Rep. Andy Biggs
Role reversal in Phoenix
Representative Andy Biggs, who is running for governor, wants federal oversight of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office terminated. He says that local law enforcement should not be "held hostage" by federal monitors. David Schweikert, running against him for the nomination for governor, agrees.
They needn't fear. Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio earned that supervision by racially profiling local residents. But the political winds have shifted, and the feds have taken an aggressively hostile view of those same residents. ICE, a federal enforcement agency, has effectively supplanted Arpaio, so federal oversight no longer protects individuals targeted by Arpaio; rather, ICE now targets them.
Biggs called his hearing "The Monitoring Racket: The Grift that Keeps on Giving," appealing to his audience's appetite for belt-tightening. In truth, ICE's budget is astronomical and his call to end monitoring is simply seeking affirmation of ICE's behavior.
Trump and his enablers, like Biggs, must be defeated.
Regula Case
Midtown
SAVE Act racist, discriminatory
Please urge Congress to vote against the misnamed SAVE Act. This legislation unfairly penalizes citizens born at home without medical attention, who have no birth certificate. While affecting many groups, it is especially discriminatory against Arizona’s rural indigenous populations, thus inherently racist.
One egregious example: O'odham poet, UA Regents Professor, MacArthur Fellow, and PhD linguist Ofelia Zepeda, born at home “in an old wooden row house / in the cotton fields” near Gila Bend with only relatives present. Her poem “Birth Witness” recounts her struggle to prove citizenship. Baptismal certificate? Not issued in the year of her birth, so it doesn’t count. Birth announcements? “I don’t bother to explain my parents are illiterate in the English language.” She wants to add that O’odham is useful for “praying with the earth and sky,” but instead begins to fill out forms handed her.
If a person of Zepeda’s stature had difficulty proving citizenship, what chance do Arizona indigenous citizens without her advantages have?
Ila Abernathy
Midtown
Federal role in immigration
One of the main topics of discussion I see today surrounds ICE and its authority within the city of Tucson. I do think the Arizona Daily Star has consistently reported on incidents to follow current events in Tucson, but it might also be a good idea to gain perspectives from youth and adults living through this political climate, victims and spectators alike. I personally feel that local communities should be in charge of handling illegal immigrants so that arrests can be handled more professionally, rather than having the federal government take charge of civilian safety.
Maisam Nishat
Midtown
ICE monitoring Arizona voting sites?
If you need one more reason to vote to switch control of the Legislature from Republicans to Democrats in the upcoming 2026 General Election, consider the following:
Sen. Jake Hoffman (Republican-Queen Creek) is proposing a Bill which would require all 15 of the state’s counties to sign an agreement with ICE “to provide for a federal immigration law enforcement presence at each location within this state where ballots are cast or deposited.”
Hoffman said requiring masked ICE agents at every polling site in Arizona will instill confidence in elections. They are still beating that unproven drum.
Should this proposal be approved by the current Republican majorities in both Houses, most likely Governor Hobbs would veto the Bill.
Good reason to re-elect Governor Hobbs and support the Democrats in taking control of one or both of the Legislative Houses.
Randy Garmon
North side
Independent Party
Sarah Smallhouse’s recent column links readers to the Secretary of State’s website to register as members of her party. But the link she provides leads to a printable form listing only Republican, Democrat, “Other” (with a blank), or No Party/Unaffiliated. The party name she promotes does not appear there.
Most Arizonans register online through ServiceArizona, where a drop-down menu lists recognized parties — including No Labels — along with “Other Party” and “No Party Preference (Independent).” The inconsistency itself illustrates the confusion.
As the only candidate to have won a No Labels primary and appeared on the ballot under that banner, I know how important clarity is. Consolidated court cases over the party’s name change will not be heard until March, and proposed legislation may trigger further appeals. Yet candidate filing begins Feb. 21.
Voters and candidates deserve certainty. Until the courts finally resolve the matter, the party should remain No Labels to avoid needless electoral chaos in 2026.
Richard Grayson
West side
CAP Article Feb 18
The report regarding CAP reductions in deliveries to the Tucson region should finally put an end to the ridiculous assurances by Hudbay for restoring 105% of their water use and those of developers concerning 100 years water supply.
Tom Knox
Northeast side
Ciscomani and Julia Benitez
Emily Bregel's investigative reporting on the questionable detention of 79-year-old Julia Benitez is indeed heartbreaking. It's sickening and causes me to wonder why Congressman Ciscomani continues to support the Trump-Vance administration's outrageous expenditures on abusing, arresting, detaining and deporting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who have been our neighbors and coworkers for decades.
Profit helps explain the growth of private detention centers. CoreCivic, according to Bregel, owns and operates the Eloy detention center where Julia Benitez is incarcerated. CoreCivic's CEO has a total annual compensation north of seven million dollars. That compensation is connected to the number of human beings who are locked up.
These billions of dollars spent on detention and deportations could be spent on healthcare, education and housing. Congressman Ciscomani should be ashamed of himself and replaced in November. Julia Benitez should be released now!
Dave Gallagher
Foothills
Real change
It's decision time for RTA Next. The "yes" side has had vastly more exposure and money than the "nos." Tho', more voters are showing up in the Star.
My indecision on the RTA outcome isn't about its results but the real danger in our headlights — the lack of water. We have dwindling Colorado river water (due to over pumping), air pollution from more cars going further and faster, as well as mining and data centers at the heart of the problem.
Are we building for a future population we may not be able to support? We can't make growth be our major industry. We need better water management, more efficient modes of transportation and energy sources.
The bottom line is we need real change not just more development. To me, RTA Next just means more of the same improvements we have had since my family moved here in the 50s.
Ted Morrison
Midtown
New bill on marijuana smoke
I was very pleased to open up Wednesday's paper and read about the new proposed bill that targets excessive marijuana smoke. Every single day when I go outside, marijuana smoke is penetrating the air. It is everywhere I go in town. Opponents will claim this bill goes too far by "criminalizing" people, but it does not. Marijuana is very dangerous. According to the CDC, second-hand marijuana smoke contains many of the same cancer-causing toxins and chemicals that are found in tobacco smoke. I am only 20, and I live in constant fear and distress from hearing so many stories about people my age who have never smoked or vaped being diagnosed with lung cancer and respiratory diseases. Marijuana smokers are literally poisoning my generation. Please stop smoking and vaping marijuana. You are putting my health and that of others at risk. How many more of us will need to receive a life-altering diagnosis before the Arizonans who voted to legalize marijuana understand?
Hector Guzman
South side
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