Tucson City Council bullied on ‘cease-fire now’
Attempts by anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian sympathizers to coerce Tucson’s City Council to adopt a resolution for an unconditional cease-fire in Gaza continues. The City Council must not be bullied into this. Rather, it should focus on Tucson matters.
I saw how illiberal the anti-Israel lobby is to insist on a ‘cease-fire now.’ Few acknowledged the Oct. 7 atrocities when Hamas terrorists murdered and raped more than 1,200 people in Israel, with 240 kidnapped (130 still being held captive). Hamas violated five previous cease-fires, bringing more death and destruction, and vows to destroy Israel. Bullying the City Council is bad enough. Even worse is their obvious contempt for democratic institutions and freedoms that allow their voices to be heard. During the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, several ‘cease-fire now’ proponents remained seated, showing no respect for a Christian minister or the American flag. While Israel’s just war to remove Hamas terrorists from Gaza continues, democratic institutions in America are under threat.
Kent Blumenthal
Green Valley
A rider steps off a bus at the Ronstadt Transit Center in downtown Tucson.
Fare-free transportation
The concept of collecting fares on the bus or streetcar is outdated, inefficient, sometimes confusing, and surprisingly expensive. It creates conflict that drivers have to manage and a psychological barrier for new riders. We aren’t thinking creatively enough about how to pay fares and what counts as paying a fare. The “fare“ could be a surcharge added to your bar tab, an extra dollar or 2 on your hotel bill for a “visitor mobility pass” or a small fee added to our water and trash fees and treated as another utility. I would pay gladly, even if it were voluntary on my bill. If we broaden the idea of what is a fare and identify sources for more of us to contribute to those fares, then we are all paying into the system. I am more likely to use something I am already paying for, especially if all I have to do is walk on board.
Tim Warfield
Downtown
Thank you, Lady Wildcat basketball!
The UA women's basketball team has been fraught with so many obstacles this year, i.e., the loss of players due to injury, transfers, and a few players leaving the team to pursue their academic dreams, but they are not quitters! These seven women have stepped up at every game and given their everything to this team, and despite losing some, they left everything on the court every single time! Kudos to seniors Isis Beh, Helena Pueyo, and Esmery Martinez for your contributions to this fantastic team. You will be missed. As season-ticket holders we look forward to next season with great excitement for the team, especially with all of the great talent on board for the upcoming season. Coach Adia Barnes is top-shelf and will undoubtedly take next year's team even further. If you haven't seen them, you have missed out! Get your tickets now!
Terri Hicks
Northwest side
Robbins’ missing zero
While I perhaps should laud UA President Robbins for his voluntary 10% pay cut, I feel there should have been an additional zero added to the cut and he should be fired. While some have defended the dollar value of grants the university has attracted, how much really was due to his leadership versus the pre-existing excellence of this top research university? The significant deficit he incurred through poor decision-making in purchasing a low-quality, overpriced online program shows poor diligence and decision-making. The buck stops with the guy at the top, not just with the Board of Regents.
Donna Strain
Southeast side
Ciscomani — Investing in Head Start?
Re: the March 8 article "Investing in educators is investment in students."
The recent guest opinion by Representatives Ciscomani and Sherrill regarding the introduction of the HEADWAY Act (Head Start Education and Development Workforce Advancement and Yield Act) is laudable. Leveraging resources is a great idea. Their op-ed cited the National Head Start Association (NHSA), who the Representatives claimed attributed the classroom vacancies, in part, “to staff shortages.” Arguably a more significant cause also posted by the NHSA is the House Appropriations Committee's proposed $750,000,000 reduction from the current FY23 funding a cut that "... will prevent roughly 80,000 children and their families from accessing Head Start and Early Head Start’s high-quality life-changing services."
Representative Ciscomani — did you also advocate for adequate Head Start funding?
Sheldon Clark
Vail
Choosing our leaders
I am astonished by our country’s current focus on individuals, such as the presidential candidate. Yes, to be an effective leader, the President must have character, vision, and competence. But success also requires teamwork. I learned this from my father (a Vice Admiral, U. S. Navy, Retired). He knew that the success of any operation depends on teamwork at multiple scales — from crews of single ships, to ships within a task force, to fleets, to the entire Navy. Any leader — whether my father or the President — is effective only with the backing of a competent, multi-level team rowing in the same direction. So please, let’s focus not just on individual candidates but also on the vision, character, and expertise of the teams they assemble. Team Bidenocrat has a known record of moving in a direction consistent with fundamental values of our democracy. Team Trumpublican has no coherent platform other than to do whatever is needed to stay in power.
Mary Price
Foothills
Tired of the point-making by both camps
I’m getting very tired of the point-making from both sides of the political spectrum. The latest example is MTG at the State of the Union yelling about the unfortunate murder of the nursing student by an illegal alien. Would she have interrupted if the perpetrator was an American?
Ted Frohling
Northeast side
New baby elephant
Re: the March 9 article "Tucson newest baby elephant born Friday."
It was heartwarming to see the photo and article about Reid Park Zoo's new baby elephant on the front page. It has been a long wait of almost two years for this new "ambassador" for African Elephants to arrive. With poaching continuing in their native habitats, each birth is a triumph of survival.
Many thanks to the Reid Park Zoo staff and veterinary care team. Many volunteers helped to monitor expectant mother, Semba, during her long pregnancy, as well.
We will look forward to watching the herd welcome their new arrival at our next visit to the zoo.
Marlene C. Skinner
Southwest side
Give us sports fans a break
Re: the March 9 article "UA's Robbins gets deficit down to $176,868,400."
After reading Michael Chihak’s last three opinion pieces, I had an unstoppable urge to join the Wildcat Club. Robbins' biggest mistakes did not involve the athletic department.
Loraine Whitmore
Midtown
Why support Palestinian terrorists?
As an observer of history and current events, it occurs to me that George Washington showed no interest in sending humanitarian aid to the British, Abraham Lincoln didn’t aid the southern breakaway states during the Civil War, and FDR and Harry Truman definitely did not support aid to Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, or Fascist Italy. Yet now, in the 21st century, there’s an enormous movement to support Palestinian terrorists! How can this be explained? Love thy enemy as thyself? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you? Or old-fashioned modernized anti-Semitism?
Barney Popkin
Foothills
Gaza woes revisited
Re: the March 10 letter "Gaza woes."
The man was explaining “this is not food to feed a family” referencing MREs (meals ready to eat). Some time ago, when I was in the army, MREs came packaged 24 to a box, two series of 12 meals. Of those 12 meals, 9 were made of pork products. I had to choose from the other three. Gazans do not have that choice. Keeping kosher is the same for Muslims as for Jews. Oh, the Gazans will eat the pork meals as they are starving. It would be easy to say someone was not thinking, dropping MREs. However, MREs are the only way to feed the masses in the shortest time. Great letter.
David ben Avram
Marana
Shame on you
To the person who damaged my car while it was parked at Reid Park near the De Meester Center on Saturday, March 9 and left without leaving a note — shame on you! You scraped my rear passenger side bumper, leaving several small holes in it. You must have noticed doing it as it would have been right outside your driver's window. Your failure to stop and take responsibility is selfish, rude, inconsiderate and actually against the law. Damaging a parked vehicle and not leaving a conspicuous note with your contact information is a Class 3 Misdemeanor in Arizona. I am now left to bear the cost of your boorish behavior myself. My only consolation is that I believe that everyone gets their due reckoning when they eventually arrive at the Pearly Gates — that is, if they have not gone the "other way" already.
Jane O'Regan
Northeast side
University of Arizona Musical Theatre program
This letter is intended more as a query, rather than an opinion.
I recently read in The Arizona Daily Star that The Marroney Theatre on The UA campus had recently had a very expensive renovation and makeover.
This theatre is the home of UA Musical Theatre and Dramatic Arts productions.
I also read recently in The Arizona Daily Star that the UA Is eliminating the Musical Theatre program entirely.
I am wondering why this expensive renovation was done for a theatre which will no longer be used.
If anyone out there has an answer to this query, I would love to hear it.
Opinionwise, I think it is an outright shame that UA is eliminating this outstanding musical theatre program. Every show I have seen there has been absolutely outstanding and is also very affordable to the general public.
Daniel Egan
East side
Imagined conspiracy of anti-Ciscomani letters
Re: the Feb. 21 article "Johnson and Ciscomani should both be sidelined" and the March 10 letter "Juan Ciscomani."
On Feb. 21 I wrote an op-ed which was critical of Representative Ciscomani for supporting Speaker Mike Johnson who is obstructing aid to Ukraine and border security. Johnson opposes the former and is intent on preserving the latter as a campaign issue for Donald Trump. Contrary to the letter writers insinuation on March 10, I did not coordinate this op-ed with others.
I have written numerous times to Ciscomani's office. In my first few letters I repeatedly asked Ciscomani to explain why he voted to defund the Internal Revenue Service or at least give me a reference to some written justification.
I never received a reply. More recently I begged Ciscomani to support aid for Ukraine. In reply, I received a survey seeking my opinion concerning aid for Ukraine.
Probably like the letter writer, I care about issues. It is apparently pointless for me to write to Ciscomani, so I write to the paper.
Doug Pickrell
Midtown
It's not just about abortion
While waiting outside the library one day recently, I listened to what was being said at the anti-abortion table. I heard these words: "This government isn't legitimate," "We the People are the government," "militia," "We're going to take down DC," "God is the boss." Good grief! So, I guess it's not just about abortion anymore.
Mel Strijdonk
Oro Valley
Role model
A recent letter lamented a lack of civility, along with disrespect, name-calling, sarcasm and lack of empathy for differing viewpoints in letters to the editor. Perhaps these writers are simply following Donald Trump's lead. Trump is the grand master of nastiness, name-calling, sarcasm, belittling words, disrespectful language, threats, and verbal rudeness and crudeness. His devotees love this. He has made such a nasty communication style mainstream and acceptable, helped along by the non-stop media coverage of his poisonous words and personality. It's totally predictable that this way of expression has been adopted by many. " Just sayin'..."
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Gaza Pier
The good ole US of A is planning to build a floating pier in Gaza. Why aren't the fellow Muslim neighbor/states building piers and providing aid? After all, this neighborhood contains some of the richest countries in the world. Why aren't these wealthy neighbors opening up their borders to Gazans needing aid, shelter, food, etc.? The Saudi border is 200 miles from Gaza, while the USA is almost 7,000 miles away! Not a rhetorical question but an honest-to-goodness inquiry.
Debra Mantecon
East side
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