Tucson Speaks Out: July 9 letters of the day

Re: the July 1 letter “Asylum seekers are a plus, not a burden.”

The writer was responding to another letter about a Star article detailing people illegally entering the country, claiming asylum, and having serious medical conditions becoming a public charge. She wrote, “Second, all who enter have sponsors who pledge to provide financial support, either directly or through employment until they have worked for 10 years or become a citizen.” I do not know where she got her information, but this is false! Not all migrants have financially supporting sponsors. Migrants across America are being housed in hotels, civic centers, and other places at taxpayers’ expense. In New York City, Mayor Adams has issued $350 weekly prepaid debit cards to migrants. Asylum seekers must wait six months before applying for work authorization. Most released migrants applying for asylum have been issued Notices to Appear years into the future to hear their asylum claims. The idea that migrants with medical conditions will not become a public charge is baloney. And many asylum seekers are abusing the system, really coming for economic reasons.

Terry Garland

East side

Stand down, President Biden

Being the president of the United States requires constant clear-headedness and physical stamina given the demands and monumental scope of the office itself. The arrogance of any president and or staff when seeking only their own desires and outcomes to the detriment of the national interest. It remains hauntingly clear to me that President Biden must stand aside because he does not possess mental capacity or physical strength to do the job any longer. Twice in recent days, during times requiring in-depth mental processing, he faltered. I sincerely thank him for his service and I remain saddened that it has come to this but pass the baton already. The country’s future is owed it.

Kevin Gillooly

East side

Biden needs to run hard and win

To the Editor: Joe Biden has been running for office for over 50 years. To my knowledge he has never lost an election. Now let him run in 2024 to defeat Donald Trump. If Biden does not beat Donald Trump, nothing else will matter anyway when we are a dictatorship. Biden must win so our democracy will survive!

Fran Gordon

Green Valley

Presidential decisions

Re: the July 6 article “Biden’s team still makes him the best choice.”

I appreciate Sue Ward’s guest editorial for saying that President Biden had surrounded himself with competent appointees. However, the question in the back of the mind of the voter is this. How will this president be functioning in 12 or 18 months after the election? When the voter observes the decline of the past 24 months it is obvious that President Biden will have sunk deeper into the mental confusion all have witnessed. In times of national crisis the U.S. needs a cogent leader at the helm surrounded by sound staff. In the end, it is the president who is held responsible for White House decisions.

Dave Wilson

Northwest side

Let’s talk about freedom

Candidate signs now appearing on street corners show three current state legislators identifying themselves as the “Arizona Freedom Team.” These signs do not contain the elephant symbol or mention MAGA or Trump Endorsed which is unfortunate as many voters might think their definition of “freedom” actually means freedom.

Looking at how they vote and looking at what’s happened in other states with MAGA legislators, we know their definition of “freedom” allows banning books, imposing strict anti-abortion laws, allowing gun ownership without restrictions, and injecting religion into government, schools, and the courts.

For me, real freedom means the freedom to read whatever one wants, make decisions about one’s own body, shop and attend school without fear of being gunned down, and openly practice any religion one believes in.

Which of these ideas of freedom sounds like real freedom to you? Know who the real freedom candidates are and vote for them in November.

Joseph Alexander

Oro Valley

County Attorney race

Re: the June 18 article “Public safety a major issue in the County Attorney race.”

This guest opinion lamented the “exodus of experienced attorneys” from the County Attorney’s Office to “flee the chaos.” My letter is written in response to that guest opinion, and it is not a judgment on any employee’s decision to leave the County Attorney’s Office. I write this letter as a reminder of several important truths: 1. People leave jobs. 2. Chaos is not bad. 3. Chaos is a part of change. 4. We needed change in the County Attorney’s Office — before Laura, our prosecutors were leading Grand Juries to indicting ham sandwiches. 5. Change takes time. 6. Laura Conover isn’t wasting resources on indicting ham sandwiches. 7. Laura Conover is working to increase justice and break the cycle of injustice. 8. Your vote for Laura Conover makes a difference.

Please vote to keep Laura Conover in the County Attorney’s office, so we can continue to increase justice, and decrease ham-sandwich indictments. Thank you.

Felicia Chew

Midtown

The political parties have failed us

The role of political parties in our system is to recruit and vet candidates to run in our elections. Yet in 2024 for President, we are offered a career politician no longer up to the job and a serial liar/criminal. If none-of-the-above were on the ballot this year, they would win handily. Given the essentially binary nature of our final ballot, the parties have little impetus for self-improvement and getting rid of the parties is not practical? What if we could allow more candidates to run and let everyone vote on them in the primary? We could get a final ballot with a real choice of candidates who have both had to pass muster with the general electorate. Sounds too idealistic, but in fact you have this option with the Eliminate Partisan Primaries Initiative on the Arizona 2024 ballot/t. Take the time to read it and how it might change our system for the better, it might be the most important issue on your ballot.

Tim Helentjaris

Northwest side

Rex Scott Pima County Supervisor District 1

I am writing to express my support for Rex Scott, the current Pima County Supervisor for District 1. Having had the privilege of working with Rex during his tenure as Principal at Catalina Magnet High School in 2010, I can personally attest to his unwavering commitment to our community.

During a particularly challenging period marked by a significant influx of refugees with limited English proficiency, declining enrollment, and aging infrastructure, Rex demonstrated exceptional leadership. He worked tirelessly to engage teaching faculty, staff, families, local businesses, and community representatives, ensuring that every student had the resources and support needed to succeed. His efforts fostered a strong sense of community and trust, driven by his high degree of integrity and honesty.

Rex continues to exemplify these values. His dedication to transparent governance, community building, and resource mobilization has made a tangible difference in our community.

Daniel Perino

Northeast side

What we’ll lose

Surely some of our Star readers will write about all the things we’ll gain from another Trump presidency. So let’s consider here what we will lose: Clean air, clean water; restrictions on belching factory smokestacks, carbon emissions and other climate hazards; voting rights for non-white citizens; rights to determine medical procedures and health care for our bodies; desperately-needed immigrant labor; rules and procedures put forth by federal employees who are trained experts in their fields; court justices who honor the history and intent of our Constitution; Medicare; Social Security; our position as a strong NATO ally against foreign aggressors; morality, ethics; civility; International goodwill; natural disaster relief; Huckleberry Finn; intelligent planning and problem-solving for programs benefiting others than the rich 1% — to name a few things. And — oh yes — the sovereign nation of Ukraine. Better get to your favorite store today and stock up; if we have another pandemic during Trump’s administration, we’ll have a severe shortage of Clorox.

Stephanie Cady

SaddleBrooke

Say no Joe

An average and median of polls of four states shows Trump a winner. In Arizona Trump is ahead an average of 6% with a median of 6%. In Nevada Trump is ahead by 5.5% with a median of 4.5%. How confident can we be that President Biden can overcome these stats? Also, if Trump garners 6% greater vote in AZ and the citizens vote a straight Republican ticket Lake will go to the senate. The stats in PA and GA are the same. Simply stated Biden has got to drop out of the race. He simply cannot overcome 5 and 6% deficits His sycophants have their collective heads in the sand. And by telling Joe he is a winner only feeds his ego. He cannot win. Say no Joe.

David ben Avram

Marana

Acceptance of aging

I am 84 years old. Unlike President Biden, I accept the consequences of my aging. Compared to when I was 80, I have less strength, less balance, less stamina, less almost everything about myself with one exception: wisdom. I am lucky that I can accept the increasing possibility that each moment could be my last. Like Biden, I look back on my life with great satisfaction. Unlike Biden, I feel fortunate that I have been able to modify my lifestyle to compensate for the lessening of my capabilities.

I sympathize with the effects of Biden’s aging. Unfortunately, he appears unable to accept the full extent of aging’s effects in himself. Does he equate being alive only with being a political leader? If so, pulling out of the campaign would be like death. Friends and family must help him to better appreciate his ongoing successes as a husband, a father and a party supporter.

Kent Barrabee

Oro Valley

Why vote Democrat?

Today I am writing to give five reasons I will vote for Joe Biden or any Democrat chosen by his party, because they will:

1. Support women’s right to choose their reproductive health care, without which they are deprived of the basic guarantees of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness theoretically enjoyed by American citizens.

2. Support efforts to address climate change by encouraging carbon-free energy with all prudent speed.

3. Support voting rights for American citizens and respect the outcome of fair elections.

4. Continue to address our crumbling infrastructure

5. Support Ukraine’s defense against Putin’s shameless imperialism.

There are other reasons, but these five are central.

Tomorrow I will send half a dozen reasons I could not support Trump and his MAGA Party. (You could just turn the above list inside out, and you’d guess where I’m going with this.)

Suzanne Ferguson

Southeast side

Follow the money in County Attorney race

Re: the July 7 article “Prosecutor race soon to be settled.”

I support Laura Conover for re-election to the office of Pima County Attorney and have given her a campaign contribution. In an article published in the Star today regarding the primary contest between Ms. Conover and her opponent, Mr. Jette, it was reported that Ms. Conover has raised $107,000 in campaign contributions. Oddly, there is no reference to the total campaign contributions made to the fickle Mr. Jette, who, rather bizarrely, has registered and re-registered as a voter in five classifications, a dizzying seven times over the last 20 years. The electorate should know where the money is coming from to pay for the many full-page newspaper ads Mr. Jette has authorized and the hundreds of huge signs he has erected on seemingly every street corner. Who is contributing the most money, why are they paying it and what do they expect in return? Will he be so grateful for his patron’s largesse that he may hesitate to make prosecutorial decisions adverse to their interests?

Charles S. Sabalos, retired Superior Court Judge

Foothills

Lost wartime sweetheart

Re: the July 7 article “Woman still loves lost wartime sweetheart.”

For the past few months I scan the newspaper, full of dire prophecies. Letters to the Editor? Even worse! Hateful vitriol, vicious name calling, road rage in letter form. Then on Sunday, WOW! Front page story that was so wonderful, heartwarming and lovely. I wish you Godspeed, Ms. Gorder, on your trip to France in August to visit your boyfriend’s gravesite, lay a bouquet for your true love. Thank you for taking the time to write this story of love in a world seemingly full of hate...I for one appreciate it!

Debra Mantecon

East side

Unlimited power

The decision by the Supreme Court granting presidential immunity means that if elected, Donald Trump could act without restraint. By doing so, the court’s MAGA justices have placed this country in deep crisis. This decision would give Trump unlimited power, especially if the House remains in Republican hands.

Remember that the court is now stacked with three justices appointed by Donald Trump, all of whom lied during their confirmation hearings. Each said Roe v. Wade was settled law, then eagerly stripped women of their rights. The courts will not protect you or me and they will not protect our democracy.

Only a Democratically controlled White House and Congress can reverse the damage this court has wrought on us and on our country.

It’s up to us voters to be the jury this November. We must vote to ensure the safety of our families and our country. The ballot box is our only hope.

Lois Postil

Oro Valley