Now that we all have reaped huge gains on residential and other properties, according to recent city appraisals (“Movin’ on up,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 14), it’s up to City Council members to make a decision. Will they absorb this windfall and spend it, or will they act responsibly to their constituents and call for a freeze on property tax increases?

Should they decide to take the money and lavish it on the city employees, Waikiki Natatorium restoration and Neal S. Blaisdell renovations, it will increase Honolulu citizens’ misery.

Increasing property taxes takes money right out of the hands of Honolulu families, both homeowners and renters.

It increases the cost of all products made or consumed on Oahu.

It increases the cost of living for all residents. The City Council needs to let all the voters know where it stands. Is it with the citizens or against us?

Garry P. Smith

Ewa Beach

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Hirono’s language lacked decorum

So now our U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono has entered the Washington swamp and called our president, Donald Trump, a liar (“Hirono calls Trump a ‘liar’ who should resign,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, Dec. 12).

This type of language is unbefitting a senator from Hawaii and goes against the decorum of the office she occupies. What we don’t hear from Hirono is meaningful legislation being passed that would benefit the citizens of our state whom she represents, on such issues as homelessness, affordable housing, education and traffic.

I wonder if Hirono would use the same language toward Bill or Hillary Clinton, both proven liars, or if she would call former U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who also faced sexual assault allegations during an election, a sexual predator. Or is the name-calling reserved for the opposite party only?

Gary Daniels

Kailua

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Americans must fight to preserve country

All my fellow Americans, wake up! Is this all it takes to bring to ruin our 240-year inheritance of democracy, and the respect of the entire world?

Is our grip on the American experiment so tenuous that we may well lose it to a band of thugs so craven, so willing to tell the smallest lies in support of their big lies, so obviously corrupt and conflicted that the stated aim of their “public service” is to destroy the very institutions they are supposed to lead? Where are our steely spines, our heroic stands against evil, our acts of American patriotism?

Our political leaders need to hear from us that it’s OK to fight back, to stop trying to explain this travesty in rational terms and call it out for what it is: a systemic and coordinated attack on our country and everything it has always stood for.

We don’t really have much time.

Look how much damage has been done in only 10 months, after 12 generations of the evolving American ideal.

Richard Nemoytin

Mililani

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Punish NFL players for injury-causing hits

During this NFL season, football fans have been fed a continuous serving of intentional violence on the field that seems to be an effort by teams to put out of action their opponent’s star performers.

Weekly we see thuggish illegal hits followed by a time out while the medics tend to a downed player, followed by watching him being carted off to the locker room or a first-aid room.

How to stop it?

Easy: Any time an illegal hit is made that takes a player out, make the offending player ineligible to play for as long as his victim cannot play.

If the hurt player is out for the rest of the season, or his career is over, this should be the fate of the offender.

Bob Stengle

Aina Haina

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Build UH fan base with cheap tickets

With some NFL tickets selling for as little as $3 to attract fans, why are we asking full price for University of Hawaii football?

Instead of selling just one $30 ticket, I’d rather sell two for $40 and make it up at the concession stands. Sell the less-attractive tickets for $3 and discount all the premium tickets. Give tickets to high school kids for a buck. That’s OK because empty seats do not generate ticket or refreshment revenue.

We need to build our UH fan base again. Start with high school kids so they come when they are students at UH. That’s how you are going to drive refreshment sales — with people in the stadium. More importantly, you will have fans for our team.

If you want Hawaii to win, it needs the “12th Man” on the field. The Warriors can’t hear fans cheering from their living room couches. We need them at Aloha Stadium!

Scot Shimamura

Wilhelmina Rise

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Last-place finisher was still victorious

If anyone had the passion to go for the gusto, it was 81-year-old Honolulu Marathon participant Ayako Hayashi of Japan (“Last person to finish marathon makes friends along the way,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 12).

Not only did Hayashi complete the 2017 marathon in 16 hours, 23 minutes and 9 seconds, but another remarkable thing happened along the way — she made friends.

The few who came to Hayashi’s aid are prime examples of what having the aloha spirit means.

Everyone, including those who greeted her after she crossed the finish line, made her feel like a star, said Hayashi. And she felt this way because of the aloha spirit.

Although Hayashi finished in last place, in my eyes she will always be victorious because she never gave up.

As it is said in Japanese: Yoku yatta, Hayashi-san, which means good job, Hayashi.

Alexis M. Liftee

Nuuanu