More letters: Feb. 4

I am a Voter in Virginia, but doing my best to follow progress on the examination of the presidential vote in Maricopa County. It is hard to get news because there is so much censorship on this issue. I pray that a full forensic audit of machines and ballots takes place, otherwise, what is the point? If 100% of ballots aren't examined, then auditors could easily miss 2% of ballots that could have been falsely adjudicated. Likewise with machines and software. I'll bet fewer than 10% of voters have any clue about the inner workings of the code that counts, tallies, and transmits voting results. Everyone can understand ballots filled in and counted by hand, but who knows the inside a computer program? Or worse, whether an outside trojan entered through an allowable internet or thumb-drive connection? Hiding this level of detail merely fuels speculation. America is watching.

Roland Biser

Virginia

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

Editor,

Prior to Social Security's introduction in America, people took care of each other. Family members, churches, communities, and even businesses helped support the down-trodden. When the Great Depression occurred, these capabilities were reduced or eliminated, due to widespread effects of a compromised economy. Because corruption and asset manipulations by the federal government (characteristics of socialism) contributed greatly to the economic collapse, it became an associated "duty" to help those it had ruined financially. That does not make it GOOD.

The proclaimed intent of Social Security was to help Americans recover from depression years, but history is showing that it was opportunistic to get a foot in the door, so that more widespread socialist practices could be introduced later. Americans in general are a compassionate bunch, and if given a chance to redeem history, they just might prefer to take care of each other, rather than leave that in the hands of a non-compassionate government. Just because everyone else is doing something doesn’t necessarily make it right.

Mike Wahl

Downtown

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

Arizona is being fooled. Two Democratic Senators, with principles and ideals, hope to work across party lines. Unfortunately, that means negotiating across party lines to come up with a compromise solution.

Unfortunately, they believe that means: ‘To acquiesce to the demands of the other side for the sake of “getting along.” ‘ If the opposing side says no to compromise, if they see weakness, if they return after arbitrations have come to an agreement, and then change terms, one should be leery of dealing with them again. I do wish for unity, but, with whom are we dealing?

Krysten Sinema and Mark Kelly will learn fast, this Republican Party is not "The ‘Ole GOP.” Do they remember how Democrats were systematically ignored in all negotiations regarding Tax Cuts for the Wealthy?

I’m not promoting tit-for-tat, just knowing your opponent. In 2009, Republicans cut the Obama relief funds. Democrats lost the 2010 elections. There is no way to trust Mitch McConnell and Republicans.

Sheldon Metz

Northeast side

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

As a native Tucsonan and a visitor to Reid Park, I am in full support of the Reid Park Zoo expansion. The zoo has approximately 500,000 visitors a year that will benefit greatly from this expansion.

I attended an open meeting at the Randolph Golf course in 2019, and was happy with not only the proposed expansion of the zoo, but also with the additional improvements to Reid Park.

These improvements to the zoo will allow visitors to connect with new species and help to expand the zoos education program as well as it’s commitment to supporting wildlife conservation world wide.

Bonnie Boelman

East side

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

I wonder how many face masks are going to end-up in the Ocean, lakes or rivers. There is already way too much pollution in our waterways! Discarded and lost masks can be seen on streets and parking lots today. Our Mayor, Governor and new President all have their policies about wearing face coverings. Do they have that right to tell us what to do/wear, or is it just all about CONTROL? Dr. Fauci is now saying in February 2021 that face masks don’t do/prove anything. But last month some experts were recommending not one but TWO masks on the face. Who do we listen to? Who do we believe? Who has the answers?

The Lone Ranger on TV wore a mask, but he never covered his nose or mouth. That’s the kind of mask I want to wear, so I can breathe!

Kenneth Unwin

East side

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

In another time and place, I was a County Parks and Recreation Commissioner.

I would not vote then, nor would I vote now to: #1. charge a fee for entry to any portion of a County Park, or #2. make a Park smaller in area than it already was. Public Parks are for the people who have no gardens or trees, for people who cannot afford even a patio. Public Parks are for everyone. If the governing body cannot keep up the areas that are public they should arrange another method of support.

Tucson has a lovely Zoo which is supported by individuals of means. The City has control of a large area of “parkland” which can be used to expand the zoo. To subtract the plot under question, should be unthinkable. I would suggest that in the future, a City Commission be established to oversee the parklands of Tucson, so that public areas are given the attention and care they deserve.

Patricia Chase Bergen

Northeast side

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

I used to respect the Republican party even if I disagreed. I still have respect for Collins, Murkowski, Sasse, Romney, Thune, Cheney, etc. Unfortunately it has been hijacked by people who can only be described as deranged. Marjorie Taylor Greene has suggested that 9/11 wasn't a plane, she doesn't believe Parkland and other shootings occurred, she blames California wildfires on Jewish lasers from space. Instead of getting her the mental health she so desperately needs, the Republicans have given her seats on committees. Please stop pandering to the stupid people. This also condemns Gosar, Biggs, Finchem and other treasonous supporters of coup to overthrow the government.

Craig Miller

Northwest side

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

As the Broadway Widening Project continues, the development community eyes the Sunshine Mile Overlay District (SMOD) as a way to build east of downtown at the expense of the community.

During the last few years downtown Tucson has seen corporate gentrification and built up so much that a small one-acre parking lot can cost a million dollars or more. Developers can't build north or south of downtown due to land costs and historic designations so developers are working to manipulate zoning and planning for the SMOD.

Should the Sunshine Mile have multi-storied buildings like downtown? Even before the pandemic, Hydra and dozens more businesses had closed downtown due to huge rent increases. The suggestions made by the builders for SMOD, instead of benefitting small business on Broadway, would ruin those small businesses through rent increases. Those suggestions leading to bad zoning decisions would ruin the Sunshine Mile just as 4th Avenue is being wrecked by corporate gentrification.

There's a Zoning Examiner's meeting Thursday, February 4th at 6PM.

Matt Somers

Midtown

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

I recently read about the passing of Hilton Valentine, who was the guitarist in the rock and roll band called ‘The Animals’. It brought back a memory of when I was a young Army lieutenant stationed in West Germany in the early 1970s. Another lieutenant in the officer quarters, where I lived, had been transferred from Vietnam to Germany. While in Vietnam, he had purchased a video camera and one day he showed me some of the scenes he had recorded there. One scene was inside an officers club somewhere in Vietnam on a Saturday night. A band was playing an Animals song and everybody in the club was singing along as loud as they could. The song was, “We gotta get out of this place! If it's the last thing we ever do…” The lieutenant told me it was a very popular song in Vietnam at the time.

Chris Roe

Southeast side

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

In 1989, those of us living in the civilized world were horrified when an Iranian ayatollah issued a "death fatwa" against Salmand Rushdie after his novel Satanic Verses dared to criticize Mohammad. I find myself wondering what the civilized world now thinks of the death threats issued by Americans against fellow Americans who dare to criticize, contradict or condemn "Dear Leader DJT."

Are death threats against Dr. Fauci, Mike Pence, Adam Kinzinger, Liz Cheney, Fred Upton, Hakeem Jeffries, George Stephanopoulos, Nancy Pelosi, Gretchen Whitmer - the list goes on ad nauseam - any less horrifying?

When/how will this insanity end? We are asked to listen with respect to the other side. Really? How about the other side shut down the death threats, the lies concerning a stolen election, and listen to reason and the facts? As Pogo once quipped, "Yep, Son, we have met the enemy and he is us." Heaven help us.

Jean Tittle

Green Valley

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.

Sorry Mr. Hansen that you didn’t understand my letter on 1/27. I never mentioned San Francisco, only the Bay Area. The Bay Area includes much, much more than San Francisco, we didn’t live in San Francisco. Too, don’t know when you’ve last been to San Francisco, your description is woefully inaccurate. Yes, it costs a small fortune to live there, and, suffers the same problems that other big cities deal with. And, don’t forget the beautiful bay, the amazing architecture, world class restaurants and museums, if you can afford it it’s worth the money, although that certainly depends on your values. Please understand that my referring to “purple” was entirely political, sorry you missed that, too.

I love living in Tucson, I love our scenery, food, people and cultural advantages, what is abhorrent to me is any place that censures the likes of Cindy McCain, what did she ever do to you? I’m sorry, too, that my letter triggered that vitriol.

Binky Luckhurst

Foothills

Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.