Tucson Weekly: Mailbag (July 31

Class Struggle

To the Editor,
Thanks to Jeff Smith for his support of equitable capital funding for Arizona students ("Elementary Lessons," Tucson Weekly, July 10). It's an argument State Superintendent Lisa Graham Keegan and the Arizona Department of Education have been making for over two years now. It's also placed us in the odd position of siding with the plaintiffs in the recent hearing on the Legislature's flawed ABC plan, in opposition to our codefendant, Gov. Symington.
Mailbag Smith makes another point often overlooked in the equity debate. Not only should support of public schools be equitable, it should be shared by taxpayers at an equal tax rate. Residents of a high property-wealth district can tax themselves at a very low rate, and still raise huge sums of money per pupil to build a new school; residents of a low property-wealth district can tax themselves to death, only to scrape together enough money to keep the roof from leaking.
Mind you, this has nothing to do with the personal wealth of the residents; rather, it depends solely on whether you are fortunate enough to live in a school district with a major utility or industrial base.
Examples of these disparities abound. In 1996, Marana taxpayers paid a secondary tax rate of $2.44 per $100 of assessed valuation, thus raising $427 per pupil. In Madison School District in central Phoenix, the tax rate was a mere 80 cents per $100, which raised $875 per pupil. In other words, Marana paid three times the tax rate and raised half as much money per pupil. This is neither fair nor equitable.
The truth is, until we honor all our children by valuing them equally, we will continue to have a system of educational haves and have-nots. Regardless of the outcome of the hearing in Maricopa Superior Court, Keegan is committed to working toward a school finance solution that is fair and equitable to both students and taxpayers.
I do, however, take issue with Smith's reference to charter schools as "cowflop." Many of the state's charter schools are educating children who were ill-served by the traditional public school system. In the case of high-school students, the majority of charter schools in Pima County display this by giving them a second chance at a high school diploma. Parents in rural parts of the state now have an alternative to the lone district school in the region.
Don't get me wrong--many traditional public schools are doing a great job educating kids. But, as long as we believe all children learn differently, a diverse range of choices will help ensure each child has the opportunity to attend a school best suited to their learning needs.
For example, until the advent of charter schools, if you were a poor parent who believed your child would thrive in a Montessori environment, you had few options, since Montessori schools were private schools supported by tuition. Now, a parent without the resources to pay for a Montessori education can choose from among several such charter schools in the Tucson area.
--Laura Penny

So Sue Us

To the Editor,
Dave Devine's "Pole Cats" (Tucson Weekly, July 10), concerning illegally posted advertisements, was interesting but not very well researched, at least as far as Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. was concerned.
This 25-year-old company, based in Oklahoma and traded in the American Stock Exchange, does in fact have over 6,000 law firms under contract over its 25 year history. It is like an H.M.O for attorneys, providing low-cost access to the legal system. Whether you like lawyers or not, try defending yourself in court without one.
The fact that one overzealous independent associate with the company has made two very poor decisions--posting an illegal advertisement and (from a PR standpoint) not spending more time talking to your writer--should not be used to justify cheap shots at the company.
As one of probably 200 Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. Independent Associates here in Tucson, I feel you owe us, and our company, an apology.
--Paul Amyx

Conscientious Objection

To the Editor,
On occasion when I come across the Tucson Weekly, I have noticed a need for a knowledgeable business writer. Jeff Smith's "The Coming War" (Tucson Weekly, June 26) is a good example of a poor mixture of politics/economics and disgruntled government bashing. It doesn't help anyone, it's misleading and it encourages stupidity.
The writer tells us, "I'm betting in the not-too-distant future we're going to be in a shooting war against one another." Who against whom? This is extremism and nonsense, echoing statements made by so-called militia leaders. Journalism it isn't.
For a few years now I have noticed and written on the fact that opportunities are greater than at any time in history or anyplace in history right here in the U.S. Employers are willing to pay well and in many cases give sign-up bonuses for competent workers. More new businesses start up month after month than ever, many of them short on capital but long on willingness-to-work.
--Ralph L. Dorff

Twisted Love

To the Editor,
Regarding "Swap Watch," (Tucson Weekly, July 24): I was drawn to a statement by Stevan Christiansen, who mentions he took the job of overseeing the Asarco land swap near the Santa Rita Mountains for the U.S. Forest Service because he loves his family. If Mr. Christiansen does indeed, in his heart, love his family, then his path is clear, his choice is simple:
By turning from the legacy he's now engaged in creating, his family and the rest of this community will have reason to stand in admiration of him beyond all our days.
--The Rev. Royce Davenport

Allen Wrenched

To the Editor,
Lisa Week's Soundbites column (Tucson Weekly, July 3) referred to Tammy Allen as a "captivating chanteuse." Not even! Tammy bored the audience on Saturday, July 5, at the Club Congress with her inane, no-talent performance. Here's a sample of her moronic lyrics: "I shined my shoes for you," sung repetitively. Yawn!
After her performance, the "captivating chanteuse" held court at a table with friends and loudly and obnoxiously talked and laughed during the performances of Cindy Lee Berryhill and Richard Buckner. I finally got up and moved closer to the stage during Richard Buckner's low-key set. Tammy Allen's obnoxious behavior showed absolutely no respect for her fellow musicians or consideration for Club Congress customers.
The Tammy Allen I saw at Club Congress certainly was no "captivating chanteuse." Untalented, obnoxious, self-absorbed boor was perhaps a more accurate description.
(But Richard Buckner was great!)
--Jac Polsgrove
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