Tucson Speaks Out: March 6 letters of the day

AZ education ballot measures

Re: the Feb. 11 article "Education funding battle mirrors Super Bowl."

I want to thank Ms. Heather Mace for her concise summary of ongoing ballot measures pending at our legislature. It succinctly highlighted key measures that may affect our state's educational system. As a teacher mentor who is in the trenches of education Ms. Mace is well aware of issues that continually arise due to measures motivated by politics. I am a retired military officer who benefited greatly from the foundations taught me by my dedicated and professional public school teachers. So, my thanks to you Ms. Mace and to all the teachers who dedicate their lives to ensure the best education possible they can provide the students under their care, even though it is done under very trying circumstances. I will ensure to voice my concerns to my state representatives.

Pete Garcia

Northwest side

Arizona benefits

In 2021, President Joe Biden passed the historic Infrastructure Bill into law. He had promised this would happen while campaigning and he delivered.

On March 27, 2023 reporter Isabel Soissen wrote in the Copper Courier an article titled, “What Has Arizona Gotten Out Of Biden’s Infrastructure Law (So Far)."

The answer is a lot. The article points out that at the time $3.4 billion of funding was announced so far with more to come. This money was allotted for improvements to bridges and roads, improving public transportation and so much more. In addition to Arizona, all of the other states benefited from the $1 trillion law. And yes, amazingly, this was a bipartisan bill, initiated by President Joe Biden, a president for all Americans.

Joe Biden doesn't see red state or blue states. He sees the United States of America. Thank you Mr. President.

Sally Mayersohn

Northwest side

I see my dad in President Joe Biden

My dad was a longtime resident of Tucson, before moving back with my mom to their birth state of Virginia. He passed away in 2015 at the age of 89. Dad was a WWII veteran, having served in the U.S. Army in Europe. He enlisted before finishing high school. Whenever I watch President Biden, I see my dad, but for the wrong reasons. In his 80s, dad developed progressing dementia, often confused and not able to remember things. Sleeping a lot. His walking gait was stiff, taking deliberate small steps. He fell at home and broke a hip and never fully recovered his walking ability. Unfortunately, I see my dad in President Biden now. The stiff slow walking gait, mental confusion, slurring of words, and those long blank stares when he forgets things while talking. I am disappointed in Jill Biden and the White House handlers for not intervening in convincing President Biden that it is time to go. Maybe retaining political power is more important than love?

Janice DeAngelo

Tubac

Welcome Snowbirds!

Re: the March 4 letter "Snowbirds."

I admit that as an around the year resident of Tucson, I do grumble about the added traffic and restaurant lines but that is part of sharing life. As I read another snowbird letter this morning (3/4), I reflected on the role snowbirds play at my church, Casa Adobes UCC. Not only do they contribute economically but they are a large part of what allows us to carry our faith into action benefiting the Tucson community. Our rummage sale, which produces a major portion of funds that go toward helping community services, is planned for a time when we know our snowbirds will be here to help and they do. One snowbird chairs our Compassion on the Border committee and when necessary does so by zoom when she is not in Tucson. Others help with our tutoring program at a local school.

Okay Snowbirds, as we say every Sunday, "no matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome to journey with us."

Gypsy Lyle

Northwest side

Legislative bills

I'll be waiting for even one good Republican legislator's good idea that benefits ALL Arizonans. Blocking citizen initiatives and denying the promotion and reinforcement of policies designed to limit human contributions to climate change are just a couple of examples of their failure to protect ALL citizens. How about trying to get along with the other 2/3s of the electorate and listen to their good ideas?

Ted Morrison

Midtown

Cheap tipper!

The announcement reported today in the Star that UA President Robert C. Robbins has offered a token ten percent pay cut as tangible evidence of his alleged regret for his mismanagement and malfeasance seems like the action of a greedy cheapskate who has no appreciation of how well Arizona has served him.

Sports fan Robbins consistently fumbles the ball!

Robbins’ consistent blunders remind this writer of what had been said of Yasser Arafat and the Palestinians — Robbins never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity!

Na, na, na, na — goodbye!

Mort Ganeles

Foothills

Model accessory dwelling units

Several months ago, a contest selected a dozen Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) for streamlined approval. I would like an update on their status. Perhaps this could be published in the weekly Home & Life.

First, a summary of overall status — number under construction, completed, occupied. Popular features, regulations, acceptance in various jurisdictions — City of Tucson, Marana, OV, unincorporated Pima County.

Subsequent weeks could drill down on 3 or 4 models, with floor plans, photos, pricing, options, and contact info. How is parking addressed? Is there provision for electric vehicle charging stations, etc.

Thomas McConnell

Midtown

What if a man spills his seed?

Now let me get this right. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that an embryo is a child and must be protected. So by this “logic” would a man’s sperm and a woman’s egg each be one half of a person? In the Bible when Onan withdrew while having sex with his brother’s wife and “spilled his seed on the ground”, what he did was “wicked in the eyes of the Lord” and he was put to death. So today if a man masturbates or withdraws during intercourse is he committing murder and therefore must be punished?

Jeff Aronson

Northeast side

Let's skip the stuff

As a lifelong environmentalist I urge restaurants to stop automatically giving people condiments packets, plastic utensils, straws and napkins. These items are frequently given out to customers who don't need them, resulting in unnecessary waste that is costly for the government to manage, and often ends up littering the streets and our desert. Let's create a restaurant culture where customers can either ask for these extras or select them for themselves.

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Remember it's fantastic to skip the plastic.

Nancy Parry

Marana

Landline decline

Re: the March 1 letter "Landline decline."

We had a similar experience: Century Link left us without phone service for two weeks last Christmas. We are in our 80s, only use cell phones for emergencies, and I begged them not to leave us stranded over the holidays. Century Link promised us service on three separate dates, but no one showed up or called our cell. The day after Christmas our service was finally restored. By then I had contacted our cell provider and arranged for wireless landline. It meant a new number because I didn’t want to wait 7 to 10 days for Century Link to ‘approve the transfer.’ We are delighted with Consumer Cellular. They are based in this country and speak English, they are pleasant and helpful and their representatives are able to solve any problem in minutes. The final insult from Century Link was when they sent me an email survey asking me to rate their service.

Karen Harbert

Northeast side

Support for U of A President Robbins

I believe President Robbins is providing sound leadership and has demonstrated his resolve to correct the financial problems the University is experiencing. It's important to have a leader that addresses problems head on, makes full disclosures, and takes prompt action to correct them. President Robbins has shared his action plan with the Board of Regents, and under the leadership of Chairman Duval, they have rightly supported him. Having been a member of the Board of Regents, I’m pleased with the action they have taken thus far.

President Robbins has a solid record of important accomplishments for the UofA. Just to name a few, research topped $950M, in the last fiscal year alone, alumni and donor support are higher than ever and according to U.S. News & World Report, under Robbin’s leadership, 12 UA graduate programs are ranked in the top 10 among public universities.

I’m confident in his continued leadership of the University of Arizona.

Dennis DeConcini, Retired United States Senator, Former Member, Arizona Board of Regents

Midtown

Ciscomani 

Re: the March 2 letter "Letters to the editor."

I am writing not as part of a "concerted effort," as another writer of a letter to the editor alleges in his March 2 letter. I assume the others he noted who wrote letters in February regarding Congressional Representative Juan Ciscomani did so because they are disappointed with his voting record. Rep. Ciscomani has a very talented communication team that produces a steady stream of professionally produced communications that are emailed to his constituents. I commend his team for their communication skills but in nearly every single instance I disagree with his votes. If you look past the polished communications Rep. Ciscomani is an extreme disappointment to voters like myself.

Robin Carter

Marana

Now nasty fed politics goes local

News affirms that Trump told his puppets in Congress: No voting for the bipartisan immigration bill so “I have an election issue.” For 20 years, four other attempts to update immigration policy always have been blocked by Republicans in House or Senate. Remember this!

I volunteer at Casa Alitas, where refugees are helped, more than 400,000 now. And despite news, they’re legally here. We help feed, clothe, shelter and arrange transport to families or sponsors at their expense. Moms, kids, nurses, mechanics, small business owners running from weather extremes, threats to lives. They’re us, born elsewhere.

Thanks to Trump, Casa Alitas will run out of funds. An average of 500 people daily are aided. As weather warms, without funding, people will be on the streets without sustenance or ways to make travel arrangements. They won’t know where they are and have language barriers. Help us. Contact the governor, county, city to aid Casa Alitas. Visit Casaalitas.org to donate. Please, no playing politics with people's lives.

Nancy Jacques

Northeast side

What am I missing?

I am confused. On the one hand, Republicans claim to be pro-birth and deny women the right to control their own body. On the other hand, these same Republicans refuse to allow women to give birth using IVF. Rape and incest are okay. What am I missing? Clearly I need clarification.

Barbara Benjamin

Foothills

Commuter rail follies

Re: the March 4 article "GOP's assault on transportation progress."

After reading this opinion on commuter rail between Tucson and Phoenix, I need to ask several questions. What are the central locations in Tucson and Phoenix where people would embark and disembark? Each will need large parking lots for those wishing to embark, similar perhaps to the DC area. Where do people disembark? What are the transportation needs to get them to/from their desired location? Is this public or private transportation or a combination of both? Building the rail is the easy part.

Traffic on I-10 is dangerous and timely. If people would consider a new Interstate I-11 designed to unload through traffic from New Mexico and Nogales to California, I-10 might be ok for many more years.

We don’t live in vertically built east coast cities. We live in sprawling open spaces. As a second-generation Arizona native I’m comfortable with this. If you don’t like it, you can always move on.

Cal Rooker

Northwest side

Peoples' opposition campaign

In 2022 we had the opportunity to elect someone articulate and intelligent to represent us in CD6. Instead we ended up with a body from the previous administration. (It could have been any “warm” body.)

According to OpenSecrets.com, Juan’s seat was paid for with over $ 4 million spent in opposition to Kirsten Engel. I haven’t been keeping count, although letters praising Ciscomani seem to come from business leaders, who seek favorable legislation. The opposition to Juan letters have so far way outnumbered them.

Juan didn’t win in 2022. His seat was bought and paid for by right wing and commerce groups, who support Trump’s lies, hate and vitriol.

Keep submitting letters to the editor expressing discontent with Ciscomani. His efforts to rule, as opposed to represent clearly show how his handlers have groomed him to follow the leader of a non representative government.

Letter writers unite! Take back CD6!

Larry Robinson

Northwest side