Tucson Speaks Out: Feb. 26 letters of the day

Re: the Feb. 16 letter “America.”

Characterizing Biden as “an incompetent environmental specialist” and dredging up the old Solyndra yarn shows a poor understanding of this country’s recent past, as well as our current energy and climate woes. It’s knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Solyndra was a California solar startup that went belly up, defaulting on an Obama era DOE green tech loan. One of the many who didn’t, interestingly enough, included an obscure EV hopeful named Tesla. What was known at the time as the Tea Party (MAGA’s antecedent) relentlessly clutched their pearls in oil-drenched outrage of alleged government waste. Never mind that their much-beloved ongoing Iraq War (you know: the one that was actually an attempted oil grab disguised as an anti-terrorism operation) cost this country dearly, including about the same amount of cash as the entire much-ballyhooed Solyndra episode ... but daily. So much for balanced budgets.

Benjamin Nead

Northwest side

A hypothetical question for the Hypocrite Party

To the unreasonable, disorganized, inconsistent and hypocritical elected officials and citizens (Republicans), I ask a simple question: If leaders of any country in the world tried to tell Donald Trump what to do about a crisis, i.e., Israel/Gaza, what would he say to them in response?

The person your party exonerates for his crimes is the same one Benjamin Netanyahu models himself upon. You honor and respect him by choosing him to be your president. Netanyahu’s own government can’t tell him what to do either.

How can you criticize President Joe Biden over Israel’s incursions into Hamas territory to rid themselves of terrorists who interrupt their daily lives with threats of — and actual — attacks? He is not the president of Israel, a democracy, but we are allies. Yet you demand Biden “fix” the situation. How, when Congress is so antagonistic and discordant? Remember, Congress makes laws, the president enforces them. What laws has Congress created regarding the Mid-East crisis — or the border, for that matter?

Sheldon Metz

Northeast side

Words paint an accurate picture

Re: the Feb. 17 article “Another anti-Trump letter.”

I would like to thank the writer. Great job describing so accurately and eloquently the human malignancy who’s hell-bent on destroying our country. No, it’s not just you — you have plenty of company among critical thinking, democracy-loving citizens who don’t live on social media, who aren’t susceptible to lies, who have some understanding of what is going on in the world, and don’t find a lying, angry criminal bully enthralling. Sanity exists and must prevail!

Deb Klumpp

Oro Valley

Clown Shoes

Donald Trump just released his new line of high-top shoes at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia. Fortunately for his supporters, they come in one-size-fits-all: clown size.

James Nesci

East side

Patriotism

I saw a man in the grocery store with a U.S. Army t-shirt in Army color, olive drab. It had an American flag on the back and the words “For this we fight.” D… straight. That’s the way it should be. Donald Trump could have a shirt like that, too. He could put a Russian flag on his.

George Yost

Vail

The choice

It appears that American voters are going to get to choose between two candidates. Both are over 77 years old and mix up facts and details from time to time. One of the elders is 81 years old with over 50 years experience in government as a senator, vice president and president. The other elder is facing numerous felony charges, an adulterer, cheated hundreds of people out of money, and sells $400 golden sneakers in between campaign stops. The only presidential candidate that sells concessions on the campaign trail.(mug shot t-shirts, sneakers, etc.)

Richard Bechtold

West side

Check the facts

Re: the Feb. 9 letter “Migrants carrying contagious diseases.”

The writer of the letter based her argument about migrants carrying contagious diseases into the US on a CNN report that attributed the problem to a person ‘who had recently traveled outside the country.’ Clearly, that would be an ill American returning from abroad, not a migrant entering the country for the first time.

The author contends that this is a health care problem Biden continues to ignore. Not so. Biden has addressed border health care issues from the beginning of his presidency. According to a CNN report, as far back as 2021 Biden’s health order required migrants to wear face masks and if anyone exhibited signs of illness in CBP custody, they would be referred to a local facility for appropriate testing, diagnosis, and treatment.

It’s important to check one’s facts.

Margaret Scott

Midtown

Transgender debate

Re: the Feb. 18 article “Transgender rights leaders play defense.”

This article continued the mainstream media’s one-sided approach to the transgender debate. Never have I seen an article in your paper that represents multiple sides of the conversation.

More and more organizations and therapists are advocating caution in how gender dysphoria is handled. Just one example is Genspect, an organization that urges evidence-based approaches to gender therapy. Another point: the World Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is losing members as more and more countries question their recommendations. And many “whistleblower” therapists are going public with concerns for the way U.S. clinics are treating gender dysphoria. Then there is the growing number of people regretting their decision to transition. I urge readers to find a few of those stories of pain and grief. It’s time for an honest conversation, and I’d love to see the Star be a part of that.

Trish Kimminau

Midtown

Anti-abortion is now anti-life

By what strange logic can a frozen embryo be considered a child? The recent ruling in Alabama reveals the duplicity and twisted mentality of the anti-abortion movement. It actually prevents people from having children. For women it now becomes risky to use a fertility clinic. If the frozen embryo is not utilized to produce a baby, the parents could be charged with murder. Or women who get pregnant and develop a life threatening pregnancy without the option for abortion to save a mother’s life will cause some women to reconsider getting pregnant. So while the anti-abortion crusaders think they are saving lives, they are actually working against life and procreation. There is no compassion in these actions by legislators and courts. The principle of allowing no abortions or declaring an embryo a child does not promote life. The principle seems to be all that matters.

John Kautz

Midtown

Regents’ report a disservice

I thank the Arizona Daily Star and the UA faculty for working to uncover the real story behind UA’s financial problems. They’ve had no help from the administration or, now, the Arizona Board of Regents. The Regents’ report to Governor Hobbs bursts with excuses and self-congratulation for the purchase of substandard Ashford University without including any financial metrics. A business plan without numbers is like a song without music.

Sadly, that unwise purchase is behind us. I loved my education at UA and wish only for the best for the school. That will only come about with transparency and honesty.

Kind regards,

Bruce Robinson

Foothills

Undervalued teachers

Re: the Feb. 22 article “No clear path to aid Arizona public schools to fill teaching positions.”

Why would anyone be surprised by “No path ... to fill teaching positions” in Arizona (and other states)? Arizona pales in comparison to my home state of Illinois for compensating educators. Teachers are under compensated, overly criticized, and under appreciated in a country that seems to value how much a person earns a lot more than how well a person is educated. I am included in the 86% that would not recommend the job to others.

Toni Kane

Oro Valley

Country club memberships, really?

With the enormous salaries paid to some of the top leaders at the University of Arizona, I am shocked that elite country club memberships are part of their total compensation package. With the millions they make, can’t they pay for their own memberships? How do they drive around the streets of this city without recognizing their absolute entitlement? This information both shocked and made me nauseous.

Ellen Hartline

Foothills

Sportsman’s fund send a kid to camp

Re: the Feb. 21 article “Envelope inside to help send kids to camp.”

I first heard about this organization many years ago at one of the first fundraisers at Jonathan’s Cork. This organization directly enables young children around Arizona to experience a camping experience. These children are from military and economically disadvantaged along with physically disadvantaged. This nonprofit organization was founded in 1947 and 97% of all dollars raised goes directly to these children. The Arizona Daily Star sent donation envelopes out in their physical paper distribution on Wednesday (Feb. 21). I remember the American Red Cross, after the devastating hurricane Katrina asked for $1 from every “family.” If every “family” in southern Arizona would donate $1 imagine how quickly that would accumulate. We all “squander” a few dollars each month. Think about helping our local “young neighbors”. Address PO Box 16141 Tucson, AZ 85732-6141 or online at azsendakidtocamp.org. Thank you in advance for your help.

Mary Beth Schneider

East side

The silly season

Arizona’s annual Silly Season has produced a virtual three-way tie for the dumbest, most outrageous proposed legislation. Senator Jake Hoffman has provided us with two of the early leaders.

The creation of a state gold and silver exchange, state currency and bullion depository and;

Prohibition of Satan and anything related to Satan from public spaces. This would, no doubt, engender a contest to rename the ASU Sun Devils, the removal of “The Black Stallion and Satan” from public libraries, the banning of “The Devil Went down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels and the outlawing of deviled eggs.

Also in strong early contention is Senator Anthony Kern’s proposal to have state legislators instead of the voters choose presidential electors. A Putinesque proposal in violation of both state and federal constitutions.

I propose that the Star keep track of these and other legislative inanities submitted by readers and have an official vote at the end of the legislative session. The winner will, hopefully, be laughed out of office.

Todd Ackerman

Foothills

The time is now

Re: the Feb. 21 article “Another crossroads, America — which way?”

It has been two years since Russia invaded the Ukraine. Initially, I felt very gratified by the support given to the Ukrainians. In time, however, I grew weary and came to believe we needed to do more. But what?

In Wednesday’s Tucson Opinion column, Michael Judd answered my question. His point — stop Putin in his tracks. Stop him NOW! Read Judd’s excellent article to learn the specifics of his strategy. I’d summarize his strategy here but that would spoil the impressive way he laid it out.

Gail Gibbons Pace

Foothills

U of A sports

Arizona Athletic Department is commanding major media scrutiny focused on its fiscal woes — a subset to the school’s overall issues. To diffuse the sports issue the UA brain trust basically executed a quick reboot.

Previous AD, Dave Heeke is gone (likely having failed to retain Fisch or baseball coach, Johnson and not finalizing Lloyd’s contract extension). His hire, Kevin Sumlin single handedly demolished the entire UA football program plus Rich Rod’s personnel issues, Miller’s NCAA sanctions, athlete vs. coaching problems all impacted the department’s stature and earned income.

Instantly a new AD is hired, Lloyd is extended, a new football HC arrives (inheriting a top 20 program).

The spectre of losing Lloyd, Chip Hale, Shields, Busch, Barnes, etc. certainly contributed to a quick fix.

Supposedly, salary extensions, incentive bumps, added assistant coaches will all be covered by boosters

Perhaps those “donations” would more effective covering the overall debt of the UA first, then improving departments.

A similar reboot of UA administration may well be in order.

Baird Thompson

Foothills

Traitorship of Trump

As a veteran of the US Air Force and a lover of democracy, I do not know how any veteran can support Trump. He was a draft dodger during the Vietnam War. As president he called military members losers and suckers because there was nothing in their service to benefit them. He skipped the memorial service for the fallen of WWI in 2018 because it was raining. Gen. John Kelly is the source for this. Trump supports Putin, a murderous dictator, who had numerous people assassinated, most recently Navalny in Russia because they opposed him. He took classified documents to his residence and left them unsecured for over a year. He opposes aide to Ukraine at Putin’s behest. He threatens not to support NATO allies if they are attacked by Russia. Yet this is who the Republican leadership and party bows down to. If you want a dictator, ask the victims of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, or any dictator how that worked.

Don Ries

Southeast side

Defeating Trump and MAGA

Don’t think that defeating Trump in 2024 will stop MAGA madness. After his 2024 defeat, Trump and his ilk will focus their madness on a 2028 presidential run. Yikes! Will we ever be free of Trump and MAGA?

Yes, but we have work to do. We must become razor sharp voters by studying each candidate’s position on key points. We must defeat down ballot MAGA candidates and any new candidates leaning toward MAGA views. Ask questions of all candidates and demand answers. Study candidates’ websites! If these websites allow visitors to pose questions, do so and note which candidates don’t answer your questions! Read pre-election flyers! Make wise decisions when voting; don’t just check off a box.

We have 2 election cycles to root out MAGA candidates — the 2024 presidential election and the 2026 mid-term election. Getting rid of Trump, his followers and his sycophantic state and federal elected officials is possible. It can be done but only if we are up to the task!

Sandra Hoboy

Vail

F-35s flying over Tucson

Yesterday (Feb. 21) while raking our yard in Barrio Hollywood, I was jarred from my reverie by F-35s. The noise could not be ignored like that of earlier Davis-Monthan jets. Once again, while having breakfast at the Barista del Barrio this morning, we had to stop talking as the sound crashed down.

Many Tucsonans do not know of the military jet that crashed near to what is now the Recreation Center at the UA. Two students were killed in the crash on October 26, 1978.

At that time, DM pledged to fly over as little of Tucson as possible.

One of the reasons that Linda Ronstadt left Tucson was that the fighters flying over her midtown home made recording impossible.

Will it take another crash — perhaps at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind — and more deaths for DM to change its flight path? Will more homeowners suffer a diminished quality of life?

DM officials owe Tucsonans an explanation, and city leaders need to give some orders.

Debbie Collazo

West side