East Valley Tribune - Opinion

Cultural Council contract fails on accountability

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:30:06 -0700

We had hoped that after 20 years working under an increasingly outmoded agreement, the proposed new pact between the city and the Scottsdale Cultural Council would have reflected the growing public concern for more accountability.

Q.C. needs to put visions of small town out to pasture

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:28:23 -0700

What is it that farmers used to say — something about the pointlessness of closing the barn door after the cows have already skedaddled?

Mesa rises to MD's challenge

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:24:57 -0700

A variety of Mesa residents have questioned the city’s commitment to recruiting high-wage, long-term employers which fill a critical role in any economy’s viability. Those questions would have turned to outright ridicule if Mesa had lost MD Helicopters, a manufacturer at Falcon Field with average salaries of $63,000 a year.

Food prices soaring? Time for subsidies!

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:23:04 -0700

Farm welfare: It’s not just for the poor. While working Americans slave away to pay their taxes, wealthy welfare farmers can rest assured the easy money will keep showing up in the mail for years to come.

Letters to the editor: May 17

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:15:06 -0700

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.

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Momentum gains to reverse senseless ban on HIV-positive entrants

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:00:02 -0700

Twelve countries ban HIV-positive visitors, nonimmigrants and immigrants from their territory: Armenia, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova, Oman, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sudan and ... the United States. China recently acted to remove its ban on HIV-positive visitors because it feared embarrassment ahead of the Olympics. But America’s ban remains.

Vasquez: If it's plagiarism, I'm sorry

Fri, 16 May 2008 16:12:06 -0700

Early in my career, I learned that law enforcement was more than just arresting criminals and putting them in jail. I developed a deep desire to touch peoples’ lives.

Pinal sheriff's plagiarism merits investigation

Thu, 15 May 2008 11:56:58 -0700

What we expect of our police officers is honesty and fairness. We expect them to be honest in their testimony against suspects, and to be fair when enforcing our laws. Violating that trust erodes the bond of respect that citizens must have with law enforcement.

Letters to the editor: May 16

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:09:53 -0700

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Richardson: Time for change in Tempe

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:22 -0700

When I read that Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman wants to spend $450,000 to redesign the city’s railroad crossings to help reduce noise from trains that run through some of the Tempe’s wealthiest neighborhoods, it made me all warm and fuzzy.

Qwest maneuver would undercut competition

Thu, 15 May 2008 23:56:24 -0700

Imagine that the Clean Air Act had a loophole permitting coal-burning power plants to skirt emissions regulations just by submitting a written request to the Environmental Protection Agency — and that the EPA actually granted such requests.

Templar: Appeals court could be right in banning school vouchers

Thu, 15 May 2008 16:48:19 -0700

Libertarians and school choice advocates aren’t going to like it, but I have to admit it’s hard to argue with today’s ruling from the Arizona Court of Appeals that private school vouchers violate the state constitution.

Templar: Dan Saban finally speaks out on Sheriff Arpaio

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:52:45 -0700

Opinion writers at the Tribune were informally discussing Wednesday the story about Gov. Janet Napolitano taking $1.6 million in funding that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has been using for illegal immigration enforcement. One question I had: Where is Dan Saban, the alleged Democratic challenger to Arpaio’s fifth term as sheriff?

Congress plays PR games with gas prices

Wed, 14 May 2008 18:00:58 -0700

Congress has taken an ineffectual step toward curbing gasoline prices. This week it directed President Bush to suspend filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. That the gesture was pure public relations is evidence by the lopsided vote, 97-1 in the Senate and 385-25 in the House. (The lone dissenting senator is retiring this fall.)

Crash proves pressing need to address Pinal transportation

Thu, 15 May 2008 01:17:53 -0700

Pinal County has built itself into a corner over the past decade by allowing Hunt Highway to become the lifeline connecting some 46,000 people to the jobs that the corridor between Queen Creek and Florence still lacks.

Chaparral baseball team a study in excellence

Wed, 14 May 2008 18:24:44 -0700

Baseball is revered in Scottsdale high schools by students, faculty and alumni alike.

Letters to the editor: May 15

Thu, 15 May 2008 01:15:40 -0700

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Hill: Bill protects HOA members' rights

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:57:45 -0700

I care deeply about private property rights. And I bet you do, too. In fact, given the reaction I’ve gotten each time I’ve written here about the threat to private property rights posed these days by Arizona homeowner’s associations, it would seem that a lot of East Valley residents care deeply about the right to private property.

Tempe's political tale of two Coreys

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:53:52 -0700

Arizona may be the hot spot for identity theft, but a local political mistaken identity is causing confusion among some voters. What’s in a name when it comes to political recognition? Just ask Corey Woods.

Frank and Margaret help pay your taxes

Thu, 15 May 2008 01:28:03 -0700

May 10th-18th is the 25th Annual National Tourism Week. Instead of simply giving you the; who, what, when, where and why of tourism and its importance, I would like to tell you a little story. This is a glimpse into the day in the life of Harold and Margaret.

Serving warrants is sheriff's duty

Wed, 14 May 2008 18:15:03 -0700

The current sheriff wasn't doing his job of serving warrants, so the governor had to step in and do it. That's a shame because sheriffs have always taken responsibility for serving them. Here's a little history to back up my claim.