Tucson Speaks Out: April 19 letters of the day

To eager Trump supporters: stop reading now. To those who know how destructive and dangerous he is: you can stop too (you know this stuff). To the undecided: consider the choices — not voting, voting 3rd party, siding with Trump, or continuing with Biden. Trump will support repression of women’s reproductive rights, lies in place of truth, egocentric decisions based on his personality disorder, chaos, and a repressive government with more religion-based policies (not necessarily your religion), as well as support for dictators across the globe.

A vote for a third-party candidate, write-in, or not voting may be essentially a vote for Trump. Biden has produced a steady hand, rational policies, relief of school debt, a thriving economy, and moral guidance against autocrats like Putin. Don’t be fooled by higher gas prices — Biden isn’t responsible!

Which side are you on?

Norman Epstein

Midtown

Shame, shame, shame

The Republican-led Legislature enacted a 2.5% income tax that benefits the wealthy. Then they “discovered” a flat tax severely restricts the general funds available to meet the needs of their constituents. They expanded the unaccountable school voucher program that siphons funds intended for district public schools. Then they “discovered” ESAs will cost the state more than they budgeted further depriving the 90% of students who attend public schools. They passed a 15-week abortion ban. Then they “discovered” an 1864 conflicting total ban they failed to repeal and refuse to repeal today. (Of course, their daughters have the means to leave the state for reproductive healthcare.)

When mature people make mistakes, they take responsibility and fix their errors. Irresponsible people call a recess and try to pretend that they have not sold the voters short with long-term consequences for the majority of us. It’s way past time to vote them out! November cannot come soon enough.

Judi Moreillon

Northeast side

President for all — not just Catholics

Re: the April 12 letter "Biden, the 'cafeteria' Catholic."

I would like to share common knowledge about the office. The President is the President for all Americans. He is not in office to invoke his personal religious beliefs on the American people, he is there to lead, and in doing so, must respect the varying views of the American people. I am a Christian, and I am very proud to be one, but I know that part of my ability to practice my religious beliefs relies on the fact that Americans are free to practice (or not practice) their religion. I want my President to respect that, which Biden does. You can call him a "cafeteria" Catholic if you would like, but at least he realizes he is in a "kitchen" where many different foods are desired. Remember — America is not a theocracy.

Terri Hicks

Northwest side

ACC negligence, liability

Although our governments monitor and mandate reduction in damaging motor vehicle emissions, why doesn’t our Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), that is provided with the legal responsibility and authority to protect the Public’s interests, act to require that our electric utilities avoid greenhouse gas emissions that cause much greater damages for decades?

Recent domestic and international legal proceedings have affirmed the science of climate change and confirmed that governments have human rights obligations when it comes to addressing climate change.

As there are solutions available, shouldn’t Commissioners be held personally responsible for the avoidable damages charged to captive ratepayers, taxpayers, local governments?

Why doesn’t our AZ Residential Utility Consumer Office and Legislature funded by taxpayers act to compel the ACC to quickly AVOID damages?

It is not acceptable for our governments to provide monopolies and greater tangible value to electric utility shareholders than they do ratepayers/taxpayers.

Terry Finefrock

Foothills

Biden's bribe to
President Obrador

In December, President Biden dispatched Secretary of State Blinken, Secretary of DHS Mayorkas and White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall to Mexico to meet with President Lopez Obrador. In December, a historic 250,000 foreign nationals were apprehended by the Border Patrol entering the country illegally. They went to discuss "irregular immigration," aka "illegal immigration." What transpired at the meeting was essentially a bribe from Biden to Obrador. Telling him that the border situation could cost Biden's re-election. If Obrador helped to reduce the numbers of people entering from Mexico, then Biden, in his next term, would do legalization and citizenship for millions of Mexican nationals illegally here in America. CBS reported that Blinken and Obrador discussed "legal pathways for migrants, a strong intersecting interest between President Biden and President López Obrador." Since then, Mexico has placed their military along the border and Border Patrol apprehensions are down to about 135,000 a month. Biden's motivation here was political, getting re-elected, not border security concerns.

Linda Kelly

East side

Reject territorial mandate

The recent spectacle exhibited by a cluster of magically thinking state lawmakers, kneeling on the Senate floor and babbling in tongues in hopes of summoning providential intervention on behalf of their anti-abortion agenda, should serve perfectly to fix in the collective consciousness the image of Arizona as a bona fide backwater.

No doubt these single-minded religious ideologues felt that their importuning had gotten through when the similarly disposed Arizona Supreme Court unceremoniously relegated half of Arizona’s citizens to the 19th century by ruling that territorial law supersedes 21st century rationalism.

Thanks to the advent of statehood, women’s suffrage and modernism generally, we’ve evolved well beyond such glaring primitivism and must reject this draconian retreat into the past. By enacting the Arizona Abortion Access initiative we can shed this stigma of provincialism and assert the true will of the majority over the dictates of a handful of religious zealots.

If you haven’t already, please sign the abortion rights petition and vote for equality in November.

Robert Gavlak

Midtown

Bragg's politically
motivated case 

Just as Democrat Leticia James ran for the NYAG position promising to "get" Trump, Democrat Alvin Bragg did the same in running for Manhattan District Attorney. After winning, he proceeded to charge Trump with 31 felony counts related to hush money paid by then Trump's attorney Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels in 2016, eight years ago. Cohen, who has a federal conviction for lying to Congress, is a star prosecution witness. A new Associated Press poll reflects a only 1 in 3 respondents believed Trump did something illegal in this case. The USDOJ had investigated Trump over the payments and declined to prosecute. Bragg took what was a misdemeanor case and inflated it into 31 felonies. Trump will likely be convicted by a jury comprised of a Democrat judge and jury, who despise him. This was a politically motivated persecution of Trump timed to interfere in the upcoming election, and to get the pound of flesh that hate-filled Democrats so desperately crave for in "getting" Trump.

Mary Ann Starman

North side

Mayor Romero, thanks
for fixing the roads!

Re: the April 16 letter "Mayor Romero, fix the roads!"

Short and succinct. The City of Tucson has a tool for reporting street maintenance issues. It has worked for me. And now the tool has been upgraded that makes it even simpler. You can use the 311 service request portal on the City of Tucson website or call 311 or download the Tucson 311 app. Over the past several years, all issues have been resolved. Yes, we have a quality street maintenance department!

Kay Davis

Southwest side

Middle East insanity

Israel bombing the Iranian consular building in Damascus brings an act of retaliation by Iran firing missiles at Israel. We wait to see what Israel does to  Iran to exact revenge. What insanity! If the United States steps in because of its unbridled defense of Israel, who knows where that will lead. More insanity!

Instead of making peaceful progress in the Middle East, the chances of the Hamas-Israeli war leading to a wider regional war are escalating. The intransigence of Israel because of its apartheid policies toward the Palestinian forgoes any hope of peace in the former Palestine. Things must change!

The philosophy of Zionism establishing an exclusive Jewish state is not working. The continuous encroaching on and seizure of Palestinian land is not only a deterrent to peace but is a violation of international law.

What will it take for all sides to lay down their arms (most supplied by the U.S.) and come to the negotiating table before the insanity stops?

Fred Abood

Green Valley

Pedestrians, bicyclists
also culpable

Re: the April 14 letter "Tucson still deadly for pedestrians." 

I encountered three pedestrians who were walking in the road yesterday. One was walking slowly and diagonally — while texting. She never checked for a car once. Two pulled the move so many jaywalkers do: Timing their footstep to miss my back tire by a second. Bicyclists are often just as reckless. On the same trip I watched one roll through a stop sign, with both hands committed to texting. Another zipped through the 3rd Street bike path at Tucson Blvd., ignoring the red light. (Many cyclists regard this particular light as utterly optional). Minutes later, I waited to turn left into the Sprouts parking lot. Two cars were in the left turn lane before me. A cyclist casually rolled down the middle of Speedway, passed all three of us on the right, and turned left into oncoming traffic. Pedestrians and cyclists also have culpability. Citing and fining people who are reckless and unsafe would reduce accidents and deaths.

Christopher Rodarte

Midtown

2024 presidential race

The decision on who to vote for is a trifecta; which candidate is good for the country, good for the world and good for the planet.

Larry Gray

SaddleBrooke

Friendship with Trumpers

Re: the April 15 article "Questioning friendships with Trumpers."

I have always said choose wisely. If you can defend an amoral, unethical, threatening person — that shows me who you are. Do you like who you see in the mirror?

Lori Surina

Northeast side

Prezelski for Council Member Ward 6

For the second time this decade, the Mayor and Council are tasked with replacing a member who resigned before completing their term. Like last time, the council should pick someone who is pledged not to run for a full term. Let the voters of Ward 6 have their choice next year.

It will be important to put someone in that office who already knows the workings of the current council. Ted Prezelski is my choice for the seat for that very reason. He has a decade of experience with the council and understands our city.

Dianna Desborough

Southeast side

Trump lesser of
two evils?

The writer doesn't really like Trump, doesn't like his manner or his lies. Still, he's going to vote for him because Biden is just worse. Ok, I get it, some people feel that way, hold their nose and vote for Trump. Guessing Biden just got to them because of? gas prices? immigration issues? his son Hunter? his age? Dunno, could be anything.

Yes Trump is a racist, sexist, lying narcissist — but Biden is worse somehow even though he's not a lying, sexist, racist narcissist. Ok, I'll buy that much too. But here's the thing that is really wrong with Trump once you get beyond the odiousness of the man himself: he is completely unpredictable.

Now that might be a good thing if you're dribbling down the court and the defender has no idea which way you're going or which hand you'll use to shoot. But it's not a good thing (it's an existential nightmare) when you're talking about the hair triggers in world geopolitics. Reconsider your vote.

Rick Rappaport

Oro Valley

Hobbs vetoes

I'm continually heartened and impressed with Governor Hobbs' intelligent use of her veto power and the Arizona Daily Star's comprehensive reporting on the same. Her explanations of why she vetoed each bill are supported with facts. The current Legislature of Arizona is wasting time and money on nonsense. If they did due diligence they could have come up with the same conclusion Governor Hobbs did as to why we do not need the bill they proposed. I am disgusted at how little our Legislature is doing for us taxpayers. A waste of time and money. Can't wait to see this Republican group voted out. The sooner the better. The same goes for Washington.

Sharon Winderl

Midtown