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White House addition

I am dumbfounded by the lame liberals who are whining about the false destruction of the White House East Wing, to build a facility to accept large numbers of dignitaries in one single, housed area. These are mentally small people who ignore our country’s critical issues and want to carp about a nothingburger.

Jay A. Elliott

Northwest side

The People’s House

A recent letter delineated many modifications made to the White House by many administrations over the years. During the War of 1812, the British burned the original structures. AI provides a history lesson. It appears from my research that the West Wing was built with the approval of Congress, modifications by FDR were not. Truman’s extensive renovations were approved by Congress and the exterior was maintained. The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) was established in 1924 and has changed over the years. Some changes, like the Kennedy Rose Garden, did not affect structures, which is the purview of the NCPC. Presidents subsequent to Truman followed the rules. Not certain the source of $350 billion in tariffs. Looks more like $215 billion. The deficit looks like $1.78 trillion increase.

I will give kudos for the Israel & Gaza settlement even though it is tenuous at best. It is a start.

Gerald Schwartz

Foothills

Improvement is not destruction

Re: a LTE in Sunday’s paper listing all the changes that have been made over the decades to the historical American treasure, the East Wing of the White House: every single one of those changes was an addition or improvement. Trump literally took a wrecking ball to an irreplaceable American iconic building. He utterly destroyed it in order to build a gilded monstrosity which will no doubt feature a throne for he and his Queen Melania to perch upon, as they preside over the festivities held, naturally, in his honor. He failed to go through proper channels, once again completely ignoring the rules and procedures. Meanwhile, his sycophants continue to lick his boots and remain silent. This is why 7 million people showed up at a No Kings protest and why I believe the Resistance will keep on growing. True patriots revere Democracy and proudly proclaim, “No Kings in America!”

Anne Lane

Northeast side

Dance of modernization LTE

The current WH modifications are built for the super ego of a wannabe king. Trump’s demolition of a sacred section of the WH is so much more than the minor alterations of past presidents. Trump isn’t building, he is taking away history. He did it for his ego, so he could look powerful to his “friends.” And he is doing so without any of the customary authorizations, at a time when the economy is in tatters. He bypassed all necessary authorizations and permits. It is totally disrespectful to destroy what other presidents have done, just to satisfy his ego. The wealthy now have a parlor to visit when giving money to Trump. The president’s teardown of the East Wing is a jarring visual reminder of his no-holds-barred commitment to reshape the nation in his own image. The act of destruction is precisely the point: a kind of performance piece meant to display Trump’s arbitrary power over the presidency, including its physical seat.

Peter Bisschop

East side

Illegal modifications

MAGA supporters like to refute the horror of Donald Trump demolishing the East Wing with a list of “changes” other presidents have made (The Dance of Modernization, LTE Oct 26). Yes, many alterations and improvements have occurred over the history of this great house. However, MAGA fails to mention that those prior changes to the White House could only occur after being proposed to the manager of the National Park Service, reviewed under the rules of the National Historic Preservation Act, reviewed for aesthetic design by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, and given final authorization for design and budget. Trump did none of those things. He just ordered it done, and his minions jumped to obey.

And people wonder why the theme of our protests is “No Kings.”

Karen Micallef

Oro Valley

Prop 414

TUSD is asking for a budget override for more money with Proposition 414. Absolutely not! When will they begin using the money appropriated more effectively. Many of the schools in TUSD are underutilized. Too many schools at all levels have too few students. Check the TUSD website for any particular school. One of the most egregious is Santa Rita High School. A school built for 2,000 students with an enrollment under 400. Why does TUSD continue to spend millions on salaries, maintenance, landscaping, athletics, utilities, etc. SR students could attend Palo Verde or Sahuaro, which are only a few miles from SR. This is not the time to ask for more money when millions are being wasted. The board has to have the courage and fiscal responsibility to do what should be done. With attendance falling every year in TUSD, the parents are telling TUSD that Tucson schools are failing their children. Face it, TUSD is sinking, and the board does nothing to change that.

Jerry Schuchardt

Foothills

Democrats’ nonsense

Diversity, not unity, is our strength.

Overweight Americans experience food insecurity.

Men can give birth.

A two-state solution between the river and the sea is achievable.

Windmills and solar are cost-effective for all our increasing energy needs.

Immigration, legal or otherwise, does not require assimilation.

America’s economy is in the toilet.

Autism is one in 20,000, not one in 12.

Defunding the police and no bail releases reduce crime.

Socialism, not capitalism, provides prosperity for all.

Democracy is under attack by free speech.

The unhoused want homes.

Health care for uninvited guests does not raise our medical insurance costs.

America can spend its way out of its debt crisis.

How many members of the party of hope and joy does it take to unscrew this light bulb? The answer is, none to hold the ladder, just one courageous Democrat to climb up.

Jeffrey McConnell

West side

Must be fiction

The Star has outdone itself and provided us with a marvelous piece of fiction from the Chicago Tribune. It’s titled ICE Raid in Chicago. The story takes place in the early hours of Sept. 30 and features helicopters descending on the rooftop of a five-story apartment building, masked men (?) in battle dress and masks, some descending and others climbing ladders to invade the building. Doors and windows were smashed, no knocking, no warrants. Men, women and children — some citizens — were zip-tied and hauled away, never yet heard from since the night, in rented box trucks. And of course, this happened in an unmaintained building in a run-down neighborhood on the south side of Chicago.

But this is obviously a compelling piece of fiction. Isn’t it? This couldn’t have happened in the heart of the United States, could it? It couldn’t be happening elsewhere in the land of the free. It couldn’t happen here in Tucson one of these days, or could it?

Frank Bergen

Northwest side

Dr. Ruiz for Arizona

I recently attended a meeting at which Dr. Teresa Ruiz spoke. She is running for Arizona Superintendent of Public Education, and I was extremely impressed by her professionalism and experience.

At a time when most national education rankings list Arizona’s schools at or near the bottom in funding, it’s more important than ever to have someone running the office who knows what they are doing. I believe Dr. Ruiz is categorically the best person for the job. She has taught at all levels throughout her career, including middle school, high school and college.

Even more important than where she taught is what she taught – math – because, for the State of Arizona, the numbers don’t add up. Unregulated voucher programs like the Empowerment Scholarship Account and Social Tuition Organization tax credits are projected to cost nearly one billion dollars this year alone. Arizona needs Dr. Ruiz, who will be a competent voice, advocating for public education and the public interest.

Jim Lombardo

Oro Valley

Hate-filled letters

I expect that the vast preponderance of liberals’ LTEs gives your staff a lot of chortles, but wouldn’t it be journalistically more accurate to change the name of the page from “Opinion” to “Hate Trump?”

Jim Reinertson

Northwest side

‘House of Dynamite’ movie and Trump

Because Trump and his lickspittles commit a new atrocity every day, I’ve been feeling numb. Then my wife and I watched the movie “House of Dynamite,” and I couldn’t help but imagine Trump and Hegseth in the film’s roles of POTUS and Secretary of War deciding whether to push the nuclear button or not. My numbness has been replaced by deep terror and disturbing nightmares. Resist.

Jefferson Carter

Midtown