I was outraged to learn of the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department’s decision to close Joe Foss Shooting Range in Buckeye Hills Regional Park to the public and transfer the facility exclusively to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).
They said the decision was “Prioritize public safety and be fiscally responsible” but there was no basis for what that meant.
This appears to be another bureaucratic decision made without any input from the customer stakeholders – the county’s gun owners and recreational users.
This decision was made to make it easier (though not required) to meet MCSO's training needs, but I don't think this is a good enough reason to transition the range.
Gun safety and skills training is not only important to law enforcement, but to gun owners in the county as well.
The Park Service should not transition Joe Foss Shooting Range to MSCO and should leave it open for public use.
Edward Jemiola, Buckeye
Diana Taurasi is a national treasure
The WNBA is well on its way to cultivating the fan base and enthusiasm that comes with a great sport, and Diana Taurasi has been a big force in making that happen.
Unfortunately, petty animosity and jealousy towards Caitlin Clark on and off the court could attract media attention that could detract from the accomplishments of the WNBA and players like Diana.
That's why I was so happy when she reached out and showed mutual respect and admiration for Caitlyn, reminding us that the game is about skill and competition, not animosity.
Her actions and words before and after the game against the Indiana Fever were refreshing and further evidence of how important Diana's athleticism, competitive spirit and integrity are to the sports world.
She once again showed just how important she is to keeping the sport at a high level.
Warren Cotzman, Gilbert
What exactly is a “black job”?
I had no idea that there was such a thing as “black jobs,” as Donald Trump mentioned during what was supposed to be a CNN debate on June 27th.
I look forward to a column by Phil Boas or John Gabriel (or anyone else) explaining what this “black jobs” term means.
Are these jobs only available to black people? If so, what kind of jobs are they? What are the qualifications? Are white and Latino people barred from applying because of the color of their skin?
These are the questions, the words, that must be answered by all supporters of the Mar-a-Lago Mayor's bid for the next presidency (Marco Rubio and others, are you listening?).
President Biden may have had a bad night at the CNN circus, trying to respond rationally to the boos the Mayor constantly spreads around the ranch, but if he's paying attention, he'll realize that Trump has nothing to offer our country and only continues to repeat the same old lies and illusions about how great he was in office and in his own mind, and how great he still is.
A close look at Trump's performance in this so-called debate will show that he is unfit for any elected office, let alone the presidency.
Who runs the country?That's not Joe Biden.
He has no plan or consideration for what to do with regards to our interests and our country's interests other than enriching himself and other wealthy people.
When considering candidates, we should consider who will do the best for our people.
Don Mayeski, Scottsdale
Minimum wage exists for a reason
The state budget deficit, high unemployment among 16-24 year olds, skyrocketing fast food prices, and taxpayer pay for political cronyism?
Hold on, are we talking about California or Arizona?
Yes, Arizona has low income taxes (but not sales or property taxes).
I don't have a primer on economics at hand, but Gabriel seems to be arguing that free markets should rule (“Watch out, Arizona! This is how governments kill jobs and make food prices high.”) Or is he just nostalgic for Frédéric Bastiat's 18th century France, when life expectancy was 25 years?
“If raising it from $16 to $20 is good policy, why not set it at $100?” Indeed, why not set it at $5? In a free market, there will surely be people willing (or needing) to work for $5 an hour.
Arizona is benefiting from billions of dollars from the government — and therefore taxpayers — flowing to the semiconductor industry, creating thousands of new, high-paying jobs that don't require a college education.
Sometimes governments must act in ways that benefit us all, even if that means unforeseen consequences.
Do you think AI could write an opinion column? There may be some unexpected results.
David Kirby, Scottsdale
True intelligence takes precedence over AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been getting a lot of attention lately, but it's important not to forget about true intelligence.
It's shaped by all the stimuli, both academic and emotional, that a child is exposed to during the first three to five years of their life. We are all products of our experiences, and that's why we want our children to be the best people they can be.
Parents and grandparents are the primary stewards of this early start, so here are some key ideas to guide you through these first and most important formative years: direct interaction, quantity and quality of quality language, and building self-esteem.
Screens and technological devices cannot achieve this.
Practical dialogue means engaging with people. Quality, quantity of language means lots of meaningful, caring, loving conversation. Competence is the foundation of confidence, which translates into self-esteem.
Real intelligent people are the creators of AI and they guide and direct the process.
Therefore, raising a truly intelligent generation is our real social duty. It would be a big mistake to overlook that.
Let's not do that.
Dr. Sally Goldberg, Fountain Hills
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