Columnist Lee Cataluna’s flippant commentary on the plastic ban is insulting to Oahu citizens (“In going green, the devil is in the details,” Dec. 11). The ban is not just some effort to be “politically environmentally correct,” or is it some headline-grabbing “first in the nation” pursuit.
It is one of many grassroots, community-initiated efforts to combat waste, environmental degradation and pollution, all in the effort to make Oahu resilient and sustainable for future generations.
No one is saying it is the perfect end-all solution. But it is a step in the right direction. It is so easy to complain about change and to find flaws in everything. Let’s instead work toward improving our island environment, incremental and imperfect as some of the solutions may be.
Jeff Merz
Waikiki
Let readers know how to help seniors in need
Regarding the Dec. 13 front-page story, “Homeless seniors check out city-backed apartments”: Please put info in your paper as to how to donate items to this group to set up their apartments. Your story was most informative and left the reader wanting to help; please let your readers know how.
And some of us cannot donate money but have household items (towels, cups, maybe even canned goods, shampoos), so include info on donating money and items; make it easy to donate. Most of us cannot fight downtown traffic.
Dr. Marsha Wellein
Mililani
Trump’s cyber-bullying of teen deserves rebuke
I am eagerly looking forward to hear the House Republicans and the first lady chastise and condemn President Donald Trump’s reaction to Greta Thunberg being named Time’s Person of the Year.
It must be coming any moment now, after they were so adamant recently that it was so very wrong for an impeachment witness to mention Barron Trump’s name.
If it is wrong to just mention the name of a minor, it must be “disgraceful,” “shameful” and “classless” (adjectives they’d used a couple weeks ago) for the president to launch yet another Twitter assault on a minor.
Yes, Greta has made herself a public figure, but the president wasn’t arguing with her policy stance or refuting her science; he was personally attacking and mocking her.
Surely Melania’s Be Best anti-bullying curriculum must have a section about how it’s not right for a 73-year-old man to bully a 16-year-old girl.
Alika Campbell
Kailua
More Ala Moana parking would raze greenery
On a typical morning at Ala Moana Park’s Magic Island, one finds hundreds of people enjoying a unique setting, away from the bustle of our noisy, crowded city. Here is something for everyone: walking paths through expanses of grass and shade trees; the sound of bird song; sweeping views of Diamond Head and the Waianae Range; ocean waves and surfers riding them.
But now the Caldwell administration plans to extend the Magic Island parking lot over a football field’s length, makai, into the green space — paving over a wide swath of grass and cutting down several decades-old trees. Why? It’s all part of the “improvements” to the park.
The public needs to be heard. A Special Management Area permit is required before this and other unnecessary, expensive and inappropriate changes can be made to the People’s Park. Testify in person this Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., at McCoy Pavilion; or visit savealamoanabeachpark.org to submit written testimony.
Kevin O’Leary
Kalihi
Aid kupuna by handling property taxes better
About the Dec. 11 front-page story, “Oahu property tax assessments up 1.7%”: I own a home in Kailua and receive regular bulletins from Realtors telling me the exact opposite. The recent ban on bed-and-breakfasts and rentals via online platforms like VRBO has brought a glut of houses up for sale — and that’s a good thing. Meanwhile, prices, while still high, are down overall across the island.
However, the city’s tax assessments are based on last year’s sales of similar properties in the same area. It should be based on what the property originally sold for, with very small annual increases, as it is done in other states.
The city is forcing the kupuna out of their hard-earned homes when they can least afford it.
Whiting Hyland
Kailua
Voting to impeach amid Trump-positive news
The very definition of irony: While Democrats in the House vote to impeach a president on suspect charges, they are simultaneously voting for the president’s USMCA trade deal; the president’s Defense Authorization bill, including his family leave plan; the president’s budget (after a year of dithering); and news that the USA has reached agreement with China on a Phase I trade deal of historic proportions with tremendous benefits to the American economy.
Also, while House impeachment hearings were in progress, the Department of Justice inspector general delivered a scathing report of malfea- sance in a national security program, the FISA court process, which undermined our democracy by lying to the court to surveil a U.S. citizen.
House Democrats remind me of the Dickens character, Scrooge: Bah, humbug.
Jim McDiarmid
Mililani
President Claus grants tongue-in-cheek wish
I have been a life-long Democrat but I am thinking of changing parties. President Donald Trump is like Santa Claus: he knows us better than we know ourselves. We want to live under a dictatorship because democracy is too hard. We have to think a lot and make our own decisions, which we are tired of doing.
He said it best when he said, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” He has declared himself to be above the law, and he is.
Thank you, President Claus. That’s all I want for Christmas.
Beth Pettibone
Columbus, Ohio
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