Take a lesson from Singapore

The front-page story about the state of public restrooms at our parks in Honolulu is embarassing and totally unacceptable (“Waikiki restrooms dirty, locked, unsafe,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 28). It is high time the governor and mayor provide clean, healthy public restrooms for our residents and tourists.

I suggest that the governor and mayor both ask the prime minister of Singapore to educate them on how to keep public restrooms clean and healthy. Anyone who has been to Singapore can attest to the fact that all of their public restrooms are squeaky clean.

That’s not the case here on Oahu. If the government employees can’t keep them clean, maybe it’s high time to contract out these services and downsize our government.

Ken Zitz
Waialua

Hawaii gun laws undue burden

A friend of mine who is being transferred decided to give me a pistol that cannot be made compliant with New York law. Despite the fact that the pistol in question is already registered in Hawaii, and is of the same type and caliber as one that I already have registered in Hawaii, I must make three trips to the Honolulu police headquarters during business hours on weekdays along a strictly prescribed schedule over three to four weeks.

The first visit is to provide the serial number of the pistol, along with nearly $20 and proof I have received pistol training. Second, I must pick up the permit to acquire in the following 14-20 days. If I miss the window, I must restart and pay again. The third time, I must bring in the pistol to be inspected, even though it was inspected when my friend registered it. This must be done within three days of receipt. If the pistol gets stolen enroute, I could be arrested.

 Can anyone tell me that this process is not an undue burden?

Brian Hunt
Ewa Beach

Health care better in France

Amid the political debates in 2012, we have to ask, how far have we really come?

My family and I lived in a suburb outside Paris, France, from 2002 to 2003. One day I flipped over the front of my bike handlebars into the street, breaking my arm. A police officer drove by and pulled over to help, calling an ambulance. Through the experience of being taken to the hospital, given an X-ray, inspected by an orthopedic surgeon, and having my arm put in a cast, I, as a foreign national, was not once asked for insurance, credit card information, or even identification. And after four follow-up visits with more X-rays and surgeons, the entire experience cost my family €70 ($68.50 in 2002). What would a similar incident cost the taxpayer in America?

That was 2002. Can America do better than France on the issue of affordable health care for its citizens in 2012? I hope so.

Thomas Matus
Manoa

Let Planned Parenthood pay

There is a good solution to the controversy over President Barack Obama telling insurance companies (private entities) that they must provide free contraception to women employed by religious organizations.  

He needs to tell Planned Parenthood to give contraceptive devices free to any woman who asks. After all, Planned Parenthood gets generous taxpayer funding and has a huge number of  private supporters. They also enjoy special tax breaks. It’s time for Planned Parenthood to pay its “fair share.”

Carol R. White
Honolulu

Waialae Iki park in poor shape

The Waialae Iki Neighborhood Park is heavily used by moms, dads, tutus and nannies from Hawaii Kai to Kaimuki. They meet to chat, letting their little ones play together on the once-working equipment. Recently when I visited the park with my granddaughter, we saw new problems — one of the two swings is broken as well as plywood covering the metal holes, one piece of equipment was without bars, the tire swing was missing and the slide had caution tape across it.

The playground equipment meets a need for our preschool children. This busy park is becoming a hazard and is a sad sight to behold. Young children really need this park and its working playground equipment. I hope this problem, small as it is, can be addressed as soon as possible.

Mary Jo Buell
Haleiwa

City tax change will hurt horses

There is a great tragedy about to happen. Many, many otherwise healthy horses may be destroyed. Why? The city wants to disallow agricultural exemption for certain livestock, including horses. The ranch at which we board our horse is facing a huge increase in property tax.

One of two things will happen: The ranch will be forced out of business, or it will raise its rates prohibitively, likely in the $3,000 per month range. I know of no horse owner who can afford that kind of boarding fee.

It’s likely the majority of boarders would give up their horses. No business can stay open with 90 percent of the boarders gone.

We owners have no place to go. Even offering the animal for free to a good home is doubtful. Destroying one’s healthy pal is a horrible dilemma to contemplate.

We heard that they want to curb “gentlemen” farms. We say think, think, think it through.

Ron and Jean Morrison
Honolulu

Rail will burden urban Honolulu

In a Star-Advertiser editorial, I read that Mayor Peter Carlisle said that the rail guideway “should serve everyone by focusing construction along the corridor rather than allowing urban sprawl in all parts of Oahu …” (“Improve transparency on rail,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, Feb. 24).

Ah-ha! So now we get it, Mr. Mayor. We who live along the proposed rail corridor are invited to accept the urban sprawl, beginning in West Oahu where the problem originates. Construction and urbanization won’t affect East Oahu, Central Oahu, North Shore or the Windward side.

Those folks need not fear any such downgrade to their neighborhoods, though they will certainly be paying for it with increased taxation.   

Rail construction and urban sprawl should not be imposed on any neighborhood. Everybody knows there are better solutions.

Patricia Kowal
Aiea

Rail brings jobs and education

Life changed when my husband was laid off for months and we struggled as many Americans have. Jobs help our economy.

At the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, my husband’s new job is working on rail.

I’ve watched the morning news, stunned at the traffic from Waianae to downtown. In the past, it was an easy commute from Nanakuli to town. Not now.

To improve my skills, I go to Leeward Community College. The train would take students to other colleges. An economic key is education, and rail helps students thrive.

Rail is a job creator.

Bonnie Howland
Kahuku