Tucson Speaks Out: November 5

Aren’t you proud of DC?

Washington, D.C., spans 57 square miles, surrounded by stark reality, where people with a “what’s in it for me” attitude thrive without elegance. When it comes to money and power, rules are meaningless. There are no rules, no regulations, no ethics, despite the Constitution. And there are no ethicists to enforce them in Washington, nor heroes. Instead, there is dementia, decay, crumbling historic ruins, and hate. It’s a place where Epstein’s sex secrets are spilled, immunity granted, revenge prosecutions, and moral bankruptcy endures.

D.C. reflects American selfishness, greed, corporate influence, and political cunning — a place where ambition drives many without skills, where truth is scarce, and secrets are exchanged openly. It’s also a place where insider stock trading is commonplace, where the business of other people’s business sometimes gets handled, in a community unto itself — Capitol Hill, with afternoon highballs and famous, celebrated gatherings. Amid all that glitz, glamour, and wonder, it’s our nation’s capital. Aren’t you proud?

Jerry Wilkerson

SaddleBrooke

Incorrect water math

Deep apologies to the Star and its staff who work so hard to get things right, only to publish LTEs where the authors haven’t been as diligent.

That’s on me. I multiplied instead of divided when figuring out how to humanize the 2021 amount of water the Amazon data centers used.

My terrible math came up with 14 feet of depth that water would fill over the Tucson and Phoenix areas. It’s only 8” — still in my opinion a huge amount of water, but my bad math kicked that up to a ridiculous amount. Lesson: When something sounds ridiculous, it probably is.

Rick Rappaport

Oro Valley

Trump: ‘Let them eat cake’

The agriculture department has billions set aside specifically for food stamp benefits to continue during a government shutdown. But Trump says no.

The Democrats want to make a deal with the Republicans so that the ACA health supplements can continue, and millions won’t lose their health insurance. This many people with no health insurance means that over 50,000 people will die for lack of health care in this coming year. But maybe even more concerning is that all medical insurance rates will increase for everyone! Most estimates say this increase may be as high as 50%.

That means if you pay $500 a month now for insurance, your new bill might be $1,000 or more.

Everyone loses!

So, what can be done?

Trump and the Republicans have no health plan to offer. And, in fact, congressional Republicans have not even been in session for over 5 weeks. They passed the BBB, giving billionaires big tax breaks, and essentially are saying no one else matters.

Shirley Pevarnik

West side

Where the rubber meets the road

After car camping across country, West Coast to East Coast and back, over the summer, the reality of our experience perfectly matched that of the Nov. 2 LTE: “Credit where credit is due.” President Biden’s Infrastructure and Jobs Act is clearly in full swing across the country for anyone who travels to see. President Biden’s positive investments in America were as real as the current economic and health care assaults being employed by this administration. His Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS and Science Act were visionary efforts to keep America on a track toward progress and opportunities for future generations engaged in the American dream. This stands in stark contrast to the current administration’s efforts to return to tired and expensive policies and paradigms that they like to refer to as “Again.” The only thing that seems to be new this term is the gold-plated east wing erected to entertain the loyalists who are willing to pay to play.

Ed Waymire

Midtown

The president’s salary

Article 2, Section 1, Clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution says that “The President receives a fixed salary and cannot receive any additional salary, fee or profit.” That is what it says and, as we all realize, our current President pays no attention to it at all. He gains money, gifts and others which add to his immense wealth. I’m sure our founders did not have Trump in mind when they drew up the Constitution, but they probably felt that it was meant to limit any aspirations he might have of trading wealth for political considerations. Well, it hasn’t and he does. The Constitution, to Trump, is not an obstacle, he just overlooks it and does as he will. Isn’t it great to be an American?

Philip Reinecker

East side

Tucson traffic-related fatalities

This past Thursday night, three college-age pedestrians were killed by a driver who, based on a Tucson Police Department report, was impaired by alcohol and or drugs at the time of the collision.

As local news has reported, the loss of the three students to family and friends is immense. Having not lost family or friends to a tragedy like this, I can not imagine the pain being experienced by those close to the three students. Not to excuse the actions of the college-age driver, but that family is also suffering.

Since Jan. 1, 2025, 23 other pedestrians have been killed in traffic-related crashes within Tucson City limits; 290 since Jan. 1, 2017. Total traffic-related lives lost for 2025 (to date) is 78; 730 since Jan. 1, 2017.

Red light running, excessive speeds above posted speed limits and impaired drivers (250 bars in Tucson) are a given for Tucson streets. To be clear, some of the pedestrian deaths are a result of the pedestrian’s actions.

Randy Garmon

North side

Ten Commandments

Conservatives keep clamoring for the displaying of the Ten Commandments in school classrooms and on public properties. How about if they first try posting them throughout the White House? There could also be a counting meter installed to record violations (including weaseling). One piece of advice, however. Given the perverse values, worldviews, and behaviors of Trump and his accomplices/excusers, make sure this tracking system is high-powered and has plenty of back-up. The circuits will be going berserk.

Ron Rude

West side

Priorities

Kash Patel used a $60 million jet on taxpayers’ dime to go see his girlfriend over the weekend.

Trump has golfed 70 days this year, 24% of his presidency, at a cost of $98 million, taxpayer-funded.

JD Vance’s vacations with his family have cost taxpayers $35 million so far.

The single mom on food stamps s not the problem.

An immigrant at the ER is not the problem.

And a family of 4 that’s on SNAP that gets $7 per person per day is definitely not the problem.

Terry Louck

East side

Crosswalk issues

I read with sadness the recent pedestrian deaths from collisions at Euclid and 2nd Street crossing. I agree that the installation of flashing lights at crosswalks is the logical step the city and U of A should take to prevent this tragedy from reoccurring. I would also like to point out that if pedestrians were willing to walk one block to University (3rd Street) and Euclid there is a traffic signal there. Too many times, pedestrians don’t take a simple extra effort to ensure their safety. I have observed many “jaywalkers” on First Avenue.

Peter Stone

North side

Will Artal be prosecuted?

On Nov. 13, 1983, August Busch IV left a bar near the UA with a waitress named Michele Frederick. A little while later, Busch crashed his Corvette on River Road, killing Frederick. Busch was able to walk away, then went home. At the crash site, the police found a gun, some empty Bud Light cans, and Busch’s wallet and ID. After the police found Busch at his home, they pulled blood and urine samples. But the lab screwed up the blood sample, and the urine sample was lost. No one testified to Busch’s physical state at the bar, so the DA had to let him go.

The crash that killed three innocent students at 2nd and Euclid was horrible. While a person is innocent until proven guilty, I certainly hope that the Maricopa County prosecutors send the perpetrator to prison for life. It would be heartbreaking if money and incompetence once again protects another suspect over 40 years later.

Matt Somers

Midtown

East Wing demolition

Dewey, I picked the “most puerile” battle about the demolition of the East Wing of the White House because it is emblematic of the whole Trump administration: to tear down, demolish or destroy. He is like a bull in a China cabinet. Everything he touches dies. His biggest ambition is to destroy our democracy. He’s doing a good job with that. Furthermore, six trees, including two Commemorative Magnolias and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden vanished. Good heavens, I got a grip, and it’s not good.

Margaret Gordon Magruder

Downtown