Collector Randy Harris deserved better than state Rep. Ryan Yamane’s wholly self-serving defense of the overreaching ivory ban (“Ivory bill shields innocent owners,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 9).

Nowhere did Yamane address the issue of experts being permitted to authenticate legacy ivory. He also ignored Harris’ question of an ivory registry and basic concerns about precious artifacts being endangered by such poorly written laws (“Proposed ivory ban should not treat everybody like elephant poachers,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, March 6).

I challenge Yamane to answer why he champions tutu being treated like a criminal, subject to arrest, fines and incarceration for selling ivory jewelry she legally bought from Ming’s in the 1960s.

Why does Yamane choose to ban easily identified fossilized ivories left behind by creatures extinct for tens of thousands of years?

And why hasn’t the word “knowingly” been added to the bill’s text to differentiate between the guilty and the innocent in assessing punishment?

Don Nigro

Hilo

Amount of property tax doesn’t tell whole story

I am getting tired of articles that say our residential property taxes are the lowest in the country.

A significant amount of property taxes in other cities and counties goes to funding the public schools. Since Hawaii public schools are run by the state, none of our property taxes go to education.

If our cities and counties had to pay for our schools, my guess is we would have the highest property taxes in the country — not the lowest.

Carl Bergantz

Kaneohe

Let’s give ‘Rolo’ chance to make things happen

All levels of athletics should contribute positively to the character- building of the participants.

Along the way, we have lost the core purpose of developing our athletes into worthy role models and contributing citizens.

As a high school football coach for over 15 years, I had the privilege of assisting great coaches who not only strived to develop winners, but also instilled the value of preparing students for a future after football.

New University of Hawaii head football coach Nick Rolovich’s love for Hawaii and his core values are traits beneficial for UH and every youth sports program in Hawaii.

His player and coach experiences, as well as his innovative approaches, are significant ingredients for success.

Yes, Coach “Rolo” is an underdog and there are countless naysayers. But let’s not forget that the majority of us in Hawaii are underdogs and have had to prove ourselves and fight for survival.

Let’s all pitch in and give him a chance to make big things happen.

Jon Yamaguchi

Salt Lake

Politicians tainted by outside influences

It’s time for voters to stop believing in any politician who is or has been a member of Congress.

All have been tainted by outside forces and influences.

Just a few years ago, when the Congress was controlled by the Democrats, the people got angry. So they voted for a Republican Congress under the guise that it would fix many of the problems that the Obama administration forced on the American people. But the Republican-controlled Congress has done absolutely nothing to fix anything.

What makes the voters think any of those same members of Congress would change their stripes in the future if they become president?

The presidency, Congress and many Washington government offices have come under the foot of big business, political action committees and other outside forces.

All those politicians have failed and will continue to fail the American people.

I hope American voters are waking up.

Ann Ruby

Downtown Honolulu