Guests – Betsy Smith, Elaine Beck

Election Update and Public Safety Concerns

Welcome to Winn Tucson on this Thursday with much happening in our community. On the election front, we're seeing positive momentum with over 7,000 ballots returned – a good start, though more participation is needed. Republicans are showing up to vote, which is encouraging.

Matt humorously suggested that ballot drop-off boxes should be placed on city buses, predicting this might change electoral outcomes in Tucson. "You have to ride on the bus to drop off your ballot, and then we'll get a different outcome," he quipped.

Crime Statistics Paint Troubling Picture of Tucson

Tucson reports alarming crime statistics that should concern residents and city leadership alike. The overall crime rate stands at 4,151 offenses per 100,000 residents – 67% higher than the Arizona state average. The violent crime rate is 585 incidents per 100,000 residents, translating to a 1 in 171 chance of becoming a victim, which is 63% higher than the national average.

"We are worse than Chicago based on the number of people we have here," Kathleen Winn explained, comparing Tucson's per capita crime rates to other major cities. "That's disgusting."

"Tucson was never intended to be this way," Matt added. "One of the many unfortunate things about this is that Tucson is known as a place to retire to. People come to Tucson to enjoy the art and our great food scene. We have a lot of things for seniors, but unfortunately, the city itself is becoming unlivable."

The consequences of this rising crime are significant. Seniors with means are leaving for places like Texas, Tennessee, or Florida, or moving to suburban communities like Marana or Sahuarita. Those without financial resources remain trapped in an increasingly dangerous environment where even public transit has become unsafe.

"We have a friend, Linda Johnson, one of our Precinct Committeemen, who is moving back to Henderson, Nevada because she has to use the transit system, and it's no longer safe for her as a senior citizen to do so," Matt explained.

Tucson currently has a D+ safety grade, meaning residents are far more likely to be victims of crime than in most other U.S. cities. The report indicates Tucson is only safer than 27% of U.S. cities.

Public Transit Safety Crisis

Public transportation safety has reached a crisis point in Tucson, with ten incidents of extreme violence involving firearms or stabbings in the SunTran system since April. The most recent incident occurred just days ago in the 700 block of West Irvington Road.

"The southeast part of the city is generally considered the safest," Kathleen noted, while "central neighborhoods have a higher crime rate with a one in 18 chance of being a victim."

Those most affected by the crime surge are often the most vulnerable – poor people and communities of color. Critics argue that city leadership only recently began to address these issues as election ballots arrived in mailboxes.

"Oh, you have a ballot now? Now I care," Matt said, suggesting the timing of renewed interest in public safety is politically motivated. "I didn't care until you had a ballot, but now I'm going to pretend like I'm doing something."

The hosts pointed to the rejection of Proposition 414 earlier in the year as a wake-up call that city leadership ignored. "They did nothing after losing that. They scolded us, and they've done nothing since then," Kathleen emphasized. "That should have been a big wake-up call."

Smith & Winn: Federal Judges and Activist Concerns

Betsy Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association, joined the program to discuss concerning judicial decisions affecting law enforcement.

A federal judge, U.S. District Court Judge LaShonda Hunt, a Biden appointee, has ordered the removal of a fence surrounding an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois. The fence was constructed on September 23 to protect both ICE agents and detainees, particularly following a tragic incident less than a month ago when two detainees in Dallas were murdered by what Smith described as "a far-left lunatic with a rifle" who fired from a rooftop across the street.

Judge Hunt ruled the fence violated local ordinances and posed public safety risks. This decision raises questions about federal jurisdiction, as Kathleen asked, "Isn't this a federal building? Aren't they protected federally? Does she have the right to say where they can put the trees, the fence, the landscaping?"

Smith expressed concern about judicial activism: "We are losing the judiciary here in the United States. We are losing the nature of the judiciary. Judges are not supposed to be activists, and as we've seen over about the last 10 years, we're seeing more and more judges appointed not for their ability to be fair and impartial but for their ability to be political."

The discussion touched on Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's comments during arguments on political redistricting in Alabama, with Smith criticizing what she considered activist positions.

Government Shutdown and Political Gatherings

The conversation shifted to the current federal government shutdown and its implications. Smith noted that "every day the government is shut, more and more people are losing jobs. They're losing pay." While efforts are being made to find money in the Defense budget to pay military members, Smith claimed Democrats are fighting these attempts.

Meanwhile, a group of Democratic senators and representatives attended what Smith described as a "luxury Napa retreat" featuring "hot tubs and views" and "dinner at a high-end organic vineyard." Senator Kirsten Gillibrand chaired the event for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Smith contrasted this with the impact of the shutdown: "This is why Adelita can't get sworn in. The Democrat senators were at hot tubs and drinking wine."

"The Democrats are the party of the rich, the party of the elite, and the entitled," Smith argued. "We've got to understand now, and I think we're embracing it as Republicans, we really are the party of the working class, the blue collar, and of people who just want common sense, family, faith, and they just want to live their lives."

Media Criticism and Information Sources

Smith shared her experience watching MSNBC at a gym, saying, "for about the 20 minutes that I was on the Stairmaster, not one true thing came out of anyone's mouth on that network." She expressed concern about media polarization affecting perceptions of the current administration.

The hosts and Smith discussed the importance of talk radio and alternative media sources for presenting different perspectives. They highlighted efforts under the Biden administration to potentially restrict AM radio, which they see as a vital platform for conservative viewpoints.

"Thank God for AM talk radio, because that's where people can really get the truth," Smith said. "That's why under Joe Biden, the FCC was really looking hard at trying to get rid of AM radio. That's why the auto industry, again, spurred by Joe Biden, wanted to take AM radios out of new cars."

Elaine Beck: Faith-Based Perspective and Wisdom Warriors

Elaine Beck, owner and CEO of Proverse Media, joined the program to discuss her faith-based initiatives and the concept of "Wisdom Warriors" – experienced individuals over 50 who remember living in what she described as a truly free country.

"Freedom is feeling safe, feeling competent that you can trust your neighbor, that you can be open and talk and have a conversation even if you disagree," Beck explained. "Civil discourse, we used to call it. Where you could debate somebody but not want to shoot them."

Beck expressed concern about societal changes where even minor disagreements can escalate to violence. She reflected on traditional values like "respect your elders" and the important role grandparents once played in family structures.

"There was a time when grandma and grandpa, some of them ended up staying home. If they didn't, they lived next door or two blocks away," Beck explained. "The kids would run to grandma and grandpa when in trouble, and grandma and grandpa would say, 'Well, you did the wrong thing. Your parents did the right thing. You need to go back and apologize to your mom and dad.'"

Beck believes society has lost this wisdom by "not giving the grandparents the go-ahead to speak" and by pushing faith away. "Not only did we push Jesus away in the sixties, worse than ever, and then keep doing that over the years, we also pushed wisdom away."

Beck shared memories of her work with Charlie Kirk, discussing how he valued the perspective of older mentors and was willing to receive feedback. "We became better friends over that, because you were honest with him, and you were truthful," Winn noted, highlighting Kirk's commitment to his faith and values before his assassination.

The program concluded with Beck emphasizing the importance of sharing experiences and stories across generations. "How else do kids, do any of us learn? We learn by sharing our experiences. As Christians, we all know that the best thing we can do is share our testimony."