Tucson speaks out: June 10

Oracle Road wildlife crossing

I am glad conservationists are so satisfied with the Oracle Road wildlife crossing that they would like a more expensive crossing of I-10 built. If I read your article correctly, we the taxpayers paid $9 million for 27,297 crossings and one nice picture of a lynx. That is $329.07 per crossing. That is something I am going to consider every time I hit a pothole. I have a perfectly adequate lynx picture from my backyard.

Davis Reinhart

North side

Data-center secrets

I was amazed (and sickened) when I read the Star reporting about the top-secret project under consideration by the Pima Board of Supervisors. The “prize” would be 8-10 data centers. Based on news reports I have read, these centers have two things in common: They use a huge amount of water and electricity and provide few permanent jobs. The Board of Supervisors have little to no information about the entity that will own the land. We have water issues that boggle the mind and challenges in electric supply. The Star article mentioned other possible uses. The board should be looking there.

Bruce Wysocki

Southwest side

Secretive plan for data center

It’s very troubling Tucson citizens and supervisors are denied information (plausible deniability?) regarding massive developments that will impact our water supply, energy and other consequences. Many such data centers require more water and energy than small cities.

War-hawk Senator Mark Kelly intends to make Tucson a water-hog defense and biomedical hub. There have been no read-out specifics on Mayor Romero’s trip to Qatar other than Tucson is “open for business.” What kind of business — like water-depleting Saudi companies that exploited lax groundwater rules? A friend inquired with a construction worker about a large eastside construction project and was told it’s under “non-disclosure agreement.”

Out-of-state or international investors and captured politicians don’t care about inevitable water shortages prompting “toilet to tap,” long-distance, exorbitantly expensive desalinization possibilities, necessitated power-grid upgrades all charged to taxpayers with degraded quality of life. Thanks to Tony Davis and Arizona Daily Star for coverage. Transparency is essential for a realistic discussion of consequences.

Candace Charvoz Frank

West side

First Amendment rights

Two Sunday letters gripe about First Amendment freedoms.

The first complains about the ASPCA and accuses it of misrepresentation in their footage of abused animals. “While these images may have been true once, but not any more (sic).”

This is ridiculous. Just ask PACC, the Humane Society, and the many great rescue groups in Tucson. He would learn this abuse is ongoing.

The second letter is outraged over the dark satire, “Your Friends and Neighbors,” which he says should not be tolerated! He wants Apple to apologize because people of faith deserve respect.

Well, everybody deserves respect, and so does the freedom represented by the First Amendment. Neither man has to donate money, nor watch a show he doesn’t like. No one is forcing them, and they don’t get to force others. The Constitution is under attack. Sly gripes like these try to sound logical and moralistic, but they are really an assault on freedom.

Christi Driggs

Northwest side

ASPCA

Loran Hancock, I agree with you 100%, they have these sad videos of animals with that angel music, in the meantime the CEO of ASPCA pockets over a million dollars a year, he should take half of his income and donate it to the ASPCA. In the meantime, I support the Animal League of Green Valley AZ, where we are all volunteers and love it.

Martha Brooks

Green Valley

Less outrage, more facts

As CFSD Board President, I am dedicated to addressing constituent concerns while also correcting misinformation that undermines our district’s integrity.

Bart Pemberton is a twice-rejected CFSD board candidate whose school-age children are not district students. While he justifiably exercised his right to publicly complain about a teacher’s deviation from prescribed curriculum in teaching a “sex-education” class, what was not fair game — and what we would never teach our students is acceptable to do — is omit important facts that bear on the credibility of one’s position. In this case, those facts include: (1) the teacher was promptly directed to adhere strictly to approved curriculum and exclude personal beliefs from instruction; and (2) the teacher will not be returning to CFSD next school year.

This appears to be yet another effort by Dr. Pemberton and his group of longtime CFSD critics to erode public confidence in CFSD and the current board, in the hopes that “the third time’s the charm” in next year’s election.

Amy Krauss

Foothills

Historical political unreality

Once a politician has successfully discredited the truth in society, then the only thing left to believe is unreality. This technique has been well documented by experts on totalitarianism like Hannah Arendt and Jason Stanley. Broken nations will easily accept grandiose promises from their new hero and savior. He becomes their last/best hope for the nation, so they want to believe him to be honest and not deceptive. This was the trap that befell Italy and Germany 100 years ago. Their new truth was not based on fact, but emotion. They got caught up in the frenzy created by their leader. Now, in our modern times, we see 47 using the same technique; creating his own truth for people to believe; banking on peoples’ desperation.

Since 47 is a known sociopath, he can easily create his own reality to support his grandiose self-image. This is why I believe that he thinks he won the 2020 election. He’s living an illusion. Don’t get sucked into it.

Steve Rasmussen

Foothills

Buyer’s remorse

MAGA GOP Representative Juan Ciscomani, from AZ CD6, recently signed a letter along with 12 other GOP representatives asking Senate Republicans to “fix” the big beautiful budget bill. The signees are hoping senators will bail them out for disastrous provisions in the bill that would eliminate clean energy initiatives. The letter contends that, “This approach jeopardizes ongoing development, discourages long-term investment, and could significantly delay or cancel energy infrastructure projects across the country.” Despite making promises including not cutting Medicaid and protecting clean energy tax credits, Ciscomani voted to cut both. The House budget bill passed by a single vote including Ciscomani’s.

Jean Meconi

Oro Valley

Who matters to Republicans

Dr. Oz, the man in charge of Medicare and Medicaid, defends the major cuts to these programs by saying the work requirements give people a chance “to prove they matter.” Apparently, you only have value if you are working a meaningless job, if indeed, you can get one at all. It ignores the reality that most recipients who can work, do. There seem to be no strings attached to the billionaires looking forward to their tax cuts. After all, in Trump world, they matter.

Mary Zimmerman

SaddleBrooke

Water-rate increase for foothills residents

The Superior Court of Arizona granted summary judgment to Pima County when it challenged the action that the city did not use “cost data” when setting the rates as provided by Arizona state law. The city lost and paid legal expenses but did not pay the money back to ratepayers.

The city seems to have unlimited funds to hire their experts and attorneys, plus having all the water distribution information. Foothills residents have no vote, no options for getting their water elsewhere, and no organization for challenging a proceeding.

The current system is a regional interconnected system without discrete assets that specifically belong to or support only one user group. “It is clear Tucson serves areas that cost more to serve than the foothills. This issue is not about saving water or cost of service. It is about equity for the foothills. The city has excluded government entities, the tribal government, and others, not because of service cost, but because of politics.

Dave Locey

Foothills

Spitting

If President Trump thinks spitting on police and the National Guard by protesters in LA is illegal, then why did he pardon the January 6th protesters? Those people spit, bear-sprayed and beat the Capitol and Metro police in D.C. You can’t have it both ways.

Mary Elizabeth Potts

East side

Lawless use of military

On May 4, 1970, at Kent State, the Ohio National Guard used their firepower to suppress a peaceful protest about war in SE Asia and the draft.

Four were killed, nine wounded, one disabled for life.

Trump has mobilized the California National Guard to put down a protest about how immigration is being enforced.

In 2020 he asked if they could shoot protesters in the legs.

The administration has talked about using US Army and Marine Corps to put down protesters.

It should be noted the US Army and Marine Corps are trained to kill people, not do crowd control.

Remember Kent State.

Donald Plummer

Northwest side

A light in the darkness

Every day the newspaper and air waves are filled with war, strikes, a do-nothing congress, a President who bullies, blusters and crushes anyone who would dare disagree with his omnipotence. Next the Arizona Wildcats played the high-flying North Carolina Tar Heels in baseball’s Super regional and promptly lost 18-2. My hopes were dashed, and I admit that I, a lifelong Wildcat fan, expected more of the same. But no, the Wildcats got off the mat, beat the #5 North Carolina squad twice in two days and qualified for the upcoming College World Series. Momentarily my faith in humanity is restored. There is good after all. Thanks Wildcats, your proved what real mettle can do. Good luck in Omaha. Now if only our Congress would see and heed.

Philip Reinecker

East side

Putin’s power is not unlimited

Although Putin is a dictator, his powers are not limitless. He needs the support of the oligarchs, the military leaders, and lastly, the general public.

Presently he has lost an estimated over one million soldiers in the War with Ukraine. It has been a major burden to his economy. The sanctions in place also hurt his country.

If in the future he experiences major hits to Russian cities, military installations, etc., not to mention civilian deaths from drones, the abovementioned forces may unite to cause his downfall.

Rudy Roszak

Oro Valley

EV subsidies

In his recent column Ashley Nunes wrote that Trump was right to roll back electric vehicle subsidies. He’s right, but why stop there? Why not eliminate all the other subsidies to the automobile and fuel businesses as well? The corporate average fuel economy rule, the “chicken tax,” the intangible drilling cost preference, the percentage depletion rule, and the tariffs that come and go according to the President’s mood come to mind. Washington has been distorting this market for decades to the country’s detriment. We would be better off letting technology and consumer preferences determine what kind of vehicles we drive.

Pete Kasper

Foothills

Republican history

As our 2nd voyage into Trumpism continues, I have reflected on other Republican Presidents who have left office under bad conditions.

1. Trump 45 left in the middle of a COVID pandemic which he denied and had the economy spiraling into recession. Biden rescued us.

2. G.W. Bush and Cheney had run the economy close to recession with tax cuts and an immoral war. Both were very unpopular. Obama rescued us.

3. George HW Bush promised no taxes to address the Reagan-induced deficit. He raised taxes anyway was defeated and Clinton rescued the economy.

4. Ford pardoned Nixon for his many crimes, could not slow down inflation and lost his only election to Carter.

I have to wonder what is in store for the tariff guy.

Craig Wunderlich

West side

Leaders should earn votes, not inherit them

I’m a 17-year-old student in Tucson and an intern with Daniel Hernandez’s campaign for Congress. Although I can’t vote in the July 15th special election for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, I’m paying attention because this race will shape the future I’m growing up in. I support Daniel because he has a real record of delivering results. He helped raise $20 million for Arizona public schools and fought to protect programs like Medicaid and Social Security, which many families in our district rely on. He also fights for reproductive rights, public safety, and working-class communities. In this race, name recognition matters more than it should. But elections should be about action, not just familiarity. We deserve leaders who earn our votes through service, not family ties. On July 15th, I hope CD-7 voters choose a candidate who has consistently delivered for us — not one who has inherited a platform.

Hannah Levin

Foothills

When is it a peaceful protest?

President Trump labeled January 6 a peaceful protest. He watched TV for hours while police officers and Capitol security personnel were viciously attacked. He dawdled before he allowed additional military presence. And recently he pardoned attackers who were serving prison sentences. This weekend he labeled the protest in LA an insurrection. He authorized force to be used against these citizens exercising their right to protest. They did not beat any police officers. They did not storm and enter the federal building. One group was called patriots by Trump. The others are called insurrectionists by him. The definition seems to depend on whether they are protesting for him or against his policies.

John Kautz

Midtown