HCDA threshold for buyers is too high

The Hawaii Community Development Authority has prepared a 20-page response to public concerns about Kakaako development plans and pending projects.

The HCDA was asked why it restricts sales to households at the median income of $86,300 when the national definition of "workforce housing" means housing for "essential workers" like police officers (average pay $57,000), licensed practical nurses ($45,000) and retail salespersons ($25,700).

HCDA’s response. "Typically single person households such as you describe do not purchase housing. They rent. It is more usual for two income households to purchase housing."

I live in a condo. We have many owner occupants in single-person households. Men and women.

The HCDA response is both insulting and shows their ignorance of reality. In addition, many singles, men and women, also buy houses.

The HCDA must lower the median income level and welcome "essential workers" to the owner housing list. That lacking, we are dealing with a sham.

Lynne Matusow
Downtown Honolulu

Doctor shortage due to Medicare payments

Hamid Jahanmir asked if somebody could do anything about the doctor shortage in Hawaii ("What we need is more doctors," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 2).

Sad to say, no. But why?

Health care is a market of goods and services that responds to the law of supply and demand like any other market.

In an attempt to slow down the growth of medical expenses, Congress in the 1990s passed the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula that determines Medicare payments. Each year, the SGR has dictated a cut in physician payments. Although Congress has threatened to institute cuts, at the last minute it has frozen payment amounts or passed a tiny increase. As a result, physician payments over the past decade have eroded by more than 25 percent due to inflation. To make matters worse, private insurance companies pile on and use the Medicare fee schedule as well.

When prices for goods and services fall, supply of those goods and services fall as well. That is why the supply of American physicians will definitely fall.

Rhoads E. Stevens, M.D.
Hawaii Kai

Yes, private entities can run public parks

"Should private entities operate public parks?" (Star-Advertiser, Off the News, Oct. 3).

Absolutely. Park administration by private entities can be far more efficient and cost-effective.

Of course, supervision is still required, but it is far less costly to supervise the operation of three parks at once than to actually operate three parks at the same time.

This is not to say that it fits in every case, but where it can be done you will find, like the Grand Canyon tours, that private companies will take far better care of the resource, since they are dependent on customer reaction to equipment condition, fair prices and guided access that can minimize impact and give them the responsibility to maintain the park in its natural environment.

They have an incentive to do so anyway, to encourage repeat customers. Plus, the loss of an employee does not relieve the compa- ny of its responsibilities — not to mention that during government shutdowns, parks can remain open.

Tim Lyons
Executive director, Ocean Tourism Coalition

Consult teachers more to improve schools

The recent article "Here are some ways to improve our public schools" was spot-on in its recommendations ("Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Oct. 2).

Yes, a survey of the teachers will generate critical issues.

In 2003, I took a sabbatical with the state Department of Education and the University of Hawaii and focused on classroom behavioral problems in 19 Central District elementary schools. This resulted in 564 surveys being returned by teachers and staff. The entire report was shared with the district superintendent and the principals at all the schools.

From the discussion section of my report: "… 61 percent of the regular education teachers, 53 percent of the special education teachers, and 42 percent of the others consider behavioral problems at least a moderate problem or greater."

Smaller class size and more parental involvement also were changes the teachers felt would be most helpful.

Asking the teachers about problems and following through on their concerns would be most effective in improving Hawaii’s public schools.

Jim Wolfe
Nuuanu

Spending has put U.S. in a sorry state

The U.S.A. is in a sorry state of affairs. The federal government for decades has done nothing but increase the debt ceiling. Politicians have done nothing but see to their personal interests and the vote- winning policies of spend, spend, spend.

It’s all about spending to keep the country in a rat race, both domestically and internationally.

The spending goes on, leaving future generations to deal with the accumulated debt. There is a tacit agreement among politicians that you blame the one who preceded you — thus no responsibility among our leaders.

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers were told not to turn up for work. Doesthat mean these people staff nonessential departments? Why does the federal government have nonessential departments?

Gary Pardy
Haleiwa

Obamacare affirmed by rebuff of Romney

During the 2012 presidential campaign, Mitt Romney said that if elected president, he would repeal the Affordable Care Act. The voters rejected his rhetoric by re-electing President Barack Obama.

However, the result of that election did not matter to the Republicans as they continue to pursue their misguided mission to destroy Obamacare by shutting down the government.

Economists have warned that shutting down the government will seriously harm the economy and aggravate the financial miseries of millions of Americans.

Obamacare will be a lifesaver for millions of uninsured Americans, and to deny them this lifeline because Republicans do not like it is cruel.

I hope Republicans will find a path toward compromise and join others in the search for a sensible solution and move the country forward.

Rod B. Catiggay
Mililani

UH smoking ban has no rational basis

It is a sad day when highly educated people celebrate institutionalized discrimination.

The planned smoking ban at the University of Hawaii at Manoa ("UH-Manoa kicks butts," Star Advertiser, Oct. 3) has nothing to do with second-hand smoke.

This was made clear by the inclusion of e-cigarettes in the ban, a device that does not emit smoke.

Moreover, there is not a shred of credible evidence that outdoor tobacco smoke harms anyone.

The ban also does not reflect a health-promotion campaign on campus, as the article suggested. Otherwise, there would be a ban on high-fat, high-salt, low-fiber food like spam musubi, and people would have to leave campus to enjoy what they like to eat.

What is this unleashed hatred for a minority group about?

Why the lack of tolerance of individual differences at a university, of all places?

Who is next to be excluded from campus?

Elaine M. Heiby
Moiliili