Richard Borreca described how state Sen. Will Espero is taking on the cops to try and straighten out county police forces (“Police transparency gaining momentum as political issue,” Star-Advertiser, On Politics, Feb. 12).
Espero needs to be reminded that he has no authority over the Honolulu Police Department, as it is overseen by the civilian police commission.
What Espero does have authority over is the correctional system of the state Department of Public Safety.
Corrections officers have violated laws by smuggling drugs and cellphones into prison.
They have caused cancellations of family visitations due to excessive sick calls.
Cleaning house might be a good idea, but I suggest Espero start where he already is allowed — state corrections.
Leave the HPD to continue the fine work it always has done.
Garry P. Smith
Ewa Beach
Lotteries affect poor folks most
I disagree with a recent letter supporting lotteries (“Lotteries would be win-win for Hawaii,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Feb. 15).
My biggest objection is that the poor and less educated spend a much larger proportion of their income on tickets than the rich.
It’s certainly not a “win” for our disadvantaged citizens.
People who fly to Las Vegas do so to bet on the craps, dice, poker and slots.
When was the last time you heard of anyone flying up there to buy a lottery ticket?
Linda Carlson
Palolo Valley
Lanikai is not a gated community
Our politicians need to be reminded that Lanikai is not a gated community.
Its streets are public and paid for by all of our taxes (“Police issue flurry of citations during Lanikai parking ban,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, Feb. 17).
For 30-plus years, I have kayaked in Lanikai, which means I have to park somewhere.
The mayor’s solution to his parking ban is TheBus?
Do I use the bus bike rack to haul my kayak?
Absurd.
Parking in Lanikai is an old issue that has gotten worse as beach homes are replaced by mega-mansions.
Many Lanikai residents have tried to prevent parking by placing obstructions (boulders, trees) in the public access areas.
When Frank Fasi was mayor, he quickly dealt with these offenders by issuing citations.
Sadly, every subsequent mayor has ignored these violators.
If Lanikai residents want exclusivity, then they need to stop using our taxes to maintain their roads.
Let them alone pay for the gated community that they seem to want.
Stephen T. Molnar
Kailua
Windward road is disappearing
Once again, a section of Kamehameha Highway has fallen into the ocean in Kaaawa.
I and many other residents from Kualoa Ranch north to Haleiwa would like to know what the long-term plan is for the highway that connects Kaneohe to Haleiwa.
How can there be plans for the expansion of Turtle Bay and possibly Laie when it’s pretty clear that there may only be one way to get there in the next 20 years?
Has anyone noticed that Punaluu Beach Park is disappearing?
Maybe the proposed ferry service should be on the Windward side, with boarding stations at Laie, Hauula, Kahana Bay and Kaneohe.
Whatever the plan, we’d better start soon or else get into shape for riding a bicycle to wherever you park your car at The End of the Road.
Henry Holthaus
Hauula
Let next president replace Scalia
Chuck Prentiss’s letter is simply incorrect (“Obama should nominate justice,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 17).
The president is, indeed, bound by the Constitution to make such a nomination, and President Barack Obama correctly said that there is no constitutional grounds for a Senate refusal to vote on the nominee.
But it is also true that there is no constitutional imperative requiring such a vote.
The only constitutionally specified Senate duty is to consider such nominee, and in this instance, I’d bet that there will be substantial and time-consuming consideration.
Prentiss’s implication that the political leanings of a nominee are of no consequence, or will have no impact on our country, is naive at best.
The bottom line is that it is not only prudent, but proper for the Senate to allow the next president to fill Antonin Scalia’s seat.
Jim Wolery
Kaneohe
