Tucson Speaks Out: October 2

Grijalva swearing-in

Several readers, together with the Star’s Editorial Board, castigate Speaker Johnson for failure to swear in Adelita Grijalva immediately, and attribute this inaction to partisan politics.

Well, partisan politics works both ways. For some unknown reason, the State of Arizona has not yet certified her election, the normal (but admittedly not absolute) prerequisite for enrolling a new member. This does suggest that the Democrats might rather have a talking point than a simple resolution of the issue. It wouldn’t be the first time that either side used such a tactic.

Jerrod Mason

Green Valley

Let’s call it what it is …

When governments kill civilians of a foreign country without declaring war or without due process in the courts, it is murder. Because a government thinks or somehow believes wrongdoing is being committed by foreign citizens, it does not have the right to pronounce guilt and impose immediate capital punishment. What the United States did to the suspected drug smugglers off Venezuela was murder. No due process, no armed threat detected, no imminent danger, no trial — just murder. What makes it even sadder is the fact that our military carried out the unlawful order without hesitation, without question, without mass protests or resignations, without shame. In the aftermath, the so-called free press remains silent, and I think obedient to the government.

Carl Foster

Green Valley

Maternal, child health threatened

President Trump’s recent remarks discouraging Tylenol use in pregnancy and reviving discredited vaccine autism claims illustrate how misinformation from high-profile figures can destabilize public health systems. The scientific consensus is clear: Acetaminophen remains an appropriate treatment for fever in pregnancy, and vaccines do not cause autism. To suggest otherwise risks undermining maternal health by discouraging safe symptom management and weakening childhood immunization adherence.

From a public health perspective, such statements distort risk communication and exacerbate distrust in health systems. For pregnant individuals and parents already navigating complex medical choices, conflicting and misleading guidance can further amplify anxiety, disrupt continuity of care, and increase adverse health outcomes.

Autism is a multifactorial developmental condition, and oversimplified causal claims not only obscure the complexity of ongoing research but also stigmatize families living with autism. Evidence-based communication is essential to protecting maternal and child health. Policy makers must prioritize clarity, accuracy and trust, rather than perpetuating myths.

Master of Public Health student,

Stephanie Hernandez

West side

Warrior ethos vs. truth

Not many folks today remember the true heroes of the last world war fought by American soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen. They weren’t Rambo wannabe knobs like Pete Hegseth … not to mention DJ Trump (who would never be caught dead near a war zone, ever). They came, almost exclusively, from the working class. People who were too busy earning a living to preen and posture before generals and cameras. This idiotic spectacle was a disgrace to their memory and valiant service.

Rich Ragland

Marana

The ‘worst of the worst’?

President Trump and his border “czar” keep maintaining they are after the “worst of the worst” during their immigration deportation drive. That sounds great, go after the cartel lords, the drug smugglers, the human traffickers. News flash, those people are not working at Home Depot or standing outside looking for day work. They are not at Starbucks, they are not picking fruits and vegetables or packing meat, they are not building a Hyundai battery plant. Neither are they caregivers at nursing homes nor attending college. Those people are not harming us, but the hackers, the scam artists, the fraudsters, and the tax cheats the FBI and IRS agents were investigating before being reassigned to immigration patrols at the above-mentioned sites are causing great damage to our country. So, what is really going on?

Don Ries

Southeast side

Safeguard our right to vote

After all of his rambling, the shock came: Trump announced to the more than 800 military leaders present that civil disobedience in American blue cities presented the perfect training ground for preparing military training operations. Can there be any doubt that if Trump’s ordered redistricting (gerrymandering) fails to garner the votes he needs, the administration will fake the need for military control to interfere with and even prevent voting? He knows that the polls are showing disapproval of his methods and some policies, and what does Trump do when there are critics? He goes after them. What hasn’t registered yet, however, is that disapproval of him exists in the so-called red states also. We must be vigilant and safeguard our right to vote.

Barbara Benjamin

Foothills

Most interesting

I was astonished and elated with Tim Stellars’ article in the Sept. 28 Star. He noted that homelessness in Tucson was an actual problem and current policies were not successful. He went on to posit several alternative policies that may be appropriate for at least portions of the homeless population. He stated that average Tucson citizens should not be the victims of a failed homeless policy. Kudos to Tim for his courage. Possibly, the same approach could be used to address illegal immigration and the removal of criminal illegal aliens while still providing a less aggressive action for long-standing, law-abiding illegal entrants. In addition, how best to reform the K through 12 education system, which is now an abysmal failure in many locations. Tim’s whole point was that to solve problems, first you must admit there is a problem, secondly you must stop demeaning anyone who has an alternate position, and thirdly, the intended goal must be defined and all actions designed to achieve that goal.

Loyal M. Johnson Jr.

Oro Valley

Trump’s military pep talk

My greatest hope for democracy is that 800 of the world’s greatest military minds are flying back to their posts with a solid realization that it’s up to them to save this country from this corrupt administration.

Terry Louck

East side

Arizona football

As an alum, I have to say I’m enjoying the heck out of Arizona football this year. I just read a disappointing LTE saying “they expected more from the Cats against ISU.” I didn’t. I thought they’d get beat up. And they did considering ISU’s big lineup. Had it not been for so many “dropped” passes, they would have been in it. The defense played very well.

Hawaii is now 4-,2 and Arizona beat them handily. They weren’t a cupcake.

I expect Arizona to beat OSU this weekend, which would put them two games away from bowl eligibility. They will be bowl eligible this year.

I still recall the losing streak.

This team makes me want to watch Arizona football. I think if the locals can believe the same and support the team, close games might become easier wins for the Cats at Arizona Stadium. Bear down!

John Bingham

Northwest side

Ciscomani shutdown

By voting to shut down the federal government, Congressman Ciscomani is holding Arizona families hostage instead of reversing the cuts he and his colleagues made to health care and food assistance this summer. Those cuts hit seniors, children, and struggling families, while his party advanced massive tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and corporations.

Now, thousands of federal workers in Arizona face unpaid furloughs. Families wonder how to put food on the table. Veterans face delays in the benefits they earned. Small businesses that depend on federal services are left in limbo.

This crisis was preventable. Congress had one job: Keep the government open. Instead, Ciscomani chose politics over responsibility, all while he and his colleagues watch the administration post racist messages on Truth Social.

Arizonans deserve leaders who put communities first, not party extremists or wealthy donors. Ciscomani must end this shutdown, restore the funding cuts, and do the job he was elected to do.

Omar Algeciras

Vail

Military honors

On the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland, Secy Hegseth and President Trump disgraced themselves before 800 assembled U.S. Generals and the world. A few questions for our Congressional representatives: How do you feel about armed troops potentially being deployed to “wage war” on American cities? How did it make you feel when diversity in the military was attacked as a weakness? Were you alarmed by Hegseth’s ignorance and arrogant posturing, and by the president’s inappropriate remarks about ignoring standards of decency and law? Each of you has expressed your goal of honoring our military men and women, and you swore an oath to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution. Your community is waiting for you to live up to these obligations and to speak out loudly in protest.

Lois Eisenstein

Midtown

The warrior ethos

Much has been said about the “warrior ethos,” mostly from the Secretary of War (i.e., Defense), but ultimately, the military of the smallest country to the largest nation is the same; it is a combination of all races, learning styles, talents and skills, ethics and abilities. For Mr. Hegseth to continually harp about the “warrior ethos” is to continually bray about a quality that does not exist but must be trained and practiced by every member of the military for the duration of their time as a soldier, sailor, airman/airwoman and marine – it is not something you are born with. Anyone familiar with history knows the story of Sgt. Alvin York, who first applied for conscientious deferral but later, in good conscience, decided he was upholding his beliefs as he fought in WWI, he – I believe – portrays the “warrior ethos” that is continually the subject in the news. He never set out to be a “warrior” but became one by simply doing his job and upholding his beliefs.

Richard Rebl

East side

A silent roar

Re Jackie Marshall’s LTE re boycotting, I was one of the many who cancelled my Disney+ subscription as a protest to their handling of Jimmy Kimmel. I stopped shopping at Target many months ago due to their DEI policies, and even if I could afford a Tesla, I would never buy one because of Musk.

It is so true, we have the power to hit corporations and businesses where they hurt — in their pocketbooks.

Speak up for what you believe in, both as a consumer and a voter.

Valerie Golembiewski

Southeast side

2026 campaign

For those of us who do not agree with what many of the Arizona members of our state’s US Congressional delegation as well as our local Arizona Legislative representatives support:

1) Do not believe that private fury shared within your group of like-thinkers will do any good

2) Do not believe that donating mountains of money to the candidate of your choice is enough

It will take your time and shoe leather. Get out there and assist the candidate of your choice to call on neighbors and attempt to share thoughts with them. Listen to what they have to say.

Write or call your current representatives at the state and federal level, letting them know what you believe to be important and what you expect their positions should be on the issues you care about.

Our population is growing — be the squeaky wheel.

Cindy Soffrin

Northeast side