EVERYBODY HATES JOE
Morally Reprehensible is his middle name: I'd heard many negative things about Sheriff Joe Arpaio for years, and what you've exposed, in detail, is truly shocking (see the "Target Practice" series). I know New Times has a hard-on for Arpaio, but if you can document every thing in the "Inhumanity Has a Price" article, it's morally reprehensible for Arpaio to run this kind of a jail, and just plain stupid management.
It seems no one in this country cares about who's in jail until it's someone they know, or it's themselves. The attitude is: "They're all garbage; they're getting what they deserve!" But New Times has rightly pointed out that the vast majority of people are awaiting trial for alleged crimes.
Someone who has been deprived of his or her freedom is legally entitled to a safe and healthy environment. The out-of-control pest problems, coupled with lack of proper healthcare and the rampage of MRSA, should be enough to shut down Maricopa County jails.
I've thought for years that Joe's Tent City — and the conditions in it — constituted cruel and unusual punishment, and I've wondered if his recidivism rate was any better than the norm. Now I know my suspicions were correct [because the "Inhumanity" story proves that his jail policies have done nothing to curb recidivism].
Any viable opponent who can run against Joe and can run the jails properly without incurring lawsuits will get my vote in the next election.
Laine Lawless, Mesa
Make Joe hunt the roaches and rats: In my perfect world, the sheriff will be tried, convicted, and sentenced to spend the rest of his life in his own jail and made to face the wrath of victims and their families. He will be paid $1 an hour for working 16 hours a day, without protective clothing, ridding the facility of vermin with industrial-strength disinfectants.
All his earnings will be returned to a taxpayer-reimbursement fund. Additionally, he will wear pink tutus in public, eat cockroach-infested bologna sandwiches, be bitten by spiders and left to languish without medical attention.
The "Inhumanity Has a Price" article needs to be headlined throughout all print and electronic media. Maricopa County voters should re-examine their value system.
Donna Downing, via the Internet
Put the monster in solitary: Why does Phoenix stand for this animal [Joe Arpaio] to care for human beings, when he is not one himself?
The government continues to be in charge of these jails. This monster should be put in solitary, never to be heard from again. I hope the poor people who are jailed by the pig continue to sue the pants off [Maricopa County].
Marilyn Smith, via the Internet
It's up to you. Vote him out: I am a native of Phoenix. I've followed New Times for over a decade. I know more about Joe Arpaio's inept, incompetent, ignorant, inexcusable ass than I ever wanted to. But I have no choice. This guy whores himself out to the local broadcast channels anytime he feels he's relevant to anything. This time, it's illegal aliens. He's constantly in our faces. Constantly.
The people of Maricopa County are fed up with this poor excuse for a man. The waste of skin and bones. This waste of a life. Everybody I know is sick of this pompous, cruel, criminally insane asshole. I say, this time around, if you're really serious about voting his sorry ass out of office, make Election Day a sick day [from work] and get your ass in that voting booth. I know I'm going to. Talk without action is simply inaction.
C.T. Black, via the Internet
We hope so, too: Welcome to the dark side of law enforcement. Kudos to New Times for boldly standing up to [law enforcement] terrorism. Do Phoenix authorities believe they can do as they please to whomever they target, with nary a care for legal consequences?
The [news] regarding Arpaio's costly reign of terrorism will hopefully be a revelation to those who rest their heads upon the altar of law and order.
Paul Vincent Zecchino, Manasota Key, Florida
Most amazing thing since 1942: Anyone who still supports Joe Arpaio is either just as corrupt, immoral and mean as he is or has a personality disorder that prevents him or her from admitting mistakes. The fact that he is still sheriff is probably the most amazing thing that I have known in my life, and I'm 65 years old!
WHITE PRIDE
Just call him Norman: Hi, Bird. I thought I would ask you a question that has been nagging me for a bit. Why is it racist to have pride in the fact that you are white ("Pearce's Ready," The Bird, December 6)? Why is it okay to have the NAACP, ACLU, and Anti-Defamation League, but it is not right to have a support group for white people?
I have pride in my Norman grandfathers and don't understand why my friends of different color label me as racist when I ask this question. You are an educated man who probably doesn't have time for stupid questions, but I would be grateful if you helped me understand why.
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Dee Rad 01/09/2008 1:12:54 PM
Joe is doing his job. Punishing people who do things illegally. That means being in the US illegally. It's the law. If he didn't arrest or deport people that are doing things illegal then you would call him a coward. Or maybe many people think that he should only arrest american citizens for doing something illegal. After all our prison's and jails are filled with people who do something illegal (against the law). So does it mean that only the illegal immigrants don't get arrested. That means anyone from any other country that is here illegally. IF THIS IS THE CASE THEN I GUESS ALL AMERICAN'S OR BLEEDING HEARTS SHOULD TELL JOE TO OPEN ALL HIS CELLS & DOORS IN THE JAILS AND THE PRISONS AND LET ALL INMATES GO HOME. AFTER ALL THEY ONLY DID SOMETHING ILLEGAL. ANYONE WHO THINKS ILLEGAL DOESN'T MEAN ILLEGAL SHOULD GO HAVE A BRAIN SCAN AND SEE WHAT YOUR REAL PROBLEM IS. ASU SHOULD ALSO BE PUNISHED AND THE STATE OF AZ. IF THEY ALLOW ANYONE HERE ILLEGALLY TO STAY IN COLLEGE. GO HOME TO WHEREEVER THEY ARE FROM AND GO TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY TO GET EDUCATED. DOES ANYONE THINK FOR ONE MINUTE THAT IF THOUSANDS/MILLIONS OF AMERICANS CAN GO TO MEXICO AND DEMAND MEXICO TO TEACH US SPANISH LET ALONE GIVE US FREE HOUSING, TAXES, MEDICAL, SCHOOLING AND MORE. NO !!! BECAUSE I GUESS EVEN MEXICO IS CONSISTANT IN THEIR LAWS. STOP BLEEDING HEARTS. AMERICA WILL BE NO MORE IF ALL THIS CONTINUES.