Tucson Speaks Out: June 30

Project Blue makes me sad

The Project Blue data center is the most misguided project I have seen in my 57 years in Tucson. We have neither the electricity nor water to support this project to benefit AI development and Bitcoin mining.

If it will be pursued, I have a few suggestions.

1. The County must require that the recycled water pipeline be constructed before the data center. Our unfortunate experience with recycled water on some golf courses is instructive.

2. The project should be required to install solar panels to meet the project’s total electricity needs.

3. With ample land, the company should devote at least 20 acres to build a camping center for Tucson’s displaced homeless with sanitation facilities, shade structures and private security. Let the company be a good neighbor to its new community by assuming the costs and legal responsibility for a problem the City and County find insoluble.

Bruce Hilpert

North side

We need to look in a mirror

I have never been more ashamed of my country than now. Trump calls Iran the Bully of the Middle East, but it is the United States that is the Bully, constantly abusing our economic and military power to threaten and attack other countries. We had a diplomatic solution with Iran that was working by all factual accounts. I’ve seen this movie before, a Republican administration, to distract from its domestic follies, perverts the intelligence to create a threat and sends the military to attack. Not just Iran, but Iraq, Panama, Grenada, were these countries ever that much of a threat to us? Even if Iran had wanted a bomb, who could blame them? The only sovereignty this country respects are those with nuclear weapons. Does anyone doubt that we would have attacked North Korea except for their having the bomb? We’ve offended our allies, pandered to malevolent countries, and ruined whatever level of international respect this country had engendered and it will be decades for us to recover.

Tim Helentjaris

Northwest side

Lessons of history

After reading the memoirs of Winston Churchill, the mid-1930s were instructive. He was a member of the government and had access to details regarding Germany. He noted endlessly that Germany, in defiance of restrictions put in place after WW1, was aggressively rebuilding its industrial base and their military might, in personnel, arms, equipment, and ships. Also, there was the obvious hostility to Jews, who were the root of all of Germany’s problems. These warnings were pooh-poohed and ignored. France and England were in a position to halt Germany’s buildup in the mid-1930s but elected not to. History illustrates the devastating results of this inaction. Presently, Iran has stated they will eliminate Israel and “Death to America” and have supported terrorist actions throughout the Middle East. They also have numerous uninspected nuclear processing sites. There was also strong evidence that they were close to producing a nuclear weapon. Decisively, the United States bombed the nuclear facilities. A good or bad move? Only history will tell.

Loyal M. Johnson Jr.

Oro Valley

Evidence, please

I read with interest Mr. McConnell’s opinion piece of June 26. There was not too much to indicate other than his usual opinions, but one comment in particular stood out that clearly should be noted as an opinion, not a fact. He stated that somehow “women (moms, to be specific) had left their husbands because they were ‘incentivized’ (by the government) to do this for the dubious pleasure of going on some form of government welfare.” Of course, I’m paraphrasing here, but that was the essence. On its face, the statement strains credulity. If Mr. McConnell is presenting this as his opinion (although it seems one would need something driving that opinion), then okay. But if this is being presented as a reality, I believe he definitely needs to provide some actual data-driven evidence to support his assertion. It seems that verification would be difficult, but I’m open to hearing it.

S. Ross Emmanuel

Southeast side

Medical malpractice

Responding to Kenneth Graham’s LTE. The Arizona Statute of Limitations is three years. In August of 2019, my fully functional wife became totally disabled after hip replacement surgery at St Joseph’s Hospital. I became her full-time caregiver and was no longer able to adequately maintain my engineering consulting business. After three years of excruciating pain (“I can’t live like this!”), four pain clinics and 20 worthless procedures, we discovered that dozens of surgery patients at St. Joseph’s were infected with MRSA during that month due to a faulty HVAC system circulating MRSA throughout the operating rooms.

A total of five surgeries, including three permanent replacements, were required to finally restore her health. We begged St Joseph’s (owned by Tenet) for some relief. Because she had to sign a liability waiver to be admitted, they said, “Too bad. Screw you!” No attorneys would help us because of the 3-year SOL, the waiver and “It’s not a $1M case.” The medical profession utterly failed us.

John A. Evans

Vail

Arizona Legislature pay raises

It has been reported that the Arizona Legislature is proposing a pay raise for themselves. A 500% pay raise! How many working people have heard of such a pay increase? Most pay raises usually keep up with the rate of inflation if workers are lucky. The pay raise is for a part-time job, and they also get a per diem no matter where they live in the state. This from a legislative body that for years has underfunded education and especially teachers’ pay and supports cuts to health care for low-income and the elderly. Not to mention cutbacks in food assistance programs. Those that propose and support this pay raise are without conscience or social morals. Might I suggest those in the Legislature that oppose this pay raise, donate their raise to a food bank in their respective community.

Jeanne Herstad

SaddleBrooke

Open letter to ICE agents

This thought occurred to me as I watched news coverage of ICE raids on farms and at Home Depot. These immigrants are not hiding in the shadows, they are not using face coverings. They are working in the fields and building or repairing our homes.

While arresting day laborers at Home Depot, could you put your gun aside and help frame a house? Or trim a tree? Or fix my leaky faucet? While raiding the farm workers, making harvesting more difficult, could you pick a few heads of lettuce? Maybe fill a basket or two of strawberries? You can keep your mask on; you can remain anonymous.

You could help your community more by being positive and helpful rather than removing necessary workers from their jobs. Just a thought.

Lli Blanca

Oro Valley

WWJD?

The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with President Trump, potentially allowing individual states to end birthright citizenship — a right that’s been in our Constitution for more than 160 years. That ruling suggests to me that Trump apparently has six Justices on the Court in his grip, just as he does Congress. So much for three equal branches of government.

Also on the same day of that ruling, the president of the University of Virginia resigned because of pressure Trump had put on the university regarding its support of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. That got me to thinking about Thomas Jefferson. When we toured the University of Virginia campus many years ago, “Mr. Jefferson,” the founder of UVA, was constantly referred to in tones of awe. He also, of course, happens to be the writer of the Declaration of Independence, declaring our independence from a country ruled by a King.

So, What Would Jefferson Do (WWJD) in light of today’s developments? I don’t think he’d be supporting King Trump.

Karen Schickedanz

Oro Valley

Hey, Juan

Hey, Juan, in retrospect do you think that the $45 million spent on Trump’s birthday parade was worth it for the likely 100,000 folks how showed up? Yeah, I know the White House claims 250k showed up but we both know Trump’s history with the truth.

Did you realize, Juan, that $45 million could have covered 14 million school lunches? Or disability compensation for 7,200 veterans for a year? Or SNAP benefits to feed 17,700 people for a year? Or Medicaid/CHIP coverage for over 21,400 children in Arizona? Did you know that, Juan? If so, why do you ignore that?

Scott Lukomski

Northeast side

Abortion hot button

The Woman: Help me, I’m pregnant.

The man: Not my problem.

The woman: I’m single and poor.

The man: Not my problem.

The woman: I have no health insurance.

The man: Not my problem.

The woman: I was raped.

The man: Not my problem.

The woman: You’re right, so take your hand off the damn button.

Karen Papagapitos

Northwest side

Barbarian at the gates

I had a laugh at Barbarian McConnell’s piece. It’s been a long time since I thought of the term “male chauvinist pig”. As a woman with a college degree and a successful career, I have a different version of events and the data to support it.

The recession of the 1970s gave the New Deal-hating capitalists the excuse to start busting unions and weakening laws governing monopolies. This led to lower wages and increased the cost of living. Women had to enter the workforce because of economic conditions and the male “right” to easily abandon them for younger models. No-fault divorce originated at this time to stem the growing impoverishment of widows and divorced women. It is now on Project 2025’s hit list. It is Republican policies that necessitated the liberation of women.

I beg women in the Barbarian’s orbit to practice total abstinence. We don’t need any more Barbarians. But what do I know? I’m just a silly girl.

Dee Maitland

Marana