Regarding Andrew Gomes’ story about Andy Anderson’s violation of the permit process at his Haleiwa restaurant (“Bloated expansion,” Star-Advertiser, May 29): Such behavior is not new to Anderson.
In 1983, the city ordered him to stop work on a development in Waikiki because he never obtained building permits. His punishment: a $900 fine and 75 hours of community service.
In 2003, Anderson developed a residential fortress at the surf spot Velzyland, featuring a massive rock wall fronting Kamehameha Highway. As part of the development deal, he agreed to include a public park. It was so small that the city declined to place a lifeguard station there, and it remains inaccessible.
Is Anderson’s immunity from proper legal punishment connected to his political career (20 years in the Legislature, two unsuccessful runs for mayor and three runs for governor)?
Does he still have friends in high places who look the other way when he continues to ignore the law?
John Wythe White
Haleiwa
Sanders supporters not real Democrats?
Where have Chelsea Lyons Kent and the Bernie Sanders supporters been all these years (“Fate of Hawaii Democratic Party in the balance this weekend,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, May 26)?
The problem is that many people don’t regard Sanders and his supporters as real Democrats, especially since Sanders has run as an Independent and holds office as an Independent. His supporters joined the party so they could vote for Sanders.
What happens if he loses? Will Kent still campaign for and support the other Democratic candidates, or Hillary Clinton if she wins the nomination?
Is she a true Democrat who will support the party in the future, or only a “Democrat” because of Sanders?
Many people feel that Sanders and his supporters are trying to take over the Democratic Party, similar to the tea party for the Republicans a few years ago. Once the election is over, they will again disappear until another candidate they like runs, but otherwise they aren’t true supporters of the party.
Stan Sano
Makiki
Too many ‘vehicles’ on Waikiki sidewalks
On the sidewalks of Waikiki, we are terrorized by motorized Segways, motorized tricycles, bicycles and skateboards.
This problem leaves us with no place to walk safely. We have complained numerous times to state Rep. Tom Brower, the mayor’s office and the governor’s office, to no avail.
The sidewalks of Waikiki are already crowded with pedestrians who have to jump out of the way of the above-mentioned vehicles. It is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or maimed because of this situation.
We are seniors living in Waikiki and have been terrorized numerous times by the riders of these vehicles.
Today, about 10 Segways weaved very fast dangerously in and out of the pedestrians.
In the interest of public safety, we would like these vehicles to use the bike lane.
Leonard and Nirmala Lange
Waikiki
Don’t censor political cartoons
Aren’t political cartoons a perfect example of free speech in America? Agree with them or not, they seek to stimulate, titillate and inform the readership of current issues.
It’s fine if Ann Freed feels outraged by the “despicable” May 20 cartoon, which clearly insulted her worldview sensibilities such that she felt compelled to write the newspaper in disgust (“Effort to help workers not ‘war on business,’” Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 29). It is not, however, acceptable to choke off opposing worldviews through editorial censorship, as she requests.
Each American’s right to hold and express differing opinions is the very stuff of our democracy, is it not?
Sharon Faris
Waikiki
Appoint Jeff Davis a PUC commissioner
Thank heavens for voices like that of Jeff Davis, whose analysis demonstrated that mainland solar leasing companies are taking all of their income out-of-state without paying taxes in the process (“Solar leasing worse than a barrel of oil,” Star-Adver- tiser, Island Voices, May 22).
Can we create another spot on the state Public Utilities Commission that Davis could occupy while the NextEra scam buyout of Hawaiian Electric is being weighed?
Walter Wright
Kaneohe
Legislature has role in teacher quality
The Legislature and the governor are two components that have an indirect effect on the job we teachers must do year after year.
Although not a part of the evaluation process, the monies they budget and disburse have a direct effect on a teacher’s ability to have everything necessary to make his or her students successful in the classroom.
Money allocated through the weighted-student-formula is never enough to replace outdated equipment that is a decade or older in many classrooms, let alone replace textbooks that are making their eighth and ninth years of service.
Until teachers have the books, supplies and equipment that it takes to teach successfully, they shouldn’t be expected to perform miracles by the Legislature and governor that hamper them.
Robert Gillchrest
Pawaa
