The state Department of Transportation’s decision to defer new highway projects for the next 20 years will have a negative impact on traffic congestion and the health of Hawaii’s construction industry.

Several Hawaii island projects — Waimea mini bypass, Saddle Road extension, Highway 130 widening — would be deferred, even though they would improve traffic flow and employ a large number of construction workers.

The decision to focus solely on safety and system preservation is shortsighted. A balance between preservation and adding capacity needs to be found. The state’s population will continue to increase, and new highways are needed.

To raise funds, the state should do away with the weight tax and replace it with a vehicle registration tax, based on the age of the vehicle. It also should increase the gasoline tax, and assess a fee on owners of hybrid/electric vehicles, who are not paying their fair share to use the highways.

Aaron Stene

Kailua-Kona

Change schedule for cool schools

Kudos to Julian Takabayashi, who promoted moving the school year start and end dates to keep the school kids out of the classroom during the hottest months (“Change schedule to help cool classes,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, July 11).

I’ve always thought this was an easy way to help the kids stay cool: Stay out of the classroom during the hottest months. We are already on a schedule that differs from other places around the country. Why not a school year that starts in mid-September and ends in June, rather than the end of July-May schedule they’re on now?

Jane Fee

Hawaii Kai

Family planning helps kids, too

Trained to practice pediatrics since 1956, I found that most of the troubled kids were coming from troubled families — broken families, single parents struggling with no fathers or mothers to care for them (“Hawaii Kids Count director helps improve life for low-income families,” Star-Advertiser, Name in the News, July 8).

Many families are struggling with problems of how to live in our prosperous world. Many families are challenged to feed, house and educate their kids.

In 1965, I became the director of the student health service for our University of Hawaii. I soon became aware of the serious problem of unwanted pregnancies. Fortunately, the graduating class of 1970 offered its class gift of $3,500 to initiate family planning services for our clinic on campus.

With active involvement in health care activities throughout our state, I have become concerned that many of our regulations and laws are too narrowly written. Too often, personal or political motivations are involved. We need to better serve and protect our families.

Donald F.B. Char

Kuliouou

Raise taxes on some real estate

There are cost-effective ways to moderate the exploding real estate prices in Hawaii.

Heavily tax foreign ownership. It is difficult for me to advocate taxes, but it is painfully obvious that in Hawaii, where land and resources are limited, the forces of supply and demand work against local would-be homeowners and families.

In addition to heavily taxing foreign ownership, non-owner-occupied real estate should be heavily taxed as well. Reduce property tax progressively for Hawaii citizens who own residential property.

Enforce laws against transient rentals. Thousands of homes formerly rented to local families are now high-priced transient rentals. Transient rentals drive up residential costs as well as reduce housing inventory.

The solutions to many of Hawaii’s problems can be obtained by political leadership. The citizens of Hawaii keep voting for a one-political-party monopoly and suffering the results. Please think about it.

Fred Hemmings

Kaneohe

Nation needs unifying leader

The latest and most deadly shootings and deaths of police officers in Dallas sadden us all.

But this latest assault probably will not result in better gun legislation.

There have been elaborate and heartfelt celebrations of the lives of the deceased police officers and of the deceased African-American men killed by police. People mourn and pray. Some people forgive, some will never forget. Perhaps local governments will develop better oversight; perhaps there will be more funding for police training and education.

These are sad and perilous times, and looking at the presidential contenders is not reassuring. The upcoming election is not a time to elect a president whose rhetoric polarizes our diverse population. The country is desperately in need of a president and a Congress willing to intelligently develop strategies to solve our problems, and then work together to achieve results. Donald Trump is not that person. “Walls” will not a safer or more peaceful country make.

Constance Oliva

Kailua

Hawaii County police exemplary

Regarding your editorial urging police to strengthen ties with the community (“Strengthen ties between police, public,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, July 9): Please note that Hawaii County Police Department has been doing just that for quite a while.

Community policing officers walk and drive through downtown areas, especially here in Kailua-Kona where we have many visitors and also a fair number of seemingly homeless people. They take real care in getting to know the merchants, visitors and local people downtown.

The Hawaii County Police Department regularly conducts police-community meetings, where citizens are free to come and speak their minds to the police brass. Right now, the department has once again started conducting active-shooter briefings so people will know how best to respond if they are ever in a public space where somebody starts shooting.

The department also has a great web page, hawaiipolice.com. Hawaii County police officers really are doing many of the things you suggest, and for this, they deserve recognition.

Jay B. Kopelman

Kailua-Kona

Don’t confront police officers

In probably 98 percent of officer-involved shootings, the victims forced a confrontation with the police by not listening to the officer’s requests or demands.

Having been a Honolulu police officer for 27 years, I witnessed the deteriorating respect that some citizens had for police officers. Remember, the thin blue line of officers on patrol is the last defense we have against those who want to steal from and hurt others.

When confronted by an officer, just listen and do as he or she says, even if you don’t like what the officer is saying or you think he is wrong. If others are around, ask them to be your witness; then if you feel so inclined, get an attorney and file a complaint against the officer and department.

We in Honolulu have a highly trained and honorable police department. Instead of seeking a dangerous confrontation, let the officer do his job.

Gregory A. Poole

Mililani