Julia Benitez is pictured in 2022 with her two grandsons, then 16 and 7 years old, when they lived together in Cuba. Her daughter Dayana said she tries to reassure her mother during her immigration detention through daily video calls. "I talk to her about everyday life to help her not to lose context," Dayana said. "I say, 'Don't worry, you'll get out soon. You'll hug your grandchildren, you'll kiss them because we're waiting for you here.' And she gets emotional, and I see tears in her eyes."
Two abductions
Sunday paper, Page A1. Two tragedies reported side-by-side. The abduction of Nancy Guthrie by a masked perpetrator, unknown and overwhelming, worry and horror at her location, and possible condition.
Juxtapose the equally tragic story of Juanita Benitez, an asylum seeker, grandmother, suffering from Alzheimer’s dementia, seized by masked men, put in prison, with her family, unsure of her mental and physical condition.
The difference: Señora Benitez could be released and returned to the safe environment of her loving family immediately.
When did our government become no better than the kidnappers? Oh yes, at the election of Donald Trump.
Susan Severson
East side
Goodbye, Planet Earth
Donald Trump is aggressively rolling back EPA protections, loosening limits on toxic pollutants, and treating environmental safeguards as expendable nuisances. At a time when climate change, wildfire smoke, and contaminated water already threaten public health, this isn’t deregulation, it’s a slow-motion demolition of the only planet we can inhabit.
If Trump insists on stamping his name on Penn Station, Dulles Airport, the Kennedy Center, and assorted other national institutions, let’s rename the entire planet after him.
Every other planet in our solar system is named after a god, Mars, Venus, Jupiter. Even Pluto, demoted to dwarf status, still carries the name of a god of the underworld. Earth alone is named after dirt. A branding failure.
Why not Planet Trump?
Perhaps pollution would then feel personal. Poisoned rivers would be bad optics. Smog would be vandalism. Climate change could be rebranded as “Trump getting warmer.”
If appeals to science, children, and the future haven’t worked, maybe the planet needs Trump’s name on?
Lawrence Mazin
SaddleBrooke
RTA
I've been carefully reading the pros and cons of the RTA issue. It seems everyone who is either employed, or benefits from the RTA is all for it. Those opposed, are usually an interested party. If Tucson's mayor and council had been more transparent about its expenditures of RTA money, maybe it would stand a chance of passing.
However, they are not transparent. All of the HAWKS installed, about 150, were paid with RTA funds, totaling $21 million. Added to our expenses is the now-free bus system, which adds millions more to city obligation.
Poor road and expansion planning are the reasons why we have such congested streets. Plan for the future, not for the next election cycle.
James Kelly
East side
Naming rights
Last evening, my wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary at a lovely dinner hosted at the home of our friends Susie and Clarence Dupnik. (My wife was Susie’s classmate at the Police Academy and then worked for Clarence for 30 years).
On our way out their door I took a picture of the plaque awarded to Clarence by the Board of Supervisors and presented to him by the current Sheriff, Chris Nanos. It commemorates the naming of the PCSO Headquarters as the “Clarence W. Dupnik Sheriff’s Complex” in recognition of his 38 years at the SO and 57 years of law enforcement work.
I shared my picture with our children in light of the media footage of the building and its signage which has been ubiquitous over these past terrible days. (We pray for the Guthries.)
When I got up this morning one of my more sarcastic kids had responded overnight: "Better watch out or someone we know will rename it the Trump-Dupnik Sheriff’s Complex.”
A. Lawrence Brennan Glynn
East side
Help make Tucson foie gras-free
Foie gras is French for "fatty liver" and comes from force-feeding ducks (or geese) multiple times a day until their livers grow seven to ten times their natural size. Workers brutally shove metal pipes down the birds’ throats to pump them full of grain, often causing puncture wounds, beak injuries, and death. Needless to say, it's an extremely stressful and painful process for the ducks and geese forced to endure it. They also suffer from broken bones and immobility as their bodies succumb to the weight of their diseased, swollen livers.
There are many cruelties involved with eating animals; foie gras production being among the worst. So bad, at least a dozen countries have banned it, along with the state of California and city of Pittsburgh, Penn. There is currently a grassroots effort to rid Tucson of this cruel product. Please help by never buying foie gras or patronizing restaurants that serve it.
Kim Flaherty
Downtown
Privacy is overestimated
A letter writer was decrying the fact that on the RTA ballot return envelope, your address and signature could be seen by anyone. Do you suspect people of coming around and checking your mailbox?
If you are really concerned with protecting your personal information, let me make a few suggestions:
*Don’t use Facebook, Instagram or any other social media (especially to tell everyone you’re on vacation)
*Make sure your mobile phone is kept updated for security issues
*Don’t download apps from places other than Apple App Store or GooglePlay
*Use a password manager to handle your online account logins
*Make sure your computer operating system is current
*Make sure your home network is using appropriate security (e.g., not the default password and SSID)
As someone with over 40 years in IT experience, I can truthfully say that signing your RTA ballot is the least of your worries. Especially in today’s conspiracy-prone society.
George Ball
Midtown
Props 418 & 419 rip off Tucson
I'm telling all my neighbors to vote NO on Props. 418 & 419.
• The PAC pushing for the Props is composed of corporate builders, construction companies, developers and engineers that will all profit from passage.
• The Star's extremely hesitant endorsement is actually an argument to vote no, citing numerous problems with the Props.
• Current and past City, County and Legislative leaders urge a no vote, including Miranda Schubert, Molly McKasson, Jerry Anderson, Bruce Wheeler, David Yetman, Albert Elias (Former Tucson Assistant City Manager) and Jim Glock (Former head of the Tucson Transportation Department).
• Among the nine governments on RTA Next, Tucson has only one vote, but must contribute 65% of RTA's revenue.
• The Props are a rip-off for Tucson residents. The Props won't fix potholes in Tucson but will create massive sprawl, and not fill empty lots and businesses in the City.
My fellow citizens, don't vote against yourself. Spread the word to vote no on Props 418 & 419.
Larry Bodine
Foothills
ASW concert was pitch-perfect
Love was still in the air this past Sunday, Feb. 15, during the Arizona Symphonic Winds concert at the Tucson J.
Shakespeare penned, "If music be the food of love, play on." And they did!
With a nearly sell-out crowd, conductor Laszlo Veres led the musicians, all local volunteers, in pieces from around the world. I tapped my toes to quite a few, including highlights from the musical "Chicago" and the song "New York New York," from the eponymous movie.
Veres is also an engaging raconteur. Between pieces, he entertained us with fun facts, such as the elegant name of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi translates into English as "Joe Green" and once when the orchestra started playing "Thunder and Lightning Polka" at an outdoor concert, it actually started to rain!
Thanks to vocal soloist Jack Neubeck, who filled in with less than 24 hours' notice when the original soloist couldn't perform.
The next concert is April 12 at Christ Church United Methodist. For further information, please visit azsymphonicwinds.com
Barbara Russek
North side
ICE detention of grandmother
The Sunday, Feb. 15, front page story about Julia Benitez was both heartbreaking and gut-wrenching. Here we have a 79-year-old Cuban asylum-seeking grandmother with dementia languishing in the Eloy ICE Detention Center. Thank you, Donald Trump, for getting another one of the most violent criminals off our streets. I don't know about you, but I feel safer already.
Renee Montrachet
Oro Valley
Experience at Northwest Hospital
I was in the ER lobby at Northwest Hospital ER last week. The lobby was extremely busy. I have no complaints. I observed people waiting in ER abusively yell at the nurse at registration. A patient came in and yelled at the nurse, only to be escorted out the door by security.
I witnessed all the nurses and doctors scrambling to help everyone in ER. They were all doing the best they could, which was exceptional in my opinion. Some patients got help and left right away. Maybe some patients could have gone to Urgent Care instead, but they didn't.
Witnessing this abuse was horrifying. Mean, selfish, and unappreciative people. Patients should respect the doctors and nurses. After all, the medical staff works extremely hard for 10-12 plus hours to be there for you. Please try to be supportive and not rebellious. Be appreciative of the care you will receive.
Karin Militello
Northwest side
Props 418, 419 a lot to swallow
About one-half of the RTA Next Plan makes sense — finish what you promised voters in 2006, safety, ADA & active transport elements, pavement rehab, environmental and transit elements — are all needed, sensible, and supportable. But much of the projected RTA Next budget for new roadway projects is hard to swallow. It serves to grease and perpetuate the hamster wheel of suburban sprawl. Infrastructure grease that should have been, and in the future should be, provided by the causes of the congestion through increased state gasoline tax, impact fees, and/or tax increment financing. Paying for the new roadway subelement with sales tax for 20 years makes it harder to swallow.
Sheldon Clark
Vail
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