Tucson Speaks Out: Feb. 23

I didn’t realize

Before he was president, Trump bragged that he could end the Ukraine war in one day. I scoffed. I didn’t realize he meant he could surrender in one day.

John Kromko

Downtown

Competing with ourselves

I’ve been a proprietor of restaurants and bars in the Southwest for 25 years. Today, my hospitality group employs more than 200 hard-working Tucsonans across four dining concepts located in both Pima County and the City of Tucson. We intend to grow, but the sales tax increase proposed in Proposition 414 threatens our ability to compete within the city limits.

We all feel the pressures of rising prices; a half-percent sales tax adds up quickly and erodes the purchasing power of Tucsonans. We all see the effect of rising food and labor prices on the family budget. I believe in the importance of gathering and celebrating with friends and family. I look for creative ways to make dining out more accessible to my clientele and fair to my staff. Prop 414 inflates the bill in Tucson, driving patrons out of the City to save money. Vote no on 414 and let’s not compete with ourselves.

Grant Krueger

North side

Have not died in vain

It troubles me greatly that this current administration is displaying absolutely no respect nor honor nor debt of gratitude for the thousands of men and women who willingly sacrificed their lives to preserve the freedom and liberty so embedded in the foundation of this country. To disrespect those who have died by weakening and decimating our basic foundations of government; to slash away at the power of the Constitution; to demean the very rudiments of order and justice is to repudiate those brave lives who gave all for us. In Abraham Lincoln’s words, “… that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Robert Nordmeyer

Northeast side

Changing times

Americans voted for change, and Trump is white-washing America. The Gulf of Mexico will be the Gulf of America (named after Italian Amerigo Vespucci). Possibilities are endless: Arizona (Pima word) to Powellia (after John Wesley Powell), Colorado (Spanish) to Redlands, California (Spanish) to Fireland, Florida (Spanish) to Easter Flowers, Nevada (Spanish) to Snow Mountain, Oklahoma (Choctaw name) to Red People, Texas (Tejas in Spanish) to Travisia (after Texas hero William B. Travis), and Utah (Ute tribe name) to Brighamia (after Brigham Young). And Fresno (Spanish) to Red Ash, Las Vegas (Spanish) to Meadow Valley, Mesa (Spanish) to Table City, Nogales (Spanish) to Walnuts, Phoenix (Greek) to Fire Bird, Tampa (Calusa word) to Fire Sticks, and Yuma (Quechan word) to River City. All foolish changes that trash our cultural history. ‘Change’ is a two-edged, good or bad sword. Be careful what you wish for.

Tom Van Devender

North side

DOGE

If Mr. Musk and his mini-Musk minions had been there, way back when the Manhattan Project was funded, it would have been deemed wasteful spending and canceled by DOGE. And the arpnet would be an unnecessary government waste. And the millions given to Doctor Salk would be just another Government giveaway. And Eisenhower’s National highway system just another government boondoggle that DOGE would have done away with. The Marshall Plan, yet another giveaway to ungrateful Europeans. Reducing government waste and increasing government efficiency are objectives we should all support. But the cutting of critical and necessary programs that support departmental core missions is irresponsible at best and treason at its worst. To eliminate core functions without due diligence and proper legal authority must be recognized as simply foolish and unconstitutional and a danger to our democracy. The audacity and mendacity of Trump’s unhinged underlings will be a shameful remembrance.

Carl Foster

Green Valley

Former home of the brave

With organizations, companies, media and schools kowtowing to Trump mandates on websites, books, services clearly raises the question: What happened to the home of the brave?

Dennis Winsten

Northeast side

Household budgeting

We are retired and every January we review our finances. This year, we have to consider the chaotic beginning of the Trump administration and the start of tariff wars even with our closest allies.

Being retired, inflation is our biggest financial concern; inflation will follow tariffs as sure as night follows day. Accordingly, we have reduced our monthly expenditures starting with entertainment and travel. Any home improvements will be on hold for the foreseeable future.

The United States has a consumer-driven economy. If enough people of our generation drastically reduce their spending then there will be an effect locally and nationally.

Thomas Hefley

East side

Erika Barnes

I would like to compliment sportswriter Greg Hansen on his wonderful article about Erika Barnes leaving the U of A. I totally agree with what he said purposely about Erika and what she accomplished. I have known Erika for over 10 years as she was my go-to person for both the football/basketball programs. It was her wonderful way with presenting the UA Academic Center opportunities to me that I felt comfortable in making the lead donation. She has been such an asset to the University of Arizona and the Athletic Department by doing her job with much professionalism and raised a ton of money. So many of us shall miss her and wish her all the best.

Ginny L. Clements

Foothills

Thank you writers

I would like to express my gratitude to so many Star readers who have so eloquently expressed their disagreement with our current presidential administration. Thank you for calling out their many, many lies and self-serving actions that are hurting the American people, and for allowing an unelected person, Elon Musk, to make significant decisions to serve his own best interests. I could not have expressed this better myself, and I appreciate reading your letters and knowing that I am not alone.

Ellen Marshall

North side

Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine

It should come to no surprise that President Trump would lash out at the Ukrainian president recently. He has long admired authoritarian leaders like Putin, and we should expect him to be grateful for Russian support for his election in

2016 (“Russia, if you are listening...”). On the other hand, he no doubt remembers that Zelensky, to his credit, refused to give in to Trump’s demand that he find dirt on Joe Biden. Clearly, Trump plans to please Putin and punish Zelensky by sacrificing Ukraine. We can only hope that our legislators, especially Senate Republicans, have enough political courage to stop him.

Arnold Martin

Oro Valley

Ukrainian snub no surprise

It is no surprise that Trump is now in his own war with Ukraine, a war of words. His lies and childish name-calling. He isn’t able to end the war in 24 hours. That lie was to garner votes. It was never his intention to negotiate with anyone other than Putin to make that happen. Because of the embarrassing phone call with President Zelensky in 2019 when he asked him to “look into” Joe Biden and his son Hunter, this is Trump’s revenge against Ukraine, and a possible reason to ignore Ukraine’s participation in a life-changing decision. Trump’s presidency is about revenge and not responsibility. What gives Trump the right to manipulate another country’s fate without their voice in that outcome?

Christie Cummins

Midtown

Put us out of our misery

Instead of having all these signing ceremonies for his Executive Actions, why doesn’t Trump just put an official Presidential Binder on Project 2025, sign it, and get it over with?

Dianne Lethaby

East side

Citizenship

Dear President Trump,

My Ancestry DNA says that I am 60% British. Does this mean that I will be deported to the UK? Maybe you should have everyone in the U.S. submit the results of their DNA tests.

Only people who are 80% Native American will not be deported to their countries of DNA origin.

The Tribes could decide to grant work permits or voting rights to those allowed to stay!

I wonder which country you will be deported to: “Trump is the son, and grandson, of immigrants: German on his father’s side, and Scottish on his mother’s. None of his grandparents, and only one of his parents, was born in the United States or spoke English as their mother tongue. (His mother’s parents, from the remote Scottish Outer Hebrides, lived in a majority Gaelic-speaking community.)

Bea Quiroga

Midtown

Prop 414 will hurt housing

As someone who has spent years revitalizing homes in Tucson — turning neglected properties into livable spaces — I’ve seen firsthand the effort and investment it takes to strengthen our housing market. Proposition 414, the proposed half-percent sales tax increase, puts that at risk, making it even harder for small businesses like mine to keep going.

Renovating and reselling homes isn’t just about making a living — it’s about improving neighborhoods, boosting home values, and providing quality housing. But with labor, materials, and permitting costs already through the roof, another tax hike will only drive up expenses, making it harder to take on new projects in the communities that need them most.

Higher taxes on construction materials, appliances, and essential supplies will push renovation costs even higher. That means fewer homes getting fixed up, fewer local contractors getting hired, and fewer opportunities to tackle Tucson’s housing challenges.

Prop 414 will hurt housing. Reject it — vote no.

Roberto Moreno

North side

How could they? How could we?

For the last 60 years (since I was a high school student), every time I studied World War II and the Holocaust, my reoccurring question has been: How could the “good” people of Germany do nothing to stop Adolf Hitler from exterminating millions of people and destroying their country?

Now, I’m beginning to understand.

Judi Moreillon

Northeast side

You should take care of your spine

“We recognize that our season-ticket holders are the backbone of our support.” So you care for your backbone by subjecting us to horrendously long lines to buy lousy $9 hot dogs and $18 beers. Expensive parking that comes with a mile walk to our seats, late-night kickoffs that drive games to almost midnight and now a $50 increase in ticket prices called a fee. Come on, TV revenue is your backbone and we are second-class citizens.

Steve Sox

North side

Musk kissed by Boeing

Let’s see, Boeing has been working for several years on two new Presidential planes. I can only imagine how many work change orders had to be dealt with before the final versions were agreed upon. With all these change orders can you imagine the challenges to Boeing? And lo and behold Boeing has either asked or more likely had Musk forced upon them to help with “project management.” And by golly, the wizard from the White House has pulled a rabbit out of his hat and suddenly the program is well on track. At least that is according to the CEO of Boeing. So you mean to tell me that Boeing does not have any of their own project managers? I think suddenly the Boeing CEO has been drinking the Kool-aid and realized that to stay in good standing with the “new occupant,” they better be kissing Musk’s you know what. Next thing will hear is that Boeing is being bought by SpaceX. Oh, what tangled webs we weave.

Frank Flasch

North side