Societies Crumble When They Loose Diversity

A letter to the Editor published in the AZ Daily Sun by Bryan Bates The fundamental characteristic of life is diversity. In ecosystems, speciesrichness enables energy and nutrient flow thru communities and thus determines the health of the biological system.In human systems, those societies which embrace diversity enable the flow of ideas, science, economics, art […]

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Rogers and Blackman Unfit for Office

The following letter was published in the Arizona Daily Sun this week. We agree. Arizona has gained a worldwide reputation for having the nuttiest state Legislature in the U.S. We in LD6 have two of the wackiest legislators of all: Sen. Wendy Rogers and Rep. Walt Blackman. They are cartoonish figures and would be laughable […]

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Post-Hoc Election Challenges Undermine Democracy

It’s been sad to see the many lawsuits and many more Twitter attacks on the 2020 General Election — actually, only on the small piece of the ballot that relates to the election of a new President. We are astounded to see three radical Republicans elected in LD-6 — on the same ballot, at the […]

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Letter to the Editor: Local governments should make additional precautions

In light of the coronavirus crisis both globally and locally spreading, I urge the Coconino National Forest to keep all gated forest roads closed or close the gates on them now for the entire summer or longer. All motorized vehicles should be prohibited from accessing large areas of the forest to prevent further spread of […]

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Letter to the Editor: For those fortunate, spend relief checks locally

Within a short amount of time, the majority of us will start receiving COVID-19 federal relief checks. My family, like other individuals/families, have been fortunate enough to be employed during this crisis. I believe that we have a responsibility to spend a large amount of this money within our community. Our families, businesses and nonprofits […]

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Letter to the Editor: Let’s remember what we have learned

It is Important that we learn from this pandemic. Our failed federal response, the shutdown of our economy, the loss of jobs, online schooling for our children, our medical system strained to the max and the vulnerable members of our society facing homelessness and food insecurity. Let’s also remember how we checked in on our […]

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Letter to the Editor: Walker’s untruthfulness on gerrymandering

I write to point out the most egregious lie not told by someone named “Trump” that has appeared in the Daily Sun thus far in 2020. In his April 5th Op-Ed “The GOP’s next big battle” regarding gerrymandering, notorious former Wisconsin governor Scott Walker penned this whopper: “the National Republican Redistricting Trust…fight(s) for constitutional, clean, […]

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Letter to the Editor: Don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone

The sociologist Eric Klinenberg, in his 2018 book, Palaces for the People, defined social infrastructure as any place built by a community where community members can come together (with low to no cost) to satisfy human needs such as socialization, play, learning, etc.. Libraries, schools, playgrounds, recreation centers (like the Adult Center and the Aquaplex), […]

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Letter to the Editor: Relying on minimum wage workers in a crisis

Does anyone else see the great irony that we’ve spent the last couple years greatly debating the worth and value of lower wage workers as the Flagstaff minimum wage has increased, yet now that we are in the middle of the biggest universal crisis we hopefully ever experience, the people we are relying upon almost […]

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Letter to the Editor: Proud of Mayor Evans for gutsy decision early on

The coronavirus is real and it is now everywhere. Research on how this terrible virus spreads is now clear and national and state news outlets have explained them to us over the past month plus well. If everyone takes this pandemic seriously and does what is necessary to keep not only themselves, but all of […]

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