Tucson Speaks Out: September 11

Race and decision-makingYesterday the Supreme Court ruled that ICE agents can continue to use race and ethnicity as one criteria for stopping and presumably arresting someone suspected of being in the country illegally. Yet in 2023, that same court, with the same Justices, held that Harvard and any other University receiving federal funds could not use race or ethnicity even as a minor factor in its admissions policy. Admissions must be race neutral, but law enforcement need not be. It strikes me that measured by the consequences of the two actions, the result should be precisely the opposite. The harm caused by police use of racial profiling to those that are the subject of enforcement actions is far greater than getting rejected by the elite institution of your choice.

Melvyn Durchslag

SaddleBrooke

Release Epstein files

Despite staunch opposition from the White House and Republican leaders, a bipartisan Congressional resolution directing the Justice Department to release all of its investigative files on Mr. Epstein is on track.

Support for releasing the Epstein Files requires approval by 218 House Representatives. Currently 216 Representatives have signed on, including four Republicans: Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Nancy Mace of South Carolina.

Two more Republicans are needed to force a floor vote on releasing the Epstein Files.

What say you, CD-6 Rep. Juan Ciscomani?

Randy Garmon

North side

Very bad people

It is so good to get the violent criminals arrested in the raid of Hyundai’s EV plant in Georgia out of our country. You know, the murderers, rapists, robbers, etc. We know that’s what they must be because violent criminals are those whom the great white father and his sycophants told us they would arrest and deport. Violent people, very bad people, not the right color of people.

Never mind that these people came to the former land of opportunity in order to work. Or that they no doubt were paying taxes. Yes, very bad people!

Jim Rapp

Southeast side

Correcting misleading claims

As a local college student in finance I wanted to correct some information that I have been seeing. A recent opinion piece on TEP’s renewable energy mix is riddled with misunderstandings. The author confuses the energy used locally with wholesale transactions reported in TEP’s SEC filings — two very different figures. TEP has been transparent about its local energy portfolio, and the numbers are clearly shown on its website.

The idea that Arizona’s energy costs are among the highest is also wrong. According to the Arizona Corporation Commission, Arizona’s rates remain relatively low compared to many states, and far lower than some with aggressive renewable mandates.

The bottom line is this: TEP is rapidly adding renewables while balancing affordability, reliability, and sustainability. Repealing the outdated Renewable Energy Standard reflects our current and foreseeable reality — the market is already delivering cleaner energy without the need for rigid, one-size-fits-all mandates.

Charlie Heck

West side

Just wondering

The news media is full, day after day, about releasing Epstein files. Many have been, but so far knowing if important men were involved with partaking in sex acts with underage girls has not been discovered.

Last week there was a large group of women gathered on the steps of the Capitol demanding information.

Those girls are now women, if in fact they were the ones abused, why haven’t they come forth and given their personal story to government officials or the media?

Jack Walters

Northeast side

Are these related?

Our president just changed the Department of Defense to the Department of War. When President Zelensky recently met with our president, he (President Zelensky) noted that he would hold free elections when the war with Russia was over. Our president responded with “You don’t hold elections during a war?” and it was like a lightbulb turned on in his head. He looked away with a slight smirk.

Anybody see a connection?

Alan Brown

East side

Our top law enforcement official?

Will the Epstein files reveal Trump abused teen girls or exonerate him? I don’t know but guess neither. It might show they hung out together frequently or had business dealings or it might not.

Trump said long ago Epstein liked his women on the younger side, a simple code for teenage girls. He knew they were underage. It is easy to tell a 14-year-old is not a 20-something. What did he do about it? Nothing.

Maybe his inaction does not rise to the level of an accomplice or accomplice after the fact but would you want him to ignore your daughter or granddaughter being involved with Epstein? Maybe there are no laws requiring him to report Epstein but isn’t it the right thing to do? Would you want him as a neighbor, much less as the leader of our country?

Clarence Johnson

Oro Valley

Misidentified painted lady butterfly

With deep apologies to all lepidopterists out there it was my photograph and my misidentification not the Arizona Daily Star’s that led to the letter correcting my error. (used app called “i naturalist” in my weak defense)

Just hope that the shadow cast by this diminutive magnificent creature is not enough to “overshadow” (as the writer states) the significance of Tucson’s and Arizona’s energy future decisions about Community Choice Energy.

Rick Rappaport

Oro Valley

No writing skills

When asked why the Writing Skills Improvement Program was being axed from the UA College of Humanities, dean Alain-Phillipe Durand said it was because of organizational changes, and attempts to “strengthen our finances, achieve a balanced budget, and support the long-term fiscal health of the institution.” He also mentioned “multiple factors, including strategic priorities, program sustainability and overall operational efficiency.” Or, in plain English, “Blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda.” Ironically, it appears that the good dean of obfuscation could use a few lessons in writing skills improvement.

Ray Lemke

Midtown

Part of the problem

First, I read with amazement the opinion piece by Ronald Eustice. Now I read an LTE exalting the piece. Notably, both these gentlemen voted three times for a self-serving, wannabe dictator who has never served anything or anyone other than himself for essentially his entire life. In 2016, Trump was simply grossly unqualified to be president; in 2020, his downplaying of the pandemic resulted in countless thousands of Covid deaths because he didn’t want a sinking economy to derail his potential re-election. In 2024, Eustice and Mr. DiSalvo voted for despicable Trump after he lied for months about the 2020 election, leading his violent cult members in January 2021 to desecrate the Capitol and threaten to kill his own Vice President. Now they’re appalled at Trump’s behavior and laughably suggest there was “no viable alternative?” These folks need to acknowledge their culpability for the situation they now bemoan. Republican values? They should have listened to Liz Cheney.

Hope Gastelum

East side

RFK Jr. attacked by Big Pharma

Since my last three letters were not published by the Star I am not optimistic about this one. However recent LTEs against RFK Jr.’s approach to cleaning up our lying, obfuscating public health agencies cry out for response. The obvious pharma money propping up our congresspeople and senators have forced them to try every dirty trick in the book to discredit RFK Jr. without letting him get the truth out. The mainstream media is kept in business by 75 to 85% of revenue from pharma ads and thus precluded from telling the truth about the damage from pharma products of all types especially vaccines. How anyone can close their eyes to the overwhelming health decline of American people is largely due to the propaganda forced on us by Big Pharma. The CDC has been for decades covering up its own studies that show the damage done by pharma products. Let truth prevail for once.

Donna Byers

Northeast side

Who really deserves the credit

Donald Trump was totally against the 2021 Infrastructure Bill that Congress passed and President Biden signed into law. Trump trashed the bill on social media claiming it would bankrupt the country. Now that many of these projects are underway, Trump is insisting that the contractors erect big green signs saying “President Donald J Trump, Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure.” Nothing is too crass for this man. This must be his long promised Infrastructure Week.

Mary Zimmerman

SaddleBrooke

Accessories before the fact

As a relocated Minnesotan I’m extremely upset by the latest school shooting. Here are my thoughts and prayers:

Facts:

• Guns are the leading cause of death of children and teens in Arizona. Unlike adult statistics where suicides represent 56% of deaths, 61% of dead children were murdered.
• Of 46,728 gun deaths in 2023, just 774 were defensive; not impressive protection when having guns allowed 25,613 people to suicide.
• The Rand Corporation found a number of gun laws truly work, particularly those that keep guns away from children, like safes and age limits.

My Prayer:

Legislators sabotaging gun laws be charged as “accessories before the fact.” Definition: “An accessory before the fact aids, abets, counsels, or encourages the commission of a felony prior to the crime occurring. Actions might include planning the offense, providing necessary tools like weapons or offering advice on how to carry out the crime.” The facts about guns are well documented. They know guns will kill children. They do not care. They are guilty.

Dee Maitland

Marana

Gone girl AG Pam Bondi

Chairman Peter Flaherty, author of Bondi ably serving nation, president.

If you can hear me please note the reason former AG Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russia collusion investigation is not “inexplicable.” Sessions lied to Congress about meeting with Russian operatives. When you lie under oath to Congress, you are also lying to the American people. Currently, there are numerous Trump appointees who are truth compromised but few as publicly as AG Pam Bondi. It is because of her association with the Epstein cover up that her value to the Trump administration has greatly depreciated. Loyalty is a one-way street for Donald Long Tail. Mr. Flaherty, it seems your attempt to rewrite history and selective outrage will all be for naught. Not even Fox Entertainment can save Bondi now.

Sherry Ivester

Midtown