Arizona Theater Company

In your article "Arizona Theater Company makes final push to save 2016-17 season (7/16/2016" it seems to me the Artistic Director David Ira Goldstein is a bit arrogant.  It appears he is willing to bilk season ticket holders out of their money and nefariously still collect ticket money knowing he may close the show and not have cash on hand to refund the money. Mr. Goldstein has carried a $1 million debt over to the next  budget year, without erasing that debt.  It also appears the Director is only interested in high dollar donors.  Other not-for-profits such as: public radio, TV, museums and other theater groups, use direct public fund raising, targeting the citizens, to support their programs.    I am a small dollar donor and supporter of the arts.  I associate with many people who support the arts and are willing to be small dollar donors to save ATC, but we have never been asked.

Coup In Turkey

 If this coup in Turkey is successful, the new leaders my find themselves side ways with Nato, the war on terror coalition, blow any chance of being a member of the EU, and having the Kurds see a chance to take advantage of the ensuing instability to advance their cause for independence by an increase in violence.  Syria and ISIS will be doing their happy dance.

Bite-Size Election Reform

I enjoyed reading your opinion piece on "Here is what Az leaders must do for the state in
2015. I agreed with some of the goals you set out and disagreed with others in particular the
section titled Bite-size election reform. I agree the ballot counting process needs to be streamlined.

Laws against harvesting voted and dropping non-voters from mail in ballots roles is counterproductive to free elections. Harvesting votes like voter fraud is such a nonissue. The practice collecting mail in ballots and delivering them to the post office is such a small percent of votes, it is ridiculous to consider this legislation. A law as such would make me criminal for delivering my 91 year old mother-in-law's ballot to the mail box. It would be a law that would have a negative impact on minority, poor and elderly votes. This is a political partisan issue not a an electoral one. The voter nationwide turnout in the mid-term elections of 40% was appalling. Why do we as a state want to reduce the opportunity to vote? Maybe we should encourage voting. The Legislature could pass a resolution requesting all news outlets on a weekly basis, if not daily, as a public service to remind voters to turn in their mail in ballots. For those who have not used their mail in ballots, make sure that their registered political parties are aware of the those not using their ballots and I assure you they will do adequate outreach. At a time when research from major universities is establishing that the aforementioned laws as well as voter ID laws are reducing voter turnout, we as citizens and our law makers should be making it easier to vote not harder.

SHOOTING THE MENTALLY ILL

In light of what is happening in Ferguson Mo. we as citizens of Phoenix should remind ourselves that the

only part of our criminal justice system that can arrest, judge, act as jury and executioner is the police.

As reported by the Republic, four officers not serving a criminal warrant, but a court order to hospitalize

a mentally ill person, were threatened with a hammer. They had time to tell the person to drop the

weapon twice and then shot and killed her. To warn the person twice allowed ample time to back away

draw tasers and fire. A 19 year veteran and a sergeant no less, should have better options in this case

than deadly force. Maybe this is not a matter for a police review or review by the DA. but a review by

the Grand Jury allowing citizens to consider this matter.

TORTURE

In this Christmas season, I am sitting here pondering a curiosity. Latest statistics report

that 78% of U.S. citizens report that they are Christians. And the latest polls taken

indicate that two of three people in the U.S. approve of the torture tactics of the CIA in

the war on terror. Here lies the curiosity. A child will be born that will become the

Prince of Peace. He is destined to be tortured and murdered. He will have a crown of

thorns pressed into his skull. He will flogged leaving raw bloody exposed wounds. He

will be forced to carry a heavy cross up a mountain path while being subject to

humiliation and ridicule. He will be stripped of his robes left only with a loin cloth.

While being laid on the cross large spikes will be driven into his hands and feet to

secure him on to that cross. The cross will be lifted into a standing position. The

weight of his body will drag on the spikes in his hands and feet. Water will not be made

available to him and he will soon die in the most ignominious manner. This is called the

Passion of the Christ in some traditions, but it still meets the definition of torture. My

curiosity is; how can a Christian in any good conscious condone torture.

More on the Food Tax

Bravo to you Laurie Roberts for focusing articles on the duplicity and lack of integrity in the Mayor’s

office. Pointing out that the city administrator is protecting his $43,000 + raise by playing Chicken Little

“the police and fireman are going away.” Point out the unwillingness and lack of intestinal fortitude of

the Mayor to keep his campaign promises and make hard choices to streamline city government.

Pointing out that The Mayor and those on the City Council would rather do business as usual than

eliminate the burden of the “Food Tax” at the financial expenses to those who have lost their jobs in this

continuing recession. Again Bravo to you Laurie Roberts

Letter on the City Budget

Regarding this Cities deficit, you on the City Council and the Mayor screwed the pooch on this one. You

have to have a cognitive disorder not see the economy was not growing as fast as needed and city

revenues would suffer minus the food tax. The reduction in the Cities bond rating was the canary in the

cold mine and your response was to fiddle while Phoenix burned. You spent money needlessly:

changing conversion lanes, too many consultants, Melrose sign, not ending pension spiking etc. You

were too worried about the Cites image and pandering to your constituencies in an election cycle than

doing the job. What is the image of a broke City with an inferior bond rating? What do you think your

constituents think of you now?

Corporate Greed

Neither Dem. or Rep. will protect us from corporate greed they own both parties equally. Politicians are

only concerned for their own self interest not the American people. The only hope we have is

unionization and consumer revolt. If 40% of the people went 6 months buying only necessities, we

would bring corporate America to its knees. There would be no profits, thus no dividends, stocks will

tumble, thus no commissions. The lesson if you do not circulate money increase spending among the

middle & working class there is no economy.

FCC and Net Neutrality

Creating new net neutrality rules, as allowed by the recent court decision,

would allow “commercially reasonable” paid deals. Thus, rich companies

could pay money to Internet providers to ensure that their high-bandwidth

traffic would arrive at high speed. The concern is big-name companies

would pay large sums of money for priority status to secure a position of

dominance by ensuring that they have more high-bandwidth. The smaller

competitors would be left out due to cost and not providing the high-

bandwidth performance to their customers. Startups could not compete and

would not find investors willing to take on the risk. The FCC must protect

the smaller fish from the big ones

In his career FCC chair Tom Wheeler has led both the cable and wireless

trade associations. I would hope that the wolf is not watching sheep.

FOUR YEARS A SLAVE

Having seen “12 years a Slave” where the benevolent Master providing food and shelter for his slaves

worked them tirelessly all day and then educating them in bible class on Sunday, I was reminded of the

College football player. It appears that Master Todd Graham is making millions of dollars and now the

Master “deputy coach” Norvell is making $500,000 on Slave Labor. We could call this movie “4 Years a

Slave”

I challenge you and the Sports Editor to do an article that reflects following: How much money does the

football program net? Does it pay for all sports at ASU? Does any money go to academics? How many

scholarships are granted in all sports, categorized by sport? How much money are these scholarships,

by sport? What is the average SAT score of football scholar recipients and what is their graduation rate?

What is the graduation rate of all FB players? Do scholarships go beyond football eligibility so these

athletes can finish their degree? Over the past ten years how many FB players have been drafted by the

NFL? How many football players have been successful in the NFL.

ASU plays in the PAC 12 it will get TV money if it wins or loses, and there are so many bowl games

teams with .500 records are in bowl games. When middle class students cannot go to college without

massing $60K of debt or more and this does not account for grad school, these salaries are obscene.

FAT TAX

I have made it known to your office that I oppose the food tax and I have listened to your sound

argument that it will expire by next budget cycle, which is too long, in my opinion. There is compromise,

a win, win situation which is not always the case for compromise. Since it is coming back before the

council, consider this, join the 1 st Ladies’ war on obesity:

1. Eliminate tax on all food basics, i.e. milk, meat, bread etc.

2. Tax all non-food essentials, chips, soda, candy etc.

3. Tax fast food, Big Mac, Taco Bell etc.

4. Adjust tax amount for items in #2 & #3 to make up and even exceed the loss of revenue from #1

If those of limited income do to loss of jobs or the working poor choose to use their limited funds on junk food so

be it, the do not have my support. They do have my support that they should not be forced be taxed for the

necessities of life. Rebrand it as a Fat tax and become forward thinking health conscious public servants

Employment Non-discrimination Act

I am in favor of the passage of the Employment Non-discrimination Act. In our society today and under

the “equal protection clause” of the 14 th amendment, there is no place in this nation for any form of

discrimination in the workplace or elsewhere.

CIVICS TEST

Hurray for State Rep. Steve Montenegro on his proposal that all high school students pass the basic

citizenship exam before graduating from high school. (Teens should pass citizen test for diploma)It is

appalling that 33% of nonimmigrant citizens do not know the three branches of government. This

should be a bipartisan issue. I would recommend one modification that the test is administered and

passed during a student’s junior or senior year which is closer to when they are eligible to vote.

Senators Dennis DeConcini and Jon Kyle lauded for thier support of the Civics Education Initiative to

correct this problem. Knowledgeable and in formed voters are the bed rock of our democracy.

The delay of implementing AHCA

The delay of implementing AHCA for business is a gross lack of leadership. Business is bluffing and the White House blinked. Business implements healthcare plans all of the time they tend to change them every few years.  Anything that needed modification should have been done long ago. They can implement this plan they just don't want to and you all back down. This is a cowardly act on your part.  Finally we are going to have universal healthcare; but the White House is going screw it up to the point the Republicans can sell it to the people that it is such disaster, it needs to be dismantled.

 Ted Kennedy is rolling over in his grave.

ABUSE OF WOMEN

I would like to comment on the cartoon penned by Steve Benson on 11/19/14, depicting Bill Cosby

chasing women with his pants down. I am not defending Mr. Cosby or doubting the veracity of the

accusations of these women. But boys will be boys, an attitude often taken by our society regarding the

abuse of women, from campus rape to the action of Mr. Crosby. The most egregious of societies

condoning abuse of women is that of boxer Mike Tyson, at one time heavy weight boxing champion,

who was convicted of rape and spent a number of years in prison. Mr. Tyson now has his own TV show

the “Mysteries of Mike Tyson” It is a cartoon, on the cartoon channel, depicting Mr. Tyson, a convicted

rapist, as a hero to our children. I guess it is ok to tell the next generation that the abuse of women is

frowned upon but “boys will be boys.”

SYRIAN CIVIL WAR (catch up)

If Assad wins this civil war Syria will become a failed state and l will suffer continued guerrilla action for years to come, keeping it a weak and unstable government.  Syria will be so crippled it will longer be an ally of Iran but an Iranian puppet state, dangerous to the region.  This Fact has become very clear to countries like Libya, Jordan and the Saudis, etc.

As reported by Reuters News: “… the rebel Free Syrian Army warned that it might target Hezbollah on its home turf.”  The Opportunity has presented itself to severely cripple Hezbollah, which can bring increased stability and boarder security to Israel. Over the long run, with Hezbollah no longer a force in Lebanon, it will be freed from Syrian and Iranian pressure hopefully increasing greater stability. And as aside, the 1982 attack by Hezbollah on a US Marine Barracks in Beirut killing 241 men needs to avenged

Filibuster (catch up)

Phx version of Black Lives Matter

Have our valley police become such "cowards" that they have to shoot anyone who intimidates them. They can not manage a mentally ill person with a knife or as in a recent case of a Phx PD shoot a person with a hammer. That 2 grown men and 4 in Phx armed to the teeth with alternative weapons, (tasers, mace, stun guns) had to shoot and kill these people. I might note women a of color. As a psychotherapist with many years working with the mentally Ill and a veteran, I say shame on the officers. They have dishonoring the public trust and shamed their department and their profession

Cactus (catch up)

Cactus 

HB-2570 is a travesty.  It is motivated by the greed of developers.  They are asking for the financial gain of few, to deprive the public of it most precious desert gift the saguaro cactus and its companion flora.  I takes years for a saguaro to mature and these developers just want to chop them down, rather than relocate them.  The legislature constantly complain the Federal government intrudes on the state. Is it not a little hypocritical for the state government intrude on the cities.  Vote no on bill HB-2570!

Public Education (catch up)

Since the Governor and most all legislators are products of a public education at some level, why would you support a budget that will retard  Arizona's future growth?  Az. recently has dropped out of the top 20 states in economic opportunity.  Business need educated employees both K thru 12 and College.  If the state cannot provide this work force they will take their jobs were it can be provided.  The argument that the raising fees on services to provide revenue for education and other state needed services is a tax, is ludicrous.  Remember once you are elected office you wear the mantle of Public Servant. This title translates into doing good for the state of Arizona not pander to special interest or narrow reactionary ideology.  Find the money and restore funding to our schools for they are Arizona's future  

payday loans and silencers (catch up)

Leg loans and silencers

There a 2 issues that are winding their way through the legislature that I oppose.

We do not need to have sawed off shotguns and silencers for public use. I am a gun owner and do not see these items has part of the 2nd Amendment.  These are a threat to public safety and law enforcement.

The voters put payday loans to bed, they are usury.  We do not need them to be awakened   

AZ Gun Bill

Yee  and Govn on guns

When SB-1330 come to your desk VETO it.  the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution (Article VI Sec. 2) A federal law will supersede any state law that is direct conflict or does it reach an undo burden under the 11th amendment This bill if used will be challenged on Constitutional grounds which will be a waste of tax payers money in and just add to the deficit.

Should these Bills reach your desk that need a veto:

As a gun owner, a comment on HB 2320 which I appose.  Legislators from rural areas have little concept of an urban environment.  Allowing firearms in public places just allows some wack job to enter unfettered and cause mayhem.

SB-1460 is another dangerous bill having sawed off shotguns and silencer just created added risk to law enforcement. I APPOSE this bill. 

Catching up TPP

I am opposed to the TPP.   Particularly because of the ISDS clause. The problem is stated in 3 online articles reported below:

          There is a lot that is wrong with the “free-trade” model... But nothing is so wrong as the           little-covered but hugely important threat to democracy itself in the form of Investor     State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions, ...formally prioritize corporate rights over        the right of governments to regulate and the sovereign right of nations to govern their     own affairs.

            Investor-State Dispute Settlement clause, which would allow corporations within      the       TPP zone to challenge regulations imposed by member governments in a binding      international court. For instance, a company could protest against health and safety       regulations if it felt they restricted its business. 

          Under the Trans-Pacific ­Partnership, pharmaceutical companies could get up to          eight    years of exclusive rights to their clinical trial data, compared to 12 years currently in       place in the U.S, five years in Australia and little to none in      developing nations.     (American drug makers are intent on preserving the existing standard in a final deal)

          I need not remind you we are a constitutional republic and a country of laws. Even with the chaos and dysfunction occurring in the House, the country is not in peril; because our institutions are base on a constitution and laws. 

          Of the 40 country there are those who function under Marxist economic doctrine, nations subject to occasional military coup disrupting their economic stability.  There are nations that turn a blind eye to the heroin trade and to human trafficking. Nation that require bribes to do business where corruption is rampant, and where multinational corporations with no national loyalty can dictate regulations, making it easier to litigate US regulatory laws.

Vote No on TPP.  Since you cannot amend it, send it back to be revised particularly the ISDS clause and others.  

Catching up Mentally Ill and AZ rule 11

In light of the continued debate on firearms and the mentally ill,  The Arizona Republic published article on "Rule 11." Rule 11 (the law that allows mental ill charged with a crime to be referred to the civil mental health system) is a travesty of justice.  The mentally ill are not exempt from the consequences of their criminal behavior as is any other citizen.   Fifteen years as a licensed clinician in Arizona working with the mental ill, I have seen many mentally ill defendants who have committing heinous violent crimes, go unpunished under Rule 11.  The civil mental health system have no authority over those who commit a crime and have been referred to their system under Rule 11, nor should they.

The solution already is at hand.  Using the Republics case,  hitting a child in the face with a stone is felony assault.  This defendant is found unable to understand the court proceeding  or assist in his own defense.  He is also unable to understand he is to appear in court and then is subject to pre-trial detention.  Instead of jail he is sent the State Mental Hospital not to exceed 90 days without a court hearing.  He is still charged with a felony and will receive credit for time served. He is to be stabilized on medication and supported until he understands his defense and court proceedings. Once this is accomplished he is returned to the court system for adjudication of his crime, with the assistance of a case manger to monitor his mental health.  Should the defendant be found guilty of the crime his mental illness should be considered in his sentencing.

Rule 11, forces the civil mental health system to intervene with a mental ill defendant with no authority.  The rule allows violent criminals back on the street, with inadequate supervision. It creates a danger to others from those who act out violently while suffering a psychotic episode. Rule 11 may be fine in theory but does not work in the real world and should be eliminated. This one way to assure that the criminally mental ill cannot purchase a fire arm