Readers
GOP made mess; turn deaf ear to trash talk
Elections should have consequences. But as the country hemorrhages jobs while people lose their homes and economic security, Republicans are constantly on TV calling for continuing the failed Bush administration policies that have brought us to this desperate state.
They repeat the mantra of tax cuts as a Pavlovian response to every question.
Their emphasis on tax cuts for the wealthy has increased the disparity between the rich and the rest of us but has done little to create jobs and boost the economy.
And Republicans have suddenly started worrying about the deficit. These are the same Republicans who didn’t object to billions spent on a senseless war, or billions wasted on no bid contracts and Iraq reconstruction graft.
Nor did we hear more than a whimper when George W. Bush and Henry Paulson demanded $700 billion for a Wall Street bailout with no accountability or oversight.
But they are calling Barack Obama’s stimulus program for infrastructure spending, renewable energy, education and job creation “out of control spending.”
True to form, Republicans are also opposing children’s health care through a government program. I guess they think children are better off with no health care.
They are opposing increases in Pell grants to help college students, and family planning centers for the poor to help prevent unwanted pregnancies, which so often lead to abortions.
The people have spoken. They voted overwhelmingly for Obama and his economic policies. It’s time to turn a deaf ear to the garbage that spews from Republicans.
Joan Safier
retired teacher
Citizen reminiscent of Bay Area paper
Real saddened to learn that Tucson may become a one-newspaper town – just like my hometown of San Francisco.
I remember the days of the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Francisco Examiner and all the competition.
As I read and enjoy young Ryn Gargulinski’s excellent written work, I can’t help remember Herb Caen’s work!
Good luck to all!
LYNDA LOFTUS SMITH
retired California teacher
Deal doesn’t prohibit Oro Valley growth
In reference to the wildlife corridor that Pima County planned to preserve north of Oro Valley:
Two Oro Valley City Council members wrote, “Oro Valley is determined to ensure the preservation of the open space in perpetuity through the development agreement.
“As we have said repeatedly, we will not consider this parcel for annexation if it does not make sense for the town and the region. Failure to protect the 68 percent of open space in perpetuity would be a deal breaker for Oro Valley.”
To put it alliteratively, that is an assemblage of absurd assertions.
Protection of the wildlife corridor by means of a development agreement is not assured by Arizona law.
To the contrary, Arizona Revised Statutes 9.500.05.C. states: “A development agreement may be amended, or cancelled in whole or in part, by mutual consent of the parties to the development agreement or by their successors in interest or assigns.”
The state Land Department and Oro Valley can rescind the agreement by mutual accord. Why would they?
The Land Department has shown no interest in any wildlife corridor, as indicated in its initial Jan. 11, 2008, proposal, in which the corridor was not even mentioned.
The department wants to sell the land to developers. The development, at $300,000 per home, is a $12 billion sale.
The council can change its collective minds by means of a future developer-sponsored election campaign.
The plan calls for 16,000 homes. With the proposed population density (4.75 houses per acre), more than 41,000 homes would be built in that area if the corridor area gets developed.
Another 261,000 houses already are planned in the Oracle Junction area, and the communities of SaddleBrooke, Arroyo Grande, Oracle, Mammoth, Los Cordones, Willow Springs, Catalina and Eagle Crest are all going to use the same aquifer.
Nobody is recharging that aquifer, not even in Oro Valley. Global warming is going to make CAP water scarce. Also, Oro Valley plans to annex 29 more square miles in Pinal County, for another 88,000 homes.
In the future, 665,000 more people are going to try to use Oracle Road. And nobody to date has an answer to these problems.
We have to realize the building frenzy of the last decade destroyed the economy and put us in this recession. Economic growth does not mean building cookie-cutter homes.
HECTOR CONDE
retired engineer
Oro Valley