Tucson Speaks Out: May 7

Funding for public media

President Trump wanted Congress to claw back funding for PBS and NPR. Republicans backed off in fear of voters who cherish their public media, and so Trump had to resort to an executive order, his 145th in three months. An issue that should have been debated by our elected representatives now goes to the courts.

We should have pity for the Justice Department lawyers tasked with defending Trump’s assertion that he can bypass the legislative branch of government and stop funding on a personal whim. The president is not a king. That was settled 250 years ago. And yet Mr. Trump goes on acting like one.

How far will Trump take America into monarchy? That is up to us. Does the spirit of freedom that ignited America’s revolution still burn in its citizens? Or do we deserve the corruption and tyranny of one-man rule?

Donald Trump is a man who knows what he wants. Do we?

Merrill Collett

Midtown

Private equity and UA sports

Private equity is “bad.” Unless you’re good at mathematics. Then it’s “just math.” Actually, it’s somewhere in between. And that’s a geography the Wildcats’ athletic department should explore. Nobody wants to hand over control to a bunch of financial geeks. But those guys know more than we think. Combining forces could be a great idea. Especially for UA, which can’t generate internally all the cash it needs to compete with Ohio State and Alabama. (Don’t mention Texas Tech.) Private equity is looking around. So far, it hasn’t gotten far. Arizona is an ideal target for them. Private equity firms have billions. There are dozens of PE companies. The bidding should yield a fair relationship. It’s only money. If a PE deal turns Arizona into a national powerhouse with 5x today’s revenue — so what if they get 38% of that?

Walter Ramsley

East side

Not the intended goal

After Musk failed to extort a 64-billion-dollar paycheck from stockholders, Jeffrey McConnell suggested in an LTE that we “give him a chance” to reduce the federal budget. As that seemed tantamount to hiring Hannibal Lecter (who, according to DJT, really exists) to cater a social gathering, I then sent an LTE stating that the chain saw wielder would use his DOGE position to create a conduit from the US Treasury to his bank account. Many others agreed.

Now, Starlink will be inserted into the FAA ATC program. Space X is now the leading contender for the Golden Dome missile defense project. All Social Security bulletins are now disseminated exclusively by X, not the federal government. WTH??

Musk received 8 million federal dollars daily in fiscal 2023. DJT refuses to reveal Musk’s compensation as DOGE head. Give Musk a chance and his increasing compensation will always be the result.

Rick Cohn

West side

‘I don’t know’

When asked recently if he needed to uphold the Constitution of the United States, President Trump answered, “I don’t know.” We should believe him and be outraged. This is the same man we witnessed swearing under oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution at his inauguration ceremony. We know he lies shamelessly and a good portion of the nation doesn’t seems to care. But this is the moment, among untold moments, that Republicans and Democrats should unite and condemn the President’s betrayal. Donald Trump will never make America Great Again, but he will gleefully destroy America if we allow it.

Gary R. Kautto

Downtown

Excellent letter praise

I want to express praise for a couple excellent letters on Monday. The letters on a Trump military parade and Truman’s “The buck stops here” couldn’t be better stated. Let’s add that a bone spur (if Trump really had one) is something that is far from permanent and doesn’t warrant military deferment. As for where the buck stops, Trump has never taken responsibility for anything.

In addition, another letter writer recently praised Trump for having his whole cabinet at the White House, but it wasn’t to provide the public with specific details on current issues, it was to garner adulation for himself from them. Two critical international concerns (Gaza and the Ukraine) weren’t mentioned. Meetings of the entire cabinet weren’t seen under criticized Joe Biden because despite having security clearances, any critical issue generally warranting such a meeting where classified material may be discussed requires a “Need to know” and many such issues have limited access. It is very rare that all cabinet members would be required together.

Chuck Cabrera

Oro Valley

Media vs MAGA

Is it any wonder President Trump has a low regard for journalists? By devoting frenzied coverage to every carefully chosen red herring he tosses out — renaming the Gulf of Mexico, making Canada our 51st state, slapping preposterous tariffs on movies made outside the U.S. and other pointless puffs of hot air — the media diverts attention from his real agenda: creating an imperial reign where dissent is smothered, the Bill of Rights is shredded and the greater good is reengineered to become personal gain. In doing that, journalism lives up to the president’s expectations.

Darrell Durham

North side

Alcatraz: For the birds

No, Donald, you can’t send U.S. prisoners to El Salvador, and you shouldn’t reopen Alcatraz.

The first is unconstitutional six ways from Sunday, and the second violates good science and good sense.

I say this based on 24 years of involvement in U.S. prison systems: four as prison staff, eight in authorized prison alternatives, and twelve as an authorized federal prison visitor — making more than 138 visits to federal prisons.

There is an inverse relation between harshness of confinement and rehabilitation. The worse the confinement, the more likely the prisoner is to repeat crimes upon release. The better it is — visitation, educational, vocational, recreation, and spiritual programs — the less likely the prisoner is to repeat.

The best alternative is to work with defendants in the community. It’s also the safest. My community supervision programs had non-repeat rates in excess of 95% for felons.

Yes, close confinement has a limited place in good systems — but not on “the Rock,” nor beyond our borders.

Chuck Barrett

Midtown

Panhandling on medians

It’s great that the City has made it unlawful to panhandle on dangerous center medians of collector and arterial roadways. It is encouraging to see the number of warnings and tickets that have been issued. If the city is really serious about enforcement, it needs to establish signs on these medians advising the public that panhandling is not permitted there. After all, people can always panhandle on the sides of these streets; where it’s much safer.

Public safety is the most important responsibility of local government. Let’s see some action.

Mark Anderson

West side

Trump family business: US government

Does anyone remember the Republicans sniping about Hunter Biden trading upon his father’s name and political importance to enrich himself with a board seat and compensation from Burisma in Ukraine? It seems that the Trump family is doing essentially the same (in spades) with moneymaking ventures across the globe, including new golf and tourism developments, cryptocurrency, and now Bitcoin mining.

According to news reports, these deals will enrich Trump’s sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., as well as our own dear President. Such financial conflicts of interest have been pooh-poohed by the White House. Nevertheless, the President’s legally required financial disclosure report shows he greatly benefits from many of these ventures.

Does anyone smell some hypocrisy here?

Melody Sears

North side

Kudos to Governor Hobbs

We should all be grateful for Governor Hobbs using her veto powers to keep Arizonans’ taxpayer money out of virtual currency online marketplaces like Bitcoin that has had wild fluctuations in the current market. I am grateful to see our Governor looking out for her constituents.

Other positive moves on her part have been ensuring that money won’t be taken away from our state universities and community colleges that offer courses in diversity, equity and inclusion, blocked legislation that would make voter registration rolls available online, and nixed school districts from having to prepare budgets 3 years in advance.

Thank you, Governor Hobbs.

Lois Croly

Northwest side

The art of deception

“I’ve made 200 deals”, Trump boasted to Time Magazine. Navarro declared that it was “possible” to sign 90 trade deals in 90 days. We are zero for 200/90. Canada, Mexico, Japan, and China have refuted claims of any deals. Meanwhile, cargo ships from China fell 60% in April, China enacted reciprocal tariffs, Canada and the EU are boycotting U.S. goods, and U.S. consumer confidence is at record lows.

Yet deals have been made. The Trump Organization struck a deal for a $5.5 billion golf club in Qatar and a $1 billion hotel in Dubai. Trump crypto, World Liberty Financial, announced a $2 billion investment by Abu Dhabi. Don Jr. launched the Executive Club so wealthy members can rub elbows with the administration.

Trump will surpass the estimated $1.6 billion he made during his first term.

He is making deals, just not the ones he promised.

Jean Meconi

Oro Valley

Jim Driscoll’s call to action

I applaud Dr. Driscoll for his forthright take on this circus of an administration. I also thank him for his service and sacrifice.

I’ve a Vietnam era vet who receives care at the Tucson VA. The staff is valiantly trying to keep up with the demand, but staffing is already a serious problem. The cuts proposed will decimate the VA and its healthcare system.

Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those of us who served. That means taking care of those who paid the price.

It’s been far too long since a vet sat in the Oval Office. Instead, we’re left with a draft dodger and his sycophants, including Misters Ciscomani and Collins, and an illegal immigrant oligarch from South Africa.

Heed Dr. Driscoll’s clarion call. Save the VA!

Charles Bloomer

Northeast side

Pope Donald

The President (King, now Pope wannabe) who:

— Cut off U.S. aid to the hungry of the world

— Cut off emergency aid to global disaster sites

— Rejects the strangers at our gates

— Imprisons thousands without recourse to judge or jury

— Seeks revenge on perceived enemies

now pictures himself online in the garb of the Pope in Rome, the vicar of Christ.

An old-fashioned word for this: blasphemy.

Sharon Gardlund

Foothills

Action without thought

There are many problems with the current presidential administration, but the philosophy behind the executive office’s current actions seems to stay consistent: Act first and deal with the fallout later.

I view the orders by the current president as fishing nets tossed into a nation of 340 million to see what gets caught. These nets are often just to see what he can get away with, causing confusion among millions. Think broad tariffs that cause massive dips in the U.S. stock market, or thousands of federal employees losing their jobs at a pen stroke, or mistakes like adding a non-governmental entity to a group chat with sensitive military information.

There appears to be no checks on the president of a country built on checks and balances. It hurts real people when the country moves at such a rapid pace.

Ryan Schultz

Midtown