As a taxpayer, I’d rather my mayor’s primary revenue job be running the city, not as director of a bank (“Mayor’s role on bank board seems to be a clear conflict,” Star-Advertiser, David Shapiro, March 6).

I’d like his focus to be singular and razor-sharp on maintaining a streamlined and efficient municipal government.

As I drive down yet another rutted road, past the homeless and one more water main break, and catch red light after red light, it doesn’t surprise me that Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s largest source of income comes from the banking industry. His central priority has been to build rail and allow development, built within or outside of building codes, without a supporting infrastructure.

His connection to the banking industry is incompatible with being able to manage the city without prejudice. The saving grace is that the overlords of the banking and development communities are only allowed one vote, just like the rest of us.

Caldwell will find himself on the political sidelines, along with the other pro-development candidates, wondering where it all went wrong.

Pat Kelly

Wilhelmina Rise

Not all plantations in Hawaii were same

In response to Trinette Furtado’s article (“Romanticizing sugar plantation life is pure fantasy,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, March 7), the fact is that there were more than 150 sugar plantations in Hawaii.

Every plantation was different in what it offered its workers. Just because Furtado’s experience was different than Lee Cataluna’s does not make hers the “truth” and Cataluna’s a “fantasy” (“Sugar plantation life good to those who really lived it,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 26).

Most plantation workers signed three- or four-year contracts. At the end, they could leave the plantations for better opportunities, either here in Hawaii or on the mainland.

Yes, there were ethnic camps, but that did not prevent the different groups from interacting. One can see the result of that interaction today with Hawaii’s multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society. This is what makes Hawaii the best state in the nation.

Dan Nelson,

President, Portuguese Genealogical and Historical Society of Hawaii

GOP trapped itself in gutter politics

The GOP presidential debates have degenerated into gutter politics (save Gov. John Kasich) and perhaps it should not be surprising since the party have unashamedly practiced the same brand of politics when President Barack Obama, the first black president, took office.

We all remember the unprecedented disrespect and hate — calling him every ugly word imaginable while stonewalling everything he proposed legislatively.They have long branded him as an illegitimate president and not to be trusted, as leaders of the party implied by looking away when asked if Obama was born in the United States. They even accused him of being a Muslim, code for being the enemy.

So it should not come as shocking what we are witnessing today. It seems that the GOP has literally trapped itself, the culmination of its politics, in the manifestation of Donald Trump, as he frustrates the party establishment’s desperate efforts to rein him in.

Gary Takashima

Waipahu

Roadwork should be coordinated better

Senate Bill 2938 proposes increases for fuel taxes, vehicle weight taxes and vehicle registration fees to improve our roads.

A better idea would be to coordinate road projects among Hawaiian Tel, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Gas, Time Warner Oceanic and the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and have one master list of projects.

Too often, one of these companies starts/completes/paves and before you know it, another company starts tearing up the newly paved road. I’ve seen it happen numerous times.

Our roads are the worst in the nation and more money won’t make a difference. Planning long-term is the smart thing to do.

Claudia McCloskey

Aiea

Ticket loud vehicles into extinction

I think cars and motorcycles with obnoxiously loud exhaust systems are a much greater form of noise pollution than mopeds.

Why any adult would want a vehicle so loud it sets off car alarms is beyond me. They should not be legal to sell on the islands and should be ticketed by police into extinction.

I watch TV at night with subtitles because I can’t tell you how many times I missed a crucial piece of dialogue when one of these clowns roared past. Being awakened countless times should go without saying. What are we paying our police and politicians for if they can’t even keep us safe from noise pollution?

It drives the dog next door nuts, too.

Howard Shore

Makiki

‘Aha’s final product makes no sense

A private group announced the adoption of its constitution by a vote of 88-30 (“Funds needed to continue building Hawaiian nation,” Star-Advertiser, March 6).

Implying an independent nation while seeking federal recognition and the pursuit of independence makes no sense.

The future president is left with the task of securing a land base and negotiating treaties with foreign countries. No amendments were allowed once adopted in the ‘aha. What is troublesome is that citizenship is based on blood, with Hawaiians of less than 50 percent holding an empty bag.

At best, the volunteers known as “Lahui of 88” created a process whose outcome is dysfunctional and needs further mature deliberation.

Otherwise, it sounds like a scam that even the U.S. Department of Interior would have a problem approving.

Jimmy Wong

‘Aha participant,

Heeia