Tucson Speaks Out: April 14

Misplaced priorities

Two articles in the April 12 edition pushed me to the edge of despair: Tim Steller’s column on the loss of food aid, and the second border wall planned across Arizona. More than $46 million to build a totally useless piece of performative art while children, the elderly and disabled folks go hungry. There simply are no words to describe the depravity of an administration that starves its own people while enriching well-connected contractors. When will the American people wake up and take to the streets en masse to protest this gross misplacement of priorities?

Kathleen Dubbs

West side

Which is it?

Until four days ago, President Trump was a warmonger executing an illegal war against peace-loving Iran who had done nothing to elicit the ire of the United States. This was an extraordinary condemnation considering every President in the last forty years has stated that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. In addition, all Democratic senators and representatives have stated the Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. Strikingly, when President Trump agreed to a two-week cease fire in an attempt to negotiate an agreement without further destruction of that country, the outrage was even more strident. The liberal press and leading Democrats are now condemning President Trump for being a coward who will not carry out his promises. Do Democrats want more war or, conversely, an acceptable peaceful solution or do they just want to vilify President Trump, regardless of his decisions? Is the mantra "hate Trump, regardless?" Appears so.

Loyal M Johnson Jr

Oro Valley

Pickleball at Udall Park

We have built a wonderful pickleball community at Udall Park over the last five years. Hundreds of people of all ages come each week to enjoy some exercise, competition and socialization. We have a self monitored paddle rack system that ensures that even if you come by yourself, you will be able to play. It is truly the best thing a public park can foster.

Now the city is proposing to turn this magnificent facility over to a private company so they can charge people to play. This guarantees that the Udall courts will become a ghost town. The paddle rack system will go away and the entire vibe will deteriorate. Just look at what has happened at the Kino Pickleball courts since a similar system was implemented. It lies mostly empty.

What next? Charge for the dog park, the playgrounds, basketball and volleyball courts? The city government really needs to rethink this.

Lee LaFrese

Northeast side

Second wall along southern border of Arizona

I am 94 years young. I call upon Senators and Representatives in Arizona to vote against and stop legislation concerning the second wall the president of the United States wants to build along the southern border of Arizona. Please, as thoughtful and caring representatives of Arizona, whether you are a Republican, Independent or Democrat, vote against this legislation.

I am 94 years young. plead with the Senators and Representatives of Arizona to vote against or stop such idiotic legislation that will build ANOTHER WALL in Southern Arizona. If it should pass expect to see a 600 foot screen erected on the wall to stop birds coming into ARIZONA BECAUSE OF LACK OF PASSPORTS. Please in the name of fellow Arizonans, whether you are a Republican, Independent, or Democrat oppose this STUPID, THOUGHTLESS, CARE LESS LEGISLATION AND VOTE AGAINST THIS ABOMINATION LEGISLATION.

Donald Phillips

Foothills

You voted for this

As we all can clearly see there is a madman in the White House. The actions are not normal nor acceptable to any moral human.

I am very concerned this maniac will end us all. I also know there is nothing I can do to stop his insanity.

I feel no responsibility for the situation, but you, Trump voter, should. You enabled this guy to hold the power of nuclear destruction of our planet. You have enabled him to cause worldwide shortages of fuel and other critical materials, like fertilizer for our crops. And you did that because you did not like the Dems.

Yes, those evil Dems were destroying the country. Well, your guy has openly stated that he would end a civilization. This over the result of the war this child started because he could. He cites the cause as issues that are 50 years old. Gotta stop it NOW. You don’t want to accept it, but you own it.

Jeff Rayner

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SaddleBrooke

Support ICE activity restrictions

“I think it's time we ask ourselves if we still know the freedoms that were intended for us by the Founding Fathers. Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that an elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them for ourselves.” Never did I, a bleeding-heart liberal from the ’60s, think that I would be quoting Ronald Reagan from a 1964 speech, basically about taxes. I use it here in the context of support for the recent resolutions by Pima County, the City of Tucson, and the City of South Tucson restricting the use of their properties for ICE immigration law enforcement activities.

The event in South Tucson this past week in which an innocent bystander was pepper sprayed by a non-uniformed ICE agent wearing a face covering was reminiscent of violent actions by totalitarian governments. I urge these civil entities to stand by their commitments.

Mark Hanna

Foothills

Hope for CD6 Voters

Are you tired of leaving unanswered messages or accessing a full voicemail box at our CD6 Congressman’s office? Are you tired of writing LTEs asking, wishing, and hoping that he would suddenly stand up for the values he professed to hold? Are you tired of being ignored and simply asking to be heard?

Well, here’s the great news! CD6 Democratic Candidate JoAnna Mendoza is the representative you are seeking. Her presentation and responses to our questions at the 4/11 LD17 meeting confirm that Mendoza is a leader who listens, a person who cares. She will bring her military experience, her understanding of how government can/should work for people, and her perspective as a mom and patriot to the task of representing us in D.C. Find out where she is speaking next about truth and trust in government. Join me and make a commitment to elect her in November.

Judi Moreillon

Northeast side

City budget

Thanks to Matt Somers for his letter to the editor "Fire Station Closures?" In an effort to assist Tucson Mayor and City Council in balancing our city's budget. If this elected body were truly committed to the seriousness of this current budget conundrum, they would cut their office budgets and take a salary cut. Any bets?

Jerry Anderson

Midtown

ICE and Its march toward Nazi Germany

Unemployment has now climbed to ca. 4.7%, an increase directly correlated to the massive deportation of illegals. Once they are gone, their families are gone, hence work is gone, and jobs are gone; communities are destroyed, and human dignity is lost. ICE has a budget of $170 billion since last year and uses that vast amount of money not to serve our nation, but to hurt and kill people who are maybe illegals but mostly valuable members of our society at large (workers on farms, in factories, in the construction and food industry, in the hotel business, etc.). These are people, our neighbors, and they deserve a dignified and honorable treatment. ICE is currently holding ca. 70,000 deportees in their horrible warehouses, mostly without basic hygiene, food, bedding, and medicine. The Nazi concentration camps obviously served as models for ICE, which mostly operates without any oversight and a legal basis supported by Congress. This is not only hurting us, but un-American and simply shameful and disastrous — inhumane.

Albrecht Classen

Midtown

TEP's unfair raise, undeserved praise

Before Friday (April 17), go to the ACC website to oppose TEP’s rate hike and the ARAM, which would guarantee automatic yearly rate hikes and make it even harder to challenge future hikes. Type TEP in the box for Company Name. The docket number is E-01933A-25-0103.

Sadly, under the ECA (which is tied to TEP's Franchise Agreement) the $2 Million/yr that TEP agrees to give the city is less than 7 tenths of one percent of the $288 million of pure profit TEP charged us back in 2024, and TEP's profit continues to go up. It went up more than 33% just from 2022 to 2024.

So, before Wednesday April 22, tell mayor and council, in return for the franchise agreement, the ECA should require TEP to begin paying their own $14 million/yr franchise fee, instead of passing it on to us ratepayers (as listed on the back of your monthly bill).

Lee Stanfield

East side