Letters to the Editor
Democrats have run schools into ground
For eight years we had Ariyoshi (Democrat). He left us with a half-billion-dollar surplus (good). But he left the schools in terrible shape (bad).
Then for eight years we got Waihe'e (Democrat). He spent all the surplus, plus some (bad). The schools went to pot even further (bad).
Then for another eight years we have Cayetano (Democrat). We are further in debt (bad). And guess what? The schools are still in bad shape (bad).
Get the picture? They have money for everything else, but not for the future of Hawai'i.
Now all the Democrats who are running for office are telling you that things will change. They really want you to believe they will do something. Hello! Guess what? They have been the problem for the past 24 years. What makes this year different from the rest?
Unless all of you can afford to send your children to private schools, it's time to make a change (good). So stop and think when you vote this year. Do we want the same? No. It's time to change (good). Do something for the future of our children and vote Republican (good).
Helen L. Kekuna
Mililani
Anderson's gambling proposal bad for state
As a voter, I am terribly disappointed with Andy Anderson. I had hoped that maybe a businessman as governor would be good for the state. Then Anderson creates an ad and makes public statements in which he indicates he is for legalized gambling in the form of a lottery.
Anderson said, "I believe our children are far more important than putting my big toe into the gambling question." What does he think a state-operated lottery is but legalized gambling?
The gambling addiction rate among adolescents is twice that of adults. "Gambling is festering in every high school and is near epidemic proportions on college campuses," stated Ed Looney, executive director of the New Jersey Council on Compulsive Gambling.
Is Anderson really thinking of the children?
He justifies his position with how much money would result in income to the state. He quoted figures from the National Association of State Lotteries. That same report showed New Jersey, the state Anderson ranked so highly, actually had a decrease in lottery income last year.
Furthermore, he did not tell us about the many social costs to the state consequential to legalized gambling. In fact, there is a legislative mandate that requires at least $600,000 per fiscal year by the state to fund the New Jersey Council on Compulsive Gambling.
The state of Hawai'i has no services for compulsive gamblers.
How can a businessman who has said "I can read a budget and a balance sheet" read just the profit and not the loss side of the ledger?
M.K. Hood
Anderson proposal on education is bold
The Aug. 11 article by Lynda Arakawa and Kevin Dayton on the education agenda of the Democratic candidates for governor was informative and timely. However, the article and the comments made by Dean Hitz and Dr. Paul LeMahieu missed the point with regard to the appointed school board proposed by candidate Andy Anderson.
Most school districts in the U.S. are autonomous and are given taxing authority to produce funds to operate the school system. There is built-in accountability for an elected school board in such an arrangement.
Hawai'i is unique in having a statewide Department of Education, which is funded by the general tax revenues of the state. In Hawai'i, the Legislature, not the school board, is responsible for providing the needed education funds.
Further, the governor exercises administrative control over such essential activities of the DOE as the budget, legal representation, school construction, facilities maintenance, accounting and payroll, labor negotiations, etc.
Public education in Hawai'i is a three-headed creature, and the weakest of the three is the elected school board.
Anderson's proposal is to amend the Constitution to place the DOE under the governor with a Board of Education appointed by the governor. The "education buck" will stop at his desk. The governor can be held accountable for the state of education in Hawai'i; the current Board of Education cannot. Education can have no stronger leader, fully accountable to the people, than the governor of the state.
Like some of the other proposals by Andy, it is a very controversial proposal. It addresses the issues that cripple our public school system. It is solution-oriented. It is bold. It is hardly a "feel good" proposal lacking in substance.
Fujio Matsuda
Chairman, ANDY2002
No more studies, no more politicking
Has anyone noticed that every time an election is close there is talk about a new prison?
But we are always told that no decision will be made until after the election — after another $250,000-plus environmental impact study is done — and then the story is dead until the next election.
With all the money spent over the past years for environmental impact studies on the Big Island, we could have already paid for a new prison.
Let's hold those in the Senate and House who voted "no" accountable this year and remove them.
Ronald L. Edmiston
Politician's response was not acceptable
On Aug. 9 at approximately 5:15 in the afternoon, I was traveling 'ewa on Wyllie Street in the Pu'unui area when I observed Rod Tam (who is running for a spot in the City Council) at the intersection of Liliha and Wyllie streets waving at motorists along with two or three other supporters who were also waving, each standing at different corners of the same intersection.
I pulled over next to Mr. Tam and advised him that waving at motorists at intersections is not a good idea because it only takes one person to become distracted, and that can cause an accident. He responded with a right shoulder shrug, made a dismissing gesture with his mouth and stated, "That's OK, have a good evening."
Really? What is OK? His disregard for public safety? Or was he trying to dismiss me?
Bob Ruiz
No more deaths; install traffic light
For many years, residents and motorists from 'Ewa Beach were uneasy observing the pedestrians, mostly young people unaided by any traffic-control device, traverse the Fort Weaver Road hill crest crosswalk at the Child and Family Service Center. Unfortunately, it took the death of a teenager on July 9 for the members of the 'Ewa Neighborhood Board, at their Aug. 8 meeting, to unanimously vote to endorse a pedestrian-activated traffic light at that location.
The state Department of Transportation is reluctant to install a light because of "the low number of pedestrians." However, this is a flawed excuse, as other factors were not considered, i.e., hill crest location, increased traffic volume brought on by more development, bus stops servicing the area, distance to other crosswalks, etc.
To add insult to injury (or death), our area representative remains determined not to request funding for this needed but politically unpopular traffic light and prefers to toy with the idea of an overpass, underpass or flashing lights. Yet lives are jeopardized daily.
Citizens don't have to wait for what our representative's political desires are. There is a $250,000 appropriation awaiting Gov. Caye-tano's approval for a convenience traffic light to be installed at Kunia Road and Honowai Street, so Sen. Cal Kawamoto, a Harbor View resident, can cross Kunia Road to proceed West on H-1 without having to merge from Waipahu Street.
Residents of 'Ewa Beach, call the governor and demand that those 250,000 of our tax dollars be spent on a pedestrian traffic light at Fort Weaver Road at the Child and Family Service Center. A few of our collective minutes will save lives.
Earl Arakaki
'Ewa Beach
Never-ending cycle of renovation loomed
We deeply appreciate the positive coverage given by The Advertiser to the work at Washington Place. The decision to construct a new residence annex was made for the reasons of historical appropriateness, practicality and public access mentioned in your story, but there were also other reasons of great importance.
Our primary concern was the survival of the historic fabric of Washington Place. For the second floor of the home to continue to serve as a safe and comfortable residence, it would have been necessary for a cycle of major renovation to begin immediately. Each renovation would have eventually needed to be redone. Some procedures, like the replacement of leaky bathtubs and piping improperly set in concrete 80 years ago, could have had serious negative impact on the stability of so old a house.
The costs of this never-ending cycle of renovation would have far exceeded that of the new residence annex and would, of course, have fallen upon the taxpayer.
I also want to acknowledge Gov. Cayetano's vision in defining a worthy future for Washington Place, a goal he articulated to the people of Hawai'i in 1994.
Jim Bartels
Director, Washington Place
So where's the effort to catch this dog?
The Humane Society, a charitable, nonprofit organization, was paid $1,636,775 as the contractor for animal care and control services by the city during the fiscal year ending June 30.
Recently, I and several neighbors have called the Humane Society on a nearly daily basis for five weeks about a large loose dog wandering around Maunawili Estates. This dog created a public nuisance, defecating on yards, creating much barking by properly leashed and tied-up dogs it approached, and causing a traffic hazard in roaming the streets. Indeed, it nearly caused an accident.
As a taxpayer whose tax money goes to support the Humane Society, I would like to see my money spent in a more efficient and timely manner.
Carol Ann Ellett
Maunawili
Advertisers' messages inappropriate for kids
Recently my 11-year-old son and I watched a TV commercial showing an unhappy woman using a computer to enact voodoo mayhem on her ex-husband. We made a game out of watching commercials to discover what was really being sold. Sex, violence and dark humor sell nearly everything; and, our children are targets.
Advertisers and the companies that employ them are becoming rich but not accountable. Inappropriate previews of upcoming shows are aired during children viewing time. As adults, we need to turn off the television and stop buying products from companies that are not responsible with how they sell.
America became great because imperfect individuals came together with high ideals to establish the character of our country. Many role models today exude avarice, sneakiness, irresponsible sexuality, dishonesty, rudeness, selfishness, etc. These role models are in government, media, business, church and schools.
I am trying to teach my son to read between the lines, to think and reason. I feel embarrassed when I have to say to him, "I don't know why they put that on TV; it is not appropriate." He knows adults should know better.
Cheryl Gray
Condo owners knew about lease provisions
I am incensed by those apartment and condo owners who are pushing for leasehold conversion of the land that sits under their building.
Do you think the landowners are being unfair and unreasonable in exercising their right of ownership? Have you forgotten that when you purchased your unit, the terms were clearly spelled out to you in writing? Have you also considered that your actions will hurt beneficiaries of Hawaiian trust lands, robbing them of future income because the source of the income is from leased land? Are you aware that many of these beneficiaries don't even own a home or any parcel of land at all?
Who's being unfair and unreasonable now? This is an issue about moral uprightness versus selfishness. Choose wisely.
Miles A.P. Kahaloa
Nu'uanu accident was not 'an act of God'
Fire Capt. Richard Soo's comment on the Nu'uanu woman who was crushed and died upset me very much. I have never written to a newspaper before, but after reading his quote ("I just think this is a freak accident, an act of God"), I had to express how I felt.
For years, when any disaster or bad thing happens, right away we humans blame God. We say, "How terrible God allowed this to happen" or "Where was God when this horrible thing happened?"
Mr. Soo, you must realize this. God is not our enemy. God loves us the same way parents love their children. God didn't plan this accident that killed a 27-year-old woman. God is kind and only does good things for his children.
Please take back your words, "an act of God," and replace them with "it was an act of nature."
Haruko Tsukayama
Tuna farmers should sell to local market
An Aug. 9 article mentioned that Ahi Nui Tuna Farming on the Big Island is seeking 200-acre ocean leases so it can begin catching juvenile bigeye and yellowfin tuna to raise in special net cages until they double or triple in size. The adult ahi would then be exported, primarily to Japan where it recently sold for $14 to $27 a pound.
Ocean farming of ahi and other types of fish is good for our economy, but since these private companies would be using resources surrounding our Hawaiian Islands, our state government should require these companies to sell no less than 30 percent of the finished product to the Hawai'i market.
Wilbert Wong
