For the first time, the Tucson City Council has gone on record supporting the treatment of wastewater for drinking. In this photo, an engineer fills a container with recycled water at the Advanced Water Purification Facility in San Diego, a pilot project that treats effluent to drinking water standards.
Tucson Water increase needs to be refunded
Tucson Water at the instruction of the Tucson City Council increased water rates for about one third of its customers who live in unincorporated Pima County. The increased rates were in effect for almost two years until struck down by the court as illegal thanks to a Pima County lawsuit against the City of Tucson. During this time Tucson Water collected millions of dollars from the increased rates. We want these millions refunded that were illegally collected. It is interesting how quickly the charges were made to our water bills, but how long it takes to refund the money owed. Confiscating millions is easy, but re-paying it seems to be hard! We suspect decisions are easy for the City Council involving people who don’t vote in their elections.
Dave Locey
Foothills
Tucson pothole fixes
It was recently stated the following “Tucson has a quality road maintenance department”; hello, it’s the level of maintenance that is being applied that is the issue not the folks that support the activity. It’s quite obvious that the standard level of maintenance being done by the city can at best be described best as “filling potholes” and is nowhere close to the action that is needed to address critical pavement degradation where the proper fix is removing the existing top layer of pavement and replacing it with an asphalt overlay. One year after proposition 411 was passed, a “10-year historic investment in our residential roads” per the mayor, quantified further by her that “$600 plus million will go to repaving residential roads in the entire city of Tucson, whatever work they need,” I’d submit to the taxpayers not to count on this happening based on the observed progress to date and the propensity of city officials to distance themselves from their promises. You get what you vote for.
Spike Horrigan
Northwest side
No responsibility?
Driving around Tucson, I noticed many drivers’ license plates have expired. Some date to years 2021 and 2022.
How are they getting away with this? Have you also wondered if cars must not be equipped with turn signals either?
Is it laziness, absentmindedness, being noncompliant, witless or just a bonehead for not being responsible?
Our state coffers could really fatten up if these lackadaisical people would just pay their share.
Our policing system is lax in not noticing.
Phyllis Bowcott
Northwest side
Fox News view
Re: the April 19 letter “Bragg’s politically motivated case.”
The letter writer does a fine job of summarizing the Fox News view of Trump’s hush money trial. Unfortunately, there are too many things wrong with this screed to address in a 150-word letter. Instead, I’d like to ask the letter writer three questions.
1. Have you ever listened to the things Trump says or do you just listen to what Fox News gives you?
2. Do you really think that no Judge who is a registered Democrat can give Trump a fair and impartial trial?
3. If your answer to (2) is “yes” then why should I believe that a Trump-appointed Judge (Aileen Cannon) can conduct a fair and impartial trial?
Trump’s only defense is to destroy faith in our Justice system. Unfortunately, it looks like that may be working.
Steven Brown
Midtown
Santa Cruz River Day of Connection
Thanks to Tucson Clean and Beautiful and community partners for hosting a supremely well organized clean-up event of the Santa Cruz riverbed near Barrio Hollywood on April 20. Tucson Audubon Society also hosted a bird walk prior to the event. The event started with a brief but important grounding exercise to heighten our awareness of this precious resource in our urban midst; this river corridor supports wildlife and human society in so many ways. TCB provided gear and tools, food and drink, washing stations, a DJ and guidance throughout the event, and we had enjoyable interactions with many staff and fellow volunteers. This cleanup work is huge and needs ongoing attention, but the solidarity and enthusiasm around protecting our shared environment was enormously uplifting, and it was clear we made a dent. I will definitely participate again and hope to see fellow users of the Loop out there next time — cyclists, walkers, and runners — to give back and keep the Santa Cruz healthy for generations to come.
Monica Mueller
Midtown
Lawmakers practice medicine
When will physicians start making laws? Seems reasonable, since lawmakers are practicing medicine. Physicians spend from 7 to 10 years studying science — physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, pathology, treatments, etc. As a physician/lawyer, I heard law professors tell students: “If you knew math, you’d be in medical school.”
Lawyers/politicians not only are unqualified to make medical decisions, but it is malpractice for them to rule on health issues. If they in their vacuous minds consider science “disinformation,” perhaps when their loved ones become ill, they’d prefer to visit one of their fellow legislators for consultation? And rather than being hospitalized, perhaps they’d prefer to appear before Congress or the Supreme Court to rule on their diagnosis and treatment.
As ridiculous as this hypothetical sounds, it is equally as ridiculous that uneducated politicians would have the audacity to make healthcare decisions for women. If they are truly concerned about procreation rather than controlling women, will they eventually rule on whether men can have vasectomies, thus cutting off the “supply line?”
Sandra Katz, M.D., J.D.
Foothills
Closure of Campbell Trail and TrailheadOn Monday, April 8th, Pima County closed the Campbell Road trail and trailhead. This was done without prior public notice or input.
The Campbell trail leads directly into the Pusch Ridge Wilderness and in the short space of a half mile, a hiker can go from dense urban housing to a quiet expansive wilderness area. This trail has been a valued part of the county trail system for 40 years, and it was an unofficial trail before that when Tucson was much less developed.
With the retirement of Chuck Huckelberry and the premature sudden death of Steve Anderson, Pima County hikers, bikers, and equestrians have lost two of their fiercest champions for public non-motorized trails.
I ask the current county government if they are going to continue trail policies that created Tucson gems, such as Sweetwater Preserve, Enchanted Hills, Robles Pass, and McKenzie Ranch. Or, is the County now in the business of closing trails and reducing public access to public land?
James Terlep
West side
Schaefer interested in being UA president?
Re: the April 20 article “Former UA president speaks out on issues.”
I wonder if former UA president Schaefer would be interested in rejoining the UA as president. After reading the article in the Saturday’s Star recounting his accomplishments as president, he sounds exactly like the kind of person the UA needs at this critical time. The longer President Robbins is allowed to stay in office at the UA, the longer it will be before the kinds of substantive changes needed can be implemented at the University.
Gerry Maggiora
Foothills
Remember in November!
The recent enforcement of an 1864 abortion ban in Arizona is another example of politicians embracing laws that undermine individual rights —risking lives and compromising healthcare.
The outrage from Arizonans is obvious in the local and national media coverage, at public events, in local communities and neighborhoods, and online.
Fearing retaliation from voters, politicians are backstroking to maintain support. The Republican front-runner for president, Donald Trump, sidesteps questions when he once bragged about his role in overturning Roe v. Wade.
Arizona House Speaker Toma doesn’t want to rush a legislative process challenging the ruling. And on two occasions, Arizona lawmakers voted not to discuss a bill to repeal the ban.
In the meantime, how many families will suffer as a result of this draconian ruling?
There is a one-vote majority in the Arizona House and Senate with many leaders up for reelection. There are also judicial positions up for grabs.
This November, remember to vote up-and-down the ballot to elect leaders who support individual rights.
Carla Andrews O’Hara
Northwest side
A plea for civility
A Jewish friend alerted me to a podcast, “A Muslim and a Jew Go There,” hosted by the Jewish writer David Baddiel and Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a Muslim member of the House of Lords. Each episode addresses hot-button issues such as anti-Semitism, islamophobia, the conflict in Gaza and current political and cultural issues from their different perspectives.
What is most notable about this podcast is the manner in which the hosts discuss and analyze controversial topics with respect for one another and empathy and understanding for differing points of view. A welcome contrast to the lack of civility and juvenile personal attacks employed by one of our presidential candidates who mocks his opponent’s involuntary stutter and fabricates alternative “facts” to conceal his inability to appreciate and understand complex issues.
Jim McIntosh
East side
$14 million ill-spent
Re: the April 21 article “Donor-driven, $14.8M golf center an ace for Wildcats.”
As a fan of Greg Hansen’s sports reporting, I gotta vigorously disagree with his salivating description of the $14 million dollar UofA golf facility at the private Tucson Country Club. While Greg points out the funding sources were mostly from the outgoing Bobby Robbins’ private fan club, you would think this same money could’ve been put to better use. Say like decreasing the loan amount owed by UA athletic department to the UA general fund and help to avoid employee layoffs. Now the Cats golf teams can drive across town and rub shoulders with the elite membership. As a member of the City’s Greens Committee several years ago, I along with others, supported improving a public golf facility (eg. Randolph North, El Rio, or Silverbell) where the public duffers could also benefit from the generous benefactors with an affordable golf facility that would have widespread community benefits. Come on Hansen, detach yourself from your golf game and reflect on the whole community.
Jerry Anderson
Downtown
Friendship with Biden supporters
Re: the April 21 letter “Friendships with Biden supporters.”
A recent letter opines that he will vote for the president that’s killed less people. Yet he’s voting for #45 because he’s only “killed a handful.” He goes on to say that Biden’s support of the war in Ukraine has killed millions. Unfortunately the war has killed less than a half million as of April 1st according to the BBC. His short memory (which I often suffer from due to age) must have forgot about COVID. COVID killed more than a million. Stats show that anywhere from 30-130K lives would have been saved had he acted in a timely fashion. Biden didn’t start the war in Ukraine. But he does what he can to support the Ukrainians who have been attacked to save lives. The letter writer should now consider himself a friend of Shapiro based on his which “killed the most,” belief.
John Bingham
Northwest side
Republican legislative proposal
We hear a lot about how distracted from reality Republicans in the Arizona Legislature are. But to get a clear grasp on whether that assertion holds water, let’s look at proposed November ballot resolution HCR 2040 now awaiting approval by the Republican leadership. The proposal would prohibit the use of state funds by any Arizona subdivision, department, agency, or even a state university in support of a bizarre laundry list of activities that includes promoting walking and biking, addressing racism and xenophobia, tracking greenhouse gas emissions, monitoring climate change, meat consumption, and more.
What are these people thinking? Arizonans want affordable health care, quality education, a healthy environment, an end to racism, and a robust economy. Not the kinds of wacky ideas embraced in HCR 2040. Among the sponsors of this proposal are Tucson’s own Senator Wadsack and Representatives Jones and McGarr. Let’s vote them and their colleagues out in November and elect people who care about our real needs.
Joseph Alexander
Oro Valley
Thanking Rep. Mike Johnson
Thank you, Rep. Mike Johnson, for your courage to lead the House to pass the last-minute bill to aid the beleaguered Ukraine. You did it out of care for America and the world at the expense of your speakership. Your action gives hope that not all politicians are slaves of their own political ambitions at the expense of America as the leader for democracy in the world. I hope and pray that you still remember that the GOP presidential candidate for 2024 has declared in Helsinki in 2018 his loyalty to dictator Putin against our own national security team. May you have the courage to free yourself from that candidate’s spell. Remember the Christian struggle is “not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12)”!
Ke Chiang Hsieh
Midtown
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