perhaps to point out a bit of tone deafness on Mr. Stoeger's part. I think most LTES offer legitimate information, even if some seem irate (unsurprising in the era of Trump). Maybe Mr. Stoeger should follow that old adage, "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen."

S. Ross Emmanuel

Southeast side

Premature

May 1 LTE: Charlottesville revisited.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has been indicted, not convicted.

Trump’s DOJ has a poor record of getting indictments and a worse record on convictions. Trump has successfully weaponized the DOJ to pursue his perceived grievances, but has consistently been handed failure by the judicial system. He should focus on corrupting the judicial system for better results from Trump’s perspective.

The FBI does not have exclusive rights to infiltrate domestic terrorism groups. The press has an obligation to expose domestic terrorism, as does any other competent interested party, like the SPLC. Besides, the FBI is "impaired" by the current director and securing the 2020 election.

James Abels

Midtown

An ode to fast-food workers

Getting on in years, I recognize and appreciate some of the simple pleasures in life. A little indulgence is allowed under the category "quality of life." Mine is a weekly burger and fries at a fast-food restaurant. And being old, fast is important. I rotate through several favorites and have noticed something about all of them; the workers are industrious. They are pleasant, helpful and respectful. They work as a team to get my food out hot and quickly. Without them, these businesses could not operate. To me, they are vital, and their work is important. And yet they are often demeaned, and their work is considered "less-than." It has also occurred to me that some of them are probably working two jobs and paying more in federal income taxes than Trump. We need a fairer tax system. Let's vote for it.

Mel Strijdonk

Oro Valley

ICE transparency

Individuals and communities need to know all they can about ICE and what appears to be a secret police force without names and masks to hide identities. Frequently, they offer no transparency, and since we, the taxpayers, are paying for all of it, we should know all we can.

Two voters who appear to be in opposite political parties are helping with a bipartisan effort to inform communities and individuals. More info can be found at gtfoice.org

As they build ICE warehouses unneeded, if they continue being so secret, we run the risk of becoming a police state masquerading as privatized prisons/or federal prisons.

Pat Bannon

Midtown