Letters to the editor: July 17

SKYTRAN

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Popular Science recognizes its potential

The July issue of Popular Science, “Eco-tropolis: The future of the enviornment,” features 10 “audacious” ideas to save the planet, and SkyTran MagLev Personal Rapid Transit is featured, front and center, on the magazine’s cover. Audacious (extremely bold or daring; brave; original; highly inventive, etc.)

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SkyTran is included as a key part of “an eco-savvy blueprint for tomorrow’s megacity — Green Megalopolis.”

Popular Science suggests SkyTran’s levitating commuter pods will be part of “a future in which green technology will make cities what they were meant to be all along — sustainable.” For some great online animations, visit the Popular Science Web page at http://www.popsci.com/futurecity.

Now that gas is more than $4 a gallon and the cost of one mile of light rail is about $70 million, Arizona can’t be waiting another seven, or 15 or 30 years to finance and build old-fashioned light and commuter rail transit lines the same old, bureaucratically slow, public financing way.

Arizona would be wise to explore a public/private transit infrastructure partnership with SkyTran now, before it spends tens of billions of additional taxpayer dollars on roads few may be able to afford to drive on, and on antiquated transit systems that few will want to use.

Check out unimodal.com or skytranformesa.com for more information.

JERRY SPELLMAN

ARIZONA COORDINATOR, UNIMODAL/SKYTRAN

MESA

SCHOOL VOUCHERS

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Horne’s attack unfounded

A July 5 column by state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne (“Critics distort stance on vouchers”) accused the Goldwater Institute of spreading misinformation about him. I want to set the record straight.

Arizona’s two school voucher programs for children with disabilities and for children in foster care are the subject of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups. In June 2007, the Maricopa County Superior Court found the programs to be constitutional, but in May the Arizona Court of Appeals overturned that ruling. The case has now been appealed to the Arizona Supreme Court.

When the Court of Appeals overturned the programs, it did not stop them from operating, even though it had the power to do so. Nonetheless, Horne (relying on advice from the state attorney general) decided to put the programs on hold and not fund them next year.

Tim Keller of the Institute for Justice argued in a statement published by the Goldwater Institute that this move was legally unnecessary and harmful to the hundreds of children using these programs. Horne reacted to that statement by calling the Goldwater Institute “liars,” and saying that he was indeed required to cancel the programs.

In light of Horne’s announcement, the Institute for Justice asked the Supreme Court to clarify whether or not the superintendent could continue operating the programs. The court agreed the programs had not been suspended by the appellate court and should continue pending the final outcome of the lawsuit.

It’s understandable Horne was upset by criticism of his decision, but questioning our integrity was out of line, especially since we were proven correct.

Unfortunately, Horne’s decision had serious consequences; it helped the Legislature and governor to justify cutting the funds for these scholarships for the coming school year.

STARLEE RHOADES

VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONS

GOLDWATER INSTITUTE

PINAL COUNTY ELECTIONS

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Vote for real change

This week end I saw Bryan Martyn’s June financial statement for his campaign for the Pinal County Board of Supervisors. I am thoroughly confused, I thought he was a Republican running for office. After looking at the statement; I noticed most of the contributors were developers, realtors, and lawyers. Pinal County has been run by the above for years now, and how can we expect change if this candidate is doing the same? I was hoping we would have a clean election, and big developers wouldn’t have their say, but it looks like no change at all is going to occur. For too long the “good ol’ boys” have been running this county into the ground, and making the taxpayers pick up the tab. Know your candidates before you vote!

LORRAINE SCHMIDT

APACHE JUNCTION