Betrayal on the border
Much gratitude to Emily Bregel and Henry Brean for their very informative series on the Trump administration's plans to build a second border wall. It's critically important to bring this project into the public light; this is an egregious abuse of tribal sovereignty and huge waste of taxpayer money. It will further destroy the fragile desert environment, result in the trapping and death of wildlife, and only serves to enrich construction companies and to pander to Trump's base which grows smaller by the day. This project, already underway, along with the dismantling of the U.S. Forest Service, should move all of us to demand Congress call for impeachment. Where is the outrage?
Sarah Roberts
West side
Unhealth care
I am tired of Rep. Juan Ciscomani (AZ CD 06) bragging about voting for the "Big Beautiful Bill" that disproportionately hurts his constituents and our state. In February, Rand Corporation released a report on the impact of this bill on each state's Medicaid (www.rand.org/t/RRA4098-1). One of its top three findings is: "Expansion states with substantial use of State-Directed-Payments and provider taxes — Arizona, Iowa and Nevada — stand to see reductions of more than 15 percent of their Medicaid budgets." That's about $3.4 billion per year. That's right: our state, in which the Arizona Health Care Containment system (AHCCS) has been one of the most efficient Medicaid programs in the nation, stands to lose the most. And who will pick up the slack of reduced federal spending to pay for uncompensated health care? All the rest of us. Juan, you never stand up for us, you just bow down to Trump. You need to go.
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Melody Luepke
East side
War of choice
As Mr. Johnson said, had the politicians of the time not dithered and procrastinated (he forgot or didn't know to include, appeased Hitler) WW II might have been avoided. What he didn't bother to relate was the politicians from 11 years ago did not repeat the past. They had a solid workable agreement with Iran to foreclose nuclear armament for the foreseeable future. Then along came DJT who trashed the deal in his usual style, characterizing it as horrible with no specifics and no effort to rework any real or perceived shortcomings. But for DJT's short-sighted act then, the "war of choice" would not occur. He invaded a sovereign country with no consultation or approval from Congress, making it an illegal war. We have lost American lives and had wounded too, so far, thankfully, not on the magnitude of WWII. Tell us again Loyal, why DJT deserves praise.
Clarence Johnson
Oro Valley
Politics, history, religion
After reading columns by Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin and Pastor Rude and how good and evil is exposed in our current national situation. In literature, "The Count of Monte Cristo" film being broadcast on PBS, good and evil is shown through the greed and envy that the protagonist struggles against. Nothing new in history of mankind.
Trump has displayed actions that can be judged as evil. The unprovoked attacks on boats in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, acts of piracy leading to the kidnapping of the Venezuela dictator and his wife, were acts of greed for control of oil and control of the government of an independent country like the colonial powers of past centuries. The unprovoked attack on Iran seems more of the same abuse of power, seeking to control a country that was not an immediate threat, but has resources (oil) that we could steal.
Pastor Rude has described the danger of religious nationalism in justifying our original sin, slavery, and those of other authoritarian nationalist governments.
Efren Peyron
East side
Rocque Perez did us a favor
While the court hearing did not go Rocque Perez's way, the exposure of the fines against both Alma Hernandez and her sister Consuela Hernandez shows that neither should be elected in 2026.
Specifically, I have been involved in Democratic Party politics for decades, but have never had such bad representation as I have had with Alma Hernandez, who is supposed to "represent" me in Legislative District 20. From her lack of campaign finance reporting leading to unpaid fines, to her self-aggrandizement at the expense of her constituents, she is more representing "herself". She is not of the style of earlier legislators I have had the privilege to have had represent me and had come to know as friends.
A supporter's letter from Green Valley does not offset the damage Alma has done to the Democratic Party's need to take over a hostile, vicious Republican Legislature.
If you can't control your own campaign funds and refuse to pay the fines, you can't lead as a legislator.
Matt Somers
Midtown
Affordability
4/21/26 Page A1: Bill takes on home affordability.
Sen. Shawnna Bolick tipped her hand in promoting SB 1431. She said, “ ... prices are so high her own adult children can’t afford to buy a new home ...”
Does anyone need to buy a new home? Is there something wrong with buying a fixer-upper? Does everyone’s first home need to be a single-family residence? A first home under a 1,000 sqft may not be desirable, but it is more affordable. Generally, it will cost less for insurance, taxes and utilities.
I remember the old real estate slogan, “Buy as much house as you can.” I say buy only what you need, not what you want.
Besides, I believe this is just another housing bubble ripe for bursting.
James Abels
Midtown
Back to basics with UA's Student Union
Good to hear that the University is maintaining its student-related facilities ("$20M project to enhance Student Union, dining halls," Sannappanavar, April 21, p. B1). Funding the project requires an estimated payback of $1.3M annually.
According to unknown "officials," that loan "will increase the UA's total debt by just 0.05%." Unfortunately, that percentage indicates the UA's total debt is $2.6 billion, ~100x higher than previously stated. Perhaps the "officials" and Daily Star staff need to improve their middle-school arithmetic skills, i.e., the meaning of "percentage."
Don McCarthy
Oro Valley
PGA golf back in Tucson?
I just saw where the PGA is no longer going to play in Hawaii. They are now trying to figure out where to play in the winter months — hello! Tucson? We have, without question the best weather in the country, especially in the winter months. Less rain fall than most any other state temps in the 70s, 80s — perfect. As they mentioned, people in the cold states love to watch golf in the warm states? When I was a kid living in CT I was one enjoying watching the Tucson Open! Beautiful weather — now we had one very freaky snowstorm at the Ritz Carlton around 2009? The match play event- now what are the odds that would ever happen again? Tiger loves Tucson. As for golf courses? The ritz, the gallery, make Tucson national a little tougher (great course for people watching and getting around!) La Paloma? It works for the champions! Perfect weather is not guaranteed anywhere so come on back PGA!
James Coughlin
Northeast side
One year since my travels to D.C.
Last year, I visited Washington, D.C. for the first time. As an avid reader of American history and politics, visiting D.C. had been a dream. Despite seeing national landmarks and learning history, I left disappointed. I wanted to share my story with Congressman Juan Ciscomani, but it was dismissed.
I depend on Medicaid (AHCCCS) and Social Security because of cerebral palsy. However, attacks on these programs threaten my resources and those of many Arizonans. I met with Arizona’s congressional delegation to raise awareness about Medicaid cuts. Meetings with Senators Gallego and Kelly were hopeful, but my meeting with Ciscomani’s office was frustrating. His staff claimed he would never cut Medicaid, yet he voted to do just that, and his staff gaslit me.
Ciscomani’s votes on the Republican Tax Law and health care tax credits contradict his promises. I went to D.C. to discuss Medicaid’s importance but left feeling disappointed by staff deflection and dismissal.
This made me realize Ciscomani votes only for the wealthy.
Garrett Newell
East side
Dept. of Injustice
While the accusations against former Rep. Eric Swalwell are certainly convincing and should be investigated and prosecuted, I am appalled that the Dept. of Justice will be weaponizing an investigation. Rape and sexual assault are generally violations of state law. While there are federal laws concerning these crimes, the rare exceptions do not apply here. Let the state handle these cases.
Meanwhile, in the recent murders of two US citizens by federal ICE agents, DHS and DOJ refuse to investigate these crimes in the face of damning video evidence. They even refuse to cooperate in state murder investigations.
I suggest that, like the recent change of the Dept. of Defense to the more accurate Dept. of War, we now have a Dept of Injustice.
Bruce Hilpert
North side
Reasonable?
Re: Loyal Johnson's latest submission ("Data centers and solar energy") ...
First, asking questions to clarify information is a fine thing; however, Johnson's snarky tone reveals his typical Trump-driven views, in this case, an anti-solar bias. The truly astonishing aspect of his letter comes at the end, where Loyal Johnson presents himself as someone who "asks reasonable, reasoned questions," and who is "unaccepting of information without irrefutable facts and supporting data." This is truly ludicrous, considering that Mr. Johnson never questions anything that emanates from Donald Trump, the most childish, vengeful, lawless, lying and incompetent excuse for a president this country has ever been forced to endure. The plain fact is, every time Loyal Johnson accepts Trump's lies and self-serving convolutions of reality, it precisely constitutes "accepting information without irrefutable facts and supporting data." For crying out loud, Loyal, would you call Trump's delusion of himself as Jesus an "irrefutable fact supported by data?"
S. Ross Emmanuel
Southeast side
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