Old Main on the University of Arizona campus.
Renaming UA history
Previously posted that I was sick to my stomach seeing the Lute and Bobby court disgraced with Desiree's newest sponsor on that court. What next? Name sponsor to rename Old Main? How about Sancett or Hillenbrand Memorial Stadiums? The old Bear Down Gym, c'mon, how outdated is that old name! Rename Hi Corbett, that is not UA history. Lived in Navajo dorm as a student in Arizona Stadium ... oh, I'm sorry, Casino Del Sol Stadium. Makes me sick to see my alma mater being sold to the highest bidder.
As a UA student, I was the Cadet Colonel for Detachment 020 Air Force ROTC (ROTC detachment student commander). 1981 Alumnus and went on to fly for 28 years in the USAF, retiring from Davis-Monthan AFB as a Colonel in 2009. Love the UA, but sick of the commercialism that has destroyed college education and sports.
James Russell Jr.
Foothills
Article on detention and profits
Hitler and his Nazi government leadership collaborated with major German corporations and millionaires to incarcerate and exploit Jewish German citizens. This started with the 1935 Nuremberg Law denying citizenship rights to Jews in order to protect “German Blood and Honor.” The “Secret Police” were sent to round up all Jews who were now considered criminals. Concentration camps were built to incarcerate Jewish families, including grandparents, parents, children and infants. There was no mercy shown by the Nazi "SS." Concentration camps were supported by German banking corporations, large industrial and business organizations and wealthy German businessmen such as Albert Reimann and son of the Pro-Nazi industrialist family through the JAB Holding Company. Last month, DHS purchased a 418,000-square-foot warehouse in Surprise, Arizona, for $70 million from the Arizona Rockefeller Group. There, behind high chain-link fences with razor wire, families of “illegals” are being housed in American concentration camps. This immorality is no different than the profiteering that went on in Germany in the 1930s.
Richard Harper
Northeast side
Cost of Guthrie investigation
I am going to address the elephant in the room and ask when will Pima County disclose the mounting cost of the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie? Have resources been diverted from other enforcement priorities, and if so, why? When will we have a public conversation about why certain cases get resources and manpower that others do not?
Donn Stoltzfus
Foothills
Potholes and puzzles
Despite the relentless onslaught of annoying commercials on behalf of Props 418 & 419, I plan to vote for them anyway. Clearly, we need tax money to repair our potholes and deteriorating streets.
But one thing puzzles me. One of the key arguments for Prop 419 is that it is not a new tax, or even an increase in an existing tax. It is simply the continuation of an existing tax that otherwise is due to expire.
If we already have this tax, and have had it for many years, and it is used to fix potholes, why do we have potholes now? Why will the continuation of this tax suddenly fix our streets if it has allowed them to get in this condition in the first place?
As I said, I will vote yes — in a triumph of hope over experience.
Larry DeWitt
Northeast side
Taxation without equitable representation
I continue to waver re my vote on RTA Next. On the one hand, no increase in taxation will occur to implement the plan that addresses important transportation and administrative elements and factors in leftover 2006 elements. On the other, only one vote is allotted to the City of Tucson (2020 pop 543,000) while Marana (51,900), Oro Valley (47,100), Sahuarita (34,100), Pasqua Yaqui Tribe (3,678), Tohono O’odham Nation (28,000), Pima County (1.04 million), and ADOT get one vote. The southeast including Vail (13,600) is not represented at all.
So while RTA Next addresses, belatedly, Houghton Road — a major eastside/north-south corridor serving northeast, east and southeastern Pima County — the Broadway to Tanque Verde segment, Houghton between 22nd and Golf Links (and points south) including the Old Spanish Trail intersection that inexcusably continues to lack left turn signals and now includes access to Northwest Hospital, remains a 2-lane rush hour nightmare with frequent accidents.
Jennifer Aviles
Southeast side
Silverbell Road
Tim Kraft's OP-ED article about the RTA and specifically Silverbell Road was well researched and informative. Silverbell Road has needed major improvements for a long time, and development along the Silverbell corridor has caused a major increase in traffic. Mr. Kraft states that these road improvements may take another seven to ten years. I can't cite specific numbers, but it seems that a lot of this increased traffic is caused by the Amazon facility at Ina and Silverbell. A fairly steady stream of Amazon delivery vehicles use Silverbell daily. Marana was able to get Amazon to make some road improvements near the facility, but nothing was done south of Ina Road to mitigate the extra traffic. This area is going to continue to grow at a rapid pace, and I don't think we can wait another ten years to solve this problem. Maybe Jeff Bezos could help out with a few bucks.
Larry Smith
Northwest side
Vote yes on RTA Next
Do you care about wildlife? Then vote ‘YES’ on Propositions 418 and 419 (RTA Next). The first RTA built the Oracle Road overpass, underpass, and funnel fencing, preventing numerous animal/vehicle collisions, and allowing countless critters to travel between the Catalina and Tortolita Mountains (confirmed by motion-activated cameras), thus preventing die-offs from inbreeding and limited food/water. RTA Next will fund additional crossings connecting the Tortolita and Tucson Mountains of Saguaro National Park West, where inbreeding is already damaging wildlife. Some say RTA Next will hasten development and damage the natural environment. But there is no stronger, science-based voice for saving wild nature from unnecessary development than The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, which worked tirelessly for RTA Next wildlife crossing funds. The Living Desert Alliance also urges YES votes on Props 418 and 419. Nature loses many battles with humans. RTA Next will be a rare win for wild creatures, and for our environment.
Frank Staub
Picture Rocks
Whistleblowers
I agree with Democratic Senator Analise Ortiz's belief that SB 1635, sponsored by John Kavanagh, is structured to provide prosecutors of ICE protesters the ability to label them as “domestic terrorists.” The bill proposes six months in county jail and a $2,500 fine for protesters sharing information on social media or blowing a whistle in their neighborhood. Likely looking to gain recognition from Trump, Kavanagh adds another insulting legislative bill, citing Ortiz's name in a news release as a “radical Democrat” lawmaker, a claim that has gained no traction after Republican Senators Jake Hoffman and Shawnna Bolick pursued ethical actions. Imitating President Trump, Kavanagh thrives on hyperbole and ego-driven public attention, and provided Arizona voters with his disdain for the Constitution within the quotes, “I think her behavior should be illegal.” and “But the Constitution said that's too general and, therefore, free speech.” Yes, free speech and free whistle-blowing, Mr. Kavanagh.
Roger Shanley
East side
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