����Ӱ��AV

Veteran responds to bombing of Iran

Trump has a pattern of executing policies in a most aggressive way without consideration for consequences nor the legality of such decisions. His decision to bomb Iran seems no different. As a military officer, I have been proud to serve under both Republican and Democrat Presidents. Prior to our current President, I always had faith that the elected leaders of the U.S. would use our capabilities for well-considered operations advancing the goals of the United States and our democratic allies. Unfortunately, for this current President, I haven’t seen the careful and well-articulated consideration prior to using military force. I am aware of no intelligence information documenting Iran’s imminent development of a functional nuclear device nor has he verbalized an argument for the breakdown of diplomatic avenues. This is alarming. As a naval officer, I am proud of the professionalism of our sailors and airmen in the execution of this complex mission. As a citizen, I am concerned that our President is using the military without clear justification.

Rees Lee

Marine Corps,

U.S. Navy Captain, retired

Foothills

PCC: No tuition or property tax increase

As families and communities face rising costs and economic uncertainty, the Pima Community College Governing Board is proud to stand for stability, access, and fiscal responsibility.

This month, the Board formally adopted the College’s FY26 budget — without raising tuition or increasing property taxes. This decision is supported by all five Board members — myself, incumbent Theresa Riel, and three recently elected colleagues, Karla Bernal Morales, Dr. Nicole Barraza and Kristen Randall.

What makes this decision significant is the broader context. Many government and educational entities are confronting serious financial pressures. At the same time, our students, families, and businesses are navigating their own challenges. In this environment, the College’s board is choosing a different path. We are demonstrating that it is possible to uphold quality and expand opportunity without asking more of those we serve.

In a time often defined by disruption and instability, we are choosing to provide reassurance, consistency, and opportunity. That’s what public education should do. And that’s what responsible, community-centered governance looks like.

Greg Taylor

East side

Free market?

In the late 1700s, Adam Smith wrote “Wealth of Nations” which stressed the importance of the market economy to the growth of society’s wealth. It was predicated on non-interference of the free market, which promoted competition. The net worth of our society today is $160 trillion. It is not evenly distributed. The top 1% of our population has 31% of the wealth, or $49 trillion including 756 mostly multi-billionaires. The bottom 50% has less than $4 trillion. How did our society develop such an imbalance? It is because manipulation of the free market by powerful players. What’s the result? Average wealth for the top one percent is $12.7 million. The bottom 50% average wealth is $23.53, the same people who rely on food stamps, Medicaid and other government programs to survive. These are the programs that Trump and the Republicans want to kill for his big beautiful? spending bill giving more tax breaks to the rich and increasing our national debt.

Michael Mount

Foothills

Say no to public land sell-offs

Like many families in Southern Arizona, I’ve spent a lifetime making memories outdoors, especially on Mount Lemmon. From picnics with my students to stargazing with my grandchildren, it has always been a place of learning, laughter, and love.

That’s why it’s alarming that Congress and the White House are considering selling over 14 million acres of Arizona public lands, including Mount Lemmon and Sabino Canyon to pay for tax cuts mostly benefiting the wealthy. This is more than bad policy; it betrays generations of Arizonans who rely on these lands for connection, recreation, and relief from the heat.

Public lands belong to all of us, not just a privileged few. My family has lived here four generations. My father, a WWII veteran, loved this land. Once these lands are sold, they’re gone forever.

I urge Representative Ciscomani and our delegation to vote no on threats to public lands. Protect these places for future generations.

Irene Badilla

Southwest side

We forget 9-11

Of course, the actions taken by the United States and Israel over the past few days and weeks regarding Iran are concerning. I hear condemnation and praise from all sides of the political spectrum.

Armchair quarterbacks abound with opinions without knowing the intimate details of what our defense and intelligence community knows. I am sure Israel would have liked to know the October 7th attack was coming.

This attack was as barbaric as 9-11.

Has America forgotten this horrific day? The President and the intelligence services acted in what they believed was in the best interest of the “Western World.”

Imagine Israel, Europe, or America receiving a nuclear attack. Remember the “sleeper cells” of Saudis learning how to fly airplanes under our nose. Of the tens of millions of foreigners coming under the radar, how many are intending us harm? To have Iran possess a nuclear weapon would put the Western World in jeopardy.

Remember 9-11 and October 7th. A nuclear bomb would kill tens of thousands.

Ed LeGendre

East side

Five answers

Various sources state net immigration was 6-8 million during Biden’s administration. I do not have any problems with deporting criminals while adhering to due process. My community is not being terrorized.

It is appropriate to arrest protesters for illegal acts. It is inappropriate for the military to engage in law enforcement. There is no insurrection. No Posse Comitatus Act.

Does Israel have a right to exist? Palestinian land was taken to create Israel. Why is it acceptable for some nations to have nuclear weapons?

Create transgender sports leagues.

The judicial system requires medically necessary care for prisoners. Gender reassignment may be necessary.

Rational and honest.

James Abels

Midtown

Vigorous, not elderly, describes victim

In a recent article the use of the word “elderly” to describe the 72-year-old victim of an accident gave the connotation that he was weak, frail or ill, suggesting his condition was a contributing factor to the accident. I know the gentleman. He was a fit 72-year-old who walked daily, swam multiple times each week and wrote computer software for an engineering firm. Men of his father’s generation may fit the stereotype of elderly, but many of your 70- to 80-year-old readers are offended by this label. Please continue to list ages as needed, but do not infer a person’s condition through an age-related adjective.

Thank you for your consideration.

Linda Warren

Oro Valley

Really – AI is the future?

It’s accepted wisdom. Artificial Intelligence will turn the world upside down in 2-3 years. Based on what you’ve seen to date, who’d think that? Then there’s the energy part. Nuclear power is the new black dress. “You look marvelous darling.” Who needs water. Burn gas for electricity. Global warming is yesterday’s news. We need that AI. Write me an email nobody reads. Draw a funny picture. Come up with a NYT headline. Give us a break. There are applications where automation boosts performance or reduces cost. That’s been happening for 50 years. Computers are here to stay. Right on brother. Artificial Intelligence is just another step in the process. The risk isn’t that in the near-term AI technology will ruin the world. It’s that producing all that AI will stress the environment. Not to mention the price of basic utilities.

Walter Ramsley

East side

Happy to help

Mr. Johnson, in your recent LTE you asked TADS readers for help. I am happy to oblige. First let me reassure you that immigrants are not “terrorizing our communities.” That would be masked ICE agents who abduct innocent men, women and children who are just trying to make a living. A lot of your fellow Americans and the courts object to their tactics. That is one reason millions peacefully protested last week. We won’t be silenced. We can ask questions. Just so you know, the GOP lost all law-and-order creds when it nominated the felon DJT for President. It did not make distrust less palpable when he pardoned 1600 J6 rioters either. Therefore, many of us are rightly skeptical that a one-off military action will stop the production of nuclear weapons in Iran. Remember the GOP entered us into 20 years of war in the Middle East under false pretenses. Most of us don’t think they really care about women’s sports either.

Sherry Ivester

Midtown

EPA reconsiders asbestos ban

The EPA is reconsidering a ban on the last type of asbestos still used in the US. Asbestos is a killer and cancers caused by it are a horrendous way to die. I know, because my husband, a 30-year Marine Corps veteran died in 2011 at 66 from mesothelioma. Exposure happened somewhere in his long military career. It disproportionately affected military personnel, but can be deadly to anyone with exposure. Asbestos is linked to an estimated 40,000 deaths annually in the US. Asbestos production in the US stopped in 2002 but the material is still imported, mostly from Brazil. It has been banned in more than 50 countries around the world. Extensive information can be found at ADAO, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. Please contact your legislators and demand they do what they can to reverse this proposed action.

Sherry Massie

East side

Re letter: ‘Help to understand’

Respectfully Mr. Johnson, thank you for identifying yourself as a “simple-minded fascist.” That saves us all a lot of time. There’s a familiar saying about a pot and a kettle that has particular relevance here. Few letter contributors so consistently cast recriminatory aspersions like you. Name-calling? Character assassination? Why, isn’t that you?

The sophistry of sweeping demagogy is the impression it gives of having far-reaching importance. Does anyone actually believe ten million illegal border crossers are “terrorizing” our communities? Or that the recent isolated unrest in LA warranted a full military retaliation? Or that the loss of Palestinian lives by the Israeli response to October 7th is justifiably as disproportionate as it is? Does someone other than the Iranians actually want Iran to have a nuke? Men playing women’s sports? Prison sex-change operations? Just how prevalent do you think these are? Genital mutilation of children? Please! To borrow from Shakespeare: “A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Robert Gavlak

Midtown