Customers line up to fill their tanks at the Circle K at Oracle and Grant roads in Tucson.
Back to $4 a gallon of gasoline
Well, Tucson is back to $4+ a gallon of gasoline. That is about $1.50 more than in November 2020. Biden has already depleted our nation’s strategic oil reserves to its lowest level since the 1980s. To appease left wing environmentalists, he has done nothing to increase our domestic oil and gas supply and production. He has done the opposite by placing millions of acres of land and sea off limits to exploration. Besides gasoline, everything in my life cost more under Biden. Groceries are higher, credit card interest rates are higher, auto and home insurance premiums have surged, entrees at restaurants are higher, my barber just went up in price for a haircut from $20 to $25. All caused by inflation, higher wages, and transportation fuel costs. Because of Biden’s EPA and DOE CO2 punitive emissions reduction mandates on a wide spectrum of industries, prices for gasoline/diesel powered vehicles will soon greatly increase. Manufacturing, electric utility, and appliance companies too will be raising their prices to consumers.
Langhorne Bilby
Marana
AZ Supreme Court’s ruling on abortion
I am a Republican, pro-life, but was very disappointed in the AZ State Supreme Court’s ruling on abortion reverting the state back to a policy from territorial days. Republican Gov. Ducey and a Republican Legislature had passed a 15-week abortion bill, which I thought was a reasonable middle ground. From my read, the Republican controlled legislature could just repeal the antiquated territorial law from the 1880s and that would leave the 15 weeks bill intact. I believe there is support amongst Republicans in the Legislature to do that. It would be in contrast to the Democrats’ AZ Constitutional Amendment that allows abortions up to 24-weeks (6 months), and further if a physician approves it. I say give Arizona voters a choice between a reasonable middle ground 15-weeks and an extremist 24-weeks and more plan. I would prefer no abortions, because even at 15 weeks a fully developed baby is formed with a beating heart. But, I understand the political reality of all this.
Haley Roberts
West side
Check to check
The stats are, “65% of American families live paycheck to paycheck,” Suze Ormond. They are the employees working in those strip malls with signs ‘Join the Team.’ They are those working in the convenience stores. They are the working poor. And they are gaining in numbers. Yes, there are many jobs unfulfilled. But what are those jobs. They are minimum wage jobs at $14.35 an hour in Arizona. At a 40-hour work week that is $574 for a single person. In Arizona to avoid paying workman’s compensation insurance employers keep employees’ hours per week below 32. At a 30 hour work week it’s $430 or $1720 a month. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Tucson is $985 leaving $735, before tax, for living expenses. Utilities, transportation expenses, food, perhaps cable, a cell phone, and maybe a pet, make it a paycheck to paycheck budget. Arizonans are joining the third world.
David ben Avram
Marana
Biden’s Iran appeasement
Former President Trump implemented a “Maximum pressure” policy toward Iran. He placed sanctions on their oil exports, which crippled their economy, and their ability to fund terrorist proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. President Biden has not enforced those sanctions and allowed Iran to sell millions of barrels of oil on the black market mainly to China. Those oil sales provided Iran with billions in revenue to finance their terrorist proxies, and build those 300 armed drones and ballistic missiles that were launched against Israel. Biden intended to provide Iran with $6 billion in frozen assets as part of a hostage ransom deal. Iran had stated they would use those funds however they wanted. Biden has a policy of appeasement towards Iran, never holding them directly accountable. The Jerusalem Post reported that after Iran’s attack, a phone call from Biden to Netanyahu canceled a planned retaliatory attack. A political move by Biden as he does not want further conflict as oil prices would likely soar before the election.
Christy Daniels
Foothills
Our adversaries do not respect Biden
Leading up to the attack on Israel, President Biden repeatedly warned Iran with the word “Don’t.” But Iran ignored that and attacked Israel anyway. No consequences from Biden. In fact, he thwarted a reprisal attack from Israel. Despite Biden’s repeated warnings to China about not supplying Russia with military weapons materials, they have done so on a large scale. Biden has never punished China for COVID and their deceit about it. Over one million Americans died from the virus. China continues its cyberattacks against America and Chinese manufactured precursors for fentanyl are still going to Mexico. Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan was a disaster. The Taliban again rule the country. Biden told Putin not to invade Ukraine, but he did so anyway, for the second time under Biden. Our southern border is a disaster and wide open to terrorists. FBI Director Wray has stated that we are now vulnerable to another coordinated terrorist attack. Biden’s foreign policy weakness places America at risk as our adversaries do not respect him.
Tom Galloway
North side
U of A tuition
Raising tuition at the U of A must not be the answer. It is already outrageously high and most likely against the AZ constitution which states that tuition at state colleges should be as close to zero as possible. Administrative and building costs need to be curtailed and just about anything other than charges to the student. Perhaps they think that student loans will be forgiven so might as well pile it on.
John Morgan
Midtown
Who cares about our water woes?
Re: the April 16 article “Tucson’s Santa Cruz lands on list of America’s most endangered rivers.”
We live in a desert that is quickly losing more water than it will ever see again. The fact that our once-mighty Santa Cruz River is one of the most threatened rivers in the country is no surprise to anyone who has crossed its mostly dry bed well know. Hudbay’s Copper World project plans to use 4.5 billion gallons of water a year from this aquifer to wash rocks. In doing so they will add poisonous chemicals to it so it will never again be potable. They will form a huge toxic forever pond where future rainwater will collect, contaminating that and making it impossible for the natural cycles of our weather to ever repair the damage and loss.
Does anyone else think this is a monstrous crime against nature and humanity that not one AZ official or one AZ law protects all living things and is planning to NOT protect us from?
Peggy Hendrickson
Green Valley
A jewel in the desert
Last weekend, families, teachers, and alumni gathered to celebrate a hidden jewel in the middle of our city, Tucson Community School.
Seventy-five years ago, as the city boomed after WWII, a small group of families joined together to create a school for their young children. Cooperatively they transformed a small building on Pima Street into an indoor-outdoor site for learning together. Outgrowing that space in just a year, they moved to a house on Campbell Avenue, and by 1953 they began building their own school on Hedrick Drive.
It was there we celebrated 75 years of high-quality education. I am forever grateful to the founding families and those who believe in the right of every child to learn and grow through independent exploration and family participation.
As a former teacher at TCS for 40 years, I congratulate director Stephanie Castillo-Leon, all the teachers and all the families who love and support our hidden jewel, Tucson Community School.
Cheryl Lazaroff
Midtown
Trump-loving friends
Re: the April 15 article “Questioning friendships with Trumpers.”
Thanks to Mr. Shapiro for his excellent opinion piece. I intend to give copies to some of my Republican friends, so they can mull things over in their own homes, hopefully remembering Mr. Shapiro’s key points when they vote in November. Given Mr. Trump’s past and present behavior, a vote for the former president would be unethical, sacrilegious and immoral.
I’m also going to hand Mr. Shapiro’s article to the rude, loud and aggressive people who challenge me at my local library as I respectfully collect signatures for the women’s rights petition. Petitioning is a constitutional right to address grievances with the status quo. It is unconscionable to upset young children with horrific graphic photos as they enter the library. Adults understand words.
Mitchell Anderson
Catalina
Been there, done that
I wish Steve Kozachik well in his new position with Pima County and look forward to a replacement who, like Kozachik, possesses the character and stalwart efforts with results that improve the lives of ward residents. Many of the candidates seem qualified, but one should not be put back in office — Nina Trasoff. I recall the treatment of downtown business owners during the city’s revitalization efforts in 2009, a time in Trasoff’s tenure. Many of them were evicted from their businesses with no advanced warning. That was a terrible way to treat business owners who dedicated their work lives to improving downtown only to be told on a local evening television spot featuring Trasoff that they were no longer needed and to “pack your bags”. Tucson deserves better. Please select someone who can carry on the Kozachik vision and respects all residents.
Scott Wert
Midtown
Women’s basketball
I am ecstatic that women’s basketball has gained more attention than ever thanks to superstars like Caitlyn Clark and Angel Reese. But Tucson has its own superstars in Helena Pueyo and Esmery Martinez, both of whom were drafted to the WNBA. I wish them the best of luck and they should know they are loved and will be missed. I hope Helena’s contract includes bonuses in the event she leads all rookies in steals or assist to turnover ratio. Likewise, Esmery’s rebounding should be factored in. Adia Barnes worked magic with a seven person rotation, and is to be commended for the accomplishments of our departing soon-to-be pros and the entire Wildcat team. Buena suerte, muchachas!
Louis Hollingsworth
West side
Replacing Councilman Kozachik
I’m saddened by the loss of Tucson Councilman Steve Kozachik but wish him well in his new position with Pima County. His replacement should be of upstanding and honest character — qualities I do not believe one particular candidate, Nina Trasoff, possesses. Those of us who had businesses downtown in 2009 were unceremoniously evicted to “revitalize” downtown. We were forced to learn of our evictions through a press event held by Trasoff in front of our businesses touting her re-election. This was no way to treat longstanding downtown business owners who were told they were of utmost importance in the revitalization efforts. As a result of this double-crossing behavior, Trasoff lost her election. Please don’t put her back in office — a candidate who didn’t have the decency to work with her very constituents. Choose another qualified candidate who has respect for the hard work and vision of all constituents; not one that ignored livelihoods for a self-indulgent “presser.”
Emery Nicoletti
Northeast side
Future for women under Trump
Women risk losing far more than their reproductive choices under an authoritarian government. If women vote predominantly Democratic under a Trump regime, they could lose their right to vote, even their right to an education.
If this sounds too conspiratorial, consider three things: One, that Arizona just enacted an 1864 ruling prohibiting abortions; two, that other world dictators have stripped women of their right to educations; and three, Trump’s attitudes toward women. He is a convicted rapist who brags that his ‘star’ status allows him to grab women by their genitals.
Of course we could be more marginalized. American women didn’t win suffrage until 1919. That the U.S. Supreme Court revoked Roe vs Wade in 2024 and the Arizona Supreme Court wants to re-enact an 1864 anti-abortion decision should warn us of the danger of electing Trump and his Christian nationalistic party.
April Hoffman
Oro Valley
Local opinions
Re: the April 15 article “Questioning friendships with Trumpers.”
Thank you very much Mr. Shapiro for your guest opinion. It is quite refreshing to read such an intelligent and well stated piece from an Oro Valley resident. So much better that the usual drivel we read from OV’s loyal MAGA parrot.
I wish the Daily Star would have the fortitude to publish an editorial piece similar to Chris Quinn’s Letter from the Editor that appeared in the 31 March Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Patrick Mulloy
Oro Valley
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