Here we go again. A developer announces yet another high rise in urban Honolulu and the media rush to show pictures of the gleaming new buildings (“2 high-rises planned near Walmart,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 25).

Most of these illustrations consist of a pedestrian thoroughfare with families out having a picnic and playing. There are always residents strolling about and you can always count on street-level shops, and a few bikes and cars.

Naturally these portrayals are fabricated by the developer to showcase their future building.

Fast forward three years to the reality of logjam traffic, minimal sidewalks with nary any trees or green space, homeless people on the perimeter, shops locals can’t afford and an exponential population increase that would be hard to exaggerate. There are no new roads or sewers, so where does all that excess go? Why isn’t that picture shown?

Needless to say the developers, this time based in California and China, look back and laugh on their way to the bank.

Pat Kelly

Wilhelmina Rise

Clooney has strong message for women

Leaders around the world should know better than to cross Amal Clooney, the high-powered international human rights lawyer.

Clooney, along with her husband, George, were vocal supporters of Hillary Clinton. Overall, Clooney gave an empowering message to feminists everywhere.

“The worst thing that we can do as women is not stand up for each other, and this is something we can practice every day, no matter where we are and what we do,” she said. “Women sticking up for other women, choosing to protect and celebrate each other instead of competing or criticizing one another.”

Women in the 1970s voted against the Equal Rights Amendment; in 2016 women voted for a misogynist. We need to learn to love ourselves for being women and then we can love other women for being whatever they choose to be.

Deborah Coleman

Makawao, Maui

UH can’t depend on private donations

I want to clarify misinformation about the pre-Donald Trump protest sign-making party I organized via my personal Facebook post (“Donor pulls funding for UH arts after Trump protest,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, Nov. 22).

It did not take place during class nor use University of Hawaii supplies. No student was rewarded or penalized for joining or not. When a donor supporting Trump saw my post, he reported me to the UH president, then pulled his support when UH affirmed its commitment to free speech. In doing so, the donor politicized his contributions, offering a glimpse to the dangers of relying on donations to fund public education. Trump vows to further privatize education and has appointed Betsy DeVos as education secretary to do so.

Fortunately, UH has many donors who agree with its mission to provide students with critical thinking skills and avenues to actively engage with their world.

Until education is fully supported by public funding, such “gifts without strings” are what provide students the opportunity to shape our collective future.

Gaye Chan

Professor and chair, Department of Art and Art History

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Gabbard had guts to meet with Trump

I give credit to Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for having the guts to listen and meet with President-elect Donald Trump (“Gabbard meets with Trump,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 22).

At least Gabbard has shown that she can listen to and work with people on both sides of the fence — not like her rubber-stamping constituents.

Lloyd Yamasaki

Wahiawa

Democrats pouting after election loss

Protesters with deplorable behavior — is this the new Democrat?

Talk shows have psychologists explaining how to talk to children about this election. We raised a generation of children to think that even if they didn’t win, they get a trophy, so now they want their trophy.

We didn’t teach them how to work hard for what they want. We overindulged them and taught them not to respect authority. When they were reprimanded at school, we went to school and stuck up for them instead of siding with the teacher.

These protesters saw us chastise other parents who properly disciplined their children, criticize those who stood up for the rights of the unborn child, laugh at people who stood for moral values by calling them uneducated.

Those who are ranting, whimpering and crying today when they didn’t get their way — this is the new Democrat.

Sharon Rapoza Bruffey

Haleiwa

Current president didn’t confirm fears

It was eight years ago that I purchased a generator, a year’s worth of food and water, and built a panic room in my home. I was scared I would need these because of the election of a new leader who wanted to “fundamentally transform” America (his words).

I am happy to report I overreacted, but am now prepared for a hurricane. I hope those who are currently worried about the end of the world can learn from my response to a new leader.

Kris Schwengel

Hawaii Kai

Ben Shapiro isn’t only biased columnist

It never ceases to amaze me to see the response of liberals to something with which they do not agree. They profess to be so intellectually open-minded and yet they vehemently balk at anything that crosses their mindset.

For example, Jan Montgomery obviously disagrees with Ben Shapiro’s supposed right-wing stance, and so claims that it is inappropriate for the newspaper to print the work of such a biased columnist (“Shapiro poor choice for news columnist,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 22). Then she goes on to claim, “I don’t think your paper has ever had this kind of opinion writer in the past.”

Hello! Has she never read Paul Krugman?

Rich Greenamyer

Mililani