Tucson Speaks Out: December 19

Another rubber stamp

The BOS approved the data center(s). Air pollution, noise pollution, heated air, water pollution, water usage, environmental disruption ignored. People suffer, animals suffer. Project Blue is moving forward.

BOS officially approved a binding agreement with the developer clearing one of the final major hurdles for the project. No regard for disrupting ecosystems by fragmenting habitats and stressing animals. The air, light, noise, potential 'smog' from equipment (the sheer scale of backup power required for data centers), and other pollution the data center will generate means nothing to the BOS? I hope the BOS put in necessary mitigation requirements. (Data center sound comes from powerful cooling fans, servers, and backup generators, creating significant noise pollution that affects workers and nearby communities, via low-frequency hum that travels far.) We deserved better. It's not innocuous. Nature deserved better. I hope I'm wrong. We don’t need corporate promises of a benign impact on the area. Once here, it's too late.

Peter Bisschop

East side

Show of hands

The story by Miguel Torres of The Arizona Republic, carried by The Star on Dec. 15, outlining the outrageous actions by mega MAGA Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannals should shock the conscience of every last person in this country. An unbelievably extensive and corrupt misuse of law enforcement authority to wrongly convict a perfectly innocent person of a crime. Somehow this doesn't come as a surprise to any honest observer of this man's history. Still, I'd like to see a show of hands among MAGA apologists and Cochise county voters, who put him in office, who even care at all. Anyone? Anyone?

Gary Susko

Midtown

What really matters

Recently, I spent a week sitting beside a loved one in an Intensive Care Unit here in Tucson. It made me focus on what really matters. Can you pass the quiz?

1. Social media posts in ALL CAPS?

2. Intra-party feuds over who’s in and who’s out?

3. Washington politicians performing a daily theatre of the absurd?

4. The kindness and support of family and friends?

5. The skill and compassion of medical personnel?

6. Whether you have health insurance?

I’ll bet you scored 100%.

As Congress squabbles about extending the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) premium tax credits, millions of Americans face dramatic cost increases in their health insurance, and many will lose coverage completely. So, what I learned this week is that what really matters is electing representatives in 2026 who believe everyone deserves affordable health insurance.

Thea Chalow

Oro Valley

Civilization erasure

Trump’s comments on European culture are contemptible and ignorant. For millennia, Europe has raided, enslaved, married and been conquered by both internal and neighboring armies. Today’s borders result from century-long wars, often in the name of religion and migration. Like us, their “civilization” is accumulative. Few pockets of indigenous people remain.

In 212 AD, all free inhabitants of the Roman Empire became full citizens. In 732 AD, Charles Martel repelled the Moors near Poitiers, France, halting the spread of Islam. In the 12th century, England’s Henry II controlled half of what is now France. Cathars in the south were exterminated by the Pope/French king.

In 1683, Poland helped defend Vienna against the Ottoman Empire. A century later, Austria joined Prussia/Russia to divvy up Poland. “Wars of Religion” decimated societies all over Europe and “colonialism” changed its face.

Modern Europe no longer defines culture by color and religion. Though feelings on immigration are mixed, it’s a problem exacerbated by aggressive superpowers who destabilize regions for questionable cause.

Sue Applegate

SaddleBrooke

The 'I didn't vote for this' blues

We're hearing a lot of "I didn't vote for this" from Trump voters. Actually, this is exactly what they voted for, and given the chance, they would probably vote for him again. When you get wrapped up in culture war issues to the point where you vote against your own interests, nothing good can come out of it. Although issues like gay rights, black lives matter, and a woman's right to choose do not affect their lives in the least, they somehow feel put upon. Now these "conservatives" are faced with losing health insurance, food and rent assistance, rising unemployment, and increased prices due to Trump's ill-advised tariffs. They were warned about this time and time again during the campaign, but their prejudice against putting a qualified woman in office created this mess. Next time, they should ask themselves, "just what have the Republicans done for me lately?"

Mary Zimmerman

SaddleBrooke

Brazen shoplifters

I read Tim Steller's piece on brazen shoplifters. I was quite familiar with the topic as I have seen it more than once in a local pharmacy. I did, in fact, ask an employee why they did nothing to stop the person when it was so obvious. I was annoyed that they just let it go on. He explained to me that store policy was about protecting the employees who are not equipped to stop shoplifters and may endanger themselves. Well, that seemed reasonable, but it didn't soothe my indignation at people getting away with crime! I am incensed at a petty crime worth maybe $25. But wait: We have a government of kleptocracy and no one is incensed. They are stealing millions and billions right in front of us also, and we go on about our day. The tariffs have cost me at least $1,000 in overpricing that I know of. That too is brazen robbery. Just thought I would mention that.

Diane Daniels

Northeast side

Unlimited speed limits

I certainly hope unlimited speed limits never happen. It makes no sense whatsoever. I guarantee that there will be drivers who will drive 120 mph or more just to see how fast they can go. Very dangerous.

Mike Allen

Northwest side

Farmers, fool me twice

Here are some takeaways from the Farmers article published in the AZ Daily Star on Dec. 15:

— Farmers fear trade disputes will hurt international sales as they did during the first Trump administration.

— Fears have become reality, again.

— Farmers view government (taxpayer) bailouts as insufficient, stopgap measures.

— New insufficient bailout coming their way, again.

— President brags about China Deal.

— Farmers distrust China deal.

— "Farmers' support for Trump remains steadfast." Again.

Here is my addition to the article: There will be farm bankruptcies, again. Who is buying up farmland? Who benefits? Answer: Large-scale investors (billionaires such as Bezos and Gates, etc.) It's time to consider that who controls farmland will eventually control food sources in our country. Remember the adage "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me".

Mel Strijdonk

Oro Valley

When Harry Met Sally

Shame on Amazon for charging $14.99 to watch the movie "When Harry Met Sally" following the horrific murder of the producer & director of said iconic film. Previously, rentable at 3.99, following Sunday's murder of Mr. Reiner and his wife, the film was suddenly for sale on Amazon at 14.99, and no longer rentable. I notice his other films ("The Princess Bride" and "A Few Good Men") to name only two, also suffered the unbelievable price hike.

Not unlike our president, Amazon seems to be out to make a buck any way it can.

Susan Dooley

Midtown

Confessions of Wiles

The President’s Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, recently told “Vanity Fair” that her boss governs with “a view that there’s nothing he can’t do. Nothing, zero, nothing.”

This can be taken to mean he believes he is so talented he can accomplish anything. Or he believes he has unlimited power to rule however he sees fit, or perhaps both.

The part about being super-talented does not seem well substantiated by reality given the President’s limited success in establishing world peace and his management philosophy of just firing people.

The second part about being an absolute dictator has found some success given #47’s announced intention to act like a dictator on “day one,” his manhandling of the Constitution, and his clear statement made in August 2025 during a videotaped Cabinet meeting, “I can do whatever I wanna do. I’m the President.”

Kimball Shinkoskey

Woods Cross, Utah

Healthcare

Some lawmakers continue promoting the “Most Favored Nation” drug pricing proposal as if copying European systems will solve the challenges facing families here in Arizona. It won’t. That approach ignores the real dysfunction in our drug supply chain and distracts from the reform we actually need: holding pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) accountable.

PBMs have inserted themselves between doctors and patients, and Arizonans are paying the price. They dictate formularies, block medications, and negotiate secret rebates that drive up out-of-pocket costs. While drug companies are often blamed, PBMs ultimately decide what patients pay at the pharmacy counter.

That’s why Congress must complete PBM reform before the end of the year. The PBM Reform Act brings transparency, ends perverse financial incentives, and gives patients a fair chance to access the medications their doctors prescribe.

Arizonans don’t need foreign price schemes. They need fairness, clarity, and a system that works here at home.

Carmen Barbosa

Vail

"Slop" - yes!

I'm all in with Merriam-Webster's 2025 word of the year — "Slop". The article in The Star says the word "evokes unpleasant images of mud-caked pigs crowding around a dirty trough, or perhaps a bucket of steaming, fetid stew." It can also mean something of little value. Slop. It's the perfect word to apply to those running (and ruining) our country.

Deb Klumpp

Oro Valley

Healthcare bill

If Congress adjourns on Thursday without passing a healthcare bill that saves millions from becoming uninsured, they should resign and keep on walking. It’s over for Ciscomani and the Republicans, who seemingly don’t care.

Bill Shipp

Marana