Tucson Speaks Out: April 15 letters of the day

Lawfare irony

Recently, Arizona State Senator Anthony Kern and U.S. Senate Candidate Kari Lake have accused their accusers of lawfare — “weaponizing the legal system to punish, impoverish and destroy political opposition.” Lake in response to her admission of defamation of Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer. Kern for his involvement in the 2020 fake elector scheme. Both were and continue to emulate their champion political hero, Donald Trump, by engaging in “rhetorical hyperbole”, and both now claim to be “victims” of Donald Trump’s favorite tool — lawfare. Ironic.

Sheldon Clark

Vail

Sales tax proposal

Mayor Romero wants a sales tax that will be “to improve the lives of Tucsonans” with no specifics as to how the money will be spent. That should cause every voter to vote no! She will spend it on migrants, green projects and DEI — her priorities.

Denise Walker Midtown

Good Jewish-American or bad?

A good Jewish-American is similar to the ultra-Orthodox Jew who condemns the continued right-wing Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza; while a bad Jewish-American approves of the continued right-wing Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

And I don’t want to hear about October 7th, unless you want to talk about slavery, The Trail of Tears, Japanese-American internment camps, anti-Muslim and LGBTQ hate.

America has many problems race-wise, but to see a genocide occur in front of our eyes, 24 hours a day, and be cheered on by Jewish-Americans is un-American. America is a land of many people of different races, languages and religions; and if you believe in the “American” way, you would accept all people, no matter their race, language or religion.

Now, let me as ask again…

Alexander Maldonado Midtown

Primary Care shortage in rural Arizona

Improving healthcare access in rural Arizona demands a multifaceted strategy. Telemedicine and mobile clinics surmount geographic obstacles while incentivizing healthcare providers and collaborating with community health workers to ensure a tailored workforce. Expanding rural health facilities and enhancing transportation options amplify care availability and accessibility. Tele-education for professionals and public-private partnerships bolster quality and sustainability. Arizona’s programs, like the State Loan Repayment Programs and AZ REACH, facilitate seamless care coordination and address critical service gaps. Collaborative efforts such as SWTRC and ATP leverage telemedicine, bridging rural-urban disparities. These initiatives, supported by federal funding, enhance healthcare access and outcomes in rural Arizona.

In conclusion, many Arizona residents reside in rural communities without adequate healthcare. This complex problem stems from low recruitment of primary care providers, high costs associated with a large population of uninsured individuals, and transportation issues. Improving rural access to healthcare begins with tackling these major problems with innovative and collaborative solutions. Some organizations are already implementing solutions, and diverting funding to them may be effective.

Evan Gilbert, Olivia Mundorff, Yash Sharma, Jocelyn Watson and Breanna Wolkerstorfer, University of Arizona College of Nursing Public Health, Pharmacy, and Science West side

Anti-Zionism is antisemitism

On these pages,a vocal group of anti-Zionists (including Jewish antisemites), are struggling to claim they are not antisemitic. Their mental gymnastics try to avoid this conclusion, however anti-Zionism is the ethnic cleansing of Jews from Israel. That is antisemitism. They adopt Hamas’ slogan, “from the river to to the sea,” meaning eliminate Israel. That is antisemitism. They never advocate for a peaceful Palestinian state alongside Israel. They never condemn the murder of Jews, they never condemn the launching of thousands of missiles at Israeli civilians. These folks don’t want peace, and their message empowers Hamas and their antisemitism.

The French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy is saddened by this. His activism on behalf of civilians in Syria, and Yemen, where civilians died in far greater numbers than Gaza, is unquestioned. In those wars, Arab killed Arab (with US arms), and he couldn’t get the support from these protesters of Israel. Levy concludes it’s because Jews are fighting in Gaza, and these protesters are antisemitic.

Andrew Katz Green Valley

Hobbs shows she’s no moderate

Governor Hobbs was elected by only 17,117 votes per NBC. You would think with such a narrow margin she would govern from the middle. She recently vetoed 15 bills. While I agree with several, such as the bill which would have prevented requiring water measuring devices in certain areas, her veto of the bill to impose harsher penalties on protesters who block highways caters to the far left and will only encourage such destructive behavior. These protesters generally are quickly released and receive little if any penalty. I have experienced road blockage, and many of the protesters are militants abusing drivers and damaging property. Hobbs, like Biden and elected by moderates, has shown with so many of her actions like this that she isn’t governing as a moderate. Independents, like me, need to vote her out. We just need a reasonable alternative, and not someone like Lake.

James Tuthill

Oro Valley

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Ward 6 council race

There are indeed commendable candidates emerging for next year’s Ward 6 council race. When considering the current vacancy, Mayor and Council should prioritize transparency and democracy by allowing voters to make their choice and appointing a caretaker who has committed not to run for the seat.

Among the current aspirants, Ted Prezelski stands out as a candidate with extensive experience working alongside the council, possessing a deep understanding of both its operations and the pertinent issues at hand. His familiarity with the intricacies of the council’s workings makes him exceptionally qualified to seamlessly step into the position and effectively fulfill the term without the need for a learning curve.

Amy Munoz Downtown

Coming Social Security deficit

Re: the April 2 article “Upping retirement age least bad option.”

Karl Smith’s OpEd laid out very well the position the GOP will take for the Social Security benefit deficit coming during the next Presidency, raise the retirement age to 69. Really? He bemoans a proposed tax raise on an individual making 400k. I would remind him that person pays SS tax on less than half their income, The person making 2 million pays SS tax on less than 10 percent of their income. But you, making 10K, 50K, 100K, 150K, you are paying SS tax on 100 percent of your income. Social Security is a social program, designed to ensure all Americans no matter their circumstances receive at least some income in retirement years. Raising the retirement age to 69 is grossly unconscionable. I consider myself a fiscal conservative but this is over the line.

Ronald Blank East side

Politics and fortunes

How amazing it was to see three Presidents on stage at a recent fundraiser in New York. They seemed quite admired and revered for their accomplishments and ability to remain popular, especially among the media. Unfortunately, there is baggage when considering one of them is a philanderer, one is a known cheater, a known plagiarist and lawbreaker and the last one drew a “red line” while in office, which turned yellow, and that arguably led to a green light, giving Vladimir Putin the opportunity to invade Crimea (and ultimately into Ukraine. What a horrendous miscalculation leading to 10s of thousands of slaughtered people and massive infrastructure destruction).

However, there is a common thread amongst the three of them. They are all politicians that have been able to accumulate, personally, multimillions of dollars of wealth from a relatively modest salary. How does that happen? Go figure!!!

Dave Efnor East side

City Council tables ceasefire resolution

As a member of Tucson Jewish Voice for Peace, and Latin America solidarity activist, I was appalled that the Tucson City Council tabled the “ceasefire in Gaza” resolution. With genocide there is no neutrality, you either oppose it or support it. By refusing to oppose the genocide in Gaza, the Tucson city council is supporting it.

Aaron Bushnell, US Air Force, burned himself to death at the Israeli embassy, saying: “Many of us like to ask ourselves, ‘What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?’ The answer is, you’re doing it. Right now.” The Tucson City Council is doing it. Right now.

When I was 10, my parents often pondered how the Germans, “such a civilized people,” could have done what they did in the Holocaust. I learned staying silent in the face of genocide was a “bad thing.” As Aaron Bushnell said before dying, “You’re doing it. Right now.”

Rick Saling Foothills

Prosecution policy

I write this from a nonpartisan prospective. I am not taking a position on the abortion issues involved but am concerned with the ruin of our legal system. Our republic was founded on the principle of due process and innocence until guilt is proven. It needs to be upheld.

Our state Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionally of an abortion law. However the governor, AG and Pima county attorney are against prosecution.

Regardless of what you think of abortion this should be troubling. It is the same road traveled with the Sanctuary City movement of disputing immigration law.

Using this approach is implementing a “means justifying the end” approach. This means you can do anything because your cause is “right.”

Selective prosecution threatens our legal system and the legitimacy of our country. After disputing immigration law, or abortion law, what is next? Eventually we are back to the dark days of the 19th century, when people could murder others without fear of prosecution.

Steve Scholl Oro Valley