I voted my absentee ballot. It took an hour to complete. The challenge was analyzing the 20 proposed amendments to the Honolulu City Charter. As an attorney who has drafted legislation myself, I was flabbergasted by these hopelessly confusing choices. It was above my pay grade.

Many of the proposed amendments seemed deliberately designed to expand and entrench big government and its minions. Government should be shrinking, not growing.

The obfuscatory wording on the proposed amendments seemed deliberately (and perhaps diabolically) designed to confuse a befuddled public into having no idea what they are really voting for. This was eerily reminiscent of the proposal that originally was circulated to provide the supposed mandate for rail.

The worst amendment of the bunch was No. 15, extending politicians’ term limits. It obviously was designed to further entrench the incumbents of Hawaii’s already one-party system. Every right-thinking Honolulu resident should vote no on that idiotic proposed amendment.

Bradley A. Coates

Waikiki

Amendments not too tough to probe

I strongly disagree with the letter writer who said he thought the 20 Charter amendments were too much for voters to figure out, and those representatives he elected would do the job for him (“Charter changes too much for voters,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 18).

No, they won’t. Amendment 15 would extend the term limits for City Council members, the mayor and the prosecuting attorney to 12 years (three four-year terms). Your representatives will vote for their self-interest. You could easily vote no.

We are fortunate to get to decide anything. A little time thinking and researching should not be too much for any citizen. We are having many decisions taken from us. As a mostly Democrat, I had the choice for president taken from me by the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

The reason we didn’t hear from any alternate candidates in the debates is that it was decided by two corporations, the DNC and the Republican National Committee.

Treasure your vote.

Judith Pettibone

Makiki

Park issue calls for clean sweep

Almost daily, the local media reports another park being taken over or vandalized by a small but entrenched group of illegal campers. The result? The public is effectively being denied the use of our parks.

Oahu is a very crowded place with almost 1 million residents. Our parks are critical for our well-being and enjoyment. Give us our parks back!

For decades, our politicians have promised solutions. Yet, the problem has gotten exponentially worse. Repeated sweeps have done little more than scatter these illegal campers to every Oahu neighborhood.

Once again, Kailua, Waimanalo, Wahiawa, Waianae and other communities have growing encampments. Yesterday, I saw a new encampment at the Shinto shrine in Moiliili. Enough already.

I’ve voted in every Hawaii election since 1968. Like many voters, I’ve often voted for the incumbent. No more. This election I will register my protest by voting against every incumbent on the ballot.

Stephen T. Molnar

Kailua

HPD needs to disclose all crime

The front-page story by Rob Perez has been a long overdue, under-reported fact (“HPD map omits violent crimes,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 17).

Why is this fact of importance? Because no matter what community we live in there is crime — but sometimes it’s very violent crimes. A community is not a livable community if it’s not safe.

Why shouldn’t we know about the good, the bad and the ugly? I live in Waikiki, and have stopped going to the neighborhood board meetings because the monthly Honolulu Police Department reports would never include what violent crimes occurred in Waikiki from the previous month.

In Waikiki, violent crimes occur to local folks and to visiting tourists. All big cities have an issue with violent crimes. Not talking about it will not make it go away. Why not disclose what’s really going on so we can work on possibly preventing these violent crimes?

Nancy Manali-Leonardo

Waikiki

Documentary is required viewing

Everyone, and I mean everyone, who lives in Hawaii should see the documentary “No Room In Paradise” (“‘No Room in Paradise’ shows depth of homelessness,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 16).

Mahalo nui loa to Anthony Aalto and Mike Hinchey, who made this outstanding documentary, and to Hawaii News Now for showing it commercial-free. I hope the Star-Advertiser, which promoted it with a lengthy article, will again publish reminders of the three more repeat showings.

Bob Karman

Hawaii Kai