Tucson Speaks Out: July 13

Floating concentration resort?

Has anyone else really looked at the pictures of the Big Beautiful Camp Trump Everglades Internment Resort? It appears to be nothing but a huge event tent with chain-link cages inside.

Please note the Everglades is a swamp. Swamps get very wet, with lot of slow-to-fast-moving water. Even a small amount of moving water is relentless, as many Tucson drivers have (not) learned to their distress. One weather event and the internees will be delivered, alligators and all, to the “Gulf of America.” The facility tent will be streamers in the wind.

Has the United States reverted to medieval torture?

Pan Lambert

Tubac

Elder care

Some months ago, after a head injury and rehab, a good friend was put in an assisted living home. I have had months to see our system in action. The first thing that happened is that she lost all her Constitutional and human rights. Yes, we have many laws to protect our vulnerable, as well as many people from AG Kris Mayes to agencies like Adult Protective Services and the Pima Council on Aging. Everyone can quote the laws pertaining to elder care, but when it’s time to step up and ensure these laws are followed, no one does. Everyone lets the homes dictate the rules. From what I’ve seen, we need a state-level DOGE to weed out the people who exist just for a paycheck. I hope those charged with child protection are much more care-oriented.

Dave Rollins

Patagonia

It’s called extortion

Trump increases tariffs against Brazil because Brazil is putting Bolsonaro on trial for election interference. That sounds familiar. Trump calls it a witch hunt. That also sounds familiar. The point is that Trump threatens other countries with tariffs. Tariffs have negative financial impacts on the countries they are levied upon. Threatening negative financial consequences for political influence is extortion. Is that how America gets money and influence — by inflicting financial damage on countries for non-compliance with Trump’s political demands? Remember who pays for tariffs. Americans pay the cost of tariffs. So, we pay for Trump to threaten other countries so they will yield to his political demands. Is extortion an acceptable means to get what America wants and needs? Has America turned into a nation of bullies? Are we now incapable of getting what is good for America by cooperation and diplomacy? I think we are better than this.

Richard Bechtold

West side

No data centers in the desert

Toxic skies, water shortages, energy blackouts, asthma rates skyrocketing ... this sounds like it’s out of an apocalyptic novel. The scary truth is that Mayor and Council will be voting on an AI data center that will harm our ability to live in Tucson. If the city votes to annex land for the project (and it is not just one data center, it is three) then we can look to other places like Memphis and Northern Virginia, where people don’t have tap water, where the sky is full of toxic particulate, and medical-care costs are ramping up due to respiratory illness and we can see our future. There is absolutely no reason that a desert city like Tucson should be supporting a project that takes 1.4 million gallons of water each day, each data center. There is no reason why we should lose our ability to cool our homes in the summer because of the energy needs of a data center. Join us and stop this.

Chrysta Faye

Midtown

Trump tariffs

It is not helpful to read stories about Trump tariffs next week or next month. Sometimes they happen, and more often they don’t. Since before inauguration, tariffs are up down up down, and on again off again. Sometimes one rate, sometimes another rate.

Trump has said tariffs will bring trillions into the federal coffers and greatly offset the national debt. So it is more helpful to keep a running total of just how much money is coming into our coffers.

The Brazil tariff which might’ve started yesterday now might start next month. Trump specifically states it as a personal grudge rather than simple economics, in order to assist the former president and self-described friend Jair Bolsonaro. 50% instead of 10%.

Why don’t we stick to reality rather than what may happen in the future? How much is collected in dollars now?

John Yoakum

Midtown

Mainstream media bias?

As a regular Star reader and subscriber for years, I get a little annoyed with the steady stream of LTE that complain of the Star’s bias toward the more liberal letter writers. If these complainers would spend a little time informing themselves of why this is, maybe they would understand some of the reasons. Many conservatives do not seek out the mainstream media. The NYT, The Washington Post, the Star and many others. And we are not even mentioning Fox News and the numerous more conservative podcasts. So let’s just make it local. More Tucson-area liberals read and subscribe to the Star than our conservative neighbors. Readers submit letters. That is one of the main reasons for conservatives thinking the Star is biased. Just get your conservative friends to subscribe and submit well-written and factual letters and I can assure you the Star will print them.

Fran McNeely

Northeast side

Apology by Jack Walters

How refreshing in this day of “not my fault” attitude it was to read the “I made a mistake” letter by Jack Walters.

Imagine that. Somebody standing up and saying I was wrong, and I apologize. And to do it in the newspaper, knowing that tens of thousands will read it.

Mr. Walters, I applaud you, and sir, if you ever run for office, especially for city council, you most assuredly will have my vote.

Frank Cara

East side

One-sided

?

George Larsen believes the Star is “in the pocket of the left,” thereby ignoring an alternate viewpoint. I wonder if he has considered that MAGA contributors simply are unable, or are unwilling, to provide more editorial opinions. I personally don’t believe the Star is suppressing right-wing opinions, as LTEs from Loyal, Curly and Moe appear with outrageous frequency, seemingly far more than any other single individual’s letters do. Mr. Larsen, you appear to hold right-wing opinions and yet, I, as a regular reader of the LTE section, don’t recall seeing much of your name appearing there — why not? I always note the MAGA letters because they seem to offer little more than fawning over Donald Trump with misguided ravings about the “accomplishments” of this childish, despicable man. So, instead of whining about the unfairness of the Star, why don’t you and your like-minded friends offer more submissions, thereby providing much-needed entertainment for the rest of us?

Hope Gastelum

East side

Ward 3: Change is needed

My family and I moved back to live in our former Ward 3 neighborhood just over a year ago. Catching up with old friends and neighbors, who willingly shared their frustrations with Kevin Dahl and his staff and their ineffectiveness to neighborhood issues. As I drove and cycled around the ward, I was crushed at the regression in so many areas, that as Ward 3 Council Member, my staff and neighborhood advocates had made measurable improvements. When I reached out to Dahl and his staff, I received replies that lacked energy and understanding of what to do. Perhaps I was infringing on their reduced office hours, 9:00 to 1:00 daily. The most exciting event that has occurred is Sadie Shaw, TUSD Board Member and young neighborhood activist, stepping up to challenge sleepy yes-man Dahl. If we’re going to pay someone $90,000 a year, that person better bring passion and energy to the office. Sadie Shaw unquestionably is the person Ward 3 needs.

Jerry Anderson

North side

Rockafellow for City Council

It would be easy to say that Leighton Rockafellow will bring a voice of reason to the Tucson City Council. Of course, he’ll do that. But that’s not the main reason I support Mr. Rockafellow instead of any of the other fine candidates competing for the job. Let me explain. First, I’ve known Leighton Rockafellow as a neighbor for many years. He is honest and straightforward (no hidden agendas). He does what he says he will do and he does it well. As a colleague who serves on our neighborhood association board, I know firsthand that he contributes well-written statements that accurately reflect our actions. He also contributes insightful comments into the issues under discussion and suggests creative solutions when they are needed. The City of Tucson will benefit immensely from this type of leadership.

Alison Hughes

Midtown

Waste, fraud, and abuse questions

Questions for Trump supporters: Under which category does each fall?

— Children dying of AIDS in Africa due to termination of grants & USAID.

— Children going hungry due to cuts in food security by DOGE.

— Children having no school supplies, preschool, or after-school programs due to cuts in the education budget.

What if these were your children and you had to watch them suffer? And what will it take for you to recognize that Trump is simply a mentally disturbed and not very bright thug in a suit who enjoys creating misery?

Norman Epstein

Midtown

The growing income gap

Republican economic policies have, for the most part, favored corporate America and the wealthy, or what they call supply-side economics. The problem with supply-side economics is something we are seeing today. The gap between the wealthy, the poor and middle class, which is shrinking, is greater than it has ever been, such that America currently has the greatest wealth gap of any of the G7 countries. Tax cuts like those in the BBB will not only worsen this situation but will also increase our national debt. So, as the wealthy become even wealthier, their influence over our government and economic policies gains strength. This is already happening. The BBB does allow a few pennies to trickle down, but nothing in proportion to what is going to the wealthy. Eventually, this will lead to social unrest, something we are seeing today, increased poverty, and negative impacts on health. Unfortunately, the BBB also reduces many of the social programs that would help people who are living under these conditions. Resist.

Perer Morales

Midtown

Data center water use

Tucson and Pima County representatives want to bring in dollars to their coffers. So they negotiate with an unknown entity (to the residents) to give away precious water and electricity for the sake of maybe 90 permanent jobs. With its own AI maybe it won’t even need workers to keep it running. The residents are already going to give away power and precious water for dollars with the mines in the Santa Ritas. Well (pun intended), when the CAP water disappears in a couple of years, and the drought continues for another decade or more, explain to me how I am going to drink dollars. Water in this desert is non-renewable. When Tucson becomes a ghost town and potable water runs out, ask your grandkids, “Did I do the right thing? Were those few jobs that sucked the water out of the residents’ lives worth it?” And you will be asking this from some place where water is currently more plentiful, and you are planning your next AI data center.

Douglas Heaberlin

Vail

Trump & Putin

From the news, I gather that Trump is finally seeing Putin for who he is. And only a decade behind the rest of the world. Now, if only he would wise up to Netanyahu’s criminal ways. We really should have elected an adult.

Dave Bertagnoli

West side