Letters to the Editor

Laws not needed to fight obesity

Each year, millions of people lose hundreds of pounds and get healthy.

I guarantee not one person did it because government mandated or legislated them to do it, or because any tax inspired them to make healthier choices.

They did it because they came to the conclusion on their own; each person made their own personal commitment to make healthier food choices and exercise regularly.

You can’t tax people to be healthy just because you want to raise money for the general fund or pay for an ad campaign and some flyers under the guise of "fighting obesity."

Enough with this ridiculous lazy lawmaking and "get on the bandwagon" tax adoption policy.

Lawmakers should do their job and balance the budget by cutting costs, not raising taxes on consumers and retailers.

Common sense just doesn’t seem to be very common in government agencies.

Andrea Gall-Krasnick
Founder and owner, Aloha Friday Beverage Co.

Not all seniors want a free ride

As a senior citizen and a frequent bus rider, I am against eliminating the $30 annual fee for senior bus passes.

We just went through major bus route changes to "save money" and many of us, including seniors, had to make inconvenient accommodations because of these changes.

How would the city replace the money lost by eliminating the revenues from the senior pass — more route changes, more inconvenience, even longer waits? The $30 fee is nominal for a whole year of unlimited ridership.

Whoever is making these decisions should stop messing with our bus system, please.

Sandie Stoutenburg
Ala Wai

Police know best about peril of pot

I understand the governor and Senate are pushing a bill for the decriminalization of marijuana.

Our police who deal daily with the devastating effects of drug use in our community have testified against the bill’s passage.

Marijuana has a high potential for addiction, creating the need for more treatment programs and other assistance, to say nothing about degrading the quality of life in Hawaii with the introduction of more marijuana and drugs.

We should follow the counsel of those who are responsible for the safety and well-being of our community before listening to those drug-advocacy lobbying groups who want the decriminalization law.

Our Legislature should respond with the same counsel we give our next generation concerning drugs: Just say no.

Ross Moody
Waikiki

Force homeless into specific lots

I’m not sure what the city has in mind, but the obvious way to help the homeless and get them off the streets is as follows:

» Have the city purchase a field or a couple of lots away from the tourist part of Honolulu. Whether you like tourists or not, they are vital to the success of Hawaii. In the field or lots, have a restroom and running water available.

» Make it mandatory for the homeless to move to the field (with city help) and, once and for all, make it against the law to sleep or make a home on any city streets.

By doing this, the city has addressed the two main problems: One, having a place for the homeless to stay and sleep, and two, making Waikiki and nearby areas safe and clean, where everyone can enjoy our famous tourist destination and walk along our sidewalks freely.

Toby Allen
Kaimuki

Lottery would solve many woes

Why can’t lawmakers approve a lottery for Hawaii? It seems like such a no-brainer solution to our woes.

If they will not support a lottery, they should go away, take a hike, get out. Other states are giggling at us. We should have a lottery.

Why raise the tax on gasoline to fix our decrepit roads? Just get a lottery — problem solved.

It only takes a few people to run a lottery, and it is so easy and cheap to start.

Cullen Wortham
Honolulu