Tucson Speaks Out: June 26 letters of the day

Re: the June 18 letter “Climate change hoax.”

A recent letter to the editor published in the Star points out that climate changing CO2 remains in the atmosphere for an exceptionally long time. He then concludes that, due to this, we should not take any action to limit adding more CO2 to the atmosphere. It is rather like arguing that a forest will take a long time to recover from a forest fire, and therefore, we should set more of the woods on fire. His facts are correct. CO2 does take a long time to leave the atmosphere, but his conclusion is wrong. Bringing our atmosphere into balance will take many years. The correct conclusion is that, therefore, we haven’t a minute to lose in attacking the problem. That means we must stop burning the fossil fuels that are causing the problem.

Mike Carran

East side

Infrastructure funding

Re: the June 19 article “Ciscomani’s efforts to secure infrastructure funding supports housing.”

I read and reread the opinion piece from the Southern Arizona Homebuilders praising Congressman Ciscomani’s effort to bring infrastructure funding to projects here in Southern Arizona. What I could not find in the piece was giving credit to the Biden administration for working so hard to get the Infrastructure bill through Congress and distributing the funds across the country including here in Pima County. All around Pima County, these funds have had a positive impact on our local economy. Congressman Ciscomani voted against the Infrastructure bill in the House and he should not be taking credit for bringing the funds here.

Lee Aitken

Northwest side

Education funding for all, not just sports

Universities are spending more money on sports in the last few years than providing quality education. Once the players become pro how are they contributing to society except high ticket prices to watch them play. Only the wealthy can now offer to go to a professional sports game. You need to be financially stable to buy good seats for college basketball tickets at the U of A. If not, you are in the nosebleed section. Teachers, Doctors, Nurse’s, Police Officers, and others contribute to society, and they do not get enough compensation. Professional sport players making millions how are they contributing to society? They are not contributing anything except to big TV promotions and the wealthy that can afford to go to a final championship game for football or basketball. I believe funding more money for education is more important than funding for sports. Spending tremendous amount of money on sports scholarships and not enough on the rest of the students who must pay back their loans is injustice.

Don Cotton

Northeast side

Laura Conover

The day Laura Conover was elected as the Pima County Attorney in 2020, there was a breath of fresh air in the court system after the more stringent era of Barbara La Wall. It was a hard-hearted group of prosecutors under her direction. Even when leniency was called for, little was given, not while toughness was the call. Mike Jette is cut from the same cloth, another La Wall cutout in the wings.

Laura has brought humanity and fairness to the office and has worked for justice for the offender and safety for the community. With pluck and purpose, she works for us, her people. A vote for her is a vote for us.

Ron Lancaster

North side

Sustainable policies

Re: the June 21 article “Adopt sane sustainable policies.”

Bravo to proffesor Jon Dorschner for his excellent summary of all the policies we need to fix in our country and Arizona! He is spot on in his assessment that continued economic growth and consumption won’t bring us a better life, but will do just the opposite.

We seem to have forgotten that the desert has a limited supply of water, and we ignore that fact at our peril. Some years ago, I was standing on a small hill at Case Park on the far east side of town. Looking at the surrounding houses, I suddenly saw dead trees and shutters and doors swinging in the breeze — a ghost town. Please people, don’t let that vision come true!

Dorschner covers more important aspects of our society that I don’t have space to respond to here. If you haven’t already, I urge you to read it.

Aston Bloom

East side

Sane policies indeed needed!

Re: the June 21 article “Adopt sane sustainable policies.”

Heartfelt thanks to John Dorschner for his fine article. He stated clearly and succinctly the unvarnished truth about the consequences of ignoring the concept of FINITE resources. As he noted, if we humans persist in destroying our own planet through ignorance and greed — and overpopulation — no new planet is going to miraculously appear to save us. The right-to-lifers have got it wrong; it isn’t just life that matters, but quality of life. With excess quantity, quality begins to be diluted. Certain animal and bird species limit their own numbers when availability of food and water is compromised. Human beings are also happy to limit the numbers of other species when their numbers appear no longer sustainable. But humans are mammals in just the same physical way as animals. Why can we not manage to control our own numbers to match available resources? We are collectively headed down a dangerous path indeed, as Dorschner has eloquently described.

Kendra Gaines

Foothills

Private school fingerprints, ESA Vouchers

Re: the June 23 article “Fingerprint Clearance Card, ESA vouchers.”

Representative Nancy Gutierrez makes a declaration that because the state of Arizona requires only that private school teachers be fingerprinted, public schools are therefore inherently safer (their teachers’ fingerprints are run by the Department of Safety every seven years to check for felonies).

I coach girls’ basketball at a local Christian high school; my school requires that my fingerprints be checked every FIVE years. By casting Gutierrez’s blanket assertions, I can now declare that private schools are safer than public schools. (Actually, most people know it’s true, which is partly why they exist in the first place).

I doubt there are any established private schools that don’t properly vet their employees this way; none would want children to become endangered, nor would they care to be sued for causing it to happen.

“Private school teachers” in Arizona include homeschooling parents. This is the most obvious reason for the “lax” requirement; to claim it as a threat to all private school students is another example of politics at its worst.

Richard Peddy

East side

Marana opinion

Re: the June 23 article “Shooting survivor’s disappointment on bump-stock decision.”

After reading the guest opinion from Katie Woodall, I could feel the bullets, the blood and the pain. It was so well-written, it brought all those emotions to the surface although I’m lucky enough to never have been involved in a mass shooting. My condolences for your pain and especially that you experience such horror in the United States. My wish is that you sent this article to every single member of SCOTUS. Hopefully, they will read between the lines as I did.

Judy Falewicz

SaddleBrooke

UA Athletics should hike prices, cut costs

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again.

The UA needs to focus on filling seats, not increasing ticket prices to solve their financial crisis.

I attended four home football games this past season, and, even though the football team was having an excellent season, there were empty seats all over the stadium.

Furthermore, I agree with Greg Hansen’s opinion that College Football has never been more uninspiring, and that the big money aspect, along with the Transfer Portal is severely hurting the integrity of Collegiate Sport.

Daniel Egan

East side

Un

iversity of Arizona in the Big 12 era

Dear U of A friends,

In the interest of starting the new era in the BIG 12 conference in a positive frame of mind, I suggest that the University of Arizona switch their official colors back to the original Sage Green and Silver. Red and blue are so over used in so many schools. This creative move could possibly help us forget the debacle of Robert C. Robbins’ tenure as President.

Go Wildcats!

Sincerely,

Dan Nelson

Midtown

Commandments and beatitudes

The Alabama State Legislature has passed a new law requiring all public schools to display The Ten Commandments.

This isn’t new. We’ve seen this public Ten Commandments controversy before and, personally, it has led to my wondering why the religious right always insists on Moses’ law rather than something Jesus had to say. They are, after all, Christians.

My personal choice would be Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount.” I’ve heard it called Jesus’ Inaugural Address but it begins with a series of blessings commonly known as the beatitudes.

There are only seven, so they’d save space in a public display: “Blessed are the poor,” Jesus begins. Blessed are those who mourn; … the meek; … they who hunger and thirst for righteousness; … the merciful; … the clean of heart; … the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Little different feel. Little different focus. I like it.

Greg Lewis

Midtown

This pharmacist says PBMs need reform

Dear Editor,

As a recently married pharmacist, I’m deeply concerned about medication access in Arizona. Patents have spurred innovation, but high out-of-pocket costs and limited pharmacies create significant barriers. My experience reveals how Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) control drug access, often profiting disproportionately.

PBMs dominate 80% of the drug market, hindering fair access and inflating costs, particularly for independent pharmacists like myself.

Legislation such as the DRUG Act aims to reform PBMs, ensuring fairer drug pricing and access. I aspire to establish an independent pharmacy dedicated to community care, pending these crucial reforms.

I urge lawmakers to support the DRUG Act to restore fair access to medications and enhance community health.

Thank you for your consideration.

Eden Malki

Foothills

Presidential election

I doubt this letter will be published in the Arizona Daily Star Letters to the editor. It seems the new editor of ADS letters to the editor has swung to the right. Trump is a threat to Democracy, he did not concede and on Jan. 6 incited an insurrection, period. I am a veteran, who trained under Vietnam Veterans. To call those at Arlington Cemetery; which I visited “Losers and Suckers” is disgusting. At that visit a Vietnam vet thanked me for my service and I thanked him and his brothers in arms for training me! This won’t be printed because whoever edits these letters has swung right to appear so fair! Frank E. Montez veteran of 32 years, son of a Korean War combat veteran!

Frank E. Montez

East side

County supervisor vote

Re: the June 22 letter “Rex Scott.”

The decision made by Supervisor Rex Scott to approve rezoning of the Pima Wash was very unfortunate. Traffic increase on Rudasill Road would be a public safety issue and the confined water flow during heavy rains would lead to serious erosion issues.

The neighbors in the area met multiple times with the Supervisor, and were assured that the project would not be approved unless these were addressed.

Supervisor Scott said he would look for a compromise between the homeowners and the developer. We agreed and presented several plans. Yet at the July 2023 Supervisors Meeting the developer’s original proposal without compromise was approved with Mr. Scott voting yes! To say that we were disappointed and felt betrayed is an understatement.

Rex Scott was not a man of his word on this important issue for whatever reasons he cites and should not be returned to a position of trust as a Supervisor for Pima County.

Kevin C. Kiley, MD and Dean Marvin, PhD

Foothills

Hello, is anyone out there?

Is anyone out there? Doesn’t anyone care?

We have the greatest country in the World, shaped and structured by our Forefathers who thought of every contingency to preserve our rights.

An election is coming up Nov. 5, so don’t wait until then to familiarize yourself with the candidates and ballot measures.

Look for integrity, honest and high virtues and someone looking out for our country, not for personal gratification.

Remember, the New President will have the power to appoint new Supreme Court Justices and they are in for life. Once you vote, you cast your vote, you cannot take back your choice and we have to live with it.

John Adams, to his wife Abigail wrote, Nov. 2, 1800 on those moving into the White House, “I pray Heaven to bestow the blessings on this House and on all that shall here after we inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.”

May the Stars and Stripes wave over the land of the Free and the Brave. Thank you for protecting our Country, these United States of America.

Anita Dwyer

East side