Tucson Speaks Out: February 23

Voter fraud in Arizona

Having worked the polls in Pima County during the last few election cycles, it surprises me that our public officials, and local Arizona media, have not pushed back more forcefully regarding the claims of potential voter fraud in Arizona. It is impossible to vote in Arizona (and have your vote count) if you are not on the voting rolls, and don't have proper identification showing your correct address that is registered with the Recorder's office. Without proper identification, a person can vote, but the vote is "provisional" or "conditional" and will not be counted unless documentation is provided to the Recorder by a certain date. Furthermore, only a voter confirmed to be a valid voter is issued a ballot. The same is true for mail-in voting — only confirmed registered voters can receive a ballot, and signatures are confirmed before any mail-in ballot is counted. It is essentially impossible to fraudulently vote in Arizona. The idea that non-citizens are voting is not only ridiculous, but impossible.

Gary Rosenberg

Northwest side

Polluting our nation's capital

President Trump and henchperson Kristi Noem lashed out Monday at Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to express their concern for the environmental impact of a massive leak of sewage into the Potomac River. Trump claimed millions of people were endangered, “Thanks to gross mismanagement by Maryland’s Democrat leaders.”

As is usual for Trump, the facts don't matter. The Potomac Interceptor sewage system that suffered a pipeline collapse on January 19 is the responsibility of the District of Columbia and Trump's federal government, not Maryland. His EPA did not participate in a major planning meeting last week. Trump said yesterday that he would belatedly direct FEMA to be involved.

Why did it take Trump four weeks to take action on the environmental disaster? To play it for political gain, of course. But, perhaps he was too busy revoking the Endangerment Finding to gut environmental protections enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Bruce Hilpert

North side

Intentional?

The SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) will mandate voter identification at the polls. Only birth certificates and passports are acceptable identification. While 91% of American adults have a driver's license, only 48% have passports, i.e., 146 million Americans do not. Tribal and military IDs are also excluded.

In the Republican haste to complicate the 2026 election, they are stupidly sabotaging their own base. Republicans are less likely to possess a passport. Two-thirds of citizens in the large blue states have passports, while only one-third have passports in red states.

It is estimated that 69 million women have names that don’t match their birth certificates. Republican women are twice as likely to have changed their name upon marriage. Since marriage licenses are not acceptable identification, what are women to do? Is preventing women from voting their goal?

Inconvenience and chaos seem to be the point. Contact your Senator and Representative to vote “no” on the Act. And stay informed. Your vote this year is crucial.

Dee Maitland

Marana

Zoning meeting is a joke

Here we go again, Tucson. More of the same unfortunate incompetence from leadership.

I attended the "community input forum" for zoning regulations on data centers. It is almost as if the town manager and leaders are trying to do a bad job.

I am exhausted from attending these meetings and hearing how the town is not truly seeking input from real experts. The data center size they want to regulate: 50,000 square feet. They claim regulations exist for below this and have no need to update.

Well, math says 50,000 square feet could easily house 50,000 servers. So, take that and average 2kW (low) per server, and you have 100,000kW of energy needed for the servers alone. This doesn’t include high-speed switching, cooling or other needs.

Does anyone really believe Tucson has any good regulations for something just under 100MW or so? Really? This whole process is a joke, and so are those thinking this is helping the community. This is all show.

Chris Sipp

Midtown

RTA yes or no

I was in the Sabino/Ventana Canyon areas today and noticed how well-groomed and beautiful the smooth roads and neighborhoods are. I also noticed that most RTA signs posted were vote yes; whereas, in town, the majority of the roads throughout town and neighborhoods are beat up, closed off for workers on long-lasting projects. I wondered if the last RTA treated the upper echelon better than us in town.

Nancy Reid

North side

Waivers

After reading an article in the Star, I volunteered to pull buffelgrass. The organizers, Sonoran Desert Weedwackers, sent a waiver document we were required to sign. These agreements have become ubiquitous, and I am sick of them. It required, among other things, that we maintain confidentiality, agree to a background check and waive our right to intellectual property. To pull weeds, really? I refused to sign, and the rest of us should, too.

Sean Bruner

West side

Cross out X and Musk

The proliferation of sexualized images of women and children on X is well described in Tim Steller's Feb. 19 column. The reason that many elected officials and government agencies stay on X is explained by some "as meeting the people where they are." Really? That's the only place? Steller answers that question and describes alternatives that currently don't have the same coverage but are growing. He points out that when people switch to other alternative choices, they become bigger and increasingly "meet the people where they are."

Previously, as a licensed clinical social worker, I worked for many years with sexual trauma survivors and know the pain this trauma inflicts. Stopping such actions at any point "where they are" is an effort that needs to be made. Pima County officials have dropped X. Contact your other elected officials and request they do the same for their accounts and those of all government agencies. Be the voice that speaks out.

Gypsy Lyle

Northwest side

A plea to Mayor Romero, City Council

While waiting at a pharmacy drive-thru on Speedway with my 2- and 8-year-old sons, we witnessed open hard drug use and vandalism nearby. I called 911, only to endure five minutes of ringing with no answer.

How do I explain to my child that help isn’t coming?

Tucson is at a breaking point. When residents can’t reach emergency services while witnessing felonies, the social contract is broken. We debate bus fares and the nuances of misdemeanor charges while our streets fall into chaos.

Mayor Romero and City Council: "Social justice" is impossible without actual justice. We need immediate, nonpartisan, and pragmatic action to fund our police and enforce the law. As a native Tucsonan, I grieve to watch my city slide into lawlessness. We must restore the bedrock of public safety before our current trajectory becomes irreversible. The time for debate has passed; the time for enforcement is now.

Micah Brown

Midtown

It's the water (are we stupid)?

A recent bit on PBS bemoaned the fact we have less snow than we’ve had.

It might affect the Winter Olympics. Oh no.

Today on KVOA news, the weatherman stated Tucson will have a 27-degree shift from this week's temperature to next. The anchorman then commented, “Oh well, it’s Tucson.”

At No Kings Day III on March 28th (Reid Park) we will feature youths’ voices.

We can agree they have the most at stake. Take just a moment to consider our young people losing fundamental freedoms and facing upcoming climate chaos (the latter deliberately ignored by this hot-air administration).

Regarding snow for skiing, "weather whiplash," and global heating in general:

It’s not Tucson, it’s worldwide. Within 20 years, it will be the water, not the snowboards.

We are building a peaceful, massive, menacing resistance movement.

Everyone’s welcome (see indivisible.org’s peaceful requirements).

Gaye Adams

Midtown

Privacy envelope please

Pima County decided to require that citizens display their signature, phone and other personal information outside their mail-in ballot. This is clearly not good practice. The Recorder's office assures that exposing voters' private information through the mail is safe. However, it is known that USPS blue mailing boxes have at times been ransacked.

Outgoing mail left in home mailboxes is often stolen, and the USPS has the FBI continually investigate and make arrests of postal employees for postal crime.

Assuming drop off is an easy alternative for all is not a well-thought-through concept. Not every voter is able to drive to a drop-off box to drop off their ballot.

This privacy infringement could cause many to decide to not vote. I imagine others might decide to submit their ballot without a signature.

To protect privacy, perhaps voters will need to place their signed yellow envelope into another envelope before mailing it. I asked the Recorder's office if this was acceptable, but have not heard back.

Cheryl Kelli

Downtown

The name game

During the Presidential campaign in 2016, Hillary Clinton said that half of Trump’s supporters “were a basket full of deplorables.” Trump supporters were aghast, shocked and hurt that they be called such vile name by a presidential candidate no less. They were so horrified that it became a rally cry for the rest of the campaign.

Would Trump do something so horrible, unethical and hateful? Would he use such words to describe Democrats as "Satan-loving evil people, scum, animals, libtards, imbeciles, stupid, hateful, deranged lunatics, and fascists?” Would his press secretary say that the Democratic Party is made up of "Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens and violent criminals?” He wouldn’t stoop so low, would he, because his supporters were so hurt and distraught when they were called deplorable just a few years ago? Oh, he has? Never mind. And where are those Trump-Epstein files?

Gary Haslett

SaddleBrooke

Refugees next ICE target

It has been reported that the Trump administration has authorized ICE to round up refugees who have not yet earned a green card (permanent residency). This act ignores how refugees were brought to this country legally towards gaining citizenship. As a retired instructor who taught refugees English and citizenship, I learned why students had to leave their countries. The International Rescue Committee, Catholic Communities and Lutheran Services bring in refugees from countries that were torn by war and extreme violence. Refugees are provided with paperwork for legal status, but they must wait a year before they can apply for permanent residency. They must wait another five years before applying for citizenship.

Rounding up refugees and sending them back to their countries of origin will put their lives in danger. This policy is another blatant example of overt racism from the administration. Please write or call your representatives about this reprehensible practice.

Gail Schumacher

Southwest side