Tucson Speaks Out: Oct. 1

Crane — A threat to democracy

Much has been written about how Congressman Juan Ciscomani should do a better job of representing his whole district. But there is a much bigger threat to our democracy coming from Ciscomani’s neighboring district: Congressman Eli Crane from Congressional District 2.

Crane, from Oro Valley, managed to win the election in 2020 due to redistricting that all but ensured a Republican winner. Endorsed by Trump, he then spread conspiracy theories before and after his election. Once in Congress, he was one of six Republicans who voted against Kevin McCarthy for Speaker on every one of 15 rounds of voting. Now, he has joined with the likes of Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert to vote against funding the government. As part of that, he voted against a separate defense spending bill, even though he has a military background.

Crane most likely will run again next year. If you have the opportunity to vote against him, please do. He is a threat to our democracy.

Karen Schickedanz

SaddleBrooke

Senator Bob Menendez charges

The Department of Justice has filed quite serious charges against Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, if Democrats followed the Republican playbook, we would have seen immediate full throttle attacks from them against the “weaponized DOJ”, personal attacks on DOJ prosecutors, new Senate committee hearings investigating this egregious DOJ behavior, as well as attacks against the press for their incredibly biased coverage of this matter. Alas, these events did not happen. Instead, Democrats immediately removed Menendez from his Senate leadership positions. This begs the question of “which of these responses to disgusting political behavior fits best with your own political values?”

Dave Gamrath

Green Valley

Tom Horne: One scary dude is right

Re: the Sept. 24 letter “Tom Horne: One scary dude.”

Thank you for your letter to the Editor.

School Districts are often the largest business in town. They have five bargaining groups: Custodians, Secretaries, Food Staff, Transportation, and Teachers. As such, they need board members who are capable in providing help with buildings and grounds, food services, accounting, and legal issues. In other words, they need leaders in the community on the board to help keep our school districts running smoothly and protect taxpayer funding.

Tom Horne knows this to be true and yet in promoting Moms for Liberty, it is like a top state official promoting Moms for Peace to get on the Raytheon Board of Directors. Horne appears to want to harm public education while using our tax dollars to help the wealthy send their children to private schools.

Janet Pipes

Northwest side

So many trees gone

Re: the Sept. 25 article “Neighbor group behind chopping over 50 trees.”

To the Editors:

As residents of Hedrick Acres, we were shocked and saddened by the recent chopping down of 54 trees in the public park that is Navajo Wash.

The decimation of the trees makes the area more subject to flooding, and the piles of brush that were left in the parking lot are a fire risk. Additionally, the park, which is a nice feature of the neighborhood, has been turned into a sandlot.

Navajo Wash is a public green space, and in the face of climate crisis, the destruction of these trees is an act of violence against our community.

The so-called “Neighborhood Association,” which has taken credit for this action, does not speak for many of us who live in Hedrick Acres. The park is city property, and individuals should not be able to destroy it on their own initiative.

We urge the City of Tucson to respond appropriately to this act of vandalism, and to replant the park.

Margaree Little and Rebecca Seiferle

Midtown

Emotion, wonders

and future of research

Re: the Sept. 25 article “UA-led space mission achieves flawless finish.”

Henry Brean’s epic wrapup on the Osiris-Rex touchdown was a tour de force. He captured the emotions, the technical wonders and, most important, the future expectations of research to come with the samples of particles from when the universe began. We’re so lucky to have him to remind us of that Sunday morning adventure.

Ford Burkhart

Midtown

“Weaponized” justice

“Weaponized Justice Department” is a term introduced by Republicans, intended to whip up yet more distrust in American institutions. I’m thankful to have a “Weaponized Justice Department.” It’s safeguarding and protecting our democracy. It’s defending US citizens against those who would abolish the truth and endanger majority rule.

Republicans are cited numerous times for “historic and profound abuse of the judicial process” in their attempt to destroy democracy. Trump is called “mastermind of strategic abuse of the judicial process.” By now they have appeared in front of hundreds of justices, with no evidence, no ammunition, no target, no defendant. Our “weaponized” Justice Departments reveals the truth over and over, and renders consequences. Republicans don’t do well in a court of law.

The Justice Department is working as designed. If Republicans feel that truth and justice is blasting them like a weapon, with 91 charges against their leader, they should sit back and look in the mirror. Stop bowing to unscrupulous extremist minorities.

Cindy Doklan

Midtown

Test for Democracy

This is the best test I know of for determining if a person is for democracy or not. My apologies for not being able to give credit to the genius who first wrote it. You are for democracy if you: 1. Accept the results of voting. 2. Reject violence. 3. Reject and call out those that refuse to do 1 and 2.

We can disagree about every policy issue, but if you can’t pass this test you are not for democracy.

Don Ries

Southeast side

The height of irony

In case you didn’t know, when the government shuts down, Congress still gets paid, each member still draws a paycheck. How ironic! Want to limit the number of government shutdowns? Don’t pay Congress during a shutdown. (They can also vote to increase their pay, which they don’t advertise and usually do it late at night. But, that’s another matter.)

Pat Madea

Northwest side

Anti-American Republicans

Ten Republican Congress members have said they will not support any stop gap measures to keep the government running. Instead, they are pushing extreme right-wing bills which remove many guarantees of our Constitution. They want a separate appropriations bill for each budget item. That would be crippling to this country. Republicans have already denied promotions and pay increases to our military because one Republican wants a line-by-line veto of the funding bill. Now, with the shutdown imminent because some Republicans are ignoring the majority of Americans, our military will not get paid. Health care workers, national parks personnel, police, border control, and others will not get paid. Just how are these folks going to support their families and how are we going to avoid a recession? Apparently, Republicans in Congress don’t care. The last five threatened shutdowns were also laid at the feet of Republicans. Time to get these extremists out of Congress so real people can enjoy the promises guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.

Cynthia Schiesel

East side

Cut Congressional salaries first

In economics, a simple rule for changing behavior is to change incentives. The first salaries to be cut in a government shutdown should be our Congressmen and Senators. I’m sure this would change their behavior for a quick compromise.

Don Dickinson, Former Economics Teacher

Oro Valley

Foster care in Arizona

Re: the Sept. 27 article “It’s family regulation, not a computer glitch.”

The authors of the referenced opinion take a giant leap from a local data management issue to condemn the entire system of foster care in the US. As a former foster parent and member of a Foster Care Review Board (FCRB) here in Pima County, I have a more positive view of the foster care system here in Pima County. The decision by a judge (not DCS) to terminate parental rights is not taken lightly, but there are circumstances where it is necessary to ensure the child’s safety.

If you want to understand and have input into the foster care system, I would encourage you to join an FCRB or volunteer to be a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). The FCRB is a citizen’s review board appointed to assist the juvenile court by reviewing each child’s case every six months. The board makes recommendations to the court regarding efforts and progress being made, and may include statements from parents. More information can be found at www.azcourts.gov/FCRB/

Mark Visser

Northeast side