Tucson Speaks Out: Jan. 21 letters of the day

Re: the Jan. 7 article “To Congress, President Biden: Help prevent a humanitarian crisis.”

Adelita Grijalva and Regina Romero co-authored Local Opinion: An appeal to Congress and President Biden to help prevent a humanitarian crisis. They stated that soon, federal funds to shelter and support “legal asylum seekers” will run out, leaving local governments to foot the costs. It went onto say that since September 2023, 130,000 “legally processed asylum seekers” have been released into Tucson, Pima, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties. That is an astounding number. Grijalva and Romero repeatedly cited “legal asylum seekers” and used the benign term “border crossers” to refer to those illegally entering the country. Typical of liberals. Neither Grijalva or Romero questioned the validity of all these hundreds of thousands of asylum claims. Surely, as intelligent government officials, they know many are fraudulent, used as a ploy to enter the country and be released with a Notice to Appear set years into the future. Coming really for economic reasons. Neither asked Congress or President Biden to overhaul asylum law. Neither blamed Biden for causing this humanitarian disaster.

Martin Wagman

Green Valley

Popular culture and politics

As I read the paper Jan. 17, it hit me that one editorial about popular culture in today’s society clarifies how a TV personality like Donald Trump can continue to denigrate those who serve our country and still have a following. It says more about us than it does about him.

It has been well documented that Trump has called those who serve “suckers and losers”. This coming from the man who used bone spurs to avoid serving. Trump’s continued diatribe against John McCain, who served our country honorably, should disgust all Americans.

Perhaps our culture has so devolved that we embrace this type of vapid behavior and elevate this narcissistic personality to undeserved heights.

All I know is, I could not, in good conscience, vote for Donald Trump to be the Commander in Chief of our military.

Donna Pierce

Northeast side

Boomers and bicycles

Re: the Jan. 7 letter “Bicyclists being visible to motorists.”

My friend Russ Willis made a great point in a follow-up conversation. Boomers like him are the reason we can ride bicycles almost anywhere in this city now! He was one of the many activists in the ’70s working hard to get bicycles mainstreamed as a form of transportation. He’s so right — we owe our boomers gratitude on many fronts. Thanks, Boomers!

Deb Dale

West side

GOP owns deficit, must negotiate

Re: the Jan. 7 article “Lawmakers face budget deficit, tough choices.”

The upcoming budget is going to be very difficult.

Last year, the Legislative Republican majority gave away a massive haul to wealthy Arizonans by enacting a 2.5% flat tax and by expanding ESA spending by nearly $1 billion. Income tax receipts appears to decrease nearly $2 billion. Wealthy folks get the benefit. You and I got $17.

The article analyzed well other budgetary issues, but frankly the projected deficit of $450 million next year is a creation of Republican initiatives, unsustainable and unfair. They should negotiate with humility and recognize they went too far with the 2022 giveaways. Attempting to cut funding for public education, prisons, or roads is irresponsible. Even a top marginal rate of 3.5% would be less than before 2023, it would be less than our neighboring States, and it would provide stable funding for all the good things that government provides to Arizona.

Ricky Sage

Northeast side

Twisted words

The lack of common sense and critical thinking from self-designated supposedly educated individuals is exposed in their comments about former President Trump. Recently asked if he would be a dictator, he said he would for ONE DAY so he could secure the border and restore energy independence. Several people have twisted his words to fit their narrative, saying he would be a dictator on Day 1. Totally different meaning, but it suits their preconceived opinions. Here are some examples of dictatorship courtesy of our current president:

Mask and vaccine mandates

Sending billions of dollars to Iran

Using tax money to pay off student loans

Mandating electric vehicles

Refusing to enforce immigration law

Shutting down pipelines and drilling

Apparently, some are very happy with all of this and will vote to reinstate Mr. Biden so he can continue to ruin the country.

Francine Nordman

Northwest side

Scripture and science

Re: the Jan. 12 article “Woman who miscarried at home isn’t charged.”

I was outraged by this absurd charge. I was faced with an abortion during my second pregnancy due to a life-threatening intestinal infection. In 1979, my very Catholic Irish doctor in NYC told me the medication (poison) I needed to take could affect the developing fetus. I immediately knew the decision was mine … not even my husband’s. And I will not reveal it now. My body, my decision. I am the mother of two wonderful children and the grandmother of precious granddaughters, so this article hit me hard.

Let’s consider both Scripture and science:

Scripture: (Genesis 38): “Man shall not spill his seed on the ground”

Science: “Each instance of ejaculation yields 15 million to 200 million living sperm”

Therefore, if this poor woman was facing criminal charges for a non-induced miscarriage, then according to both scripture and science, a male who has had a wet dream should face criminal charges for mass murder.

To paraphrase Hamlet’s soliloquy: “To sleep, perchance to dream and murder”

Karen Papagapitos

Northwest side

Ciscomani represents CD-06 perfectly

Juan Ciscomani and myself both share similar attributes. We are both Hispanic Americans and residents of Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, and we understand firsthand how our community is targeted by members of the cartel. The extensive drug and human smuggling networks that come through our district are vast and growing. We respect the legal immigration process — a process that Congressman Ciscomani followed himself. But Congressman Ciscomani also understands that dangerous individuals are also coming across our U.S. Southern Border illegally. His vote on the Secure the Border Act only further justifies his commitment to the people of CD-06. It should be no surprise CD-06 voted for someone who does what we sent him to Washington to do: Represent us.

Dominic Escamilla

North side

Banner Healthcare cuts Chaplaincy

Banner reduced the number of chaplains at their Tucson hospitals from two to one this week. There is now one chaplain available to serve nearly 900 patients and their families between the two campuses. Peter Fine, CEO of Banner Health, earned $12,400,000 in 2021, according to an October 27, 2023 article in Arizona Central written by Stephanie Innes. According to Zip Recruiter, the average annual salary of a hospital chaplain is $67,000, 0.5% of Mr. Fine’s annual earnings. Banner Health earned a $149.4 million profit by end of September 2023, according to the December 29, 2023 article, From -10.6% to 11.1%: 34 systems ranked by operating margins.

I fail to understand how Banner found it necessary to increase 2024’s profits by approximately 0.04% by reducing the number of chaplains by 50%.

I have witnessed the chaplains reduce grief and have been comforted by them. This week, I witnessed Mr. Fine increase grief. I choose chaplains. I reject Mr. Fine.

Dawn Hoppmann

Benson

International Wildlife Museum closes

Without warning, the International Wildlife Museum, located at Gates Pass in Tucson, AZ, ceased operation on Dec. 31, 2023. Despite efforts to discover more, no explanation was given by Safari Club International Foundation, owner/managing organization, except relocation of “Membership Operations” to Texas. However, that “title” would include everyone employed, since IWM was headquarters for SCI, an international membership organization. How many locals lost their jobs in this sudden closure? How many can or will move to Texas? For 30+ years, IWM operated here as an educational attraction, employed hundreds of Tucsons in many capacities, generated revenue/taxes. I was an early one, going back to the 1990s, and in 1996, I retired from my position in the publications department that produced SAFARI Magazine, circulated worldwide to members. This story surfaced Jan. 11/24 on KOLD 13 TV, yet efforts by Ch. 13 journalists for further information proved unsuccessful.

Elaine Cummings

Northwest side

State budget deficit

Re: the Jan. 7 article “Lawmakers face budget deficit, tough choices.”

Regarding the current $2 billion budget deficit facing Arizona, Pima County Interfaith Council and other organizations raised alarms when the Flat Tax was proposed and passed by the Legislature in 2021 and predicted the budget shortfall. We helped collect enough signatures to put a referendum, prop 307, on the ballot to ask voters to block it. Collecting signatures was easy: voters saw who benefited from the tax cuts, and it wasn’t them. Our members stated that they felt “insulted” by the paltry amount they would save in taxes while people who made $5 million would save $350,000. The Arizona Free Enterprise Club challenged Prop 307 and the stacked AZ Supreme Court ruled in their favor. Plus, despite the will of 60% of voters against universal school vouchers, the legislature passed them, costing close to $ 1 billion to support private and parochial schools this year. If we want good public schools, nice roads and good state services, vote out state legislators who refuse to listen to most Arizonans.

Nancy Smith

Midtown

The end of being a college sports fan

The demise of the Pac-12 Conference combined with profligate NIL means this season is the last one I follow college sports. I’ve been an Arizona Wildcat fan for 60 years; started going to McKale Center when Fred Snowden was the coach. A recent report that our quarterback, Noah Fifita, is likely to receive $2 million plus just to transfer to a school with wealthy donors was the final revelation that college sports have been destroyed by money. I do think student-athletes should be compensated, but $2 million just to go play for a different team? Nope! It boils down to who can buy the best team, and that eliminates allegiance to a school and to a conference with some geographical integrity. There are many more enjoyable activities for me to spend time and money on in the future than the profiteering college sports of today.

Ricardo Small

Northeast side

Get to the point first

Re: the Jan. 14 article “Big 12 future brighter than UA’s Pac-12 football legacy.”

Another poorly written Greg Hansen column appeared in Sunday’s sports section. In the first couple of sentences, he stated that the University of Texas at El Paso and University of New Mexico campuses were nothing more than “country bumpkin” locations from the University of Arizona’s Western Athletic Conference days. The rest of the article was cast aside because of such rude remarks. It was clear that Hansen needs some basic manners and needs to get to the point of the article before he disparages other schools and cities he clearly knows nothing about. El Paso and Albuquerque are large cities in the same class as Tucson. I have lived in all three cities, and they are all fine places to live.

About 40 years ago, I sent a letter similar to this to protest a statement that something was about as entertaining as a “UTEP-Wyoming game.” UTEP and Wyoming had better won-loss records than U of A that year. Hansen still inserts disparaging remarks before he ever makes his point.

Fran Gordon

Green Valley

Biden’s energy and stamina

In 2023, Biden made 113 trips to 26 states across the nation. He visited major construction and manufacturing sites where he met with workers, offering praise, encouragement and gratitude for their efforts and expertise. He visited every climate disaster area where he met with ordinary citizens, offering compassion, understanding, and swift and appropriate aid. Every personal appearance emphasized Biden’s belief in the American dream and his commitment to the American people.

Biden made 16 international flights to 23 countries across the globe, where he strengthened alliances and forged new ones, promising aid where needed and bolstering protections for democracies around the world. Biden is the only President since Abraham Lincoln to visit active war sites, first in Ukraine and again in Israel. Every appearance on foreign soil emphasized his belief in the power of personal diplomacy and his commitment to our allies.

Biden has proven 100 times over he has the energy and stamina to continue the important work he has begun here at home and abroad.

Jacolyn Marshall

Oro Valley