Tucson Speaks Out: Feb. 21 letters of the day

Lankford lied about border bill

For weeks, it was reported that the U.S. Senate’s border bill would essentially allow 4,000 to 5,000 people to come into the country illegally between the ports of entry before the new “Executive authority” to shut the border down would take effect.

Senate Republican James Lankford of Oklahoma was the lead negotiator with Independent Sen. Sinema in formulating the bill. Lankford repeatedly denied the 4,000 and 5,000 numbers.

Well, the text of the border bill was released on Feb. 4 and it in fact contains those same numbers. What is astonishing is that the numbers would not count people entering from Africa, China, the Middle East, Cuba, Ukraine, Russia, etc. See page 213 of the bill under “Limitations.” President Biden already has the authority to take actions to secure the border.

His welcoming “migrant” rhetoric during the 2020 campaign and reversal of Trump’s border policies like Remain in Mexico, asylum agreements with Central American countries and pressuring Mexico to secure its southern border created this disaster.

Christy Daniels

Foothills

Trump’s egregious assault on the law

Trump’s latest assault on law and order is him saying he would allow Russia to attack a NATO country that “did not pay its bills.”

He would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell it wants.” He has no understanding of how NATO works.

Members of the Treaty do not pay money to the US or to NATO. They pledge to maintain their military and come to the aid of any member who is attacked. Since this is a treaty that the US signed, it is the law of the land, but then Trump has never shown much respect for the rule of law.

Unfortunately, Biden’s age is getting more attention than this dangerous statement. It should be clear that Joe Biden, on a bad day, is more fit for the Presidency that a self-serving narcissist who is bent on destroying democracy and the world order.

Mary Zimmerman

SaddleBrooke

Time to hear the other side

The Star has published negative opinions on the Santa Catalina Ranger District (SCRD). It’s time to hear the other side.

Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN), a 40-year-old all-volunteer organization, reaches 12,000 visitors in public interpretation and school programs teaching 170 classes to 6,000 students each year. 63% of these classes are from Title I low-income schools. If a Title I school can’t afford a field trip, SCVN pays for the bus to Sabino Canyon. Many underserved schools have students who have never been to Sabino Canyon, can’t identify a saguaro, and are afraid of being outside. When these students depart SCVN’s half day lesson, which meets AZ Education standards, our naturalists often hear, “This was the best day ever!”

SCVN does not have a fundraising arm but rather relies on grants from local/national foundations, friends and, importantly, USFS grants. Thank you to the USFS/SCRD leadership and employees for your support of SCVN and our environmental education mission.

Jo Eaton, President

Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists

Northwest side

Dear Rep. Ciscomani

It’s been two weeks and I still awaiting your response to my email asking you to urge your Republican colleagues to fund Ukraine. How many Ukrainians have been killed in that time by the Russian dictator?

Maybe you’re going to hold a town hall where I might be able to ask this question in person? After all, you’re on vacation, right?

You haven’t held a town hall since you were elected, but a girl can dream.

Sincerely,

Your Constituent

Kathleen Mayer

Northwest side

Juan Cisco-nada

If Juan Ciscomani had voted in favor of the border deal, millions of dollars would already have arrived to start addressing the problem. What did we get? Cisco-nada.

If Juan Ciscomani had insisted the House at least vote on the foreign aid package the Senate passed, aid would be flowing to our allies who desperately need it. What did we get? Cisco-nada.

If Juan Ciscomani could coherently explain which “high crimes and misdemeanors” Alejandro Mayorkas committed, I’m ready. I expect more Cisco-nada.

Not a single law passed and not a single doable vision proposed; we have an empty suit doing someone else’s bidding and need change.

If you’re angry the Republican majority in the 118th Congress has squandered their tenure we literally need to clean “House” and you need look no further than Mr. Cisco-nada when you get a ballot.

Kevin Henderson

Foothills

Open primaries are a terrible idea

Here’s why: The very purpose of a partisan primary is for members of a particular political party to nominate candidates for office who they believe reflect the beliefs and ideology of that particular party. Why should an outsider who has no particular stake in a party or ‘skin in the game’ be allowed to have equal influence as voters who identify themselves as members of that party?

How many times have I heard, “Don’t blame me. I’m an independent.” Well that’s fine, but then don’t expect to have a vote in a partisan primary. Your vote comes on Election Day. They simply should not have their cake and eat it, too. Let the people who have courage enough to identify themselves as Republicans or Democrats or another party make the decisions for their party and independents and others can make their decision in the general election.

Robert Stash

Northwest side

Loony Tunes?

Re: the Feb. 18 article “In AZ, not driving a car is ‘Marxism.’ “

Tim Steller’s article in Sunday’s Star was helpful in putting our state politics into perspective.

When I read these loony comments made by our Republican politicians I’m tempted to dismiss them as looney tunes. But no; these are serious comments by our representatives. Worse yet, these are our Legislative leaders!

It’s now abundantly clear that these leaders are simply taking advantage of their status to pursue outlandish objectives and notions. They claim that transportation and land use planning by local and state governments are purely left-wing activities, or “Marxist” as Representatives Anthony Kern and Jake Hoffman maintain.

Even more dangerous are attempts by them and other Republican leaders to incorporate these ideas into laws and regulations. Their rhetoric and actions are wrong and should be rejected. Remember their names during the next election cycle.

Dale Keyes

Northwest side

Boycott the Rialto

A concert canceled due to outside pressure.

Matisyahu who preaches love and peace in Gaza and Israel. You are a 501c3 non profit, why would anyone donate to your venue? No apology in the world will correct the huge mistake you made.

Our community is angry over this, enough is enough. I believe new leadership is necessary to fix this and may it never happen again. Remember where the local support and money come from, I am sure it will affect any fundraising in the future, shame on you.

Andrew Kunsberg

East side

Water not valued

Re: the Feb. 17 letter “Water history.”

I agree with the suggestion to be more efficient with the water we have before we spend trillions importing more.

Little is said about the expense of imported water. Even billions would be a substantial burden to save a lawns-and-lakes lifestyle in some communities. Many don’t value water because they pay little for it.

Arizona’s groundwater is free. Pump all you want (if someone hasn’t already pumped it). Surface water? It’s free, of course, except for delivery. (Costs vary widely, like practically free from SRP to fairly pricey from CAP.)

Efficiency revolves around the cost of water. When prices are high, as in Tucson, with water-banked CAP and steeply increasing block rates, efficiency is a serious concern.

In the Phoenix “Valley,” not so much. But, if prices (compared to income) were to increase there as in Tucson, and conservation likewise, the available water might support double the population.

Question: What will we willingly pay for water when we produce AND deliver it?

W Mark Day

East side

Automobiles bad for public health, economy

Automobiles are one of the greatest threats to our health and well being, and the state of Arizona should prioritize providing people with alternatives.

Globally fossil fuel air pollution is estimated to kill roughly 8 million people per year and respiratory diseases are the third leading cause of death. The transportation sector is responsible for 46.3% of Arizona’s CO2 emissions.

Driving in Arizona is becoming more dangerous to people and our economy. In 2022 ADOT reported 1,294 traffic fatalities, an 8.6% increase from 2021, and 52,411 injuries. The economic loss to Arizona from traffic accidents is over $21 billion for 2022 alone.

Places with higher vehicle miles traveled are associated with higher obesity rates and negative mental health impacts. The state of Arizona should be dedicating resources to allow citizens to break free from our car-necessitated society that we have developed–this includes funding for improved public transportation and investments in active transportation methods.

Jessica Janecek

Midtown

Greenwashing us

Re: the Feb. 19 article “ACC headed wrong way down one-way street.”

Rick Rappaport’s guest opinion hit the nail on the head. With the opportunity for abundant solar power we have in our state, we can grow jobs, clean up the air, improve our health and become a leading state in producing clean energy.

Yet what we see is our utility companies greenwashing. (We all got those LED bulbs in the mail- a drop in the bucket compared to what really promoting clean energy could do). The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) does their bidding, and allows our utilities to hang on to fossil fuels and the habits of the past that got us here. By not actively promoting our potential for clean solar energy the ACC with the profit centered utility companies guarantee a dim climate and health future for Arizonans.

There is hope. We have power to change this at the ballot box by starting at the bottom of the ballot and changing the composition of the Arizona Corporation Commision

Linda Karl MD

Northeast side

New proposed annual fee for EVs

The author(s) of the new bill from the House Committee on Transportation & Technology erred in their assumptions.

First, assuming the average of 20 miles per gallon ignores all the advances made in auto technology. The calculation result benefits gas guzzlers.

Second, the assumptions add no cost to the use of fossil fuels and the subsequent cost of cleaning up the environment and the results that come from climate change. Only science dis-believers ignore such costs. Imagine what the net cost to EV owners if those costs were added as credits to the committee’s calculation. I support a fee for EV — I own a gas guzzling SUV that gets 28 miles per gallon (40% above the committee’s assumption) and I also own an EV.

EV’s are the city car of the future.

Lee Zinsli

Oro Valley

The ACC and our warming world

Re: the Feb. 19 article “ACC headed wrong way down one-way street” and the Feb. 9 article “Clean energy rules on chopping block.”

Thanks to Rick Rappaport for a well written opinion piece about the Arizona Corporation Commission’s ill-advised recent actions to initiate repeal of Arizona’s 2006 renewable energy standards and 2010 energy efficiency rules.

And thanks to the Daily Star for coverage of the ACC actions by senior reporter David Wichner.

Ironically, the Feb. 9 edition of the Daily Star also ran the article “Globe breaks heat record for 8th month,” which detailed how January 2024 was the eighth consecutive month of the highest ever global monthly average temperature and how the February 2023 to January 2024 12-month global mean temperature was the highest on record, 1.52 degrees C above the pre-industrial average.

In our next general election, let’s vet ACC candidates carefully on our climate concerns.

Mark Peterson

Foothills

New athletic director, Heeke firing

Re: the Feb. 17 letter “Hypocrisy at the UA.”

Welcome and congratulations to Desiree Reed-Francois for her appointment as University of Arizona athletic director. She seems to be very qualified for this position. That being stated, I would like to express my agreement with the letter writer and his confusion with the firing of the very successful athletic director of the UA, Dave Heeke.

The UA and President Robert C. Robbins still have not given a reasonable motive for this extreme action.

It seems that the administration’s hiring of the first female Athletic Director in Arizona history may be a smokescreen to deflect the unpopular and unwarranted firing of Dave Heeke.

I think that many people in this community are not blinded by this obvious political smokescreen.

Dan Egan

East side