There has been a multitude of news stories recently about foreign crew members working on the Hawaii longline fleet.

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye was said to have “pushed for a loophole” in federal law to allow foreign crew members to be employed on domestic vessels.

This is simply not true.

In 1987, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced H.R. 2342, the U.S. Coast Guard Reauthorization Act.

On July 8, 1987, New York Congressman Mario Biaggi introduced the amendment to exempt from the 100 percent crew requirement several types of vessels, including those that fish for highly migratory species and those that fish outside the 200-mile U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.

New York fishing fleets wanted to cross into Canada to secure crew members. The amendment passed and was enacted into law in 1988.

Inouye had no involvement whatsoever.

Jennifer Sabas

Former chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye

Kaneohe

Plastic bags serve useful purposes

While it may well be possible in the future to find alternatives to plastic, it is certainly not possible now, especially when one considers the use of plastics in commercial, medical and household applications.

A frequent question being asked among local folks is:

Why are only supermarket bags being singled out for these bans and not the plethora of thicker and heavier plastic products out there (“City measure would tighten ban on plastic bags,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 29)?

Consider that plastic garbage bags are used in great numbers, but if they are banned, what is the alternative?

Answer: A major health hazard to both marine life and humans.

The amount of plastic used in an individual supermarket bag is infinitesimally small compared to the large amounts of plastic used in manufactured products carried in those bags.

Paper bags are essentially useless when filled with damp or wet items. They disintegrate.

Those proposing these ordinances should consider the unintended consequences.

Paul Perretta

Lower Manoa

There are solutions for ‘bus bunching’

Kenneth “K.C.” Loesch said that TheBus in Waikiki is very inefficient, with buses arriving in groups after a long wait (“Oahu bus system seems to be very inefficient,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 1).

This is known as “bus bunching,” which is caused by delays along the line and is common to many transit systems.

Common solutions include two buses trading stops, shifting passengers to another bus and “Not In Service,” in which a bus will only drop off passengers until reaching the terminal.

One new solution is TEMPO (a software bus tracker being developed by Via Analytics and TheBus), which would allow drivers to check their spacing and allow the number of buses to be altered if necessary.

TEMPO is mentioned in an article written by Roger Morton, president and general manager of TheBus, in the Summer 2016 issue of Express (available at TheBus’ website, thebus.org/AboutTheBus/ExpressNewsletter.asp).

Dexter Wong

Kahala

Don’t blame Trump; blame unfair tax law

First let me say that I don’t like Donald Trump.

I also don’t like Hillary Clinton, and since I learned that Gary Johnson knows very little about international affairs, I am really stuck, with no one to vote for.

But why all the brouhaha about Trump finding a way to avoid taxes? He didn’t write the tax code. He just has clever enough legal help so he can legally avoid paying.

We should be furious at our representatives, senators and president for approving such an unfair tax law. If we elect someone who closes all the unfair loopholes and rewrites the tax code, we can all pay our fair share.

I don’t think any of these candidates has the gumption or courage to take the project on.

Arg Bacon

Kahala

Islands could use good ferry system

With great amusement, I read about the funding of another study regarding interisland ferry service (“Federal funds will help state conduct study on new ferries,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 3).

How did we survive and prosper to this day without an alternate water-based transporation system?

Our island communities would simply thrive.

Farmers, tourists and even people afraid of flying could get their business done.

Right now all we have are surfboards, canoes and fishing boats.

Bill Jung

Palolo Valley

Ferry service ideal but not new study

Interisland ferry service, which is available in the great majority of island locations around the world, has been a no-brainer good idea dating back to the days of the SeaFlite hydrofoil program.

As local riders well recall, the Superferry was a big boon to residents and visitors alike but unfortunately fell victim to bureaucratic bungling.

Now comes a proposal for a costly new feasibility study due in 2018 and then a possible favorable decision?

Give me a break.

This is another classic example of wasting taxpayer money and governmental inaction along with political maneuvering and special-interest-group intervention.

Peter Caldwell

Alewa Heights