Letters to the editor: Jan. 3

We encourage readers to submit letters to the editor on issues of interest to East Valley residents. Submissions should be no longer than 300 words, factually accurate and original thoughts of the writer. Please be brief and include name, address, city and phone number for verification. Letters and call-in comments may be edited for clarity and length.

Submit your letter to the editor

SAM COPPERSMITH

—

Gets it wrong about Thomas

Predictably, Sam Coppersmith reserved his last column for the Tribune to continue his obsession with criticizing Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas (“Thomas is prejudiced against me (and you),” Opinion 2, Dec. 27.)

In demonstrating this odd passion, he has been consistently wrong on both the facts and the law as well as consistently partisan. Coppersmith, a Democratic apparatchik and active supporter of Thomas’ opponent in the recent elections, continues to opine on matters about which he has little to no knowledge. This time it’s the criminal case against county Supervisor Donald Stapley Jr. Coppersmith claims wrongfully that the county attorney’s objection to Superior Court Judge Kenneth Fields presiding over the Stapley trial is because Thomas is unhappy with Fields’ judicial rulings.

Wrong yet again. As our office’s court pleadings make clear, Thomas objects to Fields for many reasons, none of which have to do with his rulings.

For example, a week before the November election, Fields presided over an official meeting of a Superior Court committee and openly rooted for Thomas’ defeat. He gave a contribution to Thomas’ opponent in excess of the maximum amount allowed by court canons for judicial officers. Fields referred a scurrilous article in the Phoenix New Times to the State Bar and initiated a complaint against Thomas on that basis. Even an employee of the Superior Court was so shocked by Fields’ demonstrated bias against the county attorney’s office that she complained recently to the presiding criminal judge about it.

It is instructive to note that since Thomas took office in 2005, he has supervised the prosecution of approximately 150,000 felony cases. Only on two occasions has the county attorney found it necessary to question a judge’s impartiality towards the office. This is hardly a vendetta against judges, as Coppersmith would have us believe.

Coppersmith laments that budget cuts at the Tribune have ended his ability to use the pages of the newspaper to hurl more inaccurate claims against Thomas. Those of us who look to the Tribune for fair, balanced, accurate and intelligent reporting and opinion do not join in Coppersmith’s regret.

BARNETT LOTSTEIN

SPECIAL ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY

MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

PHOENIX

SCHOOL UNIFORMS

—

Use should not be forced

The issue of uniforms at school has come to my attention. I must say that I am against it. First, some people feel uncomfortable in uniforms. Second, during fights caught on school cameras, with uniforms the people involved will be harder to recognize.

Another reason is some people are unable to afford the uniforms. My last reason is that uniforms restrict the freedom of expression granted in the First Amendment. These reasons alone ought to be enough evidence against uniforms.

JOSHUA BARNEY

MESA

School should reject idea

I am a student at Taylor Junior High School in Mesa. I have heard that Taylor is thinking about uniforms and I am totally against it. I believe we should not have uniforms because of many reasons.

First, uniforms are uncomfortable, itchy and different from what students are used to. I also believe we shouldn’t have uniforms because it restricts our freedom of expression. I love the school I go to and I do not want uniforms to ruin it.

LINCOLN GOODMAN

MESA

Reduces peer pressure

Junior high student Stephen Hendrickson unwittingly gives us excellent reasons why uniforms are a good idea for school-aged children, when he listed his complaints in “Uniforms limit freedom of expression,” (Letters, Dec 27).

Stephen says, “You can’t show what kind of stuff you like,” which is exactly why uniforms make sense.

Instead of competing in silly fads and rebellious styles, you can concentrate on what you are in school for, to learn. Your attention-getting shirt has nothing to do with that math test tomorrow.

“You don’t have choice of freedom of clothes.” Exactly. Parents likely can use their time better than being fashion consultants. Uniforms make planning the day easier for them.

“Not too many people like wearing the same thing every day.” And not too many people like homework, or final exams, or obeying teachers. But wearing the same thing helps students understand to not use something as vain and superficial as clothing to signal their superiority.

Once you quit worrying about which person is wearing what, and focus on your education, you’ll be setting an example for others to follow.

P.J. O’MALLEY

MESA