Letters to the Editor (6/25)

If you use it - you pay for it

Dear Editor:

I have serious issues with TIME (Transportation & Infrastructure Moving AZ's Economy) regarding its proposal to increase the sales tax by 12 percent to a record level of 9.3 percent here in Phoenix.

That means we will be paying close to 10 cents on the dollar for most purchases - one of the highest in the nation. Maybe it is time for time out by TIME.

Let's have the cost causers fund this issue - meaning the developers and home owners. If you choose to live in Maricopa or Anthem (for example) that was your call but don't expect the citizens of Phoenix to pay for your roads.

This is not any different from what US Airlines is doing with their incremental pricing per bag, water, beverages, etc. If you use it - you pay for it.

Jim Jochim

Maish has my vote for Arizona senator

Dear Editor:

We in Legislative District 20, serving Ahwatukee, are extremely fortunate. Ted Maish is running for Arizona state senator!

Maish, a native of the Southeast Valley, has resided in our district for 21 years. A retired public school educator, he served the children of Arizona for 30 years. There is no doubt that he will work with the governor to support educational funding that will ensure strong public schools for your children and grandchildren. How comforting it will be to have a state senator who has spent his entire professional life advocating for children.

Incumbent John Huppenthal touts himself as the education state senator, a definite misnomer, unless of course you agree that money should be taken from our grossly under-funded Arizona public schools and given to private schools.

On education issues Huppenthal's record in the Arizona Legislature certainly speaks for itself. He has consistently voted against your children and grandchildren who attend our public school districts and public charter schools by proposing, and voting in favor of, legislation that redirects the under funded dollars that these schools receive to private education.

A long standing, and loud opponent of all-day kindergarten, Huppenthal flip-flopped for political expediency at the last minute when it came time to vote on that issue.

And how can we forget that in February 2005 he told parents in the Kyrene School District that "the cavalry isn't coming" to save Kyrene from its budget predicament, a statement that clearly demonstrated his disdain for public education.

On issues other than education, Huppenthal's record and judgment are just as dismal. Voting in favor of guns in bars is just one example of his poor judgment.

The citizens of District 20 deserve better!

Maish understands that strengthening public education is important to our future, but will also fight for many other issues that are critical to Arizonans. A staunch supporter of affordable and quality health care reform, he will work to make Arizona a leader in protecting working families, children, small businesses and seniors. Maish's unwavering commitment to responsible growth will also help to ensure quality of life in the communities that make up District 20.

Maish is the right person for the job. Being past president of two educational associations, he is a proven leader. A strong family man, Maish, and his bride of 37 years, Karen, will soon become grandparents for the first time.

And best of all, being retired, Maish will give 100 percent of his time and energy to his duties in the Legislature and to serving you, his constituents.

Please join me in supporting Ted Maish for Arizona State Senator from Legislative District 20!

Fred Barlam

Don't create your own facts

Dear Editor:

After reading the commentary "Global Warming: Over and Out" by Tim Meester in your June 13 edition, I visited the Web site of the National Climatic Data Center referenced in the article. His assertions do not match the data or analysis published on the site (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html).

Meester demonstrates either a complete lack of understanding of his subject or a wanton disregard for the facts.

While he claims, for example, that the Arctic ice has expanded by some 770,000 square miles, the NCDC reports instead: "Large-scale measurements of sea-ice have only been possible since the satellite era, but through looking at a number of different satellite estimates, it has been determined that September Arctic sea ice has decreased between 1973 and 2007 at a rate of about -10 percent +/- 0.3 percent per decade. Sea ice extent for September for 2007 was by far the lowest on record at 4.28 million square kilometers, eclipsing the previous record low sea ice extent by 23 percent."

Certainly, global warming is a complex and difficult subject. Reasonable people may disagree on what conclusions to draw from the climate data, but it is irresponsible to publish wrong information, even in a small community newspaper. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not to their own facts.

Mike McGowan

Where are our representatives

Dear Editor:

If the people who live near 32nd Street and Pecos Road think the proposed freeway will ruin the view, have them take a look at the beautiful view they will have of the storage yard going up across Pecos on Indian land.

I used to own a junk yard (auto dismantler) in Wilmington, Calif., that was cleaner and neater looking than the shipping containers and old block walls they are installing.

I am glad I live off of Chandler Boulevard and only have to see this disaster when I drive up Pecos Road. If I lived across from this I would gladly sell out to the state for a freeway.

Where were our representatives when the plans for this storage yard were approved?

Steve Soloy