Tucson Speaks Out: July 22

Due process

As we arrest, detain, deport and “disappear” immigrants, asylum seekers, visa holders — and, yes, sometimes, U.S. citizens — with alacrity, can we pause for just a moment to appreciate the irony of the comment from the unnamed CBP spokesperson in the wake of the arrest of Agent Bart Yager for 10 counts of child trafficking? “An arrest is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

In other words, due process.

Laura Penny

Foothills

No on Project Blue and ABF

Project Blue isn’t worth the risks for Tucson, Phoenix, or Arizona. Elected leaders must take a stand against industries that exploit our limited resources for the benefit of undisclosed corporate interests. In TUSD, I was the only board member to vote against an AI policy that opens the door for unchecked use of these tools in the classroom. As a city council member, I will oppose projects like Project Blue and the outsourcing of jobs to the slow creep of AI.

While I’m encouraged by the community’s pushback, we must look critically at other so-called “advanced industries.” Dahl voted in favor of the American Battery Factory in January 2023, which will consume 150,000 gallons of potable and 25,000 gallons of reclaimed water daily when operational. I do my homework on high-profile items and those that fly under the radar like ABF to ensure Tucson’s water, air, and future aren’t traded away for promised jobs and long-term environmental costs.

Sadie Shaw

Midtown

In the dust

The trade war initiated by the Trump administration has left the United States in a weak and unstable position. The president terminated trade agreements made during his first term and replaced genuine negotiation with erratic, irrational social media announcements. As a result, our allies have shifted to other markets and imposed retaliatory tariffs on American products.

This hurts the American consumer who is paying more for goods and services. It hurts small businesses who cannot absorb increased costs or compete globally. It has shrunk the US economy and destabilized world markets. And it has supercharged China’s meteoric global influence thus leaving the US in the dust.

Jean Meconi

Oro Valley

Project Blue misinformation

There have been some beyond ridiculous claims in opinions about Project Blue (such as it’s “water positive”). They can’t make water. Given all the secrecy and misinformation, please do a tiny bit of homework. Google “Phoenix data center problems” to find a long list of reports of problems in our bigger city to the north.

For a possible way to improve the situation, search on “Waterless data center.” Forward-looking companies, including Microsoft, are building data centers with closed loop cooling systems that do not use any water for cooling. It costs a bit more up front but is probably cheaper than building an 18-mile pipeline for reclaimed water. The idea of wasting at least a million gallons of precious and irreplaceable water a day is ridiculous. Why has Pima County or the City of Tucson not insisted that the mysterious developer use more sustainable technology?

Jeff Edwards

West side

Kevin Dahl delivers

There are two ways a great City Council member serves this city: technical skills (for example, on housing, climate, building strong neighborhoods) and personal strengths (wisdom, openness and compassion) that energize our city. Kevin Dahl has both, on display for decades. We’re lucky to have this option in the City Council race.

Ford Burkhart

Downtown

Data center

Re: “Secret Project Blue water,” the writer is spot on and very clear about why this project is such a bad idea. I read with great interest the articles on Project Blue. Yet, I still cannot comprehend how anyone could think it is a good idea. Lots of mumbo jumbo to decipher. These centers are massive consumers of electricity and water. Another rate increase is in the works for TEP and we live in a desert, in drought most of the time. What’s not to understand? I’m all for progress and job creation but this makes no sense.

Denise Walker

Midtown

Project Blue water use

Rainfall in southern Arizona was virtually nonexistent in winter 2025. So far the summer “monsoons” have been pitiful.

The Hudbay mine in the Santa Ritas will consume massive quantities of groundwater. Project Blue will consume massive quantities of groundwater, as well as effluent from the Santa Cruz which will require a miles-long pipeline, and possibly drain the Santa Cruz River north of Tucson.

I’m not a genius or a hydrologist, but these projects both appear to be extremely unwise and shortsighted. I urge local Government to strongly resist both of these projects.

Dan Egan

East side

Ward 3

Kevin Dahl has devoted his life to conservationism and protecting the environment. That passion is demonstrated by Kevin’s work to improve city parks in Ward 3 and his concern with public school grounds. His focus in improving lives doesn’t stop with conservation but extends to working with neighborhood associations to making them safe and providing community building opportunities. He is also aware that some residents are underserved and votes to protect them. Kevin is aware that water is a precious and scarce resource in the Sonoran Desert and considers water usage and water reclamation for future city projects. I strongly urge Ward 3 voters to keep Kevin Dahl on Tucson City Council.

Judy J Gillies

Downtown

Support for Trump

It is not acceptable to threaten to take territory away from other countries.

It is not acceptable to release violent criminals from prison.

It is not acceptable to put unqualified and unethical loyalists in position of power.

It is not acceptable to try to silence media with lawsuits and threats to take away their licenses.

It is not acceptable to retaliate against people who investigated your criminal conduct.

It is not acceptable to put put oligarch billionaires in charge of the budget.

No one with any shred of decency should still be supporting Trump.

He is a fascist, authoritarian, immoral and 100 percent un-American.

Terry Louck

East side

On Bondi’s desk, but never there

Only one name on the now destroyed list concerned Donald J. Trump. Despite his false, contrary assertions to the contrary, Jeffrey Epstein was convicted and murdered during #45’s term, not Biden’s.

Over 100,000 pages covering decades of Epstein’s escapades, including client lists, flight logs, personal desires, contact information, “black books,” 7 pages of names of girls used for private “massages, over 10,000 photographs of (children), travel logs, employee lists, more than $17,000 in cash, and even beverage preferences.” Trump promised to release these files.

A posse led by Pam Bondi reviewed all 100,000 pages — in search of one name. The administration then reversed another duplicitous promise and refused to release the files. Trump said no such files existed. I’m lost. The Star’s Trump defenders/interpreters might help.

If the files and lists never existed: What was Ghislaine Maxwell referring to in her testimony? What was on Bondi’s desk once that wasn’t there later? Why was the release canceled — after meticulous review?

Sheldon Metz

Northeast side

The egocentric child

Egocentric children see the world the way they want without regard for reality. The world exists the way they see it, end of story. Trump is a classic egocentric child. He doesn’t like the name of the Gulf of Mexico, so he changes it and expects everyone to accept it. He wants cane sugar in his Coca Cola. The Coca Cola company should change it. Trump wants the Guardians and Commanders sports team names changed to Indians and Redskins. Why? because he wants it. The border is pretty much sealed. No one is trying to cross anymore, but the egocentric child wants billions for a wall and hires 8,000 Customs personnel and fires all the asylum judges. Why? because he wants to. The child holds the tariff ball. I’m charging tariffs on you, no I’m not, yes I am, no I’m not. This is the world’s most powerful child.

Richard Bechtold

West side

The pious

Incessantly, your Democratic LTE submitters have promoted the idea that the Democratic Party and its acolytes are the saviors of democracy, and are far more intelligent, righteous, and compassionate than the unwashed heathens belonging to the Republican Party. Strikingly, the curtain has been lifted and the lies exposed. We now find that the Obama Administration falsified and promoted the Russia hoax intentionally with malice aforethought. We also know that President Biden’s mental decline was hidden from the public and unelected sycophants were running our government. These same sycophants are all invoking the 5th when questioned about their coverup roles. The border crisis speaks for itself, again a total abrogation of existing laws and a lack of good sense. Unsurprisingly, they practice blatant racism. The obvious conclusion is that the Democrats are shysters, charlatans, and obsessed liars who will do anything to reclaim power and have a total disregard for the Constitution, the laws of this nation, and for the well-being of the common citizen. Sad, but true.

Loyal M Johnson Jr

Oro Valley

Water where?

First rule of economics, scarcity plays a crucial role in business because it directly affects pricing, demand, and competition. When resources are scarce, their value increases, leading to higher prices. Even the least intelligent politician of city manager would understand this but apparently our Tucson one doesn’t either understand or care. Somehow Mayor Romero and others appointed someone seemingly so blind to Tucson residents and ignorant of data centers. Or maybe this Manager and his opinion is because of money? Obviously not money and savings for residents but money for the term he is manager. Even a report from June 2025 faults data centers for higher energy costs: “As summer electric bills arrive with a jolt, a newly released independent report points the finger squarely at the data center industry for the dramatic rise in wholesale power costs — spikes that are now hitting consumers in the wallet.”

Carissa Sipp

Midtown

Zero fares for a better Tucson

I have been riding Sun Tran since I came to Tucson in 1977. I ride the bus and streetcar every day, using various routes. In 2022, I made a log of 349 bus rides in 4.5 months during which I witnessed zero instances of physical violence or abuse toward drivers. If the Mayor and Council reinstate fares I think there will be less safety. There will be more confrontations between would-be riders and drivers over the need to pay. Confrontations result in longer boarding times, especially problematic during summer and monsoon. Longer boarding times lead to longer trip times. If the nonprofits don’t resume providing free passes for their clients, and due to budget cuts they probably won’t, ridership will plummet. Less services, more heat exposure, more pedestrians on dangerous roads. These problems can be avoided by raising the hotel/motel room tax, which hasn’t changed since 2016, by $6.00 per night.

Allen Benz

East side

Kevin Dahl’s leadership on Project Blue

I appreciate Tucson City Council Member Kevin Dahl’s recent letter explaining his opposition to Project Blue. Mr. Dahl’s principled and informed opinion helped me see how the numerous problems that Project Blue will bring to Southern Arizona far outweigh any potential benefits. I value Mr. Dahl’s leadership on this issue and hope that his fellow Council Members will also vote a hard no on Project Blue.

Drew Colenbrander

East side