Does the Star-Advertiser editorial board understand the concept of innocent until proven guilty (“Police commission rating of Kealoha seems incomplete,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, March 14)? Apparently not.
Although the editorial commented that the Honolulu Police Commission hires and fires the police chief, it failed to speculate as to why the commission has not fired Chief Louis Kealoha.
Honolulu is one of the safest cities for its size. The commission knows the current HPD chief is largely responsible for that.
Ray Downing
Kailua
Enforce laws against illegal home rentals
We are supposed to be a government of laws, yet the proposed Senate Bill 2693 and House Bill 1850 would interfere with the detection and suppression of illegal rentals and marketing.
They would tax illegal rentals, shield law-breaking landlords and allow accessory advertisers to violate Hawaii laws.
Legislators may be tempted to tax illegal rentals to grow state revenue, but is this right?
Do we tax other illegal commercial activities, such as prostitution, drug labs, gambling, poaching, child labor, and shield their marketers to increase the state treasury?
Instead of bills like SB 2693 and HB 1850 that legitimize scofflaws and shield illegal commerce, we expect elected officials to uphold the rule of law. They should enforce zoning laws that preserve residential neighborhoods, and protect tourists from illegal and unenforceable rental contracts.
Deborah Wood
Kailua
U.S. democracy not very democratic
This election cycle is showing me that democracy in the U.S. is not very democratic.
Establishment Republicans are talking about a brokered convention because they don’t like the nominee that most of the people — the “demos” of democracy — are voting for.
The Democrats have superdelegates who can nullify thousands of votes if the Democratic establishment doesn’t approve of the people’s nominee.
It is also psychologically discouraging to potential voters because the addition of the super- delegates makes the establishment’s candidate lead look insurmountable.
To top it off, we have the Electoral College, which is an antiquated system that could result in a candidate with the most votes not winning.
Judith Pettibone
Makiki
Second engine might have averted crash
About a decade ago, the Federal Aviation Administration began allowing air taxis like Makani Kai and Mokulele to use single-engine Cessna 208 aircraft to fly passengers on over-water routes. Previous to that, multi-engine aircraft were used.
In the event of engine failure, the FAA requires that the aircraft be able to “glide to land.”
This means that the altitude of the aircraft would determine how far away from land it could legally be.
When the FAA completes its accident report on the Kalaupapa crash in December 2013, the issue of only one engine probably won’t be listed as a cause of the accident.
It’s likely that the crash might not have happened had there been a second engine to fall back on.
Moses Akana
Aiea
Police not catching illegal cars, drivers
Drive on the freeways after the rush-hour traffic clears out and you will likely encounter speed traps.
Take a look at the cars that get pulled over. Most of them are in decent shape, probably have insurance and current tags, and the driver will likely pay the ticket rather than miss work to contest it.
At night, when the riders come out with their mopeds and dirt bikes with no mufflers, no license and no insurance, there isn’t a police car to be seen.
Drive around the North Shore and see all the cars with no current safety inspections or registration.
See the four-wheelers terrorizing joggers on the bike path.
See and hear the motorcycle riders annoying the people who actually work for a living and want to sleep in peace through the night.
How can there be so many police officers available during the day, but none to work on quality-of-life issues for those who pay their salaries?
Leon Sollenberger
Haleiwa
Republicans are own worst enemy
What is going on in politics?
If the Republicans had spent nearly as much time and energy trying to defeat President Barack Obama in 2012 as they have spent trying to defeat Donald Trump, nominally one of their own, in 2016, I’ll bet we would have had a President Mitt Romney seeking a second term.
Go figure! This is why we lose.
Gordon Fowler
Aiea
Hawaii Symphony fulfilled a life goal
One of my goals in life was to attend a symphony, so while visiting Hawaii, I saw in the newspaper reasonable ticket prices to the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra’s “Gardens of Spain.”
Beautiful music, nice facilities; it was a magical experience.
Holly Du Frane
Fond du Lac, Wis.
People who feed feral cats are selfish
I’m tired of seeing people old enough to know better feeding feral cats and birds.
It’s not difficult to understand that these animals carry disease and filth. Also, they are not starving or close to extinction.
Those who feed feral animals do so for their own selfish insecurities. They should get their own pets and take responsibility for their food, shelter and offspring. Problem solved.
Linval Kingston
Tantalus
