大象APP

Project Blue

More information is needed to determine the impact of the proposed data centers and for the city council鈥檚 consideration. In the interim, the city and county should investigate data centers in Phoenix/Goodyear/Mesa and how each has accommodated their development. Would Marana or Sahuarita offer their water/electricity/land, if 大象APPvacillates on any of the phases? The prospect of providing consistent tax revenue and jobs with a data center(s) cannot be taken lightly, but at what cost?

Tim O'Connor

West side

Radicals vs. conservatives

It鈥檚 time the media started using more accurate language when referring to Republicans and especially this administration. They are not conservatives, they are radicals. Conservatives are commonly thought of as people who don鈥檛 want to spend money and who claim adherence to our founding documents (originalists). These days, Republicans are spending up a storm 鈥� mostly on ICE and the military (damn the deficit) 鈥� and handing power over to the executive. This is a radical reframing of our government.

Furthermore, Republicans are not interested in conserving public lands for the good of all Americans but want to sell them off to the highest bidder. This is a radical reversal of policy. The American people love our national parks and want them preserved.

What has happened to government for the people? We are headed away from democracy and straight into autocracy. Republicans can鈥檛 hand over power to the executive fast enough.

This is a radical takeover of our democracy. Stop calling them conservative.

Beth Dingman

Green Valley

My error

I erred in my last article on the destruction of Barrio Viejo and the link to our election system. When noting the effect of our at-large system on our majority at the time, I stated that since 1929, the ethnic effect had lasted. It could easily be interpreted that I implied that the ethnic effect has lasted. I edited out 鈥渇or two decades,鈥� which changed my narrative. In 1954, Gonzalez was elected to Ward 6 and was reelected in 鈥�56. In the mid-1960s, 大象APPbegan to change this issue in a more permanent manner. I believe that today our at-large system has different targets and is still unfair. It is also true that Barrio Viejo had poor representation throughout the unnecessary destruction of their neighborhood.

Please pardon my error completely.

Jim Sinex

Midtown

We need you

As a 35-year resident of Tucson, I have watched many changes to our city over the years. So many people have worked long and hard to provide the wonderful city that I am proud to call home. With the current administration in the White House, we may see our way of life upended with monies for schools, social networks, medical services and more withdrawn. I am an introvert and (sadly) thought others could do for me without my needing to do anything. This is not true. I have started joining in on issues that are important to me, and I urge you to do the same. So many things are being threatened. Pick an issue. Find others of like mind. With the voice of many, we can be heard. We need you. We need you to act. We need you to act today.

Barbara Rose Gaynor

Midtown

Kevin Dahl, not Sadie Shaw

For me, the choice of best candidate for Ward 3 is Kevin Dahl.

So who is best qualified to bring heart and mind together to help lead and manage this vitally important public process in perhaps the most challenging period ever for state and local governments?

Sadie revealed her priorities in May by voting against funding the youth-led TUSD Climate Action Plan, a first in the nation. Sadie鈥檚 vote shows lack of appreciation for the existential concerns of today鈥檚 students and by extension, the existential concerns of many people in the larger community.

Kevin, on the other hand, has more than continued the great stewardship legacy of Ward 3 predecessors, Karin Uhlich and Paul Durham. On the City Council, they often set the standard for professional engagement and performance addressing challenging public issues.

Kevin connects the dots and votes for the best community outcomes with social fairness.

Robert Cook

Midtown

Abuse of freedom of speech

History has examples of freedom of speech and press that were abused by politicians to accomplish an agenda that resulted in serious consequences. The Weimar Republic constitution in Germany guaranteed freedom of speech and press in the 1920s. With the rise of Hitler, this guarantee was questioned, as many feared the loss of the republic. However, it was deemed necessary to abide by the constitution and allow fascist speech. We know the end result. Once in power, Hitler quickly abandoned freedom of speech and press.

We have been in the same dilemma as Germany for many years now. We have been allowing Trump鈥檚 fascist speech to go unchecked, mostly because it has not been recognized as fascism. Those of us whom have studied fascism and its origins; long term; clearly see that Trump is selling fascism, masquerading as national revival. Print, social and TV media must recognize what they are allowing and how that threatens our republic. Freedom of speech should not be sacrosanct, but pragmatic.

Steve Rasmussen

Foothills

Heart and mind

I have always written from the heart. I am not much of a thinking person.

My heart goes out to the migrants who have suffered so much for a better life.

My mind tells me that many are criminals, but I find myself seeking the greater good.

My heart tells me that abortion is wrong, but my mind says to not judge.

My heart tells me that war is wrong, and I mourn the killing, but my mind says sometimes it is justified.

My heart tells me that the death penalty is wrong, but my mind says that the state must use it as a hindrance.

My heart tells me that the Democrats are for the middle class and the marginalized, and my mind tells me the Republicans want to make America great.

I try and stay neutral and conservative, but it is an uphill battle.

My heart and mind are in continual conflict, but when it comes down to a final decision, my heart seems to win out.

Tom McGorray

Northwest side

Lies have consequences?

Winning an election with 49.3% of the popular vote is not significant. Doing the math, that appears to be less than a majority. It鈥檚 a lie to claim a mandate.

It鈥檚 a lie to say deportation will begin with violent, criminal illegal aliens but start deporting anyone, including people with a legal right to remain here.

It鈥檚 a lie to claim to fix the economy by unnecessarily increasing costs with subjective tariffs. Price of eggs and gasoline are primarily determined by supply and demand.

It鈥檚 a lie to fight DEI at all levels, unless Trump means he will subjugate the U.S. Constitution鈥檚 Bill of Rights which advocates for DEI: fair and equitable treatment for all.

Males playing in female sports? Eliminate all school sports or have sports available to all.

The well documented stream of lies by Trump has no consequences. Lies are the precursor of corruption and authoritarianism.

James Abels

Midtown

1%ers vs. senior lunch plans

In the 15 June 2025 paper, two articles stand out (Golden Toilet Theft - Pg A18, and Loss of Senior Lunch Plans, LTE - A15). The first discussed the "tragic" theft of a $6.5M golden toilet by the same artist who created the duct-taped banana, which sold for $6.2M in 2024. The second bemoaned the loss of funding in the BBB for senior meals, costing an average of $5. I don't bemoan the artist's concept of expression, but that people would spend that amount of money for this "art" while so many people go without is unconscionable. Taking the lower cost of these "art" pieces, at $5 per meal, $6.2M would have paid for 1,240,000 meals. I guess those 1%'ers really do need the tax breaks included in the BBB recently passed or they might not be able to afford their "art." Does 鈥淟et them eat cake鈥� sound familiar? Remember November 2026.

Peter Garcia

Northwest side

Re: July 16 LTE Consequences of Elections

Please explain how you arrived at current gas prices being halved by Trump, and eggs now being cheaper. Please stick to the facts. A simple Google search is all it takes to get them. Here are a few:

Average gas price (Sept. 23, 2024): $3.27 per gallon

Current gas prices:

National Average: $3.16 per gallon

Tucson: Average price is around $3.26 (Not too much difference)

Average price of a dozen eggs (Sept. 2024): $3.06

Current average price (July 2025): $4.55 (This sure look likes an increase to me)

No one is above the law. Perhaps Mr. Trump should be reminded of this fact.

He did not 鈥渨in significantly.鈥� He got only 1.5% more votes than Harris.

Interfering with illegal 鈥渓aw enforcement鈥� is not illegal. It is resisting tyranny.

Contrary to 鈥渇ixing鈥� the economy, he is going out of his way to destroy it.

Klara Cserny

Southwest side

Arab Bedouins of the stars

A column about Israel in the Star of June 17 states: "Jewish settlers inventively converted arid deserts, which nomadic and relatively unproductive Arab inhabitants had let lay fallow...." This superior colonialist attitude is familiar to Native Americans and may explain some of the difficult relations in the Mideast region.

Arab Bedouins coexisted with harsh deserts for centuries as nomads navigating by the stars. Ottoman Turks and British forced many Negev Desert Bedouins to give up their nomadic lifestyle. Then Israel seized their territory and relocated them.

Egyptian musician Hossam Ramzy speaks in his introduction to his DVD, Bedouin Tribal Dance, of Egyptian Bedouins "maintaining their ancient knowledge that many of us in the so-called "modern world" have forgotten. These Bedouins are in touch with Earth, nature and the stars." Will Israel and our modern world learn to live sustainably and still exist after multiple centuries? Do not underestimate the cultures and knowledge of indigenous people.

Ronald Pelech

Midtown

The irony and the hypocrisy

Perhaps you, like me, puzzled over why Trump changed his policy about arresting and deporting immigrants deemed felons and chose, instead, to arrest and deport hardworking individuals deemed essential to our economy. He said that he would arrest and deport "the criminals" so that they could be held accountable. He intimated as much when he campaigned on the promise of releasing the Epstein files. Could it be that he's suddenly aware of karma? It's said that "What goes around comes around". Would the irony and hypocrisy of a president who is a convicted felon and not held accountable hit too close to home?

Barbara Benjamin

Foothills

Why leaving MAGA is a big deal

There is actually a website to help people leave MAGA. It was founded by Rich Logis, a happily-married father of two children and a small business owner. He was a MAGA activist. He believed a successful businessman could fix problems and obliterate the political disorder. But Trump's mishandling of the COVID pandemic and the January 6 insurrection made him change his mind. He felt compelled to found the Leaving MAGA organization. Its mission statement: "We founded Leaving MAGA in 2024 to be a community and a safe place for those who have left the movement or have doubts and remorse about staying in MAGA but are afraid to leave." The website includes testimonials of others who have left the movement. The most cited reasons for leaving are the January 6 insurrection, initiated by Trump's election denials, and listening to other sources of information beside far-right media. Another reason to support federal funding for NPR/PBS.

Tillie Camacho

Northwest side