Tucson Speaks Out: March 26

Vaccinations

Dr. Matt Heinz and the other members of the Board of Supervisors are to be commended for their unanimous decision to act aggressively to increase the County’s school vaccination rates.

Vaccines are never perfect, but overwhelmingly they save lives. For intensely contagious diseases like measles, the safety and health of the community and especially our most vulnerable depend on “herd immunity.”

What this means: for a contagious disease to become an epidemic depends on a pool of susceptible individuals to contract the disease from an infected person. If most people (generally accepted as 95%) are immune, the disease cannot propagate itself. We have been so successful in eradicating measles that in 50+ years of practice I have seen one case of measles; Dr. Heinz has seen none.

Unfortunately, we have seen in this country and worldwide what happens when that rate drops. At least here in Pima County, with Dr. Heinz’ guidance, the Board of Supervisors is acting to protect the health of our community. Science and logic can prevail.

Abraham R. Byrd III, M.D.

North side

Definition of a recession

The Anti-Trumps are saying that Trump’s erratic tariffs and his other policies will bring on a recession.

Now a recession is not the DJIA dropping 10% after hitting an all-time high. Nor is it fewer Canadians coming for a vacation in the U.S. The definition of a recession is two consecutive quarters of below zero growth of GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

So, let’s stop this recession talk at least until the first of the two consecutive quarters of below zero growth actually takes place; and I don’t think the Anti-Trumps should hold their breaths waiting for this to happen.

Douglas R. Holm

East side

Germans of 1930s didn’t speak out either

Trump and Musk came for the Hispanics. I didn’t speak out since I’m not Hispanic.

They came for federal employees. I said nothing since I’m not a federal employee. The came for the LGBTQ community. I didn’t speak since I’m not part of those groups.

They came after journalists and newscasters. I’m not part of the media so I didn’t protest. They came after teachers and universities. I’m not an educator, so I didn’t speak out. They came after attorneys and judges. I’m not a member of the legal profession, so I didn’t complain. Trump and Musk just came after me.

There was nobody left to speak for me.

Mary Zimmerman

SaddleBrooke

Where are our representatives in Congress

?

A Letter to U./S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani:

We the People — your constituents — are seriously concerned for our nation by current status of our government Of the People, By the People, For the People.

The Executive Branch is actively usurping the Constitutional powers of Congress, and thus the representation of We the People.

As lawless deconstruction of our federal government takes place it seems that our representatives in Congress, i.e. you, are not present — or perhaps more accurately only present in fear and fealty to the executive branch.

This is not how a coequal branch of government functions for our nation.

When are you members of Congress, our representatives, going to perform the duties you have been elected for? Stop sitting on your hands and holding your breath while you watch our democracy fail at the hands of not just the President, but also all of the architects of Project 2025.

The runaway executive branch is out of control. Make a stand for the people, your constituents.

Glenn Micallef

Oro Valley

Thank you for your response

I’m so pleased to have hit a nerve. Your accusations of my bad thinking.

It is funny how you accuse the right of everything that you’ve done.

A teen in Tucson was given a pass after shooting at a cop. The mayor hangs a Black Lives Matter flag on the 8th floor of City Hall. Who has rights?

Liberal elites have streets that don’t compare with ours. Last paved in 1962. Your hearts bleed for things that happen in the suburbs. More government to control all your desires and neglect all the little guys that struggle to make ends meet.

One of the first dictators was FDR. Who incarcerated Japanese people during WWII? A Democrat dictator. Who served more terms than allowed? I believe he was a Democrat.

Hypocrisy is alive and well in your party. Who do you accuse of hypocrisy? Look in the mirror. Why did you lose?

Richard Barnes

East side

Budget 101

Every single taxpayer has a budget.

Say your total household expenses are $3,600 per month. But you only bring in $3,000 per month. Most of your expenses are pretty much fixed (housing/insurance/phones/utilities etc). So, you keep putting the items you can’t afford on your charge card.

Well, you will just get deeper & deeper in debt. You must go through each expense item by item and figure out what you can live without, or you file for bankruptcy. Something needs to change but change only happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.

The government is no different. But they just kept charging their expenses and now we are $36 (Trillion) in debt. Fact is, if the government doesn’t cut expenses, our country WILL go bankrupt. Go DOGE!

Linda Schaub

Southeast side

U.S. government staff reductions

For those who feel that government cutbacks and layoffs are inappropriate, I suggest a look at the website of U.S Debt Clock.org.

There we can see a running total of the increase of the U.S. national debt and other data. Debt is going up much faster than tax revenues, as it has for decades. Truly frightening information that requires action sooner rather than later. This looks to me like a much needed starting point in a serious task.

Tim Dittmann

Foothills

My father-in-law was right

My late father-in-law used to refer to your paper as the “Arizona Red Star.”

After permanently relocating to Tucson last month and reading your paper daily (as opposed to occasionally from when I first started coming to Southern Arizona in 1998) I can easily see how he came up with this nickname.

I find your paper’s recent lamentations on the de-emphasizing of DEI by the Trump administration humorous when there is no diversity in your editorial focus, equity in presenting both sides to issues in your reporting, and limited inclusion of alternate viewpoints from your readership.

Of even greater source of mirth is your paper and readers’ vitriol towards Elon Musk as an unelected puppet master (who is very public with his actions and goal of bringing efficiency to the federal government) while the raising no concerns about the secret unelected puppet masters who thrived in darkness for four years during the previous administration.

Tom Furlong

East side

Arizona’s future depends on every vote

The so-called Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act is a voter suppression bill. Don’t fall for it.

If passed, it would block millions — especially low-income voters, seniors, and women who’ve changed their names — from registering by requiring hard-to-access documents like passports or birth certificates. There is zero proof of widespread voter fraud, because it doesn’t exist.

This bill isn’t about security; it’s about kicking eligible voters off the rolls. Tell Congress to reject the SAVE Act.

Your right to vote depends on it.

Kim Miklofsky Bayne

Foothills

Proud to be an American

Years ago, I was on a business trip to England and was invited into the home of a colleague who was a citizen of the UK.

He introduced me to his family as “This is Mr. Henderson. He’s an American!” I felt a great feeling of pride in that he chose to emphasize my nationality rather than my personal identity.

I hope and pray that this sense of pride in our great country will continue despite all the craziness that’s going on now.

Tom Henderson

West side

Lady Cats basketball

Coach Barnes is a candidate to coach another college program. Let’s address the fallout from whatever decision she makes.

The Cats have a long history of players departing from the program (even before NIL). Many of these players excelled at other schools. I see a pattern here. Now Jada Williams announced she is leaving. Others will soon join her. If UA extends Barnes’ contract, she has to address this consistent turnover. If Barnes leaves, it’s possible that other players will follow.

Her 2024 recruiting class was at best average except for Lauren Swan. It appears that US college players preferred other programs. Look at how much NAU improved.

You’re only as good as the players you recruit. Barnes returned four starters who played tons of minutes last year. Skyler Jones was the only one who significantly improved. This is on the coaches.

I am a longtime season ticket holder. Barnes did great community building, but it is clearly time to move on.

George Youngerman

East side

Welcome to the show

President Biden deported more illegal persons than Trump has done in the same time period.

The difference is President Biden didn’t make it a “Reality Show” on TV. The Magites just want to be entertained. They want to see Trump being tough with people and services who Magites wrongly think are the problem in America. While all the Tough Guy Magites are watching the show, government services are being gutted to make room for the tax cuts to the wealthy.

The Magites need to enjoy the show they are being fed because soon they will realize they got duped. The Magites’ cost of living will go up, Government services they need will be gone, and the wealthy will be richer.

Enjoy the show, you are being duped.

Richard Bechtold

West side

To Lady MAGA from Marana

Addressing the litany of foolishness in LTE of March 25th:

1) Cutting programs Trump/Musk know nothing about with zero validation of “massive fraud and waste” benefits nobody.

2) The deficit? How about the trillions added to the deficit through Trump’s obscene tax cuts for billionaires?

3) Betting Deb doesn’t remotely understand the myriad ways government spending benefits her and all of us.

4) Worried about your grandkids?! How about the destruction of the planet due to Trump’s ignorance on climate change and his willingness to gut environmental protections so money-grubbing polluters can poison us?

5) Pettiness? Trump is the epitome of childishness. He’s an embarrassment.

6) Criminals? You put an adjudicated felon and sexual assaulter into the Oval Office. You whine about Tesla violence but say nothing about the J6 thugs.

Tyrant Trump’s madness is exposed daily. So, sweetie, we are far from done — we are just beginning.

Hope Gastelum

East side

The state of politics

Nothing will convince, not even: Subverting the 2020 Election? Inciting an insurrection? Corrupting the Justice Department to end those opposing him? Appointing toadies, suckling on the poison of power? Cuddling with the man’s most despicable dictators?

Certainly not when he suggests: We ingest disinfectants to manage what ails us. That it’s OK to grab someone’s genitals. That “we could use a big fat dose of global warming.” That breast-feeding babies is “disgusting.” That conviction of sexual abuse is abuse.

It isn’t the president who is anti-progress, science, education, democracy and decency that is your enemy. It is that family member or neighbor who monotonously cowers with the words, “Oh, I don’t like everything he does.”

Richard Kimball

South side

Support library programs

Most people don’t know what the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is, let alone that there’s been an executive order for its demise. Both the Pima County Public Library’s Bookbike and Seed Library got their start with funding from IMLS. So do the Writers-In-Residence, Southwest Books of the Year, Community Science Kits and even the book lockers. If you care about these kinds of programs, I urge you to contact your elected officials in Washington and share your concerns about IMLS being dismantled. And if you don’t have contact information for your elected officials, your friendly local library staff will point you in the right direction.

Karen Greene

Downtown

Hamas must immediately release all hostages

Necrophile Hamas terrorists were finally exposed by fellow Palestinians for their continued sacrifice of civilians on their death-cult altar. The Palestinian Authority’s Fatah movement recently called on the Hamas terror group to relinquish power in Gaza to “safeguard” Palestinians who live there. But Fatah’s long-overdue call to rid Gaza of Hamas overlords does not nearly go far enough. The first step to safeguarding Gazans and halting the tragic loss of life of their fellow Palestinians must be for Hamas to immediately free all remaining hostages — alive and dead — who were kidnapped in their unprovoked, barbaric attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Nothing less will suffice.

Kent Blumenthal

Green Valley