Tucson Speaks Out: February 5

Election laws

Trump now wants elections to be nationalized, despite what the Constitution says. Congressional Republicans are pushing the SAVE Act to make elections "more secure" so that Americans will have confidence in the electoral process. When proposing a new law, the usual process is to provide evidence that the law is needed.

Republicans have yet to provide evidence of widespread voter fraud. Just because Trump says the 2020 election was rigged doesn't make it so. Just because Trump says thousands and thousands of illegal immigrants were brought into the country to vote for Democrats doesn't mean it's true. Saying elections need to be more secure doesn't mean they aren't already secure.

If Republicans are so concerned about losing, maybe it's not "election fraud," maybe the people just don't like what Republicans are proposing.

Larry Hammond

Southwest side

250 years of the Republic

As the country heads toward its 250th anniversary, I should be celebrating. After just one year of Donald Trump, I’m not. The MAGA wing of the Republican Party may want to celebrate this milestone. Count me out. I’ll be hiding under my bed for the next three years, watching a 250-year republic see how much damage it can take before something finally breaks.

Lawrence E. Mazin

SaddleBrooke

A critical look at 418 and 419

As voters weigh the future of Pima County’s infrastructure, let’s evaluate the Regional Transportation Authority Board’s record. Since 2006, the board has failed to adequately address revenue overestimations, allowing rising costs to stall seven critical projects, and now asking taxpayers to fill the resulting shortfalls.

These consequences are real: declining roadway safety and worsening air quality. While proponents present Propositions 418 and 419 as essential for jobs and road repairs, we must ask: Does a 20-year history of mismanagement and flawed governance inspire the confidence needed for another multi-decade, $2.67 billion voter commitment?

The evidence suggests it does not. Despite pressure to approve these measures now, voting no tells the RTA Board that we value public accountability over the special interests of a few.

The consequences of pausing briefly to reconsider how best to prioritize investments in transportation are worth enduring to build much-needed public trust in outcomes that offer tangible benefits to all Tucsonans.

Albert F. Elías

Downtown

Another Democrat win

Democratic Party politics in Minnesota seem lost in a false belief that their state can ignore federal immigration law. Minnesotans voted for Walz & Frey. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey believes his city authority is absolute rule over federal immigration law. He can ignore it. Sorry. Governor Walz came to his senses after a conversation with Border Czar Tom Homan. Jacob Frey is a brain-dead liberal seeking ignorant martyrdom for some personally perceived political gain.

This Minneapolis mess could have simply been avoided with immigration cooperation. Walz and Frey would have none of that. An ego play that got two people killed. That proves Walz and Frey won.

Jay A. Elliott

Northwest side

418, 419 about safety, not sprawl

Some opponents of Props 418 and 419 claim the plan fuels sprawl and shortchanges Tucson. That narrative falls apart the moment you read the plan or visit Vail.

The few roadway widenings included, such as Colossal Cave, address urgent safety issues. These roads carry heavy traffic in the morning hours past multiple schools, in an area where growth has exceeded 200%. Homes are already built, and congestion already exists. Improving these corridors would add sidewalks, bike lanes, safer intersections, turn lanes, and other features that protect students and reduce daily gridlock.

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Pima County is growing and spans an area comparable to the state of New Jersey. RTA Next does not fund any brand-new roadways. Instead, it updates roads people already rely on. The need for safer, more efficient travel is real and immediate.

Don’t buy the disinformation about sprawl, it’s safety. Props 418 and 419 are Vail’s only realistic path to safer roads, modern infrastructure, and reliable access to schools and everyday necessities.

Jacqueline Rodarte

Vail

Protest signs

A recent LTE commented on signs at ICE protests. That reminded me of some signs I've seen and think are spot on. "I'm anti-fascist. Aren't you?" "Imagine hating immigrants more than pedophiles." "We shouldn't have to defend democracy from the President." "Stop pretending racism is patriotism." "The President and the village idiot used to be two different people." "Waiting for the Big, Beautiful obituary." "We are all immigrants." "Diversity made America great." All are thought-provoking points in response to this traitorous President who swore to uphold and defend the Constitution but is doing the exact opposite.

Merle McPheeters

Midtown

The great divide in America

ICE has a near impossible job of routing out illegal criminals that have embedded in sanctuary cities without aid from local police. It is compounded by the unhinged, who are preventing them from doing their jobs. These rallies are supported by the Communist Party of the USA as well as Antifa and others. Follow the money. Where is the outrage from the public, the media and the Democratic Party on those who have been raped, killed and sexually molested by criminals who are here illegally? Are the minds of those on the left so polluted with leftist ideals that they have lost any ability of cogent thought? Just a note, the Somali population in MN is approx. 100,000. 81% are on some form of welfare, 85% speak a language other than English. For years, there has been a segment that has been scamming assistance programs of billions of dollars, 9 billion approx. Walz conveniently ignored this reality. Somehow, the sense of right and wrong has lost meaning here. Wake up.

Bill Dowdall

Oro Valley

Clearly unarmed

It is amazing to me that almost no one mentions the fact (verified by at least two videos) that before Alex Pretti was shot, he was pinned to the ground by several ICE agents, and on both videos, an ICE agent is clearly seen reaching into Petti's side holster, removing Pretti's gun, and continuing to hold the gun in plain sight while walking away from the tangle of agents that were still holding Pretti down and beating him on the head! Pretti was completely unarmed before the first shot was fired at him. There is absolutely no excuse for his execution via a firing squad of ICE thugs shooting him 10 times.

Lee Stanfield

East side

Known and identified?

Mr. LM Johnson's LTE of excessive, unsubstantiated, malicious and inflammatory sarcasm justifying ICE's recent civilian murders did exactly what he intended — elicit responses — though intelligent and articulate ones. Where are your facts, sir? If, as you state, there are "known, identified criminal illegals," why haven't they been apprehended? Are they in the Red states like Texas and Florida? We'll never know since this farce is all about politics and not about the people.

Christie Cummins

Midtown

It's time to get real

Let's start ignoring the distractions, no matter how heinous and unconstitutional they may be, and start getting real. Donald Trump doesn't care about immigration. Donald Trump doesn't care about antisemitism. Donald Trump is a frightened little man who is terrified by the prospects of the election of 2026. And we'd better start taking the upcoming election seriously if we are to save ourselves. Donald Trump has already called on Republicans in Congress to "nationalize elections." That is blatantly unconstitutional because elections are the purview of the states. But what does he care? Everything he has done in this second term has been to one extent or another unconstitutional. Unless we start facing reality and recognize that the chaos that he's been sowing is for the ultimate purpose of declaring that, given the "insurrections" (i.e., constitutionally guaranteed free protest and assembly), elections are impossible to hold. Never mind that he's the cause and effect of the protests. It's time to get real.

Barbara Benjamin

Foothills