Tucson Speaks Out: Jan. 19 letters of the day

Palestinian dreams

What are the desires of the Palestinian people? Palestinians want their own country, a country offered to them multiple times by both the United Nations and Israel, and each time they rejected the offers. Instead, the Palestinians voted to support the terrorism of Hamas. Backing Hamas’ terrorism against Israeli civilians through the decades has brought nothing but suffering to the Palestinian people. It’s sad to see continued Palestinian support for Hamas. According to Reuters (Dec. 13), “Almost three in four Palestinians believe the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel was correct.” A released French hostage said of Gaza, “Everyone there are terrorists … there are no innocent civilians, not one,” she said. “[Innocent civilians] don’t exist.” The stated aim of Hamas is to kill Jews and Israelis. Is this the dream of Palestinians?

Helen Garry

Green Valley

Kozachik right on U of A mess

Re: the Jan. 11 article “After UA crisis deception, Robbins must go.”

Our city is fortunate to have a man who is fearless in speaking truth to power. Steve Kozachik, in his recent opinion piece, invites all of us who support the mission of our university to respond to President Robbins who has deceived our public trust.

It is time for the Arizona Board of Regents to terminate both Robbins and Rulney. And if ABOR is complicit in the deception, then perhaps it is time for Governor Hobbs to intervene.

We are so fortunate in this city to have a man like Steve Kozachik to support us.

Dr. Ken Plattner

Midtown

Duval ABOR response is not fair, effective

I’m writing to provide ABOR President Duval the feedback he requested. ABOR’s response to UA President Robbins’ lack of control, oversight and management over a multiyear period, allowing the Chief Financial Officer to be EMPLOYED in a position with less responsibility but at the same $500K/year salary and benefits, punishing lower wage employees for executive negligence, limiting new employment and capacity to provide incremental benefit, are blatant and suboptimal misuses of public funds, will not prevent future mismanagement and are unfair.

Don’t punish the subordinates. Based on historical results it is likely that UA could do without a president/CFO expense, ABOR and other management could deal with all issues, and reallocate the president/CFO salary-benefits funds until the debt their negligence caused is recovered.

Terry Finefrock

Foothills

The good, the bad and the ugly

When I think about our border situation I think of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The good: I feel good about the many poor and threatened people welcomed here to better their lives. They give us a fresh workforce, they increase our tax income, increase consumer spending, and add diversity and culture to our nation.

The bad: Our open borders raise anxieties about national security risks, often bring separated families. The southern border crisis costs American taxpayers around $451 billion per year.

The statistics are staggering. More than 400,000 migrant children have crossed the U.S. border without their parents since 2003. (CNN)

The ugly: The Center Square initially reported 659 were apprehended for the fiscal year, as of Sept. 15, 2023. These numbers don’t include got-a-ways. Many terrorists may have entered our country. The flow of fentanyl has killed many of our citizens. Our open borders are recipe for greater forced labor of migrant workers and commercial sexual exploitation of women in prostitution.

Tom McGorray

Northwest side

Trump still owns Congress

Is anybody out there that is tired of living in this bizzaro alternate universe ruled by a seven-times-bankrupted failed man — never pays his bills, that in three separate court rulings has been found guilty of rape, business fraud, and insurrection? But it seems my neighbors think this man has been sent by God, according to the new video “Trump has been sent by God.” Please check it out on YouTube. It is a chilling video full of lies and false propaganda. And then I see Trump arguing in front of a judge he can crime all he wants as president. And then I see he took $6 million from China as president and complains Biden is bought by China. And the Republicans ignore all of it. But I’m afraid that you won’t print this letter. Seems the Star is only interested in publishing antisemitic tripe. I’m real close to canceling my subscription to this alt right propaganda machine called the Arizona Daily Star.

Terry Louck

East side

Collegiate athletes not mercenaries

I’m a 60+ year U of A football fan. The heart of Arizona college football is the beating drum of the Wildcat marching band leading the Wildcat faithful in renditions of Bear Down Arizona. Wildcat Nation is comprised of alumni and local residents that love the ‘Cats and identify with them on a personal level. College sports are at a money-driven crossroads. Will college teams and coaches become highly paid mercenaries, offering their talents to the highest bidder, and have zero loyalty to the local fans and alumni that support them? If so, college sports will become another professional league and that will be a travesty. The players have to take a stand and show some integrity. Jedd Fisch is a good coach but he has never played or won a football game in his life and never will. Noah and T-Mac and the rest of the ‘Cats can keep the family together and rise together, as Wildcats, and make a statement that loyalty still matters. Stay guys!

Paul Robb

Northeast side

Arturo Sandoval concert

I went to the Rialto Saturday night to see Arturo Sandoval. For the thousands of you that missed it (it was sold out), try real hard to make sure you see him if and when he returns to Arizona. He is one of a kind … he is a musical instrument (he plays trumpet, piano and timbales) disguised as a human being. Seeing his show is an unforgettable experience.

Bob Feinman

Foothills

Full consideration before voting

Strange, to me, that many “conservatives” positively view the Arizona School Voucher program, a policy that might more generally be attributed to “liberals.” The point that I wish to make is that a voter should consider as many governmental and personal issues as possible before making a final choice of candidate!

John N. Aronson

Foothills

Please Go

Please Go!

If multimillion-dollar salaries are not enough, please go.

If your excess of assistants are not paid enough, please go.

If you don’t like AZ and Tucson, please go.

If the support from the city and fans is not enough, please go.

If our sports reporters yell we must retain you, please go.

These are trying times for the economies of the University, City, and State, we can spend your millions elsewhere.

Jay Gandolfi

Foothills

Would you let him date your daughter?

Would you let Donald J. Trump date your daughter? Grabbing her by the genitals would be an unusual but time-tested way for Trump to start a relationship. Would he be faithful? He hasn’t in the past and has the receipts and nondisclosures to prove it. Would he be able to support her in the manner you hope for? Without his father to clean up his messes, I doubt it. Who loses money on a casino? Will he be more successful in the future? This is a tricky one, but his big lie was thrown out of court 60 of 61 tries and he now faces 92 felony charges with only delay, delay, delay as his only hope.

So I ask again, would you let Donald J. Trump date your daughter, and that begs the question: If not, why would you let him run your country?

Ron Rudnick

Sierra Vista

U of A football

No one should be surprised that Jedd Fisch left the U of A for Washington. It was inevitable once Arizona discovered that they had underestimated their cash on hand by hundreds of millions of dollars. There was no way the Board of Regents was going to approve a $2 million raise for a football coach while the rest of the university was suffering huge financial cuts and layoffs. Now the only question is how many players and assistant coaches will leave.

Charles Schultz

Northeast side

Iowa’s vote

Iowa has 2 million registered voters, of which 1/3 are Republicans. If Trump gets half the caucus votes, it will only be 1/6 of the Iowa voters. The importance given to this primary is greatly embellished.

Patrick DeJonghe

East side

Bigotry is still alive

MLK 2024, the new Fascist Republican Party are afraid of: intelligent women, gays, African Americans, Mexican Americans, science, books, Jews, Native Americans, and people who don’t agree with them (Wendy Rogers wants to hang people who don’t agree with her). They want to deny our voting rights. Trump, the want-to-be one-day dictator, is spewing his hate and lies. Trump is quoting Adolph Hitler, loves Putin calling him a genius, Kim in North Korea — Trump says he loves the guy, threatening all who oppose this loser. His gang of thugs reminds me of Hitler’s thugs who murdered innocent people, stole from countries and people. From a MLK quote, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Let’s all vote wisely — our democracy is in danger.

David E Leon

Vail

Biden’s weakness

There have been over 80 instances of attack by the Houthis on U.S. installations as well as attacks on ships in the Gulf of Aden. Biden didn’t do anything in return until just recently when Britain and U.S. retaliated. Biden’s lack of resolve and weakness is viewed by our allies and adversaries. This weakness encourages our enemies to be proactive. Iran, China, Russia and North Korea have been taking very aggressive actions testing the waters and seeing no response from the U.S. Reagan and Trump advocated governance by strength. Most individuals, regardless of political labels, would agree these hostile actions would not occur if Trump was president. Biden is weak and the world sees it. Our country cannot get back on track with him as president. We need to embrace the principles that made our country great. Shed your political labels and use common sense by aligning with Trump or DeSantis for president.

Bill Dowdall

Oro Valley

City manager

I worked for the City of Tucson for over 30 years. During the period of time before Michael Ortega was hired it seemed we had a new City Manager every few years. Each one of them came and made speeches to us and told us how things were going to change. Two years later, we were listening to a new speech from a new manager, and we changed policies so much you got whiplash. I listened to Michael Ortega’s speech and after I got back to my work area, I sent him an email. I told him I had heard a lot of speeches that accomplished nothing. I told him I would judge him on what he did, not what he said. Imagine my surprise when he wrote me back and said that was OK with him. The City of Tucson is losing a good manager. I wish him the best of luck in whatever he does.

Jeff Britt

East side

Trump is disqualified

Angie Wong’s depiction of the legal process proceeding to hold Trump accountable for his actions as political “one side attempting to bar its chief opponent from even competing” is truly the primary partisan position. One fact denied by no one is Trump watched the riot unfold on TV for three hours and did nothing. That’s not accurate — he repeatedly refused to act as his staff, family and Congress implored him to. An undeniable example of dereliction of duty. The Jan. 6 committee showed Trump’s involvement in the riot from start to finish. If his actions do not disqualify him, just what would disqualify someone? Speaking of a partisan position Wong quotes Jeffrey Clark. He is the Justice Department official who was totally willing to trash the constitution and help stop the peaceful transfer of power. Trump isn’t above the law, he should be prosecuted along with the fake electors. Trump’s actions disqualify him from holding office.

William Garrity

Foothills

Fire Robbins and Rulney

Some call the University of Arizona $240 million budget snafu a miscalculation. I call it ineptitude and malfeasance.

UA President Robert Robbins and former financial chief Lisa Rulney failed miserably in the budget department. In addition to his ineptitude Robbins slammed the UA faculty by saying Rulney had resigned, not revealing she was still around in a lesser role. Hence his malfeasance.

Of course, Robbins and Rulney still have their gold-plated salaries.

The state higher education regents are to meet soon. Let us hope the regents dismiss the inept duo.

Joe Schula

Foothills