Tucson Speaks Out: April 11

Hands Off about dozens of issues

On Tuesday, a letter to the editor opined that the protest was misguided, that Trump pledged not to touch Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and federal employees. Well, for starters, Trump lies every time he opens his mouth. And so far, 60,000 federal workers have been removed from their jobs.

And though those issues are top of mind for many, the protest signs I saw were about democracy, integrity in government, hands off our national parks and libraries, illegal deportations, veterans abuse, and the sloppy mess that is Musk and DOGE. (No proof of fraud found yet, by the way.)

My suggestion, Westside Jeffrey, is that you attend the next Hands-Off protest next Saturday (April 19th) and see for yourself. Join thousands of people taking to our streets demanding competence and integrity in our government. Same for you, Trump voters. Be there. Care. And act. Be an American.

Jeff Herr

North side

City of Tucson

29 years ago, we moved to Rita Ranch within the City of Tucson, TPD actually patrolled the streets and wrote tickets to folks who drive too fast or broke other traffic laws. Fast forward to today.

Valencia from Kolb to Houghton is under construction to a six-lane freeway, yet I regularly get passed by drivers who are not following the 35 mph posted speed limit. Houghton Road is a nightmare of speeders who drive like it's the Indy 500. If you want to drag race, just get on Old Vail Road Friday/Saturday nights.

I think the city could save a lot of money by removing all speed limit signs as you do not enforce the speeding laws and traffic accidents knock them down all the time. Then there are the folks that do not know what STOP means on a sign either, but that's for another letter.

Nancy Phillips

Southeast side

Letter comments

In his most recent missive, Mr. Jeffrey McConnell states his belief that Saturday's Hands Off protesters were "demanding ‘Hands Off!’ all efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse from the federal government." I was there. I encountered no one expressing this view. There was a general consensus that eliminating waste, fraud, etc. is a good idea. There was near-universal agreement that this is not what DOGE is doing.

What I see is an authoritarian government attempting to dismantle the government it inherited by executive order. This is not how a republic works. We must accept we are no longer a republic. My question for Mr. McConnell is why he abandoned his oft-stated belief in our Republic and supports the new authoritarian government the voters have installed.

Steven Brown

Midtown

Republicans must do an intervention

As a constituent of Rep. Juan Ciscomani, I write to express my deep concern regarding the current political landscape and expansion of power of President Donald Trump. I believe that Trump exhibits an addiction to power that parallels the destructive nature of substance addiction.

Trump's relentless addiction is eroding democratic norms and institutions. His actions and rhetoric prioritize personal gain and self-interest over the common good, undermining the principles of unity that are essential for a healthy democracy. His public statements about allies and world leaders are nasty and should not represent the people of the United States.

Intervention is necessary, just as with a person addicted to drugs. I implore Rep. Ciscomani to stand up to ensure that power is wielded responsibly and ethically. It is imperative that we collectively address the dangers posed by those who prioritize their power above the welfare of our nation.

Frank Hagel

SaddleBrooke

Market manipulation

A failed businessman responsible for six bankruptcies, Trump has, nevertheless, proven to be an expert market manipulator. Markets plunged 10% on April 3 and 4 in response to his steadfast resolve to raise tariffs. Then they jumped nearly the same amount April 8 and 9 as he delayed the tariffs for 90 days. How many of Trump's associates, or even Trump himself, bought up stocks April 7, when they were low, and unloaded them now, to score a tidy, effortless profit?

While this reeks of insider trading and governmental corruption, some would shrug with, "the markets aren't the economy." But rapid policy fluctuations do more than manipulate the markets; they degrade our national economy. Our economic supremacy is built on trust, honesty, and consistency that gives investors confidence their reasons for investing here will continue as anticipated. Trump's manipulations create uncertainty, which lowers our status as a safe investment country.

Bruce Joffe

South Tucson

The grifter strikes gold

Trump comes up with his "beautiful tariffs." He tanks the stock market and everyday Americans panic watching their retirement shrink. Then he postpones the tariffs and the stock market recovers 3,000 points. Here is the scam. His tariffs make the stock market crash. Then, wealthy people buy all the stock they can at a low price. Trump postpones the tariffs, the market goes back up, and the wealthy buy low and what they bought skyrockets in value. He is a lame duck President and he is using average Americans to make as much money as he can for himself and his wealthy pals. The Magates need to have the guts to admit that they got had by Trump. Spectacular deportations, DEI and LGBQT persecution, trade wars, and the rest of his reality Show to distract the gullible from what he is actually doing. Are we all blind? Wake up.

Richard Bechtold

West side

Dems, national and local

You hid him in the basement and somehow managed to get him more votes than a leader who could draw more than 30,000 plus to a short-noticed event. And yet you wonder why a bunch of everyday people were skeptical. Then in the next election, chop off your primary candidate at the knee and float an inept candidate with a $2 billion bankroll.

What could go wrong? And now all you have is two Socialist Dems to lead your party.

Who is your leader? What is your plan?

This is national, what is your state or local plan?

“Hands off,” burn Teslas.

What is your plan?

Call Nazi, racist, impeach?

We are a Democrat-run city and county with more in the pipeline and yet Trump won Arizona?

Whose streets are the smoothest?

Drive on our city streets and then drive the suburbs.

Ask for more taxes.

How have you managed our budget?

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Richard Barnes

East side

Pima County water rates

The residents of Pima County outside of Tucson would rather pay higher water rates than have to endure the control of Regina.

Glen Fotre

Southwest side

MAGAtts

As the MAGAtts gnaw on our wounded democracy, and the unqualified and incompetent administration puts our public education, health, economy and security at risk, Trump seeks personal gain through his family bitcoin business and Musk would like to sell $400 million of armored Teslas to the State Department and protect billions of dollars of government SpaceX contracts. If they are looking for corruption, they need look no further than their mirrors.

Will the GOP ever summon the courage to put democracy ahead of personal power and gain? Will the Supreme Court ever reconsider its disastrous decision in Citizens United that has allowed and encouraged Musk's effort to buy our country?

Will our country ever recover?

Todd Ackerman

Foothills

Costco

Costco does not receive federal funds for its existence. It is only Costco's board and customers who should be demanding DEI recognition or dismissal. As for the rest of you who think you have the right to dictate policy for a free enterprise and destroy people's lives, take your Nazi flag and stuff it back in the toilet where it belongs. You have already been recognized as a bigot.

Cynthia Schiesel

East side

ICE's generosity

ICE is going to provide IRS with the names of suspected illegals. In turn, IRS, ignoring the rules, will provide ICE with their contact information. ICE will deport. Let me get this straight. The information provided to ICE was obtained from tax returns filed with the IRS. Possibly a tax return with a tax liability paid by the illegal. But probably a tax return filed by an employed person. 100 percent of whose earnings were spent. Possibly in the community in which the illegal was employed —- but will no longer be employed if deported. So no longer spending his/her earnings in his home community. While the illegal may not have had sufficient income to require payment of a tax, both the taxpayer/employee and the employer paid into Social Security. Everyone does. And if deported the illegal will never collect any benefits due. Sort of like a gift to Social Security from ICE.

Kenneth Haber

Northwest side

The border, tariffs and more

Illegal border crossings are down an incredible 94% since Trump took office, all without a bill Biden claimed he needed to better secure the border. Moreover, the Department of Homeland Security reported that over 5,000 illegals have applied in the online application to self-deport in just March 2025. Win.

Tariffs. Trump slapped reciprocal tariffs on, well, the entire planet. Democrats and the media went crazy in opposition. Guess what? Over 70 countries requested one-on-one negotiations on the tariffs. Trump paused his tariff mandate to negotiate with those countries. This is classic Trump and his "Art of the Deal" mindset. Exception: China, on which he upped a tariff to 125%. China will lose, as Vietnam, India and other countries will fill the void in markets China loses, such as clothing. Win.

Next up? Inflation and the price of everything, including groceries Wait until "Drill, baby, drill" kicks in. More wins.

Steve Sollenberger

Foothills

Insider trading?

So Trump has now done an "about-face" on most tariffs, and the stock markets have responded with substantial gains. I wonder if any individuals in the president's inner circle were given advance notice that the tariffs were going to be paused. Fortunately, we now have a crack Attorney General who, I am confident, will aggressively pursue any hint of insider trading involving the president, his family or his inner circle. We can sleep soundly knowing that she is on the job.

James Dolian

SaddleBrooke

Democrats run in fear

Once again, we the voting citizens of the state have reason to be ashamed. Did I miss the part of our elected leaders choosing to work by the hour or are they paid to do a job that they were elected for? Tom Homan, a representative from the federal government, came to the Arizona Legislature to spend a short time informing the elected members of the plans for the collection and deportation of illegal immigrants. The biggest concern is simple: are the Democrat members of the legislature supportive of the laws we have in the state or are these people that have pledged to serve the state declaring that obeying the law is optional?

Very simple, our representatives are paid to solve the problems that the citizens of this state encounter and this is not a protest, it is a slap in the face of the citizens and law enforcement. Democrats always provide examples that are over the top but it seems to me that every concern fell flat.

Loran Hancock

Northwest side

Ciscomani town hall

So I look at my email around 8 p.m. and find a email from Congressman Ciscomani inviting me to a telephone town hall. Great, I think, he has finally found the courage to talk to his constituents. Then I realize his email is time-stamped 6:10 p.m., and the town hall started at 6 p.m. What a joke. Let’s have one in person with proper notice.

John Rademaker

Foothills

Musk calling the shots

Trump's attempt to manipulate markets and countries with his tariffs has been squashed by Musk. Giving us a good idea of who's calling the shots — the guy with the most money. As soon as Musk balked at the tariffs, Trump was backed into a corner. Does he stand by his ludicrous tariffs or capitulate to his huge donor? Money is king with Trump. He capitulates. He claims that it's just a 90-day reprieve, but in three months, he assumes we'll have long forgotten his tariffs.

In the meantime, he is turning his efforts to retribution toward anyone who doesn't drink the Kool-Aid. Everyone but Musk so far, though that's just a recent fissure! Trump knows where his bankroll is coming from. The emperor of the world wannabe is simply an angry, deluded despot with a GOP following bereft of morality, in fear of their livelihoods.

Scott Lukomski

Northeast side