Article was wrong; rooftop solar is affordable

Regarding “Costs of rooftop solar out of reach for many in Ariz.” Monday):

I am an energy consultant with SolarCity, the largest residential solar provider in Arizona, and I’ve lived in the Valley since the 1980s. I’ve seen too many lower-income homeowners benefit from rooftop solar to read an article like this and not reply.

Rooftop solar is within greater reach of Arizona’s middle class than ever before. Solar leasing now allows customers to put zero dollars down, install a system for free and replace their current electric bill with a new bill that is lower and fixed. In a tough economy, it’s a powerful tool for families and seniors on fixed incomes.

Buried at the end of the article, former Arizona Corporation Commission Chairwoman Kris Mayes said, “The wealth disparity is not as big a deal with the advent of the leasing model.”

Indeed, solar leasing has been the majority of our business for nearly five years now.

Prior to the advent of leasing, solar really was beyond the reach of all but the wealthiest Arizonans. But the major story line of the past half-decade has been solar’s growing affordability for middle-class homeowners and growing economic contribution to Arizona and other states.

Let’s let the politicians do the spinning and get the reporters back to presenting the facts.

— Christopher Maddox,

“Judge not lest you be judged.” How wonderful to have a pope who actually follows the gospels of Jesus!

— Randy Gross,

Pope heeds Jesus’ words

Verdicts not jurors’ fault

I have twice served as foreperson on a jury. Each time, I believed the person did the behaviors involved but voted for acquittal.

In one case, the prosecution was not compelling, and in the other, the charges went beyond the evidence. Our legal system is based on a value that it is better to let a guilty person go free than wrongfully convict the innocent. (The burden of proof is on the prosecution.)

I share the frustration of many as jurors from the George Zimmerman trial speak out. Nevertheless, understanding “burden of proof” and “centrality” of existing law is a civics lesson worth revisiting in times like these.

The pattern of who is convicted or goes free in America is very troubling, but the fix is neither simple nor the responsibility of jurors. Our system To comment on letters, columns and editorials, go to opinions.azcentral.com. reflects historical values and predispositions of a society not at peace with issues like race. Why expect laws to perform better than the society that created them?

The system needs attention desperately, and solutions will require examining it all.

— Melvin Hall,

Detroit could come back

Herb Stein, former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, has an iron rule of economics reported by syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer: “If something cannot go on forever, it will stop.” Detroit is a living example of that rule.

Detroit, governed for more than a half-century by liberal, progressive Democrats (not a single Republican mayor), finally stopped.

This once-proud city was brought to its knees by corruption of all kinds and progressive policies — out-of-control spending, borrowing and taxing. It accumulated a debt of $19 billion, a sum that it can never repay, and it just stopped. In the end, more innocent people will be hurt by failed progressive policies than were ever helped.

Hopefully, bankruptcy will help to bring Detroit back. Progressives in all levels of government are fighting to prevent that. After all, bankruptcy will shine a bright light on the failure of progressivism, and they don’t want that.

— Bill Mandrola,

Regarding “‘Dreamers’ in Ariz. deserve fair chance at higher education” (Opinions, Saturday):

My dream is that people don’t keep expecting me to work extra hard to pay for their dreams.

While I have plenty of dreams, I work hard and make intelligent life decisions to achieve them rather than expect somebody else to pay for them. It’s the American way — work hard for what you want and don’t expect that society owes you anything.

— Michael Juilfs,

I have dreams of my own

Editorial was disgusting

Regarding “Seize chance for ‘dreamers’ ” (Opinions, Tuesday):

I find it sad that your editorial suggests we give up on broad immigration reform so that Republicans can pass their version of the Dream Act and call it “immigration reform.” Then, they can ignore the rest of us for who knows how many more years.

Disgusting. Thanks for throwing the rest of us under the bus.

— Guillermo Sanchez,

— Sandy Shore,

Regarding “Hope from private sector,” (Opinions, Saturday):

PARC (Protecting Arizona’s Resources and Children) and allies have noted your continuing, uninformed endorsement of the South Mountain Freeway.

Our experts concurred on “no build” because, among other things, the freeway would not relieve traffic congestion; there would be severe air pollution along its route; and the pollution would likely cause serious health risks for children in schools near the freeway.

We believe the data and methodology employed and the conclusions presented in the Arizona Department of Transportation’s draft environmental impact statement are without technical merit and do not comply with the requirements of an EIS.

It appears that the draft EIS is a thinly veiled, expensive attempt to manipulate the public into believing that building the South Mountain Freeway is a good thing. It is a shame

just parrots misinformation.

— Pat Lawlis,

Living dead of the city

Regarding a recent article about how Mesa partners with others to help businesses during light-rail construction: It was a really “funny” read. I am one of the casualties from the light-rail northwest extension in Phoenix. The light rail has devastated my petgrooming business, cutting income 45 percent, which is too much for any small business to handle.

Phoenix’s response, like Mesa’s, is to help with advertising, business advice and the like. I needed that help like a hole in my head. At least Mesa helps with utilities.

I figure after the extended construction along 19th Avenue, there will be multiple businesses dead and gone, and the city will have light rail with Arizona State University and Phoenix Sky Harbor being the only entities that are reaping the benefits. Somehow, I do not see the general public riding the light rail for pet-grooming, pizza, deli food or dry cleaning.

As usual, we businesses who are the backbone of Phoenix, as per Mayor Greg Stanton, are actually the living dead of our city.

Why freeway plan is bad

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