Bill Paty had the foresight, back in 1998, to support the Ala Wai Watershed Water Quality Improvement Project, and to support the action by several state legislators to authorize matching funds for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers investigation of the flood problems related to the Ala Wai Canal and its watershed (“Former Land Board chairman was WWII hero, sugar manager,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 17).
Mr. Paty, probably like any person who had any hands-on experience with field agriculture in Hawaii and irrigation of crops, was only too well aware of soil loss due to erosion, and flooding due to poor land management and drainage upstream. Interestingly, others in state government at that time thought of “watershed planning” as an education exercise to be applied to schools and the public, but not as a set of physical infrastructure components which are needed in complex flood hazard reduction situations.
He is the reason that today, we have an ongoing Army Corps-led proposed project to reduce flood risk that stems from overtopping of the Ala Wai Canal.
Gene Dashiell
Kailua
—
Too many have security clearances
When I was assigned to a position in the Navy that required an elevated security clearance, it took me 14 months to receive a top secret/crypto clearance because I had traveled extensively and moved numerous times, twice to foreign countries. A security clearance is based upon an extensive background investigation and a need to know. I was not allowed access to nuclear secrets, for example, since I did not have a need to know.
When I retired from the Navy, I no longer had my security clearance; it was rescinded. I no longer had a need to know. Similarly, high government officials who are no longer in office do not have a need to know anymore and their clearances by decree should be revoked. On a case-by-case basis, they might be extended for a maximum of one month to facilitate the transition of a successor. Thereafter, they should all be canceled as is done for everyone else. On an individual basis, one should petition that a waiver is necessary to extend a lawfully canceled clearance.
Clearances are too widespread and they need to be curtailed.
Mark Webster
Waialae-Kahala
—
Free speech not an issue in clearances
Revocation of security clearance does not and never deprives anyone of First Amendment rights (“What First Amendment? Trump tries to silence critics,” Star-Advertiser, Catherine Rampell, Aug. 17).
That’s because revocation of security clearance does nothing to inhibit or prevent a person from speaking against President Donald Trump or speaking one’s mind.
All that revocation of clearance does is cut off one’s privilege to see and hear highly classified information or data. That has nothing to do with First Amendment rights or free speech.
Ruben Reyes
Royal Kunia
—
Vacation rentals affect property value
Mahalo to former urban planner Chuck Prentiss for his commentary (“Visitor lodging hurts neighborhoods,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Aug. 15). Given our housing situation, the proposed legislation to allow an unlimited number of vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods is indeed incongruous and unconscionable.
In addition to the many negative impacts on our neighborhoods and communities cited by Prentiss, owners of property next to vacation rentals also are hurt financially when trying to sell or rent out their property. As many people, especially families with children, do not want to live next to resort operations, it lowers their selling and rental prices.
Given the city’s dismal record of not enforcing existing regulations pertaining to vacation rentals and ADUs, let’s stop believing in the tooth fairy and demand that the city enforce existing laws first, before issuing any new permits.
The demand by visitors for an alternative experience should not outweigh the demand for housing, quality of life, and the social and cultural well-being of our residents and communities.
Ursula Retherford
Kailua
—
Dems won’t support one woman: Tupola
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and state Sen. Josh Green fiercely proclaim that they fight for women. Yet not one of them will lift a finger in support of the charismatic, young, independently minded female candidate for governor, Andria Tupola.
The reality of the primary election is that Democrats want a man to govern Hawaii, not a woman. Indeed, when it comes to supporting their party’s man, Hawaii’s Democratic leadership is quick to surrender principle to party loyalty. Because in their book, fighting for women like Tupola is just lip service.
Charles Kerr
Kalama Valley
—
Trump will avoid Mueller questioning
President Donald Trump has again shown his devotion to the acronym MMPP, Master of Misdirected Public Perception. This time it begins with his constant announced willingness to be questioned by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Trump is not being truthful. He will never submit to questioning by Mueller.
Later, when push comes to shove, Trump will execute a deceptive two-step. He will announce that Rudy Giuliani and other unnamed lawyers have demanded that, because he is a possible target for collusion, he not submit to Mueller’s request that he testify under oath. Feigning disappointment, Trump will reluctantly accede to his lawyers’ advice.
Voila, his lawyers alone are to blame and Trump’s base will buy it. Hopefully, Americans with common sense will not.
Joseph Gedan
Makiki
