Kari Lake, Republican Arizona Senate candidate
Hurry up Kari Lake
Kari Lake concedes that she lied and defamed County Recorder Stephen Richer.
She said he purposely marred ballots and flooded the vote with fake ballots and several other egregious accusations. Later, after admitting to her lies, she says she only admitted to lying so she can get back on the campaign trail to run for the Senate. Please hurry up and campaign so we can hear more lies and falsehoods. Kari Lake has two qualifications to be a Trump Republican Senator. She can read a teleprompter and lie. She has no other qualifications.
The Republican party must put up better candidates than Lake.
Richard Bechtold
West side
Don’t Louisiana Arizona
Is this where we’re going Arizona?
A recent report entitled “Criminalized Care” documents how Louisiana’s abortion ban has created health risks that endanger patients and clinicians. The report found that the culture of harassment and intimidation is so overwhelming that many doctors won’t even see patients until they have surpassed 12 weeks of pregnancy — denying much-needed prenatal care in those early weeks. Women are also getting forced C-sections in non-viable pregnancies to avoid the word “abortion” and the related penalties. This invasive procedure poses additional trauma and health risks for women.
Is this the kind of care we want for women in Arizona?
Don’t we want to attract and retain great doctors and clinicians?
Louisiana has the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation. The state’s current approach to pregnancy creates additional risks for pregnant women.
We deserve better. We deserve the right to choose the health care that is right for our individual situation.
Don’t Louisiana Arizona!
Carla Andrews OHara
Northwest side
Real penalties
Here in Arizona you can interfere with elections with little consequence. People have filed baseless lawsuits, tried to not release election results they didn’t like, and made a list of fake electors to attempt to steal the votes of the people.
I believe we need some kind of election interference enhancement. I suggest ten days in jail. That is not enough to ruin somebody’s life but should be a deterrent. If a citizen really believes in their cause and is not just pulling a political stunt they would be willing to risk ten days in jail.
It would take a citizen initiative to make it happen. Our legislators would not do anything to put themselves in check.
Robert McNeil
Midtown
Mike Jette for County Attorney
The “War on Drugs” has been a failure with mass incarceration. Decriminalization without adequate infrastructure for treatment and housing has also failed as evidenced by the recent Oregon experiment.
A first step for Tucson will be to elect a County Attorney who will not continue de facto decriminalization of crimes committed by drug users and people with mental illness roaming our streets without shelter or treatment. We need a County Attorney who will rebuild the office to deal with the backlog of untried cases and rebuild the domestic violence unit.
We need a County Attorney with the prosecutorial experience to avoid sticky ethical issues embroiling the current County Attorney. We need a County Attorney who will diligently pursue justice while at the same time working tirelessly to strengthen alternatives to incarceration. I believe Mike Jette is the person for the job and I will vote for him in the coming Democratic primary election for Pima County Attorney.
Joseph R. Patterson, PhD
Downtown
Anti-Zionism is not antisemitism
As a Jewish Tucsonan, I was relieved to see the Star carry a letter by Jewish elders in support of a ceasefire resolution, and in rebuttal to earlier opinion pieces scaremongering about antisemitism in the pro-ceasefire movement.
The State of Israel is a nuclear power, with seemingly unlimited access to U.S. weaponry (some made in Tucson). It was founded on the mass displacement of the indigenous people of that land, whom it continues to oppress to this day.
As a religious Jew and a grandchild of Holocaust survivors, there is no clearer way for me to honor my people than to oppose Zionism. I feel lucky to be part of such a diverse community that values all human lives, including the Palestinians who we should now be centering as they experience a genocide. Come on, Tucson: Ceasefire now.
Abby Okrent
Midtown
Support for our law enforcement officers
Shadows Of Duty
In the shadows where fears hide,
Cops stand strong, side by side.
They do their job with hearts of gold,
But many folks don’t know, they’re not told.
In streets where chaos rules the night,
They walk bravely, out of sight.
Their hard work often goes unseen,
But they keep us safe, like a guardian team.
Despite doubts and criticism, they persist,
Their sacrifices often dismissed.
But they’re the ones who keep us secure,
Even when we’re not so sure.
So let’s not judge without knowing the facts,
Let’s try to see through the smokes and acts.
For in their struggles, in their fight,
Lies the essence of what’s right.
Let’s support them, let’s stand tall,
Together, we’ll overcome it all.
For in unity, in understanding’s embrace,
We’ll build a better, safer place.
I write to honor law enforcement, shedding light on their struggles and bravery. My poetry aims to bridge communities, fostering empathy, understanding, and unity for safer, compassionate societies.
Drakovi Bloodrose
Midtown
Grateful to President Biden
I am a Zionist and a Jewish American who is grateful and proud that our country is aiding Israel since the brutal massacre on October 7th. As a Democrat I trust President Biden’s judgment on how to best support Israel, the only Democracy in the Middle East. I continually hope for the safe return of the 133 hostages who might still be alive.
Maureen Salz
Oro Valley
Is America in ruin?
Trump continually says that the USA is in complete ruin. We need to retaliate against is enemies, get rid of the Constitution, target certain groups as enemies of the State.
All right, I’m a pretty well off 70-year-old white guy. Hard work got me ahead in America. Probably further ahead than non-white or female hard workers.
America has problems but it is not in ruin. The border is a problem. Putin is a problem. Israel’s situation is a problem. Wealth inequity is a problem. Health care is a problem. Global warming is a problem. We have problems in America. We have always had problems in America. Trump says our problems will require a dictator to fix them. Those are the ridiculous ravings of a psychotic narcissist. Are we buying into his “Messiah” psychosis?
Whatever our problems are we can solve them together under our democratic system of government.
We need to work together. We can fix what we need to fix.
We don’t need that “Messiah.”
Richard Bechtold
West side
Today’s GOP
Re: the April 8 article “Lawmakers push to protect turning right on red lights” and “US AIDS relief program may be at risk.”
Not to badmouth the GOP but there were two front page articles in today’s (April 8) Star that exemplify all that is wrong with the GOP today. 1. Lawmakers push to protect turning right on red is an example of wasting time solving non-problems, which seems to be a GOP specialty — see election integrity issues, which only exist in the minds of the far-right. How about water and budget issues, how about gun violence?
There are plenty of real problems a serious political party could focus on. 2. US AIDS relief program at risk is an example of trying to run government on the cheap.
Small government makes a good slogan but doesn’t work in today’s complex world, it only results in bigger deficits or unfunded priorities, see public schools in AZ or the federal deficit.
All the happiest countries tax at far higher rates than the US and have fewer social ills.
Dave Bertagnoli
West side
We all had to pay for Conover’s misconduct
It is unfortunate that Pima County taxpayers have had to foot the legal bill for County Attorney Laura Conover’s misconduct.
A public records request shows that Conover spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars for a Phoenix based lawyer to deal with her ethics matters, respond to State Bar charges involving her professional misconduct, and negotiate her diversion agreement with the State Bar which resulted in her having to take remedial ethics training and monitoring by the State Bar for one year.
In addition, public records reveal that Conover spent over $100,000 in attorney’s fees (paid by the taxpayers) to avoid revealing public records which were part of the basis of the Bar complaint against her. This is disgraceful behavior by one who purports to be a public servant.
Pima County voters have a choice in the primary. Vote for Mike Jette.
Barbara Lauritzen
West side
Help for Veterans and others
A recent letter-writer suggested that “we” divert money being used for the border crisis into creating programs for homeless and addicted citizens. Or use money that might otherwise help Ukraine or Israel/Gaza.
You have heard of gridlock in Congress? Those same representatives who refuse to take action to save Ukraine from Russia or let partisan differences hold up aid to Gaza/Israel are the same ones who have not provided our own veterans, children, elderly, or poor with a social safety net.
Every heartbreaking circumstance in America — homelessness, addiction, etc.— could be resolved with a little Christian charity. Our elected representatives vote against social programs. Then they turn around and use this callousness to campaign for reelection, telling you they’ve saved you all kinds of money.
Yes, You! Charity begins at home.
It begins with those of us whom fortune has blessed sharing the blessing with those other souls who were not so lucky.
I’ll vote for whoever knows this!
Kathy Suagee
Benson
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