Federal authorities detail Aliya Rahman on Tuesday near the scene where an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Good last week in Minneapolis.
Fund healthcare, not ICE
If Congress can afford to fund ICE, it can afford to support the ACA. One is important, the other is not, especially since it is acting illegally to satisfy Trump. As an American, I oppose any increased funding for ICE or Border Patrol. Attacking blue states simply because Trump can is immoral and most likely unconstitutional. Masked federal agents have been running rampant in our cities, brutalizing our communities, tearing families apart, and even killing residents. The recent killing of Renee Good is just one story of many highlighting ICE and the Trump administration’s illegal violence that allows agents to operate with full impunity. ICE now has the largest budget of any federal law enforcement agency. One illness can wipe out a family. One death can wipe out a family. And that just doesn't seem right in this country that's supposed to be the best country in the world.
Peter Bisschop
East side
The ICE men killeth
All human beings in the Western Hemisphere are either migrants or descendants of migrants. Even the Native Americans came over from Siberia. Trump has the idiotic idea that all real Americans should have pure "white blood." The force he is using to achieve this consists of trigger-happy thugs, led by a woman who ought to be in jail for cruelty to animals (he chooses for eye candy, so he can call reporters "piggy" etc.) Trump's goons ought to find honest work.
Jesse Ventura for governor of Minnesota is a step in the right direction. Another would be disarming ICE.
If there is a hell, a large part in no doubt is reserved for Hitler and other racist murderers. Think about this, Donald, before you send in troops (with instructions to aim at the knees of protesters, another dopey idea he floated in his first term).
Herbert Schneidau
Foothills
Public Utilities Commission?
On Jan. 13, I attended the Town Hall offered by our Attorney General seeking input from customers of TEP regarding their proposed rate hike. One participant suggested that the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) be renamed the Public Utilities Commission, since that's what it is. Renaming it might encourage voters to become more informed about people running for election to this Commission.
Our state is the only one which has the Commission both in its Constitution and its members elected rather than appointed. Article 15, which created it, took more time and thought than any other article in our Constitution. It is very important and very powerful. Recent membership has turned more toward satisfying corporations than protecting the customers with regard to costs and services. This was not the Article's original intent.
As stated by Sheldon Clark in his Jan. 16 guest column, "A board of ACC Commissioners beholden to ratepayers would be a nice change in November."
Sister Karen Berry
Midtown
Classy taunts
"Bobby, you suck." — UA students Wednesday night.
"I would hope our fans would be classy" — Coach Lloyd on Wednesday night.
Amen to that, Tommy. College students sounding like junior high kids does not reflect well on their communication skills.
Please, Zona Zoo, show some mature class in your insulting cheers.
Jerry Helm
Northwest side
Wind turbines
Our president says he doesn't like wind turbines because they kill birds, but he doesn't seem at all concerned that his sycophantic witch doctor Robert Kennedy's proposed vaccine standards have the potential to kill thousands of American schoolchildren. What's wrong with this picture?
Tom Henderson
West side
Priorities
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the pavement on many of the city's primary streets is in such poor condition as to be dangerous to drive on, but they apparently have no money available to repair or repave any portions of them? However, they seem to have unlimited funds (and unlimited time!) available to remove and replace perfectly serviceable wheelchair ramps all along many of these same roadways. What is there more of using these thoroughfares, motor vehicles or disabled pedestrians?
Steve Magelli
Northwest side
What does this picture say?
These are tough days for every one of us, civilians and ICE agents alike. The picture on the front page of Friday's paper was taken locally. It shows an agent and a protester. The agent is swaddled head to toe in tactical gear and packing. It also shows his personal choice of handwear, a pair of gloves, making his hands appear to be those of a skeleton. What would a psych test say about someone who feels the need to top off all his armor and weapons with those gloves?
Tim Canny
Oracle
Trump 2026
A letter writer published Friday opined, "should the Democrats win both chambers, he will be removed from office."
Like most progressives, he apparently cannot do math. In order for the Senate to convict in an impeachment trial, the Constitution requires a 2/3rds majority vote. By math, that means 67 Senators would have to vote for conviction.
Trump has undergone two impeachment trials already. The country has no stomach for another, and the reality is that 67 Senators are never going to vote for a conviction. Facts matter.
Douglas Wolf
SaddleBrooke
Free America Walkout
Am I the only one that sees the outright hypocrisy of the U.S. president who encourages protesters in Iran but sends more troops to Minneapolis to quell the protesters there? While Iran has a record of suppressing protesters over several decades, the U.S. is now not far behind in its intolerance to people who resist against ICE, as well as the damaging policies of the current administration in cutting health benefits and other social programs to transfer money to the military and ICE.
The president has proven himself to be a fascist leader with every new executive order. On Jan. 20, there will be national marches, including here in Tucson, to “Free America Walkout” against fascism and towards Freedom. For more information, visit act.womensmarch.com to find an event you can participate in.
Gail Schumacher
Southwest side
Safety first: Vote Yes 418 & 419
As a long-time bicycle and pedestrian advocate and a small business owner, I strongly urge a YES vote on both Propositions 418 and 419 to fund local transportation improvements for the next 20 years for everyone who uses our roads.
We will keep paying the same taxes, while keeping local control over how our transportation system is planned and built. Cyclists and pedestrians face the same potholes and rough roads as drivers, and these measures include funding for basic road maintenance and repaving, even on some roads that aren’t part of new projects.
Propositions 418 and 419 will fund 38 road projects, many with bike lanes, sidewalks, sidepaths, and bus pullouts. These upgrades mean safer roads, smoother traffic flow, and faster emergency response times.
Recent tragic deaths of bicyclists and pedestrians remind us that we must do more to protect people on our roads. If these measures fail, safety projects and transit services like Dial-A-Ride could be lost. Vote YES on Propositions 418 and 419.
Tom Clark
Marana
The Pledge of Allegiance
Remember the Pledge of Allegiance, committed to memory in childhood, usually without understanding its meaning? A statement of our commitment, not to the U.S. flag, but to what it symbolizes, "the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God (as we understand Them), indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Pima County Attorney Laura Conover recommends "fighting fire, not with more fire, but with water," when confronted with potential recklessness in interactions with ICE -- "moving in ways that are wise." Use your words, teachers say. How about reciting the Pledge of Allegiance whenever ICE appears? Or singing patriotic songs, like The Star Spangled Banner, "the land of the free and the brave," God Bless America, "let us swear allegiance to a land that's free," and America, The Beautiful, "crown thy good with brotherhood," and "sweet land of liberty," and This Land is Your Land, "this land was made for you and me." Let's prick the possible conscience of ICE.
Nothing like singing to keep us from cursing.
Sherry Machen
Green Valley
RTA Next will not repair potholes
There have recently been several LTEs in support of RTA Next, prop 418 and 419. Surprisingly, they all sound very similar and provide the same reasons for their support. The problem is that the authors seem to be misinformed.
They commented on how RTA Next will pay for pothole and area roadway repairs. That is just not true. RTA Next does not provide funding to maintain or repair your roadways.
There is a pavement rehabilitation section in the plan that provides a mere $177M for 20 years for all the major roadways in Pima County. That’s less than 7% of all funding in the plan. This money cannot pay for local/neighborhood road maintenance or pothole repairs.
Pima County gets $10M of that $177M over the next 20 years. At a million dollars a mile for construction costs, that’s a whopping 10 miles of road rehab.
We can do better, and we deserve better. Vote no on RTA Next.
Ruth Reiman
Midtown
Measuring Presidents
Having read in the past year books about former Presidents Washington, Lincoln, and FDR, I have come to understand just how lucky America is for these three to have served their country and just how dangerous our current President is. Washington, the Revolutionary War, and the President of the new Republic. Lincoln in the Black Hawk War, preserving the Union and the Emancipation Proclamation, saved the Union. FDR not only brought the country out of the Great Recession but also passed the S/S, Glass-Steagall, plus many others that Americans take for granted now. Of the three, FDR was not only a political genius but was smart enough to pick the best and brightest for his Cabinet. As Americans, we all should be extremely afraid that Trump never has to face what these three did. With Trump, there is no best or brightest in his Cabinet, just yes men.
Clyde Steele
Oro Valley
A tale of two knights
Damsel in Distress: “Please, Sir; my country lies in ruins, and we need badly need your help to live. Here is a treasure given to me from other world leaders for my works, and I gladly give it to you if you will help us. I understand that you want one such as this very badly, and I freely sacrifice this — my own — to you for the sake of my people.”
White Knight: “Fear not, fair lady; I am of a people who care and will help others in their time of need. No treasure is asked, other than your friendship as we all go forward.”
Orange Knight: “Hey, thanks, lady. I’ll get back to you on the other stuff!”
Wes Ward
Oro Valley
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