When will the state come up with a better plan for all those poor people who have been laid off and still are not collecting anything and not getting any answers? This seems totally unacceptable. This is their lifeline.

Work income is how they provide for their families. Why can’t the state work out another location with more space temporarily to accommodate social distancing? Other companies have made adjustments during this pandemic; why can’t the state?

It has hired more than 200 phone clerks but that appears not to be working. Come on, Ige! Let’s put a better plan together to provide unemployment assistance for these people who are in desperate, desperate need of help for their lives and families.

Kekoa McGuire

McCully-Moiliili

Give gift cards to those following safety rules

How about some carrots with those sticks? I encourage law enforcement to recognize those good people who are practicing social distancing and wearing masks.

Why not take some of that mask-violation money and purchase gift cards from local eateries for a free item (e.g., a small shave ice or small coffee). Officers could hand these out to those properly wearing masks in public.

It’s a win-win: Promote safe habits and support local businesses!

Jill Tsuchitori

Manoa

Vaccines are almost here. Is Hawaii ready?

In late summer, the federal government advised states to be prepared for mass vaccine distribution by Nov. 1.

Pfizer and Moderna are both very close to receiving federal emergency use authorization for their mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. Widespread availability of as many as 50 million doses is expected by year-end, thanks to the government’s Operation Warp Speed. Moderna received $2.5 billion for its work to date, while Pfizer has a federal commitment to purchase at least $1.95 billion of its vaccine.

The Pfizer vaccine must be held at minus 70-80 degrees Celsius during transportation and storage; the Moderna vaccine, around minus 20 degrees. In contrast, conventional virus-based vaccines only require refrigeration of 2-7 degrees Celsius.

Have CARES Act funds been used to acquire the necessary cold-storage equipment?

Barney Wilson

Laie

Boycott Fox News for undermining democracy

As a former Republican, I have never in 50 years of voting been more fearful for the survival of our country and our American democracy.

Not only should the Republicans in the House and Senate be speaking out against the dishonest attacks by President Donald Trump and Fox News on the integrity of our election process, but all Americans, Republicans and Democrats, should raise our voices in outrage.

We can all boycott Fox News nationally and locally, and all national and local advertisers that enable its bullying attacks.

Courageous staff in the Fox News organization and our local Fox channel KHON can show their integrity for honest newscasting and against these dangerous and fallacious attacks by going on strike or resigning.

Trump has the right to never concede, but he and these so-called news organizations have no right to actively promote actions bordering on treason against American voters and our 244-year-old democracy.

Sam Gillie

Hahaione

President’s supporters should not enable him

I have watched over the past week as the current president, without evidence, undermined the election, and how the majority of Republicans in Congress remained complicit in this effort. I thought that Republicans in the legislature stood for principled conservative positions, not just retaining their tenuous hold on power.

The president’s words, however meritless, continue to undermine faith in the very foundation of our democracy. It should not be surprising that a man who asked for foreign assistance in an election, locked children in cages, disparaged minorities, bragged about lewd and sexist behavior, and so egregiously mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic could lose an election.

It is time for the president’s supporters and the GOP to cease enabling the actions of a would-be autocrat, stop the denial, and process the grief that inevitably accompanies a lost election.

Minoru Taniguchi

Liliha

Blangiardi, Biden offer more of the same

Rick Blangiardi selected Michael Formby as managing director. That was the wrong choice, as he was part of the problem with the rail.

As for Joe Biden, he may select the people like John Kerry and Susan Rice for his staff. Wrong again: They were from the same team while he was vice president.

Both vowed change, but we will get nothing but the status quo. If you folks voted for these two candidates, they both got you fooled.

Michael Young

Mililani

Organized sports still active in city parks

My first letter against organized sports in city parks was months ago (“Sports in parks put children, adults at risk,” Star-Advertiser, July 28). I have since emailed or called my city and state representatives, the city parks and recreation department and the state Department of Education. I have reported unmasked adults and children practicing with no COVID-19 restrictions. Neighborhood walkers have repeatedly called the police.

These children will at some point be returning to schools. Coaches and parents seem unwilling or unable to follow health protocols, much less to follow any tier rules. These social gatherings, under the name of organized sports, are potential virus spreaders to numerous households and schools.

Organized sports must not be allowed until this virus is controlled (Tier 4). Sadly, coaches and parents must be forced to wait for the health and safety of our entire community.

Darlene Pang

Salt Lake

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