Heinous acts need different treatment

I appreciate the photo published on Jan. 16 and the acknowledgement of our bill, which we are calling "Joel’s Law."

However, I would like to clarify that the bill specifically asks lawmakers to "elevate to first-degree murder the act of intentionally or knowingly killing a person in an especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel manner, manifesting exceptional depravity."

Currently, Hawaii is only one of several states that does not consider "heinous, atrocious acts" (e.g. execution, dismemberment, strangulation, etc.) under first-degree murder.

This bill was initiated after my son, Joel Botelho, a Castle High School graduate and all-star athlete, was executed after he was ordered by the shooter to get on his knees and beg for his life.

The medical examiner concluded that Joel was on his knees at the time of his death. Joel died instantly on Jan 2, 2011, one day after he celebrated his 27th birthday.

Nonohe Botelho
Kaneohe

Kakaako waterfront not place for library

Having the Obama presidential library on Oahu makes good cultural and economic sense for our visitor-dependent economy.

However, placing the large facility on prime waterfront park land would be a big loss for residents and visitors alike.

Additionally, there is the likelihood that the proposed Hawaii site will be under water in a few decades as the ocean continues to rise due to climate change.

There must be some more appropriate location on Oahu.

Duane and Sarah Preble
Manoa

People can adapt to plastic bag ban

Rwanda.

Who can forget the name of this tiny landlocked country in the middle of the African continent following the horrific genocide there in 1994?

Despite being in long-term recovery, Rwanda banned plastic bags in 2008. It joined many countries around the world in this enlightened step to reduce an enormous and deadly hazard to wildlife on land and in the sea, remove a great deal of plastic from waste systems, and reclaim landscapes and views from the blight of blowing plastic bags.

In many countries that have banned plastic bags, customers who do not bring their own cloth or reusable bags must pay for the bags the grocery store provides.

People who bring their own obviously don’t have to pay. This seems a fair way to cover the costs of the bags the grocery stores provide.

The ban on plastic bags here only affects the ones used to carry groceries out of the store. I’m sure we could adapt to the change.

Susan Salm
Kailua

Keystone pipeline will enrich a few

Gary Johnson’s letter in support of the Keystone pipeline reads like a press release from an energy industry organization ("Keystone benefits U.S. and its ally," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 13).

It recites the same time-worn assertions that have been uniformly discredited by scientists and economists who are not feeding at the trough of the petroleum industry.

The pipeline will greatly enrich a few at the eventual expense of the many. Potential environmental consequences do not justify the minimal gain, if indeed, there were to be any.

I hope there are enough members in the Senate who can forego the campaign contributions from the energy industry to sustain President Barack Obama’s veto.

Steve Graner
Kailua

Gambling will make debut here on Lanai

Gambling in Hawaii will start in Lanai.

My prediction takes into account that Lanai is located in the middle of the Hawaiian chain, which is in the middle of the

Pacific Ocean Rim of countries with visitors who have money to gamble.

Several reasons could make this happen:

» One owner controls 92 percent of Lanai;

» The Honolulu Police Department has no jurisdiction over Lanai;

» The state House speaker is from Maui and supports gambling.

» Lanai’s owner also owns Island Air and the ferry from Lahaina.

One-day round trips by sea or air would keep gambling addicts and the homeless out. If the casinos operated between 6 a.m. and midnight, there would be no need for many large hotels in this small island.

Raymond A. Apana
Aina Haina

Rail proponent relied on straw men

Gordon Wolfe sets up so many straw men I worried the paper would spontaneously burst into flames ("Anti-rail crowd being unrealistic," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 7).

» "You can’t build a huge rail system on a profit."

» "The Portland, Ore. (light rail) is the darling of … the nation."

» "We simply do not have a large enough island to handle all the traffic."

No one except Wolfe has ever confused the rail project with "profit." This is not an at-grade light rail project and it will not reduce traffic congestion.

Wolfe rejects financial accountability for huge overruns and helpfully advises, "Let’s close our mouths, open our pocketbooks and pay."

I prefer a more thoughtful approach to traffic congestion. Improve the bus, optimize traffic light synchronization and consider at-grade light rail.

And let’s adopt the quickly maturing autonomous driving technology (ADT) to slash commuting times.

Create an ADT research and manufacturing center at UH West Oahu and begin enjoying your commute.

Mark Torreano
Waikiki