It is not an either-or proposition, that one either must support the recent request by the teachers union to increase the general excise tax by 1 percentage point or not be considered a supporter of public education (“Teachers rally for tax increases to benefit public schools,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 6).

Is it possible that “improving teaching conditions” could be funded by a decrease in spending in other less-critical areas? That is called a balanced budget.

Having been involved in government budgeting in the past, I am well aware that one of the strategies is to present the most dire of consequences if the requested tax increase is not approved.

The reality is there is always some room for spending decreases in one or more areas so that funding can be increased in another. Tax increases are usually not necessary.

Balancing the family budget with the income available may involve hard choices. That is one of the most important lessons our keiki will ever learn.

Kim Shelley

Waikiki

Superferry not really super idea

It is a bad time to resurrect the Superferry.

Do we want dengue fever, the ohia lehua fungus and coqui frogs on all of the Hawaiian islands?

The real threat of these invaders coming from Hawaii island surely would increase with the establish- ment of the ferry system. The cars and trucks traveling between the islands via the ferry would provide an easy ride for these unwant- ed arrivals.

Please keep these easily transferred horrors away from Oahu and other islands.

Maybe this money could be spent on building and equipping facilities at the airports to inspect for invasive species; more staff for arrival inspection; and expert entomologists on staff and in the field.

Nan Wond

Aiea

Maybe U.S. ought to ban pit bulls

Thank goodness the owner of an American pit bull terrier was responsible and had his canine on a leash at Lanikai Beach on Feb. 6.

It made it so much easier to get his dog to release a chihuahua from its jaws as its terrified owner screamed for help.

I am visiting from Australia, a country that had the good sense to ban the importation of this breed and impose severe restrictions on ownership.

Cue the pit bull breeders with their ludicrous arguments about their precious breed being singled out for unfair criticism.

Greg Dyett

Melbourne, Australia

Navy should move fuel tanks

With the water crisis in Ohio and Flint, Mich., fresh in mind, I think the Navy’s fuel tanks on Red Hill need to be shut down for good.

We cannot afford to lose our precious water supply.

Our population keeps growing, global warming is bringing less rain, and our water consumption is expanding. Every drop of water matters.

The Board of Water Supply needs to take a firm stand against the Navy and protect our life-giving water resource now, before it’s too late.

Jan Adam

Maili

Politicians keep mucking with UH

Your report that the state House Higher Education Committee approved bills to control University of Hawaii tuition increases and new construction was disturbing (“Committee approves bill to let lawmakers veto UH tuition hikes,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 5).

The reason is not the substance of those proposals so much as the fact that they ignored the principle of university autonomy.

Political interference with UH affairs has been a problem for decades and the source of much criticism from national academic authorities.

The state has paid lip service to university autonomy but the current crop of legislators seems oblivious to the concept.

In fact, your report did not even mention the idea.

If UH is to attain the stature it aspires to in the academic world, it will only happen if the politicians keep their hands off.

Carl H. Zimmerman

Salt Lake

LNG fits Hawaii’s needs perfectly

What Gov. David Ige says about liquefied natural gas (LNG) hampering the move to 100 percent green energy is misleading (“Governor maintains opposition to NextEra and LNG,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 4).

This 100 percent number being foisted on us is also misleading.

The 100 percent represents the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS=100), which is a formula that includes the continuing use of fossil fuels. So don’t be fooled.

Therefore, because our future will include fossil fuels, we should look at LNG as the cleanest, cheapest fossil fuel available.

There will be capital expenditures on the part of Hawaiian Electric in building facilities to store and gasify the LNG, but as with any capital expenditure, it is amortized over time to reduce the cost impact, and in no way will it be a government expenditure.

We should be in avid support of LNG being imported and used in our power generation.

Rob Rietow

Nuuanu

NextEra not only option around

It seemed that the accepted state of affairs regarding Hawaii’s electrical future was limited to either sticking with Hawaiian Electric Industries or selling it to NextEra Energy.

Government officials and the public have expressed significant concerns regarding NextEra; but it appeared that NextEra’s strategy to “assume the sale” had worked, with tacit agreement from HEI.

So I was happy to see Scott Hempling’s recommendation that other buyers and ownership should be considered (“Expand list of possible HEI buyers, says state consultant,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 6). That he “never hired the first person who walked in” reflects my own opinion that the state and HEI need to look further for alternatives.

There are many examples of successful cooperatives and city-owned utilities around the country with benefits worth considering.

Nancy Kickertz

Kailua

Victims need better protection

Mahalo for publishing the article by Michael Lasquero regarding Marsy’s Law, which will secure constitutional rights for victims and their families by means of a constitutional amendment (“Bill would put victims’ rights in state Constitution,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 5).

Bravo to the legislators willing to hear and support this legislation, which would put an end to the unneeded suffering crime victims and their families must endure in our state. Our most vulnerable citizens must be better protected.

Being a crime victim is already an obstacle enough without the court system providing further burdens.

As a former legislator, and longtime victims advocate, I strongly support Marsy’s Law and pray that the public will come forward to testify and urge their legislators to give victims and their families the statutory rights they deserve.

Marilyn B. Lee

Mililani