Trespassing on the Mall
Re: the May 1 article “UA closes mall, warns ‘no trespassing’ after protests.”
I wonder why UA Administrators didn’t simply establish policies about anyone camping on University property? The easiest solution is to arrest everyone that is improperly camping on the mall and identify those that are students. The students need to be expelled and leave the campus. Anyone not a student needs to be prosecuted and jailed. It is critical that students understand that the University is an educational institution, not a social experiment that they can get from the schools like Harvard that allow plagiarism instead of excellence. These protesters act like they are going to ASU, not the University of Arizona. I received a degree from the University of Arizona and this nonsense would not have been permitted. Of course, the leaders back then were actually leaders.
Loran Hancock
Northwest side
If you aren’t scared of Trump, you should be
Everyone eligible to vote should read the interview with Donald Trump in Time Magazine. If you have any doubts about what four more years of Trump would mean, this should clarify it for sure. A few of the things he has in mind are allowing states to monitor women’s pregnancies, mass deportations, using the military to put down protests, abandoning our allies, gutting the EPA, replacing civil servants with loyalists, and pardoning Jan. 6 rioters, and using the Justice Department for retribution against those not loyal to him. When he was asked about suspending the Constitution, he said, “I think a lot of people like it.” Another Trump presidency would be a very dark day for the United States.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Climate change
Re: the April 26 article “You can take action on climate change.”
Mr. Mark Peterson urged readers to vote at all levels for politicians supportive of the Climate Change agenda and advocated actions that individuals can take to fight Climate Change. Peterson, who seems like a well meaning guy, stated how he has enjoyed the beautiful spring and recent pleasant winter weather here in Tucson. Well, yes, despite Climate Change, we have had a great winter and spring with normal to below normal daytime temperatures and above normal rainfall. What Mr. Peterson did not mention is that all of these politicians, aka Democrats, supporting the Climate Change agenda, will cost you more money and less personal freedoms from government controlling regulations and mandates. Biden and Democrats are the real threat to your personal freedoms, not Trump. Nowhere in his Opinion article did Mr. Peterson even mention that current CO2 levels in the atmosphere will remain there for hundreds of years. Something that few climate alarmists publicly mention.
Rory Smith
Marana
Letter accusing Star of bias
Re: the May 1 letter “AZ Star’s discrimination against conservative letter writers.”
Climate is the most important issue facing mankind/Tucsonkind and I cringe to see so many other opinions and LTEs published to the exclusion of climate submissions — mine included —that never see the light of day. I mean how could the Star not publish whatever it is I send in, don’t they understand the screaming importance?
Then I take a step back. The torrent of issues facing us locally and nationally, from Gaza to Russia to Trump to Ukraine to China to the U of A to homelessness to fentanyl to Arizona’s polarized politics to school funding to mental crises to guns, my gosh there is no end to it. Faced with this onslaught I applaud Sara Brown and staff for the work they do to educate readers and at the same time allow public venting. Their daily responsibilities to read through, digest, filter out and decide if, when and where to run letters and opinions must be overwhelming.
Thank you Sara Brown for so professionally performing this thankless but necessary task.
Rick Rappaport
Oro Valley
The Heart of Tucson
Several days ago, as I was hunting for a doctor’s office near La Cholla/Orange Grove, I made an ill-advised turn near the entrance to a small shopping area and got hung-up on a curb. Unable to extricate myself, I sat in my car wondering what to do. Several people, seeing my predicament, rushed over to help. Nothing they could do solved my problem. Finally it was decided that calling AAA, of which I am a member, would be the prudent thing to do.
While I was waiting in my car for around two hours, at least 40 to 50 vehicles stopped to see if I was hurt and to to ask if there was anything they could do. Three people brought me water. Workers from a nearby restaurant invited me in to wait there. I was in tears at the caring and goodness of just about everyone who saw my predicament. Ultimately AAA rescued me. Thanks to all of you amazing people.
Larry Wilcock
Northwest side
NPR, my second letter
For Democrat readers who dispute that NPR is a liberal Progressive operated broadcast, I suggest you read long time Editor Berliner’s scathing essay about it. Former NPR employee Juan Williams, a liberal, confirmed Berliner’s information and said it was even worse working there. He was fired from NPR for not being liberal enough. Williams is now a commentator at Fox News, representing a liberal’s viewpoint. If folks do not believe that NPR, MSNBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, the New York Times, Washington Post, PBS, the AZ Daily Star, etc., are not liberal biased and despise Trump, then they have a willing suspension of disbelief. They are really liberal Democrat activists posing as journalists, products of decades of University Journalism schools churning out young adults indoctrinated in the liberal agenda. The NY Times’ newsroom has been in chaos with infighting over the paper not being liberal enough for its left-wing employees. The abovementioned news media dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop story as Russia disinformation to help Joe Biden get elected.
Ivan Stanski
Marana
Utility bill rates
A letter writer criticized electrical rates and the complicity of the Corporation Commission in approving rate increases. Additionally, he contends ‘clean energy’ is cheaper than that generated from fossil fuels.
Utility companies are a legal monopoly. They are guaranteed a specific profit. As they are required to purchase or produce ‘clean’ energy, they comply and pass along the increased cost to the consumer. The Commission has no choice but to approve those rate increases.
The letter writer is not correct about costs. Wind, solar and hydrothermal are not cheaper. Nor are they all that clean once considered as a complete process.
Steve Scholl
Oro Valley
Winner takes all!
Capitalism produces far more wealth than socialism. However, unregulated capitalism always ends up as winner takes all, as was the case during the Gilded Age.
Wall Street hedge funds and corporate agriculture have gone into La Paz and Cochise Counties to pump unlimited quantities of water. If not regulated, they will pump the aquifers until they are gone. Domestic wells have already gone dry. Land subsidence and fissures from the pumping have wrecked homes and infrastructure.
Governor Hobbs and Attorney General Mayes are trying to protect rural residents from having all of the groundwater pumped out from underneath them. Republicans call any efforts to regulate or to even monitor pumping “government overreach”.
Without water, these rural communities will be doomed to poverty. The corporations and hedge funds won’t be liable for a penny of compensation for the damages. Many residents will have no choice but to abandon their homes and businesses to start over elsewhere. They can be thankful to the Republicans for protecting them from “government overreach”.
Gary Thacker
Midtown
I’ve been Belled!
Imagine my surprise, finding a Ben’s Bell hanging over a stairwell to an office building on River and Campbell as I walked up the stairs to work. There was a tag on it that read, in both English and Spanish “You have found a Ben’s Bell. Take it home, hang it and remember to spread kindness through our world.” And so I did, joyfully. And it hangs in pride of place at my home. The message quite clear: kindness matters. Especially now, when it is in such short supply in our lives. Kindness, it moves us, gives us joy and is contagious. Share some today and feel the power of its simplicity. Kindness matters.
Lorraine Moon
Marana
Support the border and our allies
Protecting the American homeland is the most critical priority of our elected officials, both at home and abroad. At a time when the world is in danger and our adversaries are emboldened, Congress has a responsibility to support our allies while ensuring our homeland is protected. Recently, while a bi-partisan Congress passed critical legislation to support Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, I was proud to see Rep. Juan Ciscomani also lead a push to ensure border security was considered alongside foreign aid. Representative Ciscomani has made sure to prioritize the border and ensure the strength and partnerships of our military, no matter what the news of the week is in Washington, D.C.
Ted Maxwell
Oro Valley
Ducey’s vouchers & tax cutsdebacle
Former Governor Ducey and the Republican-led legislature in 2022 passed tax cuts then implemented, after voters rejected, universal ESA vouchers. Now, Gov. Hobbs is left to clean up the $1.8 billion dollar budget deficit mess.
Where are the fiscally responsible Republicans?
This budget deficit will impact every citizen in this state.
Arizona taxpayers shouldn’t have our services cut in order to fund vouchers for families who can already afford private school. The majority of ESA voucher recipients reside in the wealthiest zip codes in the state.
Arizona is 49th in the nation in per pupil spending. There are zero requirements for voucher students to show they are meeting state standards or even learning at all.
Arizona’s ESA voucher program lacks academic accountability measures, financial transparency, academic oversight and child safety measures. Teachers participating in the state voucher system do not need to pass a background check to ensure they are safe to work with children.
Former Governor Ducey and the Arizona Republican-led Legislature have failed Arizona.
Rachel Rulmyr Ed.D, retired
public school educator
Oro Valley
College sports worth supporting
Re: the May 1 letter “Why watch college sports any more?.”
My friend uses the sham of Reggie Bush and the return of the Heisman Trophy once awarded to him then taken away for justifiable reasons. He goes on to accuse the Heisman Trust of tainting college sports to the point; why should we bother to watch or care about college sports?
I challenge the letter writer to join me for a U of A’s women’s basketball game. Or better yet, join me this Friday at the Robson Tennis Courts for the ‘Cats men’s tennis team in their first-round postseason match. The baseball team plays at Hi Corbett this weekend also.
These are the kind of college sports that deserve our support. The young women and men that put in the time, in addition to their academics, to excel at their respective competitions. That’s what makes it worth watching and an important part of their college experience. Keep writing, I almost agree with them!
Jerry Anderson
Downtown
A bit pricey
Re: the May 2 article “Mariachi Central.”
Today I was disappointed to read in the Tucson paper the following quote from Adrian Perez, representing both the Tucson and International groups producing our annual Mariachi Conference.
Perez said the Garibaldi, with tickets for $25, will function as an all-encompassing episode of the event, featuring some student workshops, a nighttime concert and loads of additional activities throughout the day.
“It’s about catering to the community’s desire to be out there and supporting the students and just having a good time,” said Perez. Really? It’s about the opportunity to make a lot more money! The Friday evening performance after workshops should be open to families for free — and you would be giving something to the community that has supported Mariachi for decades.
Tucson is a gracious host but $25 bucks for a favorite annual outdoor gig — fiesta de Mariachi with friends, food trucks? My money will go to the Elisa Gastellum Memorial Fund to fund scholarships to support the music we love.Esoelisa.com
Janet Durckel
Midtown
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Trump in court vs. campaigning
Re: the April 30 letter “Trump is denied the right to campaign.”
It is important to note that Mr. Trump has been indicted and is required [a matter of U.S. Constitutional law] to attend his trial. President Biden is free to “fly around the country campaigning” because he has not broken the law nor been indicted. This has nothing to do with “hatred for Trump;” it is simply correct legal procedure.
As to the last line of the letter that voters do have the right to make their decisions, nothing is stopping voters from making their choice. Mr. Trump does have the right to campaign in person when court is not in session. He seems to choose to play golf instead!
Norma Guest
East side
Former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters Tuesday at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York.
