Tucson Speaks Out: May 4 letters of the day

At 3:15 p.m. I saw vehicles stopped inside the intersection at Speedway and Alvernon blocking traffic, waiting to pick up their children at Basis Elementary. After three light changes and no movement I called 9-1-1. Given the speeding and red light running that goes on in Tucson, I saw this as a potential injury accident waiting to happen. The 9-1-1 operator said, “this happens every day and there was nothing they could do.” ARS 28-873 prohibits vehicles from stopping in intersections. The law was written to protect the motoring public. Liability exists for Basis and the City of Tucson. Parents, picking up your child is not an excuse to stop inside an intersection. Vehicles must expeditiously and safely clear the intersection, otherwise they are in violation of 28-873. Basis should bus their children to El Con where there is plenty of parking and parents can pick them up there without adverse impact on normal traffic flow and facilitate lawful driving behavior. Safety first!

Richard Harper

Northeast side

Overheard

I was in a motorcycle shop a few days ago and overheard a customer school the seamstress on abortion. He said abortion was forced killing because the fetus has no choice. I thought, slavery is not dead, it’s now called “being born a woman.” While this guy was telling the seamstress how to conduct HER life I wondered, “where is HIS wife?” Probably shopping for the weeks’ groceries or decent clothes for his kids to wear while he’s having fun on his motorcycle.

A woman’s decision to have an abortion is not taken lightly. She considers her financial and relationship stability and if she can bring this child into a good life. What happens when “Bubba” decides he can no longer afford his family? He moves on to the next woman and starts over. A woman’s egg will pass peacefully (never experiencing menstruation) from her body unless intercepted by a man’s sperm. Maybe that guy should stop on the way home and buy his wife a bottle of aspirin.

Daniel Poryanda Southeast side

Congratulations, America!

The divided House of our Congress finally passed the bill to rescue the beleaguered Ukraine. At the brink, enough informed and intelligent members of the House who care for America and the world sent a strong defying signal to dictators everywhere that democracy has a heart and works despite destructive forces. We the voters must overwhelmingly carry out this understanding and vision of our way of governance in November to show the world.

Ke Chiang Hsieh

Midtown

Speed matters

Baseball is an old game. It takes nine innings, sometimes more. To hustle it up, rule makers have installed a timer forcing batters and pitchers to keep things moving. Major League athletes have played a lot of baseball. They know what’s next. They don’t need time to figure things out.

Likewise, the umpires. A pitch is either a strike or a ball. The ump decides the matter in a split second. A baserunner is either out or safe. The ump bellows it out, arms out, palms down, or arm and thumb up. Umps, like us, are human. A baseball is a fast-moving object. Runners are nimble, and mistakes are made. Instant replay makes corrections within minutes. Keeps the game moving.

It’s time our court system installs a judge timer. Put these people on the clock. They’ve mastered the law. No surprises. Let’s get going.

John E. Irby

Southeast side

Juris Doctors are NOT Medical Doctors

Abortions are permitted in certain life situations under the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act of 1986 (EMTLA). Biden is suing Idaho over its Civil War-era abortion law. EMTLA covers Medicare hospitals. According to Justice Elena Kagan, FEDERAL law does not require waiting until a person is about to die, saying — “If the woman is going to lose her reproductive organs, that’s enough to trigger this duty on the part of the hospital to stabilize the patient.”

Using the Idaho law, Alito refers to abortion opponents’ false claim that the zygote is a living “unborn baby.” Judge Gorsuch questions the government’s ability to mandate health standards (as already allowed in EMTALA). Recall “Settled Law?”

In the absence of pre-embryonic development, fertilization, implantation, embryogenesis, and fetal development and functional milestones, only medical science can say “this is when life begins.”

Politicians are not qualified to interfere with women’s personal medical decisions. Religious zealots should look after themselves. Therefore, both should abstain from interfering with women’s privacy.

Sheldon Metz

Northeast side

The hypocrisy of Justice Neil Gorsuch

In Wednesday’s Supreme Court hearing of the United States vs. Donald J. Trump, Justice Gorsuch demonstrated his hypocrisy by stating that the actions the court would take on Trump’s immunity claim would be “a rule for the ages.” Yet in Roe vs. Wade, he demonstrated no respect for a “rule for the ages” by overturning a decision made by a prior court that he did not like. We as a nation cannot have justices who say one thing and do another. It may be time to expand the Supreme Court and the appointments process so that such monumental decisions are made by a larger, better balanced and hopefully more ethical group. This is so important to our democracy.

Frank Hagel

SaddleBrooke

Campus protests

As someone that protested in the ‘60s, I understand the protesting going on today on our college campuses. The freedom to protest is one of the privileges that makes this a great country. What I don’t understand is if these protesters are standing for humanitarian rights, where is the outcry for the hostages that have been held against their will since October 7th? If Hamas would release the hostages, the fighting would stop immediately. Each and every one of us has to decide for themselves if the response by Israel has gone too far. But what Hamas did on Oct. 7th set in motion everything since. They still refuse to release the hostages that would stop this war. I also wonder where is the outcry from inside Gaza for Hamas to release the hostages? I understand these people are under immense pressure to just find food and water but months ago they could have spoken up and demanded Hamas release the hostages.

Neil Norton

Oro Valley

Can I trust them?

As I drive around Tucson, I notice many drivers ignoring the rules of the road. This includes speed limits, stop signs, pedestrian crossing lights and signs, parking restrictions and others.

These drivers are often technicians, repair people and service providers; as indicated by the advertising on their vehicle.

This begs the question; “Can I trust the service or maintenance they provide?”, or is the way they drive a reflection of how they obey the laws and rules of their profession?

Michael Holloway

Northeast side

Protests

If you are even a moderately intelligent person, how can you follow, respect, or be swayed by people who show up in hoodies, masks, and dark sunglasses so they can’t be identified? They know what they are doing is wrong. They are no better than the similarly dressed criminals who race in to steal from stores.

Barbara Toohey

Foothills

Liberal letters

Re: the May 1 letter “AZ Star’s discrimination against conservative letter writers.”

I read this letter and it described my experience with the Star perfectly! I too have sent many letters that were delayed in printing or never printed at all. I have also tried to cajole the editorial staff into paying more attention to the issues I care about, to no avail. However, no one would label me or my viewpoint as conservative. I am a lifelong Democrat with mostly progressive ideals that are reflected in my letters. I won’t challenge your 9:1 ratio of liberal vs conservative points of view published in the Star, but have you considered that 9 out of 10 Star readers who submit letters fall on the liberal side of the issues?

Merrill Eisenberg

Midtown

Trump campaign issues

Mr. Trump has continuously complained about his inability to campaign due to courtroom requirements that he be present; I believe this is very short sighted of him since he is receiving exactly the same justice that is administered to the average citizen. Since he cannot see further than his nose and has no concept that he is not above the law, he is directly being confronted by his “average” rights as a common citizen — and has at no time given thought that anyone else would be confined to a jail cell or at least a “tantrum or cry” room for his many outbursts and lack of decorum. I do have a bit of empathy for his plight as this is the first time he is largely relegated to being an indicted person who must undergo a trial to determine his guilt or innocence or ever faced life as anything other than a celebrity or an ex- president.

Richard Rebl

East side

Trump’s basement

In 2020, Biden hid in his basement the year leading up to the election so he couldn’t open his mouth, say something stupid, reveal who he really was and, thus, made people believe he was actually competent. We can only hope that, with Trump tied up in court, the same will happen this year.

Kevin Kaatz

Oro Valley

Arrested, released with no bond

Protester arrested for aggravated assault on a police officer and criminal trespass and released! Thanks again Laura for your (lack of) support for our local law enforcement professionals.

Glenn Brasch

Northwest side