The Central Arizona Project canal cuts through the desert near Fountain Hills, Arizona. The 336-mile long system of aqueducts, tunnels, pumping plants and pipelines is the largest single resource of renewable water supplies in Arizona.
CAP cuts
Those of us who have lived in Arizona for most of our adult lives are well aware that Arizona’s economy and politics are driven by “development:”: endless growth, expansion, sprawl. In common parlance, bulldozing the desert and constructing new housing and new strip malls. A few developers get richer and increase their political influence, as more people move in and those of us living here come to understand that a desert economy dependent on endless growth is obviously counterproductive, if not destructive, in the long run. Many of us have been well aware of this for decades, and now the chickens have come home to roost. The water is running out. It’s past time to halt mindless development, starting with water-guzzling data centers and migrant prison camps, but also ticky-tacky “communities” built around waterparks and golf courses. High-water-use farming needs to be rethought as well. And thanks to the Arizona Daily Star and journalist Tony Davis for keeping us informed on water issues.
Maggy Zanger
Midtown
A reckoning is coming
It was just a matter of time, the poison-minded Trump and SS Miller had already started their war at home, so why not take it on the road to Iran?
The evil Trump regime and like-minded Israel bombed an all-girls school in Iran the other day, mass murdering 51 girls …. There’s a devastating image, in my mind, of their backpacks aligned in an orderly fashion, amongst the rubble that was once their school. It’s a hell of a thing to do to bully the meek. There’s a bad energy that follows the ones who perpetrate and destroy what is innocent. A reckoning is forthcoming.
Joseph Robinett
Midtown
Trump/Iran easy-to-follow timeline
November 2011: Trump — “Obama will start a war with Iran because he has no ability to negotiate.”
October 2012: Trump — “Obama will start a war to get re-elected.”
January 2016: Obama-negotiated Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) begins. Iran, effectively, quits making nuclear fuel.
2018: Trump withdraws from the JCPOA and imposes sanctions on Iran, not wanting Obama to have any credit for such a landmark, history-making deal.
2018: (not long after Trump pulls out): Iran begins making nuclear fuel once again.
June 2025: After failed negotiations, Trump orders hits on key nuclear fuel-making sites in Iran and says they were “completely obliterated,” and any news source that says otherwise is fake news.
February 2026: After reports that the “completely obliterated” sites are now just weeks from full nuclear capabilities and more failed negotiations, Trump starts a full-out war with Iran.
Could we rename Trump’s order for war “Operation Let’s Forget Epstein?”
Gary Haslett
SaddleBrooke
We can speak for them
I’m finding that when I bring kindness to a situation, generally, more kindness comes back to me, and those around me may feel more at ease and welcomed.
Looking at the rodeo we bring to town each year, I see baby animals, little calves, being sorely mistreated.
A little calf, penned with no escape, is shocked with electric prods, bursts forth running into a strange, scary arena, hears thundering hooves behind him, is jerked into the air by a rope thrown round his neck which houses his windpipe and fragile neck bones. Slamming into the ground, his legs are tied together with extreme roughness. A terribly painful and lingering experience.
The vast majority of injured calves are sent to the slaughterhouse.
Kindness is powerful, can light up a life for a moment, or be remembered for a lifetime. We shape and create our world.
Please urge our City Council members to ban calf roping from our rodeo events.
Carol Fortier
North side
Desperation of a flailing president
Things aren’t going well at home with President Trump’s tanking of the economy, his overwhelming presence in the Epstein files, and a myriad of corrupt deals, thus he created a dangerous distraction through an unprovoked war with Iran. He cares little about democracy here or there, or if our service members pay the ultimate price for his arrogance and greed.
So much for his campaign promises of “no new wars,” “America First,” or “President of Peace.” He’s bombed seven countries and is at it again in Iran after claiming last year that he had “obliterated” their nuclear arsenal.
Trump is playing a deadly game with young Americans’ lives, apparently to change the subject from child rape to national security and to cancel the upcoming midterm elections. Trump continues to give incoherent and contradictory reasons for his war goals.
American bases are burning, soldiers are dying, and the world is in danger because of a vengeful, cruel, unlawful, selfish madman.
Teresa Jenkins
SaddleBrooke
Democratic Party loyalty
One of your readers (LTE March 2) takes Senator Kelly and the Democratic representatives to task for not taking Trump’s bait during his State of the Union address when told to stand up and show their support if they agreed with his statement that the “first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens — not illegal aliens.” Well, let’s see … both Senators Kelly and Gallego have served in the American armed forces and have risked their lives defending this country. Both have sworn to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and have actively defended the country. I don’t think they necessarily have to defend their patriotism or loyalty to the country to Mr. Heel-spurs. And perhaps the President could explain how the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti constituted “protecting American citizens.”
Abraham R. Byrd III
North side
You asked, I answered
March 2: Protecting American citizens LTE.
The 5th and 14th Amendments mandate equal protection of all people in the country, regardless of citizenship status. The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868 to support the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
In Bolling v. Sharpe (1954), SCOTUS decided the same equal protection applies under the 5th Amendment to the Federal government.
So, to create a constitutional basis for an Americans-Only First policy, a proposed Constitutional Amendment needs to be sent to the states and timely ratified by 38 states.
On the face of the theatrics, Democrats, compared to Republicans, have a superior understanding of the U.S. Constitution. I do not accept that premise. It was simply time for the dog and pony show, except for the few moments when it was not.
James Abels
Midtown
Bombing of Iran
The United States under Trump has begun a war to ostensibly reduce Iran's nuclear weapon capabilities. In June of 2025, Trump stated that the U.S. had obliterated (completely destroyed) Ian's nuclear weapons and material. Despite assertions from the White House, U.S. intelligence officials have provided no evidence that Iran resumed work on nuclear weapons, nor have they made any efforts to build any mechanism to detonate such a bomb. We have begun strikes against Iran because Trump decided to. His outright sidestepping of congressional approval is his way of saying that the whole world is wrong and he is correct. So far, a school for young girls was destroyed, killing 55 students. At least five U.S. military personnel are dead. Three U.S. jets were shot down by friendly fire (what a joke). Why doesn't everyone realize that we need to take Trump's finger off the trigger permanently and gain a president who does not need war to demonstrate his limited masculinity?
Philip Reinecker
East side
Time to read the Constitution
The U.S. Constitution's authorization for the use of the military is too often ignored. Article I, Section 8 allows the government to raise an army for two years for only three purposes: “... to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions.” They specifically rejected the establishment of a standing army.
How far we have come from this constitutional authority. Our President uses our military to protect other countries; to implement an “Israel First” policy; to effect preemptive strikes against countries that might threaten us beyond our shores; to carry out regime changes in other countries; to take police actions against drug dealers in international waters; and to seize foreign ships to take possession of their oil.
It's time for our President to read and comply with our Constitution and for our “originalist” Supreme Court to rein him in.
Bruce Hilpert
North side
U of A basketball
I invited a friend to last Saturday’s basketball game against Kansas. We both had a birria bowl and a beer, $65 please, game day amenities not included. No place to sit, and it was hot outside. The young server asked to see my ID. “Why?” I might not be her great-grandfather’s age, but grandpa’s for sure. “We have to ask everyone”, as I fumbled around trying to bring up my Arizona Driver’s License in my Apple wallet — why bring a real one when they don’t take cash? “It’s OK”, she finally said as the line was backing up. Perhaps routinely carding everyone under 35 is prudent, but don't they still teach Common Sense 101?
Thomas Rothe
Foothills
