Letters to the Editor

Scary bird’s-eye view

Right now the House of Representatives is showing Americans (who care) a bird’s-eye view into how a second Trump term will look and act. It’s a very sick and disturbing preview. None of the Republicans, because they all fall in line with their leader, will propose or pass any meaningful bills that will help anyone other than their rich constituents, big donors, big pharma, the insurance industry, and border defense while holding the rest of us hostage to their demands. Don’t expect much if any compromise. Thus far they have proven their inability to govern because of the stranglehold of fear imposed on them by their cult leader along with their own personal need for attention and to demonstrate fealty to their master. I hope a few of them who have a shred of scruples show some courage to stand up and realize they took an oath to uphold the Constitution (if they care). If you think it’s dysfunctional now, just wait. VOTE!

Debbie Smith

North side

MAGA Justices are out of control

The U.S. Supreme Court, because of Donald Trump, is stacked with right-wing political actors wielding legal opinions in place of legislation and impervious to the will of the voters. On almost any economic, social, and civil rights issue you can think of, the limits of what these MAGA justices will and won’t do remains much in question including taking away Social Security and Medicare. They have already taken away freedoms to decide what happens to women’s bodies.

The Court is meant to protect constitutional and minority rights. But that’s not what’s happening because of Donald Trump. But when we join together, the many can stand up to the money these justices receive. We can demand that Congress investigate the MAGA justices taking dark money from billionaires and set rules to ensure the Court delivers equal justice under the law. We do this at the ballot box in 2024.

Teresa Jenkins

SaddleBrooke

Shout out to Arts Express Theatre

This week I stopped by Arts Express Theatre to pick up a mystery box (a fundraising project of the theatre). The theatre is located at the Park Mall. During its performance season they present musicals in a relaxed table seating area. My transaction was completed with Karen Wiese, the Executive Director/Producer for the theatre.

It was midday, midweek and there was a performance of Mary Poppins. The audience were from TUSD schools. This was astounding. Student field trips still happen, yah!

Tucson has is very rich in quality little theaters. Check them out.

Charlyn Newman

West side

Voice of the people

Much is written on this page about my rookie Congressman Juan Ciscomani. The fact is he votes in constant lockstep on legislation with Congresswoman MTG, Marjorie Taylor Greene, the relentless media darling and standard barrier of the Republican Party in their politically constipated U.S. House of Representatives. With Ciscomani’s permanent partisan embrace of MTG, he could hardly be called a “Moderate” inside the 6th Congressional District filled with “Independent” voters. Member of Congress Ciscomani, you have my thoughts and prayers.

Jerry Wilkerson

SaddleBrooke

Divisive rhetoric

Re: the Dec. 14 letter “Gun crimes.”

This letter was primarily about AR-15 rifles, but ended with a pivot to a “what about Black on Black gun homicides” comment, thereby introducing race into the issue. Statements like these serve to perpetuate the myth that African-Americans are somehow more dangerous than white people. It is not true. It is a nonsensical notion, and about as meaningful as saying, “What about white on white gun homicides?” These are more predominant in our country.

Is the statement simply parroting comments heard or read on various media? Is the idea that Black people should be more policed than white people? Or that white people should arm themselves in case of attack? Or that white people should shoot first and ask questions later? There certainly have been many cases of white people shooting unarmed and innocent Black people. This sort of comment reinforces the divisive rhetoric regarding race that is common in our country.

David Buss, Ned Garn, Davin Franklin-Hicks, Nancy Franklin-Hicks, Karen MacDonald Beth Shelby, Kelly Kahlstrom and Dean Hokel—members of Rincon Congregational United Church of Christ

Midtown

Ciscomani on the wrong side of mining

Re: the Dec. 16 letter “Ciscomani on the winning side of mining.”

A pro-mining mining engineer cites a poll by the Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce, in association with (paid for by) the Arizona Mining Industry, to show local support for new copper mines, specifically Hudbay’s Copper World complex. The polling survey clearly lacks transparency of methodology, data collection, data analysis techniques and findings. But contrary to this highly suspect poll, Copper World is not popular in Pima county.

Pima county’s board of supervisors have voted 4-1 on three occasions against Copper World. Tucson’s mayor and city council firmly oppose the mines, along with numerous environmental groups and Native American tribes.

Arizona has a billion dollar tourism industry. Raytheon employs 13,000 people. Hudbay might employ a few hundred. So why is it so important to Ciscomani? Corporate money. Juan will receive some nice campaign contributions from the miners. If Ciscomani isn’t Hudbay’s tool, then he would be working to protect our water supply, our air quality and our mountain views, not the interests of foreign mining companies.

Rick Johnson

Sahuarita

“I know you are but what am I?”

Only days earlier he formally admitted to misconduct under the Arizona State Bar ethical rules and accepted the corresponding sanctions of probation with required remedial ethics training, now right-wing Republican superstar attorney at law Alexander Kolodin claims that (Republican) Cochise County Attorney, Brian McIntyre should be disciplined for advising the Cochise County BOS not to violate the law by ordering a “Hand Count” of ballots in the 2020 election. Mr. Kolodin himself was sanctioned for filing claims found to be without merit and were all denied. He argues that Mr. McIntrye violated his duty to his client the BOS. By properly advising them of the law and the potential consequences of their actions!!?? Which the BOS ignored and now the members face state criminal charges! Talk about chutzpah! In effect his argument boils down to: “I know you are but what am I?” As a retired member myself I encourage the AZ State Bar to further sanction Mr. Kolodin for abuse of process.

Paul Simon

Northwest side

End TEP’s tyrannical trend

Who controls how a municipality develops:

Its citizens through their elected representatives or a private utility company?

Statutory and case law say it’s the citizens through local regulations.

Despite this, TEP keeps telling our community that it gets to determine how our city develops. That aesthetics or costs or insert-reason-of-the-day allow it to override local land use regulations. The same regulations that you and I have to live by.

TEP has no such right. Thankfully, our city and state leaders have done a great job at resisting these veiled power grabs.

Together, we all must continue to hold the line, enforce the law, and encourage TEP to seek a real, non-superficial compromise that respects our freedom to choose how our community develops. Then, and only then, will we find truly creative win-wins with TEP.

Daniel Dempsey

Downtown

Impact on football, basketball programs

Re: the Dec. 17 article “UA financial crisis won’t damage football, basketball.”

I usually admire Greg Hansen’s writing. But I must take exception to this work. It lacked the depth the topic deserves.

Mr. Hansen opines that the recently revealed and serious UA financial problems will not adversely impact the football and basketball programs, which have soared. He even forecasts the coaches will receive raises (for retention).

Perhaps Mr. Hansen is counting on the revenues not from the state (ie. donations, TV ). But the university loaned money to the AD in recent years, debt which apparently was not being serviced.

Further, Mr. Hansen ignores the moral quandary the university faces if it mandates austerity campus wide while treating the “money sports” as an exception.

Lastly recruiting and player retention could be adversely affected in these two sports as highly skilled, sometimes privileged players seek more plush programs.

I wish UA AD the best, but it is not going to be easy.

Jim Greene

Marana

Christmas letters

Most folks either hate Christmas letters or love them. I’m one who loves them.

My wife and I send outbound 140 Christmas cards and letters and receive about 20 or more letters in return. They are a blessing and a treasure.

Having moved often we have friends all over the country that we do not see very often. We have found that Christmas letters are a great way to stay connected with loved ones. They are terrific for creating traditions and memories. They are a way to spread joy and cheer and they allow us to show appreciation.

We try and keep our letters to one page on red or green paper. We create a poem each year for the back page, and enclose two or three photos of the years events.

They say it is better to give than receive, however we enjoy it immensely when we receive a warm and well written Christmas letter from our friends and family.

Tom McGorray

Northwest side

Biden vs Trump

Re: the Dec. 20 letter “Trump vs. Biden on policy.”

The letter seems to encapsulate the Republican and “Fox News” falsehoods, a breathtaking disconnect from reality.

Have we forgotten that when Trump left office:

Unemployment was 6.3% with the economy in free fall

90,000 people a MONTH were dying of COVID, with the miracle of a vaccine but no distribution plan, and its distrust baselessly promoted by Trump and his cronies.

National debt had been increased over 33%

Our standing in the world was severely tarnished

There was no serious immigration reform under consideration, only a marginally effective and incomplete wall

But now:

Median household wealth increased over 37% (housing boom)

Unemployment cut more than in half, to record lows

Wage growth, now at 4%, has surpassed inflation

Our support of the hideous war in Ukraine, tacitly supported by Trump in his praise of Putin, has slowed Putin’s insane plans ... for now

China is now cooperating in stopping availability of fentanyl precursor chemicals. And their potential stranglehold on semiconductors is being rapidly dismantled.

Richard Eaton

West side

Trump and immigration

Isn’t it funny that Trump criticizes immigrants as “vermin” who poison the blood of America when his own grandfather came to this country as a German immigrant? Of course, he has lied about that to this day, claiming that his grandfather came from Sweden. Maybe Trump should look in the mirror to see who is actually poisoning the blood of America.

Jeannette Jackman

Southeast side