Tucson Speaks Out: Aug. 23 letters of the day

Re: the Aug. 4 article “A win for ‘restorative justice.’ “

This is a preposterous editorial. You praised Laura Conover’s victory in the election for Pima County’s district attorney. Tell your readers where Conover’s crazy restorative justice system has ever worked? Has it worked in NYC, San Fran, LA, Seattle, Portland, DC, Philly, Chicago? The answer is no, nowhere. All sorts of crime, violent and property, has increased in ALL so-called “restorative justice” cities, including Tucson.

Democrat district attorneys in those cities, like Conover here, have done two things. They don’t report their crime statistics to the FBI. That’s a classic dodge, which skews national statistics. AND, they lower the standard of what qualifies as a felony versus a misdemeanor. Example: California, where else, raised the limit for what qualifies as felony shoplifting from $500 to $950. Result is less felony charges and convictions. Conover has done the same with all criminal charges. Low info D voters and the Star have bought her deception. Pathetic.

Stephen Sollenberger

Foothills

Pro tempore

There is a dilemma in the offing. In early January of ’25 a joint session of congress will count and record the electoral college votes. Presiding over the ceremony will be the president of the senate, VP Kamala Harris. She would be counting and certifying her own votes. Or will she defer that responsibility to the president pro tempore of the senate. All would be well if the senate, sworn in on 3 January ’25 has a Democrat majority. But what if the senate has a Republican majority. The president pro tempore of the senate would be a Republican. Would that Republican be loyal to the constitution or to Donald Trump? If the latter is the case that president pro tempore could refuse to accept the votes and throw the election into the House of Representatives which would assure Trump a victory. It’s alarming and in these times it could happen.

Jon Langione

Marana

Ciscomani’s border

A recent letter writer suggested President Biden and “Border Czar Harris” are somehow solely responsible for the current “wreck” at the U.S.- Mexico border. The writer further suggests that the Biden/Harris administrations didn’t care enough to secure the border by failing to support H.R 3602, the End the Border Catastrophe Act, introduced by Rep. Ciscomani in April 2024 which failed passage in the Republican controlled House. Meanwhile, in May 2024 Senate Republicans, under pressure from former President Trump, withdrew their support and blocked passage of the Border Act, a bipartisan bill containing similar provisions to H.R. 3602.

Politicians would have you believe it’s the other guy’s fault. What we really need is sound bipartisan border security legislation. Stop using the issue as political leverage.

Sheldon Clark

Vail

Steve Kerr and leadership

Did you listen to Steve Kerr’s speech at the Democratic National Convention? If you haven’t heard it, go to YouTube and search for his speech. His is the kind of leader we so desperately need for our nation. No doubt his coaches and professors contributed to his initial growth as a leader while he was attending classes and playing hoops here at the University of Arizona. Building leaders for the future — this is the legacy for the University of Arizona. Bear Down!

Richard Harper

Northeast side

Nine years of Trump

My question is, how long does this crap go on? Donald Trump hates women, people of color, anything that’s not white! He’s already denying the election that hasn’t happened yet. I know one thing, with his Project 2025, we, meaning those who believe the truth, will never, and I mean never, let that fascist get close to the Presidential seal again. This is the best country on the planet. If you silly Trump supporters think, we’re going to roll over, and let this deranged man plunder our coffers, again, think again. We’re tired, the whole world is tired, of Donald Trump. Keep pushing the envelope, pathetic supporters. Keep denying reality. We’re not afraid of you, we’re just sick and tired of you!

Mary Bradley

Northeast side

More than a honeymoon — a movement

Kamala Harris has energized the Democratic Party. Some argue that it’s because she is in the honeymoon phase of her candidacy, others say this is a movement. Polls show her gaining ground in battleground states and a recent Monmouth poll states that Democratic party enthusiasm is at 85%, compared to 71% for Republicans. Pollster John Della Volpe’s Social Sphere notes that her favorability among young people alone has jumped 16 points since July.

Gen Z memes have turned Kamala Harris into a “Brat Summer” icon, meaning she is bold, resilient, and trustworthy. No, Kamala Harris did not fall from a coconut tree. No, she doesn’t own a cat. Harris is smart and determined, with a strong focus on policy issues that matter in our country. Her positive approach to the future is energizing.

This election, it is up to us to advocate and vote for a positive future — leaving anger and chaos in the past.

Carla OHara

Northwest side

Tim Walz (poor choice)

Hats off to Tim Walz for his military service, however, why did he embellish on his actual rank, and claimed that he carried a weapon into war when he was stationed in Italy? Even though he lied, the liberal media covered for him claiming that he just misspoke. This is the same guy when governor of Minnesota sat on his hands for days while rioters were burning down Minneapolis. He has the same radical beliefs as Kamala including open borders, disarming the police, and let’s not forget putting tampons in the boy’s bathrooms in all schools. It’s no wonder that he was chosen to be Vice President because as the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together.

Dennis Jacobsen

Oro Valley

Corporation Commissioners set utility rates

If you wonder why our electric bills are ever higher, look no further than the composition of the Arizona Corporation Commission: four Republicans, one Democrat. The Republicans are on the side of the utility companies, not the ratepayers. They buy every rate-raising story the utilities tell them because they want to keep their corporate friends and donors happy. If that means our rates are higher and our rebates for going solar are lower, so be it. Let’s boost the number of Democrats on this Commission and finally have a majority committed to lower rates, better service, and cleaner climate. Vote for Ylenia Aguilar, Jonathon Hill, and Joshua Polacheck.

Eloise Gore

Northeast side

Cure the ‘patient’

It has been proven that anger, hatred, and bitterness are detrimental to health, causing everything from headaches, gastrointestinal symptoms to cancer. The increased corticosteroids produced slowly destroy the body.

A cancer of hatred and vitriol has poisoned and is destroying our country.

The counterpoint was the Democratic National Convention — an outpouring of tears of happiness, empathy, and love. The Republican Convention — an outpouring of negativity, fear, name-calling, playing to the crowd with unhealthy venom. The crowd loved it, but not in a “Christian” way. The difference between Steve Kerr and Hulk Hogan, night and day — a classy man vs. an uncouth animal.

The cure for the patient and our country — change course —petting a dog, hugging a person stimulates endorphins and oxytocin, a healthy antidote to the poison perpetuated by anger and hatred. Humans can’t survive on negativity and hatred. It leads to violence and sickness. A figurative “hug” makes our country better and healthier. Steve Kerr vs. Hulk Hogan. Which is a better role model for our children?

Sandra Katz, M.D., J.D.

Foothills

Not voting for a moderate

Re: the Aug. 15 letter “Harris is no moderate.”

The writer detailed numerous reasons he believed that VP Harris is not a moderate. He asserted that the media labels her a moderate. The reasons to vote for her include:

1. is in favor of Medicare for all;

2. seeks to ban assault weapons;

3. favors abortion without restrictions;

4. seeks eventual elimination of fossil fuels; and

5. agrees to packing the Supreme Court.

Voting for the alternative was never an option, just as voting for a moderate is not an option. The only option is VP Harris.

Kenneth Haber

Northwest side