Tucson Speaks Out: May 26

No free lunch

What’s wrong with Trump accepting a 747 from Qatar? Firstly, the Constitution (Foreign Emolument Clause , Article I, Section 9, Clause 8) states that no elected person, including the president, shall accept any gift without the approval of Congress. DOJ and DOD are not Congress so their approvals are meaningless. Secondly, the cost to retrofit a 13-year old 747 for Air Force One is considerable. The interior, communication and security systems, medical facility and a complex defense network are some of the necessary upgrades. Then comes the training and maintenance costs. The estimated price tag is $500 to $700 million. Compare that with annual maintenance and operation cost of the current two Air Force One planes of $350 million each. Canceling the existing Boeing Air Force One will be complex and costly. The Boeing contract capped costs at $3.9 billion; however, it is over budget due to supply chain problems and requirement changes. Thirdly, what will Qatar want? Certainly, something. This is no free lunch.

Judy J Gillies

Downtown

Smoke and mirrors

Rep. Juan Ciscomani’s vote early Thursday morning finally removes the carefully placed veil of deceit he has cultivated in Congressional District 6 for months. In the face of growing alarm across the district, he has repeatedly promised to protect his most vulnerable constituents from the aggressive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in the BUB (Big Ugly Bill). In the end, he didn’t. It was all posturing. This is not the representation we seek. Join hundreds of other concerns CD-06 voters in front of Rep. Ciscomani’s office on Swan & Pima at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 29th, to protest this latest of his broken promises.

Carol Evans

Midtown

Golden dome, golden scam

The Golden Scam is a $175 billion system that will put weapons in space for the first time. Who stands to benefit from this “Golden Dome?” Again, it’s Elon Musk and SpaceX. Just as Musk has stolen our data for his AI development and gutted our FAA so that his satellite business can benefit, he is now set to scam us out of another $175 billion plus. And just like Reagan’s Star Wars initiative, the Golden Dome will probably be a golden flop.

In the meantime Congress is pushing through the Big Bad Ugly Bill which will take away billions of dollars in health care and food assistance in order to give tax breaks to the ultra wealthy who make above $500,000 a year. Our country is collapsing from greed and lack of empathy.

The U.S. is down but not out. Citizens who believe in democracy and our constitution must resist this oligarchy.

Karen Allison

Three Points

How is MAHA pro-polluter?

A recent opinion piece by a conservative think tank would have you believe MAHA has only the best interest of our kids at heart. So, let’s break this down. This movement seeks to make kids healthier. Right? Then why would this movement be ok with more arsenic, lead and heavy metal exposure to kids from mining, pollution, coal plants? Why would this movement be ok with lifting EPA regulations to restrict and/or help reduce ozone or pollution that literally burns developing lungs, altering DNA forever such that it makes children more susceptible to asthma and other breathing health issues? Why would MAHA be ok with plastic straws and more plastic knowing microplastic concentrations are exceedingly worrisome and not only increasing accumulation in the environment and our food sources but our brains? Why are any MAHA supporters drinking bottled water, denouncing public transportation, green energy? Because MAHA may have good intentions but they are being scammed and lied to if they truly want our kids healthier.

Carissa Sipp

Midtown

Ciscomani sticks it to us

Late Wednesday night (5/21), Juan Ciscomani voted for budget legislation that will knock 10 million Americans off federal health care programs for the least affluent people in the country (like Medicaid).

This legislation would add $2.3 trillion to our national debt, all to give the 1% wealthiest people a 4% increase to their income while stripping 2% of income from the poorest people in southern Arizona. That’s 40,000 of your constituents, Juanito.

You know this, so you hide from us here in Congressional District 6. So stuff your pockets with donations from the billionaires while leaving the poorest among us to seek healthcare somewhere. Corrupt cowardice does not look good on you. Shameful.

Jeff Herr

North side

Memorial Day

I believe that Memorial Day should be a day of honor and remembrance. To me it is a day to give tribute to the brave colleges who served in the Navy and FBI with me. Memorial Day is a day of collective reflection and gratitude.

It allows us to connect with our nation’s history and reaffirm our respect for those who died serving it.

I served four years in the Navy during the Cuban crisis and 24 years in the FBI from 1963 to 1987.

We lost several FBI agents during that period and their names hang on the Wall of Honor at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C.

I remember well their names and how they died in the line of duty serving our country, making it a safe place for all.

By honoring the past, appreciating the present, and inspiring future generations, we ensure that the sacrifices of our fallen heroes continue to be a guiding force of inspiration.

Tom McGorray

Northwest side

Thank You TUSD!

On Wednesday, May 21, I was fortunate to attend our granddaughter’s (Maya Dillon) graduation from University High School. I am a veteran public school teacher. As a result, this letter comes as a big “Shout Out” to the faculty and staff of Borton Elementary, Mansfeld Middle School and University High School for providing Maya with a great educational experience. She is now ready for the next chapter in her life as she heads off to college. Please accept my deepest appreciation for a job well done.

Tanya Glover

Northwest side

The new Air Force One

It can be argued Qatar’s “gift” is just that. You can argue it’s buying influence. What can’t be disputed is it isn’t free. The modification needed to make it meet security and survivability requirements will be costly — estimates exceed several million dollars. But, more interesting to me, once this aircraft is part of the DOD fleet, why does it go to Trump’s library? If it needs to be decommissioned (after only several years of service), why not park it someplace all Americans can have access to it, e.g., Pima Air and Space Museum? AF1 which returned Kennedy’s body from Dallas to DC sets the example.

Norman Patten

Midtown

Revocation of Harvard’s international program

On May 22nd, the Trump Administration revoked Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, apparently affecting about 6,800 international students who must apparently transfer or lose their legal status. In my opinion, this intervention unfairly punishes students who have earned their place in the educational system. It also raises concerns about the federal government imposing demands on private universities without due process, which again reflects an autocratic approach to enforcing biases. How will this play out within the public institutions such as the University of Arizona where there are over 7,000 international students?

Glenn Lippman

Midtown

Mess

GOP CD6 Representative Juan Ciscomani voted for a big, beautiful bill for the wealthy. Ciscomani voted for permanent tax cuts for the rich, and temporary minimal tax relief for the rest of us (expires in 2028). He voted to raise the estate tax deduction to 15 million, but voted to repeal clean energy tax credits. He voted to expand pass through deductions, but reduced food assistance. He voted for increase expensing deductions from $1 to $2.5 million, but slashed $700 million from Medicaid. Ciscomani voted to reward the rich with 65% of the bill’s monetary benefit, and to penalize lower-income households. He leaves the middle class with a mess.

The Big Beautiful Bill will increase the debt by $3.3 trillion. It does nothing to address the looming fiscal cliff of Social Security solvency, health care affordability, climate disaster relief, or the myriad of pressing problems facing our country.

Jean Meconi

Oro Valley

Air Force 8647

First, the $400 million jet from Qatar is not a gift. The Pentagon was asking Qatar about jets for some undisclosed reason. Trump accepts the jet as a gift. That’s illegal. Then we pay millions to outfit “the gift” to be Air Force One. It will probably take a year or two to retrofit the jet into Air Force One, if possible. Trump will be out of office in 3 1/2 years. Then the jet goes to his library? So Trump gets to use it for a year or two costing us millions. The next President can’t use it cause it’s at Trump’s library. The Republican Congress is complicit in this farce. Please connect the dots and use common sense to see how ridiculous Trump is. At least we won’t have to spend much on the library. It will only have to house the two books he’s read.

Richard Bechtold

West side

‘Nipper’ Ciscomani

Congressman Juan Ciscomani just earned himself the nickname “Nipper.” Like the cute little pup in the old RCA Gramophone commercials, it was “His Master’s Voice” that got his ear, not the voice of his constituents. Be sure to remember the “Nipper” in November 2026.

Sheldon Clark

Vail

The one vote

Ciscomani, I’m writing this to make sure you know how we feel.

For months we have been communicating to you that taxes are money collected for the needs of all citizens. And you have pretended to agree.

With your vote to steal tax money for the purpose of benefiting those who in no way need it, and taking it away from the medical needs of others, you have shown your true self.

We are disgusted with you and in 18 months we are going to remove you from your office.

Anne Kowalski

East side

Fire trucks

I wrote a recent LTE about both fire trucks and EMTs arriving at a clearly defined non-urgent medical scene. Jerry Deno took exception. I am willing to be educated on why a large $1M firetruck is necessary when a smaller vehicle seems more practical and would keep the roadways and parking lots safer. If it’s the fact that firehouses don’t have anything smaller, then I have my answer.

Thomas Rothe

Foothills