Tucson Speaks Out: July 19

Ciscomani employs MAGA tactics

Juan Ciscomani, my "representative," is using the same MAGA tactics that resulted in the current abhorrent Administration. He is attacking his challenger, JoAnna Mendoza, not on substance, but on transgender fear-mongering. Transgender people in Arizona make up 0.7% of Arizonans; of that percentage, a minuscule number are minors. Transgender people have every right to exist and aren't a threat to anyone anymore than the general population. Ciscomani is desperate because he knows his constituents are frustrated with his record of voting with Trump at the expense of Arizonans. We need a congressperson who is ready to fight for us on issues that affect us: access to healthcare, affordable housing, bringing down the cost of living, job creation, community safety, etc. Ciscomani has proven to be a puppet for Trump and has been AWOL for Arizonans. His use of dog-whistle tactics prove he has nothing to offer. Candidate JoAnna Mendoza has the fortitude to stand up to Trump and vote in the best interest of Arizonans.

Terri Hicks

Northwest side

The oldest profession

We got it wrong! The term was created by Rudyard Kipling (a writer) in 1889. He was talking about prostitution, and he was targeting women. It is well documented that he liked to visit the brothels in India to buy the sexual acts of young women.

Prostitution can only exist when someone has something of value to bribe/manipulate a victim. The oldest profession is the “John” (the briber). Look around, all the trafficking crimes; child abuse, Epstein et al. In prostitution, the woman/girl or other is the victim. Go after the “briber”.

JoAnna Mendoza and Juan Ciscomani should debate! I am supporting Mendoza!. Listen to her positions and who she is and has been. She’s the best candidate. Free speech doesn’t require truth nor responsibility.

Voters need truth. Don’t be manipulated with tricks and semantics.

Pat Bannon

Midtown

Gun rights?

In a recent paper, Herb says there is no God-given right to own guns. He's right. There is nothing in the Bible about guns. Yet, someplace in it, it says to never give up your sword for plowshares. That's because we do have a God-given right to protect ourselves, our families, and our country. Our Constitution and the Bill of Rights do give us the right to keep and bear arms. Not bear muskets.

Our Constitution was written in the time of the musket, but the founding fathers knew advances would be made. Weapons would improve. In the 1890s, smokeless powders were invented, and arms improved. Herb, please stop trying to interpret the Bible and the Constitution. They were written in plain, simple language so that people who had no education could understand them. Especially our Bill of Rights. The last part of the 2nd amendment reads, "The rights of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Steven Barker

East side

It's driving me crazy!

As I make my almost daily walk down Mountain between Grant and Speedway, my level of alertness rises to that of a Western Diamondback that some snowbird has stepped on. Will it be the driver consumed by their cell phone, drivers that ignore crosswalks, or just your typical 20 mile over the speed limit maniac that puts my life at risk? The real issue is that the police force is severely understaffed. The reasons include Tucson's pay is not competitive with other similar cities, there has been a rapid expansion of federal police (ICE), and as a young police officer told me very few young people are interested in going into law enforcement. The one thing our city government can do is come up with greater funding. That may mean higher taxes. How many Tucsonans are concerned by pedestrian, biker and vehicular deaths but just don't want to pay an additional penny in taxes? And bring back the red light cameras.

Kalvin Smith

Midtown

Deception about Gaza War

The claim in Mr. D’Angelo’s July 15 letter regarding the Gaza War — that Israel "slaughtered" 72,000 Palestinian civilians — is false. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that approximately 73,000 Palestinians were killed in total — a number that includes perhaps tens of thousands of active combatants, not just civilians. That is a deception on your part, Mr. D'Angelo.

For decades, not just Oct. 7, Hamas has engaged in terror, firing thousands of missiles into Israel, sending suicide bombers into cafes, buses, restaurants, hotel lobbies, wedding celebrations in a deliberate effort to destroy any attempt at a peace process — a process they have always opposed.

Furthermore, American Jews and Israelis, have protested Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies regarding the war and West Bank. Millions of Israelis have marched against the government's actions during the war. There was no mention of that in your letter.

As the Yiddish proverb says: "A half-truth is a whole lie."

Mark Elliott

Green Valley

Mendoza and girls' safety

As a father to two girls, making sure my daughters are safe is a top priority. To hear that JoAnna Mendoza doesn't see a problem with allowing men into women's bathrooms is extremely concerning.

In stark contrast, Congressman Juan Ciscomani has shown unwavering support for keeping men out of women's private spaces. I know he understands my feelings regarding this issue, since he has daughters of his own.

I would encourage all dads who have daughters to think about which candidate cares about their daughters' safety when they vote this November.

To me, the choice is clear. I'll be voting for Juan Ciscomani.

Steven Ruetz

Northeast side

Lyon will fight for you

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Holly Lyon for over 10 years, and I’m proud to enthusiastically endorse her for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 17. I hope you will, too.

Holly has devoted her life to serving others. Her 26 years as an Air Force officer, combined with her work in education and her commitment to our community, reflect the kind of integrity and compassion we so desperately need.

She is focused on the issues that matter most right now: accountability, affordability, and accessibility. Whether she is advocating for greater accountability in Arizona’s out-of-control school voucher program or working to make housing and healthcare more affordable, Holly always puts people first.

I hope my fellow LD17 voters will support Holly Lyon this year. We will be lucky to have such a hardworking person of integrity representing all of us.

Peter Bakke

SaddleBrooke

Payment to Israel

The Establishment is shocked that a majority of House Democrats would vote to cut off our annual gift of three billion taxpayer dollars to Israel. But look at it this way: this year was special. We started an illegal, immoral, foolish, war against Iran that has surely cost us more than $100 billion already in four months. We did it, frankly, because Israel wanted us to. Let that hundred billion offset 30 years of the usual payments we make to Israel. Simply transactional, as they say.

George Timson

Midtown

Red light camera redux

I see confusion regarding red-light cameras (RLC) and traffic laws. AZ drivers can legally turn left after red, provided they lawfully entered the intersection on a green or yellow light. Drivers can edge into the intersection while the light is green. At some intersections (Tucson Blvd./Speedway) don't edge at peak times and expect to sit through multi cycles. After Tucson’s previous endeavor with RLCs, the community voted them out as it was widely perceived to be a money-making scheme. It’s not that I’m pro red-light running as suggested by one writer. But I am pro respecting our vote. The City can’t just decide to ignore that decision. However, I would certainly reconsider if we could be assured of the following: All RLC intersections are CLEARLY marked with a “safe stop” line, and vehicles legally in the intersection can finish their turn without getting flashed. Guarantee us that, and the city might have a successful reversal of opinion on a new vote.

Jeff Albiniak

Midtown

Green candidate slanders all veterans

In his recent column, Green Party congressional candidate Gary Swing wrote that Democrat JoAnne (sic) Mendoza "spent 20 years in the U.S. military as it committed genocide, murdering millions of people in Iraq and Afghanistan."

I am a Republican supporter of Rep. John Ciscomani, but I won't stay silent while any veteran's service is vilified. Our troops operated under strict rules of engagement, and neither the United Nations nor the International Court of Justice has classified our interventions in Iraq or Afghanistan as "genocide."

Swing's claim that millions were murdered is not just false; it insults Ms. Mendoza and every veteran who served.

If this is what Swing calls "Green values," it's no wonder his party commands so little respect, and I look forward to the day such candidates stop befouling our ballots.

Herbert Sarrett

Sierra Vista

News media

Please let someone, anyone, post a picture of the pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock and explain that we should deport ALL immigrants (don't forget about Jamestown), especially if they are pregnant. Now that's an article that I wouldn't mind reading. Let's go, all of you who write for the "OPINION" pages, here is your chance to shine. And for those who would denigrate this "liberal rag," please list all the attributes that our glorious leader has bestowed upon us in the past 15 months to even justify his existence.

Fred Thompson

East side