Raymond Rogers, left, holds Marisela Luna, longtime friend of Juan Cristobal Flores, among a few hundred well-wishers who gathered Tuesday for a vigil outside St. Joseph Hospital.
Setting record straight on Goodwill
We appreciate the concern that community member Allison Bradford expressed for the families of Juan Flores and the other victim, whose family wishes to remain anonymous. However, Ms. Bradford's letter to the Star is woefully inaccurate and misinformed. Goodwill Southern Arizona has worked closely with the families since the horrific shooting, doing all we can to ensure they are supported emotionally and financially, while also supporting the Flores family's efforts to do additional fundraising. Medical expenses for both victims are being covered fully by Goodwill of Southern Arizona. Beyond that, it would be inappropriate to share details on what our support looks like, for several reasons the most important of which is that it distracts from where our community's focus should be: Supporting these families in this challenging time.
Director of Marketing, Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona,
Matthew Flores
Downtown
Venezuelan oil
Our leaders expressed an interest in getting rid of Maduro. The real reason seems to be to get the Venezuelan oil. Have any of them thought about what comes next? What happens if Vice President Rodriguez steps in and takes over? Will the Venezuelan military, the Cuban quasi military in Venezuela, and the drug kingpins that have been supporting Maduro now be supporting Rodriguez? Those people with money and power would probably not simply walk away with Maduro. If our leaders really want the Venezuelan oil these people would have to be rooted out. Who would do that? Would it be the U.S. military with “boots on the ground” and fighting in cities and the Venezuelan jungle? That would certainly cost many American lives. Do we really need the Venezuelan oil that badly?
William Brandt
Oro Valley
What about Trump?
McConnell’s LTE posed four points to consider:
— Accept or deplore Trump’s narcissistic naming frenzy. A tough one. United States of Trump could be next.
— Cutting funds for advanced nursing degrees is going too far. Yes, but it's just a ‘tree in a clearcut forest.’ Let’s not forget defunding kids' lunches, public education, public media, scientific research, etc. Or diverting the money to a White House ballroom, an Argentine bailout, swatting outboard motorboats in the Caribbean, billionaire economic security, etc.
— Release of 100% of the Epstein files. Oh no, the Dec. 19 deadline in the law already passed, with only part of the heavily redacted files released that focused on Bill Clinton and not Trump. Real transparency.
— $2000 checks to individual taxpayers from tariff windfalls. Nice, but that money came from those same taxpayers. A better boost to individual earning power and the economy would be to rescind the tariffs.
Tom Van Devender
North side
The danger is Trumpism
As we enter 2026, the nation’s greatest dangers are no longer abstract. Climate disruption, artificial intelligence, and nuclear weapons all demand sober, competent governance. Instead, we are saddled with Donald Trump and a cadre of loyalists who treat restraint as weakness and expertise as betrayal.
Trump’s climate policy has been hollowed out to appease his donors, even as fires, floods, and extreme heat batter communities and economies. Artificial intelligence races ahead with little oversight, increasingly weaponized for surveillance, propaganda, and profit, while Trump’s allies sneer at regulation as “woke.” Nuclear risk, once constrained by diplomacy and treaties, has been inflamed by reckless rhetoric, treaty abandonment, and contempt for allies.
The gravest threat is not technology itself, but leadership that prizes loyalty over competence and impulse over foresight. Climate stress fuels instability. Instability invites authoritarianism. AI accelerates every bad decision.
This is not partisan hysteria. It is a warning. As 2026 begins, Trumpism is not merely irresponsible, it is an existential risk.
Lawrence E. Mazin
SaddleBrooke
'Assured' water
The Arizona "assured" water opinion piece was right on. We ran for Tucson City Council twice and AZ state representative once, all based on water issues which we had gained knowledge of through being on the Tucson Stormwater Management Study committee for 12 years. People just could not see the bigger picture, which Tom Volgy and Benny Young attempted to put into the spotlight. Instead, they voted for people who have hidden, ignored, covered up the very real problem of lack of water for the region while supporting more growth. Some of those same people are still saying growth is the only way to save Tucson. Instead, we should be figuring out how to be a sustainable city, not based on having more growth. Native Americans say we should be looking 7 generations in planning for lives of future generations. 100 years assured water law was passed about 30 years ago, before the drought started, leaving us where?
Beryl Baker
West side
Biden vs. Trump
Loyal Johnson's LTE characterized Biden versus Trump as "a sloth vs the Energizer bunny." It's just more MAGA denigration of Joe Biden. Yes, old people have low-energy moments. But Biden was a quiet, honest man who made decisions with advice from his very competent Cabinet. Trump is a publicity-seeking narcissist with his own social media site and Fox News who tells his incompetent Cabinet what to say. He is easily distracted with "war games" in the Caribbean, Middle East, and Democratic cities, while Steven Miller directs the "war on immigrants" and Russell Vought implements Project 2025. Biden is a devout Catholic family man. In four years, he accomplished a great deal, especially in infrastructure. Trump is a strong family businessman who wields religion as a political club. In one year, he wreaked chaos on the country. A better characterization would be Biden as a wise elder leader and Trump as an aging, raging con artist.
Tom Van Devender
North side
Happy New Year, America
And away we go, but not sure where.
Are we and the world going through a natural political evolution of fascism again? If it acts like a fascist, it probably is.
We should notice how Hitler, Mussolini and Trump made speeches to their countries.
Holding a hand or fist menacingly in the air and screaming.
How does fascism arise?
Declaring "National Emergency" to be able to dictate.
Suppress/control the press.
Supported by the ultra-rich.
Rules by fear via politics and law.
Control the justice system.
Control the armed units.
Align education systems to their beliefs.
Denigrate some populations.
Hitler wanted Germany for Germans, and invaded Poland for a greater Germany.
Mussolini wanted Italy for Italians, and invaded Ethiopia for the new Roman Empire.
Trump wants America for White Christian Nationalists and said, of immigrants, "They are poisoning the blood of our country," and we should have fear of the "other."
Who will Trump invade — Greenland or Panama or Venezuela?
We continue to ignore history again and again.
Donald Plummer
Northwest side
The bonfire
Donald Trump’s health is a high priority in this nation. Little things like discolored hands, or his pattern to forego his nighttime sleep in favor of siestas during tedious meetings, are worrisome for those whose jobs are tied to his cruel inclinations.
Many others use any sign of Trump’s decline as a reason to be optimistic that the dark tunnel we live in has a termination point. The pilot light may only flicker now, but it might ignite the bonfire on Trump’s narcissism and fake veracity.
Trump has shown the way to ferret out lawless officials from the mere pretenders, who will snap back to normal once Trump has left the scene.
Gone is the naivete of the pre-Trump era, where most politicians trusted each other's motives. Now, if it slithers like a friendly snake, it may have fangs.
Ron Lancaster
North side
Bang for your buck?
I just have one question for those who think Trump and the Republican Congress are doing such a great job: Why do you prefer having your tax dollars spent on masked ICE agents snatching people off the street; newly constructed prison camps; a 25,000-square-foot ballroom for Trump and his cronies (I’m sure you won’t be invited to the dance); billions in bailout for a right-wing Argentinian government; building up the arms race against Venezuela; when instead those dollars could be spent providing school lunches for our children; finishing construction on needed infrastructure begun under the previous administration; continuing cancer research and public health initiatives; and many other things from which we as Americans directly benefit?
Beth Dingman
Green Valley
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