Traffic enforcement saves lives
In my early police days, I responded to a traffic accident at Pima and Swan, where an intoxicated man in a pickup truck ran the red light northbound going about 90 mph. A young woman driving a Camaro west on Pima was struck and her car torn completely in two. She died on impact. The driver committed murder and went to prison. Too little too late. I saw too many accident deaths and gave too many death messages to families. Want to reduce fatalities? You can engineer all you want, you can send all the messages of safety, but you can’t fix indifference. Red light cameras, speed enforcement vans and more motor officers and cops writing traffic tickets are the answer. It doesn’t matter, pedestrians, bike riders, idiots in pick-up trucks, drunk drivers, don’t let anyone slide. For every 100 tickets, one life is saved. Don’t give me “The City is using this to raise cash” BS. Obey the law. Bad habits end lives.
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Richard Harper
Northeast side
Healthcare should not be for-profit
I applaud the recent letters suggesting that we should replace the ACA health plans with a “single-payer” system, i.e., Medicare.
However, I must point out that the majority of Medicare enrollees are not participating in a “single-payer” program, a nonprofit program with the government paying negotiated costs to doctors directly. Rather, 54% of Medicare recipients now enroll in Medicare Advantage (MA), a program passed by the Republican House and Senate in the 1990s that passes Medicare funds to “for-profit” medical insurance companies such as United Healthcare.
Unlike traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans require Prior Approval on many outpatient and inpatient procedures. According to a 2025 U.S. Senate report and research in the Health Affairs journal, their rate of initial denials was 17%.
This is what we get when we turn our traditional Medicare program over to “for-profit” medical insurers.
Bruce Hilpert
North side
Little consequence
As Sen. Chuck Schumer’s government shutdown is concluding, the House is back in session and Speaker Johnson will immediately administer the oath of office to our AZ Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva with formal ceremony.
The purpose of my letter today is to reflect on the countless LTEs over the last 50 days hysterically proclaiming injustice when the reality is that Grijalva has not missed a single vote since we elected her, and every writer knew this would be true beginning Day 1.
So I suggest that our editor not choose to devote these important column inches to matters of such little consequence.
Jeffrey McConnell
West side
Silence of the lambs
When 800 generals and admirals came to Quantico Marine Base to receive their orders for the new Trump era, they were told to prepare for war with enemies to be identified later. They sat quietly.
It was a sign that they were Trump’s lambs, who would lead their sheep to the slaughter if so ordered. They did not rise in opposition because they were told to “sit.”
Is it even possible for our warriors to refuse illegal or questionable orders? They haven’t thus far, invading our cities, bombing little boats. Now, the Navy has moved our big ships into place to attack Venezuela because they might have drugs to sell.
As soon as Trump is sure they are pushovers, the attack will be on. The generals will not refuse. It is the silence of the lambs.
Ron Lancaster
North side
SNAP recipients rolling in the dough
Sometimes you just have to laugh.
Our favorite LTE writer opined that all the No Kings protestors must be unemployed and living the good life with SNAP benefits. Here’s some of his wisdom: “When you observe the daily demonstrations regarding ICE, one wonders how these people, day after day, are surviving without jobs. Have they outfoxed the general public by gaming the system?”
Must have skipped math class, eh, Loyal? The average SNAP benefit was $187 per person per month in 2024. Or about $6 a day. Living large thanks to SNAP benefits.
Thanks for the laugh, buddy. And for your pretzel logic.
Jeff Herr
North side
Original sins of Trump and his GOP
The Epstein cover-up/stall is at the top. Add to that the tariffs taxing the poor and middle class, and causing deaths by cutting USAID and more pro-life policies.
As for the “original sin,” I would point out that Trump and his allies on “The John Roberts court” have destroyed the separation of church and state. Now there is no separation of church and state due to the decisions of Trump’s court and Trump’s proclamations.
This explains why so many are leaving MAGA. Read their testimonials
Take time to find the facts and truth.
Dan Bannon
Midtown
Re: $1 Trillion Pentagon budget
The piece by Freeman and Hartung could have been written 60 years ago about the Vietnam War. Then, as now, we often didn’t know why we were sent to fight and die in far-off countries. Certainly not to establish democracy.
Then, as now, we knew the war wasn’t winnable. We fought to survive. Then, PTSD was not even a diagnosis, let alone treated. Now, it’s insufficiently treated.
Many veterans from both wars are homeless, hungry, and need healthcare. Some wonder if their sacrifices were worth it.
Although appreciated, veterans deserve more than a “Thank you for your service.” More funds for both eras are required for essential services.
To quote George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
We are obligated to fulfill Abraham Lincoln’s promise to care for those “who shall have borne the battle.” That obligation remains as critical today as it was in 1865.
Dan Gipple
Southeast side
Stopping the shutdown
Many are blaming and/or laughing about Democrats, giving in to the Trump BS agenda funding bill. I equate it to a speeding garbage truck (Trump/Republicans), driven by an insane man (Trump), head-on toward an oncoming Prius (Dems). Eventually, before the collision, sane people bail out, thus saving themselves and, in this case, all who depend on government funding to survive. Vote Blue in ‘26 to save democracy and to ensure that the government works for all people. Remember who was for saving your healthcare, and who wasn’t.
Robert Kunz
Sierra Vista
Compassion means treating the whole person
I’ve followed the recent exchange between Mayor Regina Romero and Supervisor Rex Scott about homelessness and addiction. Their frustration is understandable — and shared by many of us who see the impact of untreated addiction and mental illness on our streets, in our parks, and outside local businesses.
This crisis carries both a human and economic cost. Some local businesses have even relocated due to safety concerns tied to encampments and drug activity.
For years, the federal “Housing First” model has dominated policy, directing billions toward housing while minimizing treatment and accountability. Yet California, after spending $24 billion since 2019, saw homelessness rise more than 30%. Housing without healing isn’t compassion — it’s containment.
That’s why the federal shift toward “Treatment First” is so important. I hope Mayor Romero embraces this focus on recovery and healing alongside housing.
Programs like Gospel Rescue Mission prove it works — transforming lives without government funding, free to do what’s best for people, not policy. Real compassion restores wholeness, not dependency.
Doug Martin
Oro Valley
Rule of law
I have always believed that we are a nation of laws, and if we obey them, there is no problem. But it no longer seems that is correct. Our federal Supreme Court doesn’t read the Constitution the same way that I was taught in school anymore. It just seems that our once-sacred institutions are being twisted and manipulated to suit the wealthy and privileged anymore. I can name any number of examples but I believe that there is a restriction on letters’ size.
Fred Thompson
Midtown
Opera buffa
In a dazzling display of operatic irony, imagine Donald Trump, the king of bling, singing in fake tough guy basso profundo, a new version of Wagner’s “The Ring of the Nibelungen,” a story about a greedy dwarf who steals gold that gives him fleeting powers but in the end brings him only destruction and grief. All the hallmarks of a great opera: revenge, betrayal, greed, jealousy. Here’s Wotan, lord of the deal, spouting his love for shiny objects, the Rhine maidens weep for their lost treasure, not just their gold but their dignity. What’s an opera without gold? He’s surrounded by a chorus of sycophants, the Valkyries doing the Trump dance, showcasing the absurdity of wealth worship. In this opera, intrigue, corruption, avarice and farce reign supreme, proving once again that in the realm of gold, Trump is the true and ridiculous king.
Intermissions and after-theater parties could sell emotional support Trump squeeze dolls (when the scenes get really dramatic), gold passports, Melania’s Habanera handbags, you name it.
William Muto
SaddleBrooke
Use of ‘illegal alien’
Re: the letter, “’Illegal alien’ is offensive term” (Nov. 13):
The description “illegal alien” is befitting because immigrants who have crossed our sovereign border with Mexico by way of forced entry (illegal) are foreign (alien) to America. Ergo, illegal alien is an apt description. No disrespect intended. A safe America deserves to have all foreigners show themselves at the border-gate to be documented, counted and vetted for national security. During the Biden Administration, the undocumented immigrants were allowed unfettered entry in America and were primarily settled into Democratic-run cities. Biden’s executive order on Day 1 of his presidency intended to include the “undocumented” in the decennial (10-year) census. Why did Biden do that? Because the decennial census determines how many seats states will have in the House of Representatives. That census inflation of undocumented immigrants in Democratic-run cities helps the Democrats add additional seats in the House. President Biden was crazy like a fox.
Daniel Pryor
West side
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