Letters to the editor: Arpaio record 'a win for justice'

Re: the Oct. 20 article “Arpaio loses bid to have criminal record wiped clean.”Thank you to Judge Susan Bolton for upholding the law and not bending. Americans need to know that the laws of our country apply to everyone and that the judicial process is just. It seems to be failing so many of us right now. It is refreshing to know that there are people out there who still respect the law and the beliefs that those laws were founded upon.

Debra Jackley, Midtown

When my family and friends split a check, we always pay the entire bill. No magical thinking about how 2–1 = 4. No “we ate too much so let’s stiff the restaurant and make sure we don’t do that again.” It seems obvious that’s how you settle up a bill, but obvious doesn’t seem to apply to the tax plan slithering its way through Congress.Based on what we know of the back-room deal being cut, the proposal would add $7.2 trillion to the national debt by 2026 and $20.9 trillion by 2036, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. I’d expect this sort of fiscal malfeasance from a president who went bankrupt six times on his way to the West Wing. What I didn’t expect is a party of so-called fiscal conservatives who are fine with it.

Kevin Sharp, Midtown

Re: the Oct. 18 letter to the editor “Candidate Rodriguez is a class act.”I don’t know Mariano Rodriguez, but based on all the wealthy backers he has, he must be a “class act.” I do know Steve Kozachik, and as one who has lived in Ward 6 since I returned from the Army in 1954, he is the best city councilman this ward has ever had.In spite of his busy job at the University of Arizona, if one ever has a problem with a city department, a call to his office could get it resolved. He puts the welfare of the city above partisan politics. I wanted to make a donation to his campaign, and he turned me down. I was told to donate it to one of the many needy local charities. Frankly, I wish we had more officeholders like Steve.

Sidney Hirsh, Midtown

Re: the Oct. 20 article “If the cat’s a stray, the mice won’t stay: Businesses give surly felines 2nd chance.”I greatly enjoyed your article on the Working Cats program in Philadelphia. Do readers know that Pima Animal Care has a similar program here? What a great way to find useful homes for feral or problem cats not suited for a home adoption! It saves their lives while helping people with rodent problems in a more environmentally friendly way. There are also trap/neuter/return groups that can help trap in your neighborhood if stray cats are a problem. And of ourse, if more outdoor kitties are spayed/neutered, there will be fewer homeless kittens.

Carol Garr, Southwest side

Re: the Oct. 21 column “In the end, #metoo was about jumping on sympathy bandwagon.” For centuries, women who have been abused have been silenced and punished for speaking out. Thanks to social media, thousands of women have been given an opportunity to add their voices — via #metoo — to those brave women who are coming forward and reporting their abuse. Columnist Christine Flowers thinks we’re “confusing harassment with actual abuse” when harassment IS abuse.

By pitting victim against victim, woman against woman, woman against man (some of whom also are abused), she diminishes the importance of this huge social problem we’re only now beginning to face. Wouldn’t it be great if all of us were to join together and speak out about ALL abuse, from minor aggressions (sexism, racism, homophobia and all the other “isms”) to sexual harassment to sexual assault, instead of complaining about people speaking out?

Tim Wernette, Foothills

I have been living in Tucson for about five years. I really like the place. But I am getting really tired of all the festivals that keep taking over city streets all over town to have their events while the rest of us have to figure out how to get around with them blocking all the major roads.I don’t begrudge these groups their festivals. Just let them have them in the many parks all around the city. The city streets should not be taken over by these groups. Basically they are saying to the rest of us, forget you. I say, forget them.

Craig Griffin, North side

 Re: the Oct. 21 letter to the editor “ERA ratification needs only 2 more states.”I am an 85-year-old male with a wonderful wife, three daughters and four granddaughters. Really like living in Tucson, but not always happy with the current state Legislature. Now more than ever, I challenge the men of the Legislature to do the right thing for the women of Arizona and of our nation. Allow the Equal Rights Amendment ratification to come to the floor and to a “yes” vote. Let my state be in the count for justice for all our women. When Arizona passes this, then we will need only one more state to do the right thing, and our nation will be a better place to live and our women will be cherished as they should be.

Charles McNary, East side

Let’s say that somehow, against all odds, a rattlesnake finds its way into the house you own. As an intelligent homeowner, you understand the snake poses an extreme risk, even possibly a fatal risk, to your entire family. You succeed in corralling the rattlesnake in a corner of your kitchen, and in an attempt to protect itself, it coils and strikes repeatedly at anything it perceives to be a threat.Venom is its lethal defense mechanism and its fangs are bared and ready. What will you do about the snake? As long as it remains in your house, no one in your family is safe. Your only responsible choice is to find a way to safely remove it before it destroys the lives of those you love.

Mona Udstuen, Marana