State Rep. Chris Lee said a bill to give college tuition grants to state employees in exchange for a 5- to 10-year commitment to keep working for the state would help government agencies compete against the higher salaries of the private sector (“Bill would pay tuition for state workers,” Star-Advertiser, March 5).

This claim is dubious.

Local government workers on average make $72,002 a year, compared with $55,432 for local private-sector workers, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Wages, thus, should not be a justification to give college tuition grants to retain government employees, especially since private sector workers on average make less.

To read more about public and private sector wages in Hawaii, please see our report at www.grassrootinstitute.org/publicemployeedata.

Joe Kent

Vice president of research

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

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Let’s hope Waianae encampment closes

Finally we in Waianae can have a glimmer of hope in the cleaning up of the illegal camp by the Waianae Boat Harbor (“Waianae homeless on edge as they await state action,” Star-Advertiser, March 9).

Timothy Harper

Waianae

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Replacing porcelain fixtures a bad idea

It was with stunning clarity that I compared two stories in the Star-Advertiser.

State Rep. Chris Lee is sponsoring a bill that would pay tuition for state workers to promote “efficient and effective government” (“Bill would pay tuition for state workers,” March 5). Maybe city workers should be included.

On the following page, a story addressed the ceaseless issue of public restroom vandalism (“Porcelain seen as quick fix when vandals strike parks,” Kokua Line, March 5). Deputy city parks director Jeanne Ishikawa said, “Our normal procedure is to replace any damaged amenity with the same type of feature.”

Now I’m no scientist, and I paid for my college degrees on my own, but why continue to put in porcelain features when stainless steel would be much for difficult, and less satisfying for the hooligans, to vandalize? Carrying the same breakable replacement parts and having to redo plumbing are invalid reasons if vandalism continues to happen.

As a taxpayer, I’d have no issues with with sending Ishikawa to some college courses in metallurgy and psychology.

Pat Kelly

Kakaako

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Support aid in dying for patients in need

As a consulting medical ethicist, I have been involved with ethical issues in health care since 1982. I have worked with physicians, nurses and administrators in Hilo and statewide. I worked with legislators to pass legislation recognizing advance directives, which serve as vehicles to respect a patient’s wishes about end-of-life choices.

More than 20 years ago, Gov. Ben Cayetano’s panel on “Living and Dying with Dignity” recommended support for physician aid in dying. Hawaii and 27 other states are deciding whether to pass laws respecting terminal patients choices for AID based on more than 20 years of supporting empirical evidence from six states and the District of Columbia.

There is a moral imperative for pain prevention, mitigation of human anguish and easing of the distress of the terminally ill. By passing House Bill 2739 or Senate Bill 1129, Hawaii acknowledges the ethical and legal prerogatives of those competent terminally ill patients who request AID. I urge you to support these legislative efforts.

Dr. Larry Heintz

Hilo

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Big Q union question skewed against labor

I was dismayed to read the results of the Big Q, especially in Hawaii where we have the second- highest union membership in the nation (“Should public labor unions be allowed to compel fees from public workers, even those opting not to join the unions?,” Star-Advertiser, March 6).

Given the bias in the survey, it’s no wonder. When you use words like “compel” to describe being required to do the right thing, you’ll skew the response. Unions bargain for the pay and benefits of all their workers, even if they are not members of the union. The union is required to represent them in cases of discipline. Unions brought us the 40-hour work week, weekends off, Social Security, child labor laws, sick leave, paid vacation and collective bargaining rights.

If we compare it to a potluck dinner analogy, how would we like it if some people show up empty-handed, but help themselves to dinner anyway? I don’t think many feel that would be fair or the right thing to do. It is the same with paying your fair share in dues.

Kevin Batey

Kailua

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Musical chairs at the White House

This is like rats leaving a sinking ship (“Trump’s pool of trusted advisers dwindling,” Star-Advertiser, March 8).

It looks like only one chair will be for Chief of Staff John Kelly. Even then, President Donald Trump might pull the chair from under him, too.

Cruz Vina Jr.

Pearl City

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Florida students challenge status quo

Move forward, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students. You are the ones who can and will effect change.

Keep driving and driving, and don’t let up on your movement. This is what needs to be done, to get the attention of Congress and President Donald Trump. Because unfortunately, it seems emails, letters, tweets and talks in past years have fallen on deaf ears.

We don’t need excuses. We need results, period. And by leading this fight, it is my hope that students, faculty, parents and Americans in all 50 states may become inspired enough to do the same. Far too many lives have been lost. Enough is enough. Let this tragedy be the last.

You’re all the future of this great United States of America.

John Keala

Waianae