Tucson Speaks Out: July 21 letters of the day

Now that Biden has succumbed to the pressure of his party to drop out of the presidential race, I hope the Democrats go full bore in their support of Kamala Harris who was a major player on Biden’s team and believes in the party platform.

Harris has worked to bring people together, led the fight for a woman’s right to decide on issues that concern her own body; cares that all people have clean water and air; believes we and our children should live without the fear of experiencing gun violence; and that all people deserve the opportunity to contribute to the success of the democracy experiment in our United States.

If allowed, I’m sure that history will judge President Biden’s administration as one that navigated our country through a very rough patch and against serious odds. The U.S. came out stronger and more respected by the world. Our foes hoped that Joe would lose because the opposition wants to go back to the future.

Cindy Soffrin

Northeast side

President Biden’s spectacular achievements

No. 1. Inflation. July 16, the Fed declares inflation nearing 2% from near 8% in 2020. No. 2. Student Loan Reduction. The dollars for this program went to the banks holding the notes NOT the students. This put much new money on the books of the banks to be loaned out boosting the banks’ profit and averting possible defaults by students. Students can now put the extra cash on hand into the economy. No. 3. The Inflation Reduction Act. That puts cash directly to buy American steel and supplies to build bridges and other infrastructure projects as well as hiring many thousands to perform the work. They also will use their wages to buy the things needed to support their families further boosting the economy. We all get safe bridges to travel on. Every Republican tax cut enacted puts money into the pockets of the 1% where it does nothing but raise the national debt. I’ll bet they didn’t give their house staff a raise. Thank you, President Biden.

Daniel Poryanda

Southeast side

End the divisive blame game, Republicans!

So predictable to read the false, divisive words from Republicans following the shooting in PA. Blaming Dems is totally ridiculous, but worse, fosters the divisiveness consuming this country. From JD Vance to AZ Republicans, they show their true colors. Anthony Kern (R) Glendale: “The left is unhinged.” Abe Hamadeh: “We will rescue our country from the evil villains, once and for all.” Maybe he means those evil villains who support the right of any mentally disturbed person to have an AR-15. Alex Kolodin: “So they really are going to try to kill him.” From Quang Nguyen: “We are not the violent ones, they are!!!” Wendy Rogers: “Trump is our president.” (No, Wendy, he’s not). These irresponsible, twisted comments are despicable. Not one word about their own party’s refusal to consider common sense gun laws — a main factor is this and other shootings. Republicans refuse to own that. Shooter was a registered Republican — no mention of that by these divisive, self-serving politicians who score MAGA points by blaming “them.”

Deb Klumpp

Oro Valley

Sustainable Gen Z vs. Legislature

Re: the June 17 article “Sustaining Gen Z’s future in the desert.”

Move over and make way for Gen Z! This guest opinion about sustaining life in the desert is a soft-spoken and powerful indictment of every “Gen” that isn’t doing its fair share. Her relentless recitation of Gen Z sustainable living data points illuminated our sharp generational divides.

Nowhere is this cultural and age divide more glaring than in our own state Legislature. At almost 89 years old and Chair of the one committee in the House that is all things sustainable in Arizona (Natural Resources Energy and Water), Gail Griffin is the official gatekeeper to living sustainably in the Arizona desert. 89 is not the new 22.

At almost 63 years old, the age of a Gen Z grandmother, Sine Kerr is Rep. Griffin’s Senate counterpart and Chair of the Senate Committee of the same name.

Together they form an airtight seal against a sustainable Arizona. Change is not in their vocabulary. They should be showing Gen Z the way forward not the door.

Rick Rappaport

Oro Valley

Get out the vote

Democrats need to stop talking about both Biden and Trump. We’re not going to change anyone’s mind. We need to talk about issues that drive high, Democrat-leaning voter turnout. Abortion rights does this. Climate change resonates with young voters. Republican attacks on Medicare and Social Security turns out older voters. Voting rights resonate with Black Americans. Mass incarcerations and deportations and attacks on immigrants resonate with Hispanics and Asian Americans. Republicans accepting Neo-Nazis and anti-Semites rouses Jewish voters. Republican attacks on the ACA drives people with preexisting conditions and high drug costs to vote. There are many other issues where Democrats stand with the vast majority of Americans we can write about.

It doesn’t matter who is running for President. Any Democrat from the President to the local school board is better than a MAGA Republican because of the issues. Remember, the whole Virginia state government recently flipped to all Republican by one vote in one district. Get out the vote!

Jerad Morris

SaddleBrooke

Auslander is right on point!

Re: the July 14 article “An astonishing, despotic decision.”

The President of the U.S. is an American citizen. As the leader of one of the most powerful nations on earth, the reality is that the president enjoys the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as all other American citizens. Including a solemn responsibility to fulfill those duties within the constraints of the Constitution, the Federal Laws as enacted by Congress and rulings by the United States Supreme Court. All of us have the same expectation of lawful conduct. SCOTUS has gone beyond every citizen’s common constraints to give the President absolute immunity, including acts that may be considered unlawful by calling these acts the “outer boundaries of official duties.” Government prosecutors must now prove that the president’s actions, including bad faith actions, fall outside of this “outer boundary,” (Not yet defined). Is immunity extended to those the president directs to act in this “quasi-official” area? Expect to hear the excuse Nazi leaders gave that echoes through time, “I was just following orders.” The Court’s mistake is untenable.

Richard Harper

Northeast side

Bronson’s endorsement for Soto

Dear Residents of Pima County District 3,

As someone who has had the privilege of serving on the Pima County Board of Supervisors for over 27 years, I know the importance of electing individuals who are dedicated to the betterment of our community. That is why I am endorsing Edgar Soto for the position of District 3 Pima County Supervisor.

Edgar is a leader who not only understands the intricacies of policy but prioritizes people above all else. He puts people in front of policies, this speaks volumes about his commitment to true public service. For Edgar, public service isn’t about posturing, pontificating, or proselytizing over policies; it’s about keeping people first.

There will be no progress or prosperity for constituents when policies get prioritized over people. Edgar’s approach is refreshingly different. He listens to the concerns of our communities, empathizes with their struggles, and works tirelessly to find practical solutions that address their needs.

I know first hand his ability to collaborate effectively, listen attentively, and find innovative solutions to complex challenges. He brings a fresh perspective to the table, coupled with a deep understanding of the issues facing our county.

I am confident that Edgar Soto will be a strong voice for all residents of Pima County, championing policies that promote economic development, protect our environment, and enhance the quality of life for generations to come.

Join me in supporting Edgar Soto for County Supervisor of District 3. Together, we can build a brighter future for Pima County, where people always come first.

Sincerely,

Sharon Bronson, Former Pima County Supervisor District 3

Southwest side

Is political ignorance curable

Re: the July 17 article “AZ Republicans reject climate change consensus.”

I’m writing to help educate Crane, Gosar, Lake, Trump, Biggs, Schweikert, Lesko mentioned in the above referenced article.

The sun is a fusion reactor that has been burning over 4 billion years. The amount of solar radiation striking the earth over a three-day period is equivalent to the energy stored in all fossil energy sources.

Climate change has been occurring forever because when sunlight, photons, packets of energy, strike particulates in the atmosphere they transform to thermal energy. Initially, when atmospheric particulates were minimal that thermal energy was beneficial, allowed plants, life to evolve.

As the world industrialized, populations expanded, carbon, methane, atmospheric particulates increased, which consequently increased temperatures, atmospheric energy, causing our ecosystem to rebalance, severe storms. The amount of sunlight striking planet earth (Arizona) has NOT increased.

Solar Electric with Energy storage would reduce emissions, Ratepayer-Taxpayer costs and provide a huge economic stimulus to Arizona.

Encourage your elected representatives to evolve.

Terry Finefrock

Foothills

Musk’s bully pulpit

As the wealthiest man in America, Elon Musk has fewer restraints in his dealings with those he contends with in the business and government world. Additionally, he has a brilliant mind in technical matters and an unmatched work ethic.

But perhaps just as important is his Asperger’s Syndrome. His lack of emotional development and social skills put people at a disadvantage when dealing with him. He is brisk, cold, and direct. Your feelings are not his concern.

When Musk bought Twitter, renamed X, a community forum that was waging war against hate and violent speech, as well as fraud and cyberbullying, he gradually changed that to “absolute free speech,” regardless of content. No longer was moderate speech the only speech encouraged. This draws much criticism because of its unvetted immoral and hurtful posts.

He does not care.

Now, he is fully in the MAGA camp that does not shy from violence and harsh speech. He is right at home.

Ron Lancaster

North side

Copper World Mine application

I oppose granting an important Air Quality Permit to the Copper World Mine, for massive operations they want to begin in our northern Santa Rita Mountains. As a retired Sahuarita school teacher, longtime hiker in the Santa Ritas, and docent in Madera Canyon, I speak on behalf of our children. The proposed mine will create mounds of tailings dust hundreds of feet high too close to schools and homes. Studies around the world show such tailings contain toxins like lead and arsenic that typically blow 20 to 30 miles in landscapes like ours. Frequent wind changes and storms will certainly blow toxic dust east, west and north, toward Vail, Corona de Tucson, Sahuarita, and Green Valley. Copper World is asking for a less rigorous “Class ll Air Quality Permit” even though the potential for children’s health problems is high. I oppose granting any air permit to Copper World, but at the very least a more demanding Class l Permit. Our children deserve clean air.

David DeGroot

Northwest side

Leave the potholders at home

Tucson residents are feeling the effects of “urban heat islands”, excessive amount of pavement and concrete, that stores heat and releases it at night. Many shopping centers have massive, paved parking lots with little or no vegetation. Shoppers park their cars, do their shopping and return to a super-hot car that sometimes might be so hot as to require a potholder to open its doors. What if government would offer incentives to the shopping center owners to install solar panels throughout their parking areas?

Tucson has installed solar panel structures at recreation centers. The solar panels provide energy savings, and the structures provide shade to the cars that park under them.

Similarly, shopping centers could avail themselves of incentives, lower their electricity costs and, most importantly, have happier customers that could return to their shaded cars and leave the potholders at home.

Edward Weil

North side

Thanks

Our gratitude to the Pima County employee who gave us a gallon of water last week as we biked up the Oracle-Mt Lemmon road.

He was a lifesaver! Thanks!

Ric and Tieg Zaharia

Marana