The Colorado River flows at Horseshoe Bend in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near Page, Arizona.
Restore watershed funding
Recently the federal government has threatened to cut funding for critical support to organizations that help our arid region. Grants that had already been won may get cut. The Watershed Management Group stands to lose 21% of their budget, a $2 million shortfall. Watershed Management Group partners with communities to restore flow to our desert rivers, cool our cities, and help people live hydro-local. This is critical work in our community. Without this work, our cities will continue to heat up, our citizens will be less informed about how to utilize rainwater, and our precious water resources will be wasted. Drying up water is a crisis for the life and well-being of our entire community.
President Trump has congratulated himself for “turning on the water” in Northern California. Please get him to turn the water back on in Arizona.
People are also reading…
Leslie Woodford
Midtown
DOGE and privacy
Who do you trust?
A recent LTE published 2/22/25 commented on DOGE access to personal information held by the US Government and the Treasury department in particular. It mentioned abuse by leaking of President Trump’s tax records. The abuse was not by a civil service employee but the employee of a third party, an IRS contractor. The individual also released the information of many other wealthy people. The individual received a five-year prison sentence last year. The Chair of the House Judiciary Committee asked the DOJ why the person was sentenced for only the one case. If the letter writer is interested, it all is online. As a former CPA I sometimes had to deal with both difficult IRS agents and clients. As for PayPal, it has had its share of problems with data release via third parties. That information is also online.
Gerald Schwartz
Foothills
He's no Jim Kolbe
Mr. Ciscomani must start demonstrating meaningful leadership in representing the people of CD6. He must remember that his majority victory in November 2025 was minimal (about 60 votes above 50%); therefore, he must perform vastly better than he has so far in representing all the people in his district, including Greens, Democrats and independents. If he truly cares about his constituents, he will, at minimum, do the following:
• Hold town halls (like McCormick's recent one in Georgia): listen to his constituents' concerns
• Stop Musk's power grab: Does Congress have the power of the purse or this African-born half-trillionaire?
• Start returning phone calls and messages
• Ensure that his online contact system continues to work properly (Thanks for finally getting it fixed).
Jim Christ
East side
DEI helped the old white guy
I had been competing in springboard and platform diving for ten years when I moved to Tucson. I found out the only place in town was the University of Arizona so I practiced there on and off for another ten years. When I retired at 62 I was looking forward to being able to see how good I could get.
Then coach Michelle Mitchell told me, "I know you didn't do anything wrong but they don't want you here." I understood it was because most of the divers were teenage girls and their parents were afraid of a grown man wearing speedos.
I complained to the U of A and they referred me to the DEI office. Then Coach Mitchell told me she would set up a class for adults but then she left town.
DEI is about fairness for everybody.
Robert McNeil
Midtown
USAID's vital projects
Thank you for Kathleen Walker’s excellent piece on the work of US AID. I too was a Peace Corps Volunteer, but in West Africa. Foreign aid in some of the poorest parts of the world works to not only save lives but to help the countries to become more self-sufficient. The Niger Resilience and Agribusiness Masters Program is a perfect example of helping one of the world’s poorest countries be able to feed itself and develop viable systems for agricultural sustainability.
And does it not make sense to spread goodwill and give the U.S. a good name? I remember riding in the back of a truck in southern Niger, sitting on top of bags of grain with a U.S. emblem and “A gift of the United States of America” printed on them.The Trump/Musk chainsaw approach to eliminating vital USAID programs is unconscionable.
Peter Bourque
Midtown
Support Rep. Ciscomani
Our weak, divided Congress needs help. Presidents have been governing by executive action for some time and now approaches unchecked autocracy. Fortunately, our Representative Juan Ciscomani is uniquely positioned to help rebalance our tottering government. He is a naturalized US citizen, personally experienced in border issues and can perhaps help fashion a US comprehensive immigration policy that has been unable to contend with the mass emigration of today. Even more fortunate, he is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, whose lawful appropriations are now being ignored. Mr. Ciscomani is also a member of the DOGE Caucus, attempting to implement DOGE efficiencies in law. He is uniquely positioned to restore Congress to its constitutional role and protect Arizona citizens from tyranny. As a life-long Republican, I hope he can begin restoring the Party of Lincoln in Arizona, whose leaders were willing to change our certified votes in 2020 with fake electors. That's a tall order for a second term Congressman but let's give him our full support — and attention.
Frank Hartline
Foothills
Votes matter
Recently, the paper had an article reporting Rep. Ciscomani’s support for maintaining the Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, and Pell grants. I commend Rep. Ciscomani for his written support of these programs. However, what really counts is how he votes when a bill cutting these programs comes before the House. It will be interesting to see if he supports his party or all of the people in the district that he represents. This is the same person who was filmed at the border talking about the crisis with people crossing, blaming Biden for the problem. When it came for a vote on a bipartisan border bill, he voted no. Apparently, the border crisis was no longer important. I expect the same thing will happen with any bill making cuts to people who are low income. Tax cuts that benefit the wealthy are more important than funding programs that benefit low-income people such as medical care including prescriptions, food and education.
Cindy Rupp
Southeast side
Prop. 414 is a bargain
Proposition 414's half-cent sales tax increase would cost the average Tucson household $4.60 each week, a little more than what a cup of coffee costs.
People in lower-income households, who many opponents say will be hit hardest, would pay even less.
For that $4.60, we would get more police officers and firefighters and more equipment for them, and we can work to reduce homelessness by creating more affordable housing.
What a bargain!
It’s richly ironic that one opponent of Proposition 414 is a restaurant owner who claims that homelessness hurts his business and the police won’t do anything about it.
When he and the expensive suits at the auto dealers’ association and other business leaders complain, one should be suspicious.
Michael A. Chihak
West side
Champion vs. poor loser
As a graduate of Brigham Young University and a proud alum of the University of Arizona, College of Medicine, 1977, I am saddened to hear my fellow Wildcats embarrass themselves at a recent basketball game and bring shame to the U of A when they mocked The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Chanting vulgarities at a religion is below being a poor sport. It degrades the person and the institution they represent. Due to their thoughtless behavior, a vocal minority of students have demonstrated to the sports world that they do not deserve to be called champions but merely poor losers.
Joseph Cramer
Salt Lake City
Bounty hunters
Sen. Jake Hoffman proposes a bounty 0f $2,500 for each illegal migrant captured and deported by law enforcement agents. I have a better idea. Why not pay a reward to any law enforcement official who catches any state legislator committing a criminal speeding violation, including Sen. Hoffman? Unlike the migrants, Sen. Hoffman and his colleagues have a get-out-of-jail-free card.
John Fristik
Southeast side
The importance of taxes
Everyone complains about taxes but forgets what the government accomplishes with the money received. We only have to look at roads, medical and other research, education etc. Tax increases are normal, occur because of inflation and new demands of government. People with stock portfolios have had large tax increases as the stock market has had a huge increase in value and has paid more in interest and dividends over the past few years. Special interest groups are just that and depending on their interest do obtain some funding. I agree that the national debt is too high and believe that the best way to reduce it is to hire more IRS employees to audit those who cheat on their tax responsibility. Close the many tax loopholes Congress has allowed wealthy taxpayers and corporations to help lower their tax responsibilities. DOGE is doing exactly the opposite by firing large groups of IRS employees planning to benefit by their absence. Our President’s companies will benefit by what DOGE is doing.
Ronald Cohen
East side
Progress
I have empathy with and appreciation for all the hard work you folks at the Star have done these last several weeks of chaos. My interest is not so much the format of the paper. I am missing the columns by national reporters such as Catherine Rampell, Maureen Dowd, Leonard Pitts, Ruth Marcus, Rachael Marsdon, Fareed Zakaria, even Jonah Goldberg. Is there any hope These will be featured in the near future? Did the cyber attack separate you from access to them? If so, it makes me suspicious about who was behind this invasion.
Jan Foiles
West side
Truth — not so social, #3
Picture a cartoon in two frames, Donald.
The first frame begins upper left with a lumpy shoulder, then, slanting down and across the frame, an arm, then, resting on a desktop, a hand holding a pen. Just beyond the pen, right of frame, lies a paper. It is titled, “USAID Embargo,” and bears your messy signature at the bottom.
The shoulder, arm and hand angle gently, as if relaxed, satisfied.
The second frame depicts a kneeling woman in a burka. She is doubled over, her face creased in anguish, tears streaking her cheeks. At her knees lies a blanket barely concealing the contours of a prone child. It covers even the face. Beside the child sits an empty shallow bowl.
There are initials on the blanket of the child, partly hidden in its folds.
Ask not by whom the blanket is inscribed, Donald.
The signature is yours.
— apologies to Donne
Chuck Barrett
North side
Zoning laws
I've lived in Tucson since the early 1980s, and I feel that one of its many charms is its open spaces.
For a city, Tucson has a lovely suburban — not urban — feeling, with its many parks and trees, and its relatively short buildings.
From almost any spot, you can see the majestic reefs of mountain ranges that ring Tucson.
Please remember that our current residents "bought in" under our current zoning laws — and with the expectation that if they follow the rules, so will their neighbors all around them.
Recognize the concept of "underutilized spaces" as the language of developers, not regular citizens.
Thus I support maintaining our current zoning laws and not allowing them to be overridden by false and shifting demands and perceptions.
Any building done on the listed properties should follow existing zoning laws.
Patricia Cattani
East side
DOGE not making America great
The GOP has betrayed America: our middle class, our Constitution, our rule of law, our allies, and our competent apolitical federal workers. Trump and the GOP must find $4 trillion to extend the 2017 tax cuts — cuts that benefit the very wealthy, corporations that are making record profits, and cost taxpayers $100 billion a year in interest.
So, the unelected unvetted Elon Musk and his DOGE bros have started a blood bath at our federal agencies by making astonishing cuts: to veterans, national parks, science, health care, food and nuclear safety, environmental protections, NIH, Inspector Generals and the CFPB. Musk and Trump are destroying all the institutions and programs that have made America great.
Claims that there are “billions and billions” of waste, fraud, and corruption has produced zero evidence with zero accountability or transparency. DOGE cuts will do nothing to fund GOP tax cuts or reduce our deficit. It’s all lies, damn lies, and leading to the destruction of America as we know it. The GOP just acquiesces.
Kathy Krucker
Midtown
Patriotism
I would like to see a return and a renewal of patriotism in America with all our divisiveness.
I define patriotism as love and devotion to country. Patriotism can be found in our patriotic music. I would like to see our patriotic music taught to our school children, a new song for each day of the week, a new song for each school year from K through 12.
I would like our music to be taught to our new immigrants as part of their civics training.
Patriotic music like “America the Beautiful” and “This land is your land-this land my land," "My Country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
I would like to see every day to begin with “God Bless America," and end with “America the Beautiful.” “America, America, God shed his Grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea."
Because I am proud to be an American.
God bless the USA.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
Kudos!
I want to thank the AZ Daily Star for the mammoth effort required to get the paper out each day after experiencing a cyberattack. I look forward to starting each day with the paper. I realized and appreciated the enormous effort required to get this paper published during this difficult time.
Eleanor Jeck
Foothills
A comatose Congress
Elon is threatening every federal employee with termination if they do not respond tout de suite to his email, and the House and Senate are mute in the face of Musk's threat. What’s going on here? Have Trump and Musk sent every member of the House and Senate to the Happy Valley Spay and Neuter Clinic for a quick surgical procedure?
Robert Bishop
East side
Throw a baseball
Growing up playing little league baseball in Los Angeles was the best. Throwing a baseball was probably the greatest feeling. Catching and batting was “it.” I started playing when I was 8 years old, played till I was 19. I was catcher all those years. Loving the grass infields, grass out fields, clay warning tracks.
The other day a friend was throwing a fit, a big time fit. Something to do with the economy, the stock market, and the 2025 election results. Social Security and health care.
We read about fits: road rage, crashing baskets at Costco and just plain civil rudeness. Civility.
I had a thought on throwing fits: Instead, throw a baseball. Any kind of baseball, new ones, old ones, taped up ones, balls with no covers. Head over to Udall Park and find someone with a baseball mitt. Find a partner and throw a baseball. It beats throwing a fit.
Tom Staab
East side
