Tucson Speaks Out: March 30

A shout out to Cesar Chavez

Cesar Chavez has experienced a dramatic fall from grace due to explosive allegations of long-term sexual abuse of women and girls, including minors. Signs, statues and celebrations are being eviscerated across Pima County.

This political conservative has mixed emotions since fifty-five years ago I boycotted lettuce with Cesar and was proud to participate in his righteous cause,

Can’t we separate a flawed man from his legacy? JFK had his private White House stairwell to his boudoir, MLK had his well-documented indiscretions, WFC enjoyed a blow job in the Oval Office, and the DJT rap sheet is long although stopped short of his two presidencies.

America has recently toppled statues from a century ago to erase our history and I’m against it. I choose to honor Chavez’s accomplishments to our country rather than his weaknesses.

I call them as I see them.

Jeffrey McConnell

West side

Constitution vs. religious belief

On March 26, 2026, Republican Representative Lisa Fink (LD-27, West Phoenix), said that she and other Republicans who took an oath to uphold the constitution won’t actually do that if it contradicts their Christian beliefs, and that Republican legislators are committed to keep backing and proposing anti-abortion bills, despite the conflict with the state constitution.

LD-17 Republican House Representative Rachel Keshel has sponsored numerous anti-abortion bills.

In the 2024 General Election, Prop. 139 (which constitutionally prohibits the passage or enforcement of any laws that unnecessarily restrict access to abortion procedures) was approved by over 60% of Arizona voters; 72% in Rep. Fink's District.

I respect individuals who conduct their life based upon their religious belief, but legislating based upon those beliefs is a bridge too far.

As a left-leaning registered Independent, I advocate for the Democrats to take control of both Arizona legislative houses. In LD-17 and LD-23 there are current Republican seats that can be won by Democrats in November 2026.

Randy Garmon

North side

Racism, misogyny are alive and well

Racism and misogyny are alive and well in the Department of Defense. Secretary Pete Hegseth removed the names of two Black career soldiers and two female career soldiers from the list of those up for promotion reportedly because of their race and gender. Are we only to award recognition to White men? Are we so afraid that we cannot recognize excellence by all individuals? The administration needs to think more deeply about its actions especially at a time when Trump is seeking recruits for his illegal war.

Barbara Benjamin

Foothills

Cesar Chavez

An article in todays Star reveals efforts to repeal the holiday for Cesar Chavez. Another article indicates a school named for Chavez being renamed. These actions are purportedly taken because of an investigation by the New York Times revealing allegations that Chavez sexually assaulted women over a period of years. You notice I said allegations, not proof, that assaults occurred. I recall Chavez being idolized as a hero to the oppressed. He was a labor union's political activist much acclaimed for championing the rights of field workers. Maybe Chavez is guilty of the offenses and if so he deserves being chastised but remember he died in 1993. He is not available to rebut any claims or even to describe his actions on the dates given. If allegations are enough we have a president who is alleged to be a pedophile and yet he has received no penalties. I also have problems with someone waiting 33 years before coming forward.

Philip Reinecker

East side

A desire to oppose Democrats

Support for Trump among approximately 40% of US voters stems from their enjoyment of the shared animosity towards those they dislike, rather than concern for issues like morality, foreign policy, or the economy. Many Republican voters prioritize feelings over factual accountability, perceiving Trump's legal troubles as minor. Their allegiance is fueled by a desire to oppose Democrats, leading them to disregard significant allegations against Trump, which they consider politically motivated rather than legitimate. Trump has not accomplished any of his stated objectives in his platform. Everyone is suffering. We are at war. Prices are high. We have a dictator who supports Putin, et al. High prices across the board. One who ignores the court. One who supports WH terrorists. One who rules by executive orders. Profits from the presidency. This man executive orders everything but can't solve the TSA crisis? Attacks on checks and balances. Lies. Uses the office for personal profit. What's up with this? Liar, dictator, law breaker, felon, and profiteer.

Peter Bisschop

East side

Hormuz facts

As a data scientist I work with hard, public facts. The Strait of Hormuz is 24 miles wide. Iranian-Russian First Person View (FPV) fibre optic drones can fly 25 miles and cannot be jammed. In Ukraine, those drones kill every moving thing larger than a tricycle within 20 miles. Iran-Russia make over 2 million drones a year at a cost of under $30,000 each. Several can be carried in and fired from an old pickup truck. Russia attacks Ukraine with 1,000 drones a day. Iran will always be able to control the Strait just as the US will always be able to control Chesapeake Bay.

Disagree? Ask a general or admiral for their evaluation of the facts.

Kevin Pratt

Northeast side

Too much brass?

Readers of the AZ Daily Star — brace yourselves for the predictable onslaught of op-ed pieces from TEP brass. One President/CEO, one President of Operations, three Senior Vice Presidents, six Vice Presidents, and maybe more junior executives will continue their efforts to sway public opinion. The full court media press is puzzling in that ratepayers, the most likely audience, have limited influence in the outcome of the lawsuits, the rate case, and the planning process which currently occupy TEP's attention. Rate payers can submit comments to the ACC regarding the Project Blue ESA, the 14% rate bump and argue for decarbonization, but we do not decide, and our voices carry little weight with the judges and the ACC who will decide. Maybe that’s the objective of the TEP media blitz — to discredit and drown out the little people.

Sheldon Clark

Vail

Reduce TEP costs to achieve affordable rates

Eric Bronner, TEP VP of Energy Management, wrote Guest Opinion March 28 acknowledging that affordable rates are critical. That it is possible for TEP and the Arizona Corporation Commission to work together to avoid and reduce costs is encouraging.

Although fair recovery of costs by customer class is important, it would be more productive for TEP to avoid or reduce costs to improve affordability.

TEP currently generates only about 14% of its total sales with fixed, lower-cost solar that requires much less operating maintenance and fuel expenses than coal-natural gas power plants that are also depleting our water aquifer and emit heat trapping emissions that increase temperatures and electricity usage/costs. Solar could help TEP avoid spending $5B to build a new vulnerable natural gas pipeline.

TEP can/should increase its solar generation to 50% by 2030, purchase from Arizona Manufacturers-Businesses when available. It should retain, invest ratepayer revenues in Arizona, not export to other states/Canada, create an Arizona circular economy. If they do not, ACC should regulate and require them to do so.

Terry Finefrock

Foothills

No Kings farce

We elect Presidents, not kings. In the 2024 presidential election Trump beat Harris by 7% in the popular vote and by19% of electoral college vote. What do the No Kings advocates not understand about how our democracy works?

Alan Kohl

Northwest side