New mayor has failed to restore bus stops

I certainly agree with Robert Kruse about Mayor Peter Carlisle regarding our transportation system ("Mayor should get off train to disaster," Star-Advertiser, July 25).

Before the last election, I wrote a letter urging the election of a mayor who will give us our bus stops back, especially in Waikiki. It is obvious that never happened.

After many letters and telephone calls, I was informed that Carlisle is following our former Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s footpaths. It is obvious he also does not have concern for the senior citizens living there or the tourists who come every year.

I have asked him and also our former mayor to meet with me and residents in Waikiki to walk the distance we now have to walk from the bus stop, but they refuse to do so.

Once again I ask: Give us a mayor who will give us our bus stops back.

Millie Zeibig
Honolulu

Teachers at Lincoln doing a terrific job

People say that the Hawaii public school system is lacking in many ways, but its special education is far from lacking.

My family moved to Hawaii from Korea in December. My 10-year-old autistic son attends Lincoln Elementary School. My son was born and raised in Korea and the only language he understands is Korean. He is also very low-functioning and fearful of changes in the environment, so I was naturally afraid of sending him to school.

But the teachers and administrators at Lincoln assured me that they would try their best to provide a good education to my son, and they were confident about my son’s successful adjustment at school. And I am truly amazed at how professional and caring every single teacher in my son’s Individual Education Program team has been.

My son finished his first semester last May with great success, participated in the extended school year program during summer, and has happily gone back to school this August and is doing absolutely great.

I cannot thank the teachers at Lincoln enough, but whenever I express my appreciation, the teachers say, "You don’t have to thank us. It’s our job."

What a terrific job they are doing for their students.

Clara Jisuk Woo
Honolulu

Afghanistan war another huge mistake

The Star-Advertiser carried an article about the recovery of the body of Capt. Thomas E. Reitmann, who was shot down over Vietnam in 1965 ("Downed flier ID’d in isles will be buried at Arlington," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 12).

We must honor the sacrifice of Reitmann and others like him. And we must also honor the 2 million or so Vietnamese who died in a war that, had the United States not sabotaged the 1954 Geneva Accords, would never have been fought. This was a war that Defense Secretary Robert McNamara later called "a terrible mistake."

Today, Vietnam is a close U.S. trading partner which recently invited a U.S. aircraft carrier to visit a port we bombed during the war. The Vietnamese, it turns out, are as worried about growing Chinese power as we are.

Which raises some questions: Are Americans like Reitmann dying (and killing others) in a war in Afghanistan every bit as ill-conceived and stupid as the one in Vietnam?

Let us honor the dead, heal the wounded, end the war.

Noel J. Kent
Kaimuki

Kudos to judge for her sound judgment

If Byran Thomas Miller III takes full responsibility for his actions, as his own lawyer stated, why the complaint about a 10-year sentence (“Lawyer seeks way around 10-year sentence,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 16)?

Accepting full responsibility means that he accepts the decision of the court.

The decision of the court was fully justified. The sentence was quite lenient considering the fact that the driver was drunk, speeding, refused to slow down when asked by the other parties in the vehicle, and has a long history of alcohol and marijuana use. In retrospect, he displayed a complete indifference to the safety of every other driver on the road that fateful day.

My kudos to Judge Karen Ahn for displaying the strength and sound judgment in rendering this decision. Most judges in Hawaii seem to think that probation is a sentence, when in reality it is a miscarriage of justice.

James L. Robinson
Aiea

Vacation rental rules unfair to homeowners

Your article on vacation rentals leaves me wondering: Is this still America ("Opposing sides hunker down in dispute on vacation rentals," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 11)?

Should the government be telling people what they can do with their own homes — in this case trying to forbid independent homeowners who live in their own homes from renting a room to tourists?

As put in the article, the current law seems inherently unfair: Fortunate homeowners who obtained a license before 1989 can earn needed income to help pay their mortgage or send their children to college but no other homeowners can get a license. Depending on one’s point of view, there seems to be good arguments on both sides of the issue. But do we really want or need the government sticking its nose into people’s homes and regulating our lives at this level?

Gene Altman
Kailua

Vacation rentals impose on neighbors

For those who bought into residential zoning in good faith, the many illegal resort accommodations that have inundated our residential neighborhoods represent an unfair taking of rights without due process.

The loss of sense of community and security that accompanies the continuous stream of strangers next door is hardly a golden goose. The loss of long-term rentals and rise in rental prices are also a far cry from a golden goose for our local people.

Contrary to Karen Luke’s suggestion ("Short-term rentals are a golden goose," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Aug. 1), Mayor Peter Carlisle had better not bank on taxes from short-term rentals to feed the general fund. The rental income reported is very much at the discretion of the operators. One operator of an illegal bed and breakfast assured me that some guests, who told me they paid $2,200 for six nights, were just "friends" who presumably stayed for free.

The basic needs and rights of local people must take precedence over the economic interests of operators of illegal short-term rentals and the wishes of tourists. The enforcement bill before the Planning Commission is long overdue.

Ursula Retherford
Kailua

Tort reform would be blow to lobbyists

The letter "Congress overlooking obvious places to cut" (Star-Advertiser, Aug. 13) might have included at least one other major area where Congress could show a willingness to cut spending and would have demonstrated a new commitment to independence from special interests: tort reform.

Such a move would show the people of America that Congress is serious, will lead the way and challenge even the most influential lobbyists on behalf of the citizenry.

Doug Worrall
Kahuku

FROM THE FORUM

"Honolulu strikes own path with rail board,"Star-Advertiser, Aug. 15:

» I hope our city leaders noted that it seems to be a generally accepted practice in the other regions to ask their voters to approve or disapprove of a tax increase to fund transit projects. Those other locales did not leave that decision to the pols. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation may not be political by definition but it was appointed by politicians. Some appointees will definitely have an agenda. The guy from organized labor immediately comes to mind. And, of course, the money lenders are represented on HART.

» Rail will never be completed in Hawaii. However, by the time this project has been shut down for good, taxpayers will be out hundreds of millions of dollars that can never be recovered. All those on the current rail gravy train knows this, so all that is left is to take the money and run.

» Much has changed since the voters approved this. With the economic changes and the confession by the rail provider, perhaps we should consider voting again. It’s tough to start and stop, but following the lead of successful businesses, the city should reevaluate this project to see if it’s still worth pursuing. Once we put it up, it will be impossible to take down, and just imagine what it will be like when the real wind starts blowing . . .

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"3-month effort removes hundreds from streets,"Star-Advertiser, Aug. 15:

» How many actually believe this 90-day plan will have lasting impact? This problem is way too big for that. Aside from the mentally ill and those who choose to live on the beach, the issue for most is money. Hawaii is a relatively expensive place to live. Homelessness will get worse if our economy doesn’t improve. Homelessness will also get worse if the children of Hawaii don’t improve in the classroom to enable them to get better-paying jobs. Higher taxes and government handouts are not a long-term solution.

» Anyone walk through Waikiki in the evening? It’s bad. This place is the economic engine of the state. While there may have been progress overall, it is inadequate. Too many mentally disabled and drug-addled people sleeping right there on Kalakaua. A government that can’t handle this problem doesn’t deserve to hold office.

» Who’s paying for all this? Is this just a Band-Aid solution to the real problems? Are we encouraging these people to get free housing without having to work? I understand that there are those that need assistance, but there are those who just don’t care to get out of that lifestyle. The problem is more than just getting them off the streets.

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"Reward raised to $10,000 for information on destruction of papaya crops,"Star-Advertiser, Aug. 16:

» The people responsible have a grudge, no doubt. Set up surveillance videos at papaya crop locations and sooner or later something suspicious will turn up. The culprits will not stop now. They are having too much fun. This is the time they will be caught.

» If the vandals are caught, they will likely get a slap on the wrist and serve little time in jail, if any. They may also have to pay restitution, but you know how that goes. Sad truth, but criminals are getting away lightly. That’s why we have so many repeat offenders.

» If caught, the vandals have to be seriously punished to send a message to anyone thinking about doing the same thing. This act is criminal and should be treated as such.

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"‘Undeniable storm’ looms for finances, gov warns,"Star-Advertiser, Aug. 18:

» What do you expect from a governor who was so deep into the tax-and-spend mentality? Hold on to your checkbooks, since the state can’t print its own money. Taxes will go up on everything. If it taxes businesses, guess what they will do? Pass the tax increase on to their customers, so the people end up with less and less money in their pockets.

» I can assure you that the one person who will have anxiety pains as Fernanda (and all other hurricanes) approaches will be the governor. So much for hurricane relief.

» The state of Hawaii should follow Hawaiian Telcom’s example: File for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, get huge concessions from all unions, stop all pension plans, switch employees over to 401(k) plans, reduce the entire workforce, get rid of unnecessary staffing and overhead, issue stock for private ownership, give Abercrombie $6 million in stock options and a $2 million dollar bonus …

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"Power Up! Electric rates hit record," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 18:

» Alternative green energy sources are a nice dream but not realistic. The guy who said he doesn’t have to pay for HECO electricity because he bought solar panels for his house didn’t tell you that he spent more money on those panels then he would have on decades of HECO electricity. I propose we plug into the nuclear reactors in Pearl Harbor (submarines and aircraft carriers) when they’re in port and shave our electricity bill. Nuclear is the only truly viable green energy source.

» It’s not true that one would have to spend more on solar power than a lifetime of HECO electricity. With an investment of about $10,000-$12,000 you can make it pay off within 10 years, not counting tax breaks, which help to pay it off even sooner.

» Now I remember one reason why after 63 years in Hawaii I was forced to retire on the mainland. Here, during the hottest month of the year, running the central air-conditioning 24 hours a day, using 1,600 kwh a month, my electric bill was $178. From an ex-pat in Utah … I feel your pain.