I agree with Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille in terms of the lack of accountability once the news broke about Mayor Billy Kenoi’s misuse of his pCard in March 2014 (“Crime and Politics, Indicted,” Star-Advertiser, March 24).

He violated the purchasing card (pCard) cardholder agreement by misusing government property.

The time has come for him to be held accountable for his crimes.

Others need to be held accountable as well.

The purchasing card administrator within the department must have failed to administer what is called the “restricted and blocked merchant card codes.”

If any cardholder attempts to charge at any of the blocked merchants included in the blocked categories, the purchase will be declined.

Both the current and former county finance directors are to blame, too, for not revoking the pCard.

Last but not least, the County Council members carry their load of guilt for not reprimanding Kenoi.

Alexis M. Liftee

Nuuanu

Zoo is a treasure worth supporting

The recent loss of accreditation by the Honolulu Zoo is unfortunate and has brought attention to its need for stable, long-term financial support.

This will, in part, require action by the city.

I fear that many in the community tacitly assume that the zoo is a small facility catering mainly to tourists and is therefore unworthy of much local support.

In fact, at 42 acres, the Honolulu Zoo is roughly the same size as the zoos in the capital cities of Western Europe.

It is also an essential, well-attended community asset with an important educational mission.

There is simply no place else in Hawaii for local residents to see and learn about the wild animals of the world.

The Honolulu Zoo has good management and tremendous potential; it is certainly worthy of better long-term support than it has been receiving.

Allen Allison

Waialae Nui

Prescription bill good for Hawaii

House Bill 1072 would allow a limited group of psychologists who have special post-doctorate training and pass rigorous standards to offer prescription drugs to patients without having to have the interference of a medical doctor. This would be of significant benefit to Hawaii’s underserved rural communities.

Medical doctors are a bit self-righteous in their opposition to expanding prescriptive authority.

While overprescription of medicines, from antibiotics to opiates, by medical doctors is a valid concern, there is no evidence from other states that currently grant such rights that psychologists here would abuse the privilege.

Prescriptive authority essentially arises from the 1951 Durham-Humphrey Amendment, which broadened the range of prescription drugs and required consumers to pay a doctor to obtain a prescribed drug.

The Legislature should appreciate that medical doctors are economically motivated to monopolize prescriptive authority. Patients should not suffer in this turf war.

HB 1072 would benefit Hawaii and should be enacted.

John Keiser

Makiki

Sowell unfair to Democrats

In his recent column (“Progressives either ignore or discount their racist roots,” Star-Advertiser, March 26), Thomas Sowell wrote, “Much is made of the fact that liberals and conservatives see racial issues differently, which they do. But these differences have too often been seen as simply those on the right being racist and those on the left not.

“You can cherry-pick the evidence to reach that conclusion. But you can also cherry-pick the evidence to reach the opposite conclusion.”

And cherry-pick he does. To wit: “Later, when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was sponsored by Democrats, a higher percentage of Congressional Republicans voted for it than did Congressional Democrats.”

What he omits is the fact that those Democrats were Southern Democrats who later left the Democratic Party to join the Republican Party, which is what President Lyndon Johnson so presciently predicted when the Civil Rights Act passed.

Opposition to the Civil Rights Act is why the Deep South is Republican red today.

Russell H. Kim

Kakaako

Civil debate a lovely dream

Last night I had a dream that a long overdue, detailed, substantive, nuanced, intelligent, respectful debate was taking place between Republican presidential nominee John Kasich and Democratic presidential nominee Elizabeth Warren about the future of American governance as they vied for the presidency.

Then I woke up to mudslinging, scapegoating, fear mongering, insults about spouses, hand size, place of birth, the need to establish religious and racial tests for immigration — ad nauseam.

Oh well, perhaps next time.

John Priolo

Pearl City

Let people play music at airport

I was saddened to hear about an incident at Honolulu International Airport involving Ledward Kaapana. Someone asked him to stop playing music.

That alone sounds unbelievable, as Ledward has been one of the most popular Hawaiian musicians for decades.

Hawaiian music and dance has always been a critical part of the Hawaiian spirit.

Many of us remember musicians and dancers on the tarmac greeting visitors.

It was what Hawaii was all about.

I understand the security guard was just following the rules. The state Department of Transportation needs to take a common-sense approach and reevaluate the policy.

As a kupuna, I am hurt by any act that discourages Hawaiian artists and their music.

We need to encourage, not discourage, our Hawaiian spirit.

Lehuanui McColgan

Kaimuki

Point of the fine is to protect keiki

I disagree with your “Off the News” item of March 18, “How can we stop smoking in cars?”

You took issue with Senate Bill 2083, which would prohibit smoking in cars with a child present. You concluded, “Wouldn’t public education be a better way to get the point across?”

Parents are bombarded day and night with child- rearing advice, much of it contradictory. They quickly learn to tune it out. A $100 fine would grab their attention right away.

As for enforcement, that’s easy. A police officer need only observe the orange glow from inhaling, notice smoke in the car, or smell the car air that the child is breathing.

Let’s do what it takes to remove one more deadly hazard inflicted on innocent children by careless adults.

Of course, if it is the child that is smoking, make the fine $1,000.

Jim Harwood

Manoa