Tucson Speaks Out: July 16

I worked for the TSA at Ontario (CA) International Airport for a few years in the early 2000s. I enjoyed my time there. Despite the growing pains of a new government agency, we got the job done and helped keep the flying public safe.

Today, about 20 U.S. airports use private security companies instead of TSA screeners. These firms operate under strict TSA guidelines and face daily audits. Failure to perform can cost them their contracts.

Private security offers clear advantages: it is unaffected by politically driven government shutdowns, so screeners don’t miss paychecks like many TSA agents recently did. It also provides better staffing flexibility—personnel can be quickly shifted between locations during shortages.

The result is greater efficiency and shorter wait times. San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the largest hub using private contractors, handles 54.5 million passengers annually with peak wait times under 10 minutes.

Your tax dollars pay for airport security either way. The question is how that money can be spent most effectively.

Phil Atwood

Sierra Vista

Maine Dems do the right thing

Graham Platner has been forced out of Maine’s Senate race. He is accused of sexual abuse. Although not tried or convicted, there does seem to be ample evidence that he could be found liable. Maine democratic leadership felt he should not represent the party.

But, what should be done about a politician who has actually been found liable (guilty) of sexual abuse? Should that person’s party demand that he resign? Oh, wait! The republicans have that opportunity.

President Trump has been ordered by the court to pay $5 million to a woman for sexual assault. This went all the way to Trump’s handpicked Supreme Court, and he still lost. This means in the eyes of the law, he is a sexual abuser, but not in the eyes of the “we believe in the rule of law except for anything Trump does,” republicans.

The republican leadership villainizes Platner, but Trump is a Christian sent by God. WOW! Is there a patron saint of hypocrisy?

Gary Haslett

SaddleBrooke

What's up?

What's the deal with The Star giving us repeated reminders that the "once every 30 days" rule for LTEs will be strictly enforced, then we see two letters on the same day (July 11) from the same contributor? Why? There are not so many letters that this would be an easy oversight. In the contributor's second letter, she suggests our area's high number of traffic deaths are not so much caused by red light running, but more likely due to our close proximity to the border. She blames border crossers' "unfamiliarity with signage and the lay of the land". This is truly absurd. I think it's pretty safe to say, any person who is against red light cameras wants to be able to speed and maybe run lights with no consequence. To hell with endangering lives or causing needless deaths!

Deb Klumpp

San Manuel

Red light cameras

Re: letter from Patricia Cattani on July 11

Patricia correctly points out that drivers can be stuck inside an intersection when their green left-turn arrow turns red before they can complete the turn. In this case, they should not be penalized, but they may have to explain that to a judge.

However, in turning left on a green light without an arrow, many other people and I have learned it is safer to stay behind the crosswalk instead of poking out into the intersection waiting to turn. left. (The exception is when the green light is so short you MUST pull out, or you will never turn. I'm looking at you, Grant and Mountain!)

Holly P. B. Finstrom

West side

Independents against Biggs for Governor

Noticed Congressman Biggs is trying to pass himself off as nonpartisan when he runs against Governor Hobbs. As an Independent and having watched Biggs for years, one would have to look hard to find a more partisan Trump-supporting guy in Congress. He was also one of the Republicans who tried to steal our votes by being one of the fake electors during the past election for president. This was the Trump legal move in a number of states to change the election results, and change the result of the popular vote in AZ. With a Republican House and Senate in AZ, I think we in Tucson are fortunate to have Governor Hobbs. The partisan voting does not serve Tucson well!

Dave Locey

Foothills

Still backing Trump

One would think that after all of Trump’s malfeasances, like instigating the Jan. 6 attempted coup, that supporters would see how immoral he truly is and back away from him. But there are still millions supporting him. Why? They see themselves in Donald, which is known as identity fusion. By rejecting him, they would be acknowledging their own flaws to some degree, but their pride will not allow that, so they continue down his destructive path.

The other reason why people still back Trump has to do with distorted reality. Being a sociopath with magical thinking, Trump has his own reality. Followers, who base their reality on feelings rather than facts, tend to believe that Trump has the truth, but outsiders do not. This feelings-based truth is called post-truth. Historically, this unmooring from objective reality is the harbinger of authoritarianism. Trump is perceived as the only one holding the truth, so he still has strident followers.

Steve Rasmussen

Foothills

The ultimate cynic

Oscar Wilde wrote in Lady Windermere’s Fan: “A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing.” Our president is just such a man — his most recent destructive act is stripping the Environmental Protection Agency of its mandate to preserve endangered species by redefining what the word “harm” means. Apparently, he is fine with leasing or selling oil rights, mining rights, logging rights to lands that harbor endangered species — to him, there is no value in a beautiful animal or plant unless it can be turned into a dollar. Maybe there are Independents and Republicans who will finally feel disgust and dismay and do everything possible to strip him of his powers. Vote out all Republicans who support him in November, and donate to organizations that can fight this latest madness. He seems determined to destroy everything he touches.

Norman Esptein

Midtown

Citizen's safety

It is understandable why red light runners would not want the cameras back, But, studies and statistics have shown photo enforcement reduces dangerous intersection fatalities, by red light runners by about 28%. It's not about pedestrians; these cameras are for intersection safety and for reducing car crashes and related fatalities caused by red light runners

If you're worried about being rear-ended, check your mirror and then tap your brakes a few times. This is a heads-up to the speeder behind you that you do not intend to run the red light, even if he thought he would.

Emily Morrison

Midtown

Fetterman and Israel

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) recently stated that he would leave the Democratic Party if it became anti-Israel and did not support Israel's right to defend itself.

But destroying the means of sustaining human life in Gaza is not self-defense. This includes Israel's devastation of Gaza's fields, orchards, greenhouses, water infrastructure and homes.

After the ceasefire began, Israel destroyed an additional 1,500 buildings in Gaza. Multiple United Nations agencies and humanitarian groups also report that Israel has blocked or severely restricted shelter supplies, including tarps, timber, plywood and sandbags, from entering the Gaza Strip. Families are forced to live in permanent tent cities, with their makeshift homes infested with rats and parasites.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, “We are disassembling Gaza, and leaving it as piles of rubble .. .And the world isn’t stopping us.”

Being pro-Israel should not mean downplaying or denying the atrocities Israel has committed.

Terry Hansen

Downtown