Letters to the Editor
Mayor should revamp his recycling program
One has to wonder how much thought was put into the mayor's recycling program and about its cost. It seems to me that all he considered was cost. His solution only makes recycling more work.
If you are going to change something that has been accepted as normal, people will resist. If the mayor wants a successful program, he must realize that it will cost money.
The easiest solution would be for the city to purchase a recycling garbage can for everyone, a one-time cost to the city. In pushing the recycling program, he should emphasize that if the goal of 50 percent recycling is to be reached, then a second garbage pickup would not be needed since that 50 percent would be in the new recycling garbage can.
File Keliiaa
Wai'anae
We have right to know about Quackenbushes
The Advertiser has done a great public service by informing its readers about the past political career of former California insurance commissioner Chuck Quackenbush and his wife, Chris Quackenbush, a 1998 California state Senate candidate ("Politician looks for new life, new career in Hawai'i," April 15).
While the Quackenbushes have every right to become involved citizens in Hawai'i, the public has a right to be informed about the key persons involved with any important movement here, such as the central role Chris Quackenbush is playing in the quarantine issue.
As the Quackenbushes become knowledgeable about the local political scene, so should your readers become knowledgeable about the California political scene. This is especially true since this couple has become active locally.
Your readership should note that the California Republican Party has drifted so far to the right that the moderate former Republican mayor of Los Angeles, Richard Riordan, was denied the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2002. This occurred even though polls consistently showed that he would win in the general election.
George Casen
It's the citizens who want police substation
Your April 13 article "Legislator wants police station for E. Honolulu" was correct in many points, but it left out much of the story.
It is true that I have called for the mayor to "do the right thing" by giving priority to the 12-year-long promise of a police station before funding a $1.6 million traffic-calming project. However, your article failed to provide the scope of overwhelming community support my request has had. Rather than being a lone voice, I stand with a broad coalition of citizens concerned with the safety of our streets and neighborhoods.
The press conference you mentioned was attended by over 50 people. The good Sens. Slom and Hemmings were on hand to clarify that the mayor's plans will result in fewer lanes (more traffic), no parking (towed vehicles) and a potential safety hazard along Lunalilo Home Road.
Councilman Charles Djou assured us he was fighting to include the substation in the city budget. In fact, every single elected official in the area supports the police substation, the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board voted for it (the tree project failed), and hundreds of signatures have been collected via petition — all signifying that the people want the security of a law enforcement presence over a cumbersome monument in the road (a petition form can be obtained through my office; 586-6420).
Exorbitant beautification projects like Hanauma Bay ($16 million), the elephant pen ($15 million) and "traffic-calming" projects thrive, but crime is doubling in some areas of East Honolulu. For the people's sake, Mr. Mayor, spend the money on the police station.
Rep. Bud Stonebraker
R-17th (Hawai'i Kai, Kalama Valley)
City must address traffic mess in 'Ewa
There should be something done about the ridiculously hectic traffic in the 'Ewa district on Fort Weaver Road.
First, the city should build more lanes to prevent the congestion. Sometimes it takes more than 20 minutes or longer to leave the 'Ewa area. When one car is stalled, it creates a delay for everyone. We have tried leaving earlier, but it seems that traffic is worse; it's like spending the extra time waiting in the car, between traffic lights.
Second, families that have more than one vehicle should carpool rather than drive separate cars. It would really lessen the cars on the road and congestion.
Third, the builders should stop building more homes until the traffic solution is resolved. More homes will create more population and greater traffic.
Carnation Acoba
What happened to promise by Lingle?
One of Gov. Lingle's most popular campaign themes was her promise to restore integrity to government and to appoint citizens to government posts based on merit and ability, not on political connections. Her "zero tolerance" rhetoric resonated with the voters and convinced them that she would never resort to handing out jobs as political rewards for those who supported her campaign.
This is why I read the news of the governor's latest appointees for various government positions with great interest.
Kitty Lagareta: political adviser to the Lingle campaign and communications director for the Hawai'i GOP. Nominated to the UH Board of Regents.
Shelton Jim On: O'ahu finance chairman for the Lingle campaign. Nominated to the UH Board of Regents.
Edward Sultan: GOP volunteer and married to Rae McCorkle. Nominated to the UH Board of Regents.
Joelle Kane: married to Micah Kane, who was the former chairman of the Hawai'i GOP. Appointed to the Land Use Commission.
Miriam Hellreich: Hawai'i GOP national committeewoman. Nominated to the East-West Center Corporation's board of directors.
Philip Hellreich: husband of Miriam Hellreich and head of Lingle's selection committee for the director of health. Appointed to the Judicial Selection Committee.
So, my question to the governor is this: What happened to "zero tolerance"?
Jill N. Tokuda
Executive director, Democratic Party of Hawai'i
Military should pay vehicle registration
This letter is in response to topics that have come up recently in the Letters and Commentary section:
- If people feel the military should be treated as kama'aina, that's OK, but then they shouldn't be exempt from paying vehicle registration that the rest of us kama'aina have to pay. Since we as kama'aina don't have the privilege to shop in the commissary for cheaper food, why should they be exempt from paying vehicle registration? If the city charged the military vehicle registration fees like all the rest of us, maybe they wouldn't have to increase fees $10 per car.
- I don't think I should have to pay more on my vehicle registration to start up a fund for the medical response people. I have nothing against starting a fund for that, but if Hawai'i is not going to enforce a law stating that anyone who goes hiking, swimming, etc., and needs to be rescued doesn't have to pay for the services, then why should I as a taxpayer have to foot the bill for that? Just like we as taxpayers are footing the bill for welfare recipients' car insurance, which I think is wrong, since these people should be catching the bus.
I am not complaining, just trying to make a point that through hard work and struggle, people can make it in life if they try hard enough. Sometimes, it doesn't work out, and that's OK, but changes need to be made; nothing's impossible. Something my father instilled in all of us was, "No such thing as no can; CAN."
Cindy Au
Small business suffers rate increases more
Does anyone else notice that the rate increases are always geared toward small businesses? Why is it that there is never an across-the-board rate increase?
Seems a bit like discrimination toward small business, in favor of big "corporate" companies. Do we as small businesses have more claims, or are we a greater liability, or is it that we are just "easy pickings" because we don't have the backing of those who know how to fight, or don't have the funds to fight those powers that be?
Susan D. Hucklenbroich
Summit on tourism is a good first step
Regarding your April 9 editorial about the tourism summit ("Too much state policy is being made in secret"): We need to give this proposal a chance rather than prematurely crying foul.
We have a new administration in place, and it is important for it to fact-find in order to provide direction. The tourism summit is a good first step toward bringing the state together at a time when unity and leadership are solely needed.
While the issue may be that the summit is a closed-door session, it sets the context for more public direction because of the great need for candid discussion and dialogue. Public meetings and input will follow and are an essential part of the overall process once the initial dialogue has been initiated.
Gov. Lingle's leadership in bringing the different segments of Hawai'i's visitor industry together is not only necessary but welcomed. As a community, we just don't do enough to engage as many different groups in productive dialogue.
This is a good start. Can we please give new ideas a chance?
Rex D. Johnson
President and CEO, Hawai'i Tourism Authority
Mike McCartney
Chairman of the board, Hawai'i Tourism Authority
Building codes should allow recycled products
I wish to express my thanks for the wonderful recycling supplement in the April 6 Advertiser.
I hope it will be reprinted regularly to continue our green education and that it include Resource Recovery Ltd., which operates the county's only licensed concrete and asphalt recycling facility, where thousands of tons of waste are manufactured into aggregate that meets city, state and federal specifications.
As the founding soul of Hawaiian Earth Products, I've made organic recycling a household product. Our "Menehune Magic" has successfully closed the loop by marketing within our state.
Mayor Harris has finally delivered us into green bliss with his installation of source separation by the residents. Nationwide and global recycling practices such as source separation have been in place for decades. What took us so long?
Unfortunately, we are still missing a few important items. For instance, Honolulu still uses the 1984 edition of the Uniform Building Code, which does not include building green or the use of recycled products anywhere. State DOT has regulations in its specifications such as "virgin material only," and the Harbors Division has some that prohibit use of recycled products.
These provisions should have been updated years ago.
Stephen Swift
President, Resource Recovery Ltd.
Now is not the time to raise taxes in Hawai'i
The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, which represents 1,100 businesses and over 200,000 employees, opposes any increase in existing tax rates, imposition of new taxes, or repeal of tax cuts, as proposed by measures that would:
- Raise the general excise tax by 0.5 percentage point (HB 510).
- Permit counties to impose a 1 percent retail sales tax on tangible personal property (HB 1554).
- Repeal tax incentives for Hawai'i's high-technology industry (Part 3 of HB 1225).
The personal income tax reductions approved by the Legislature in 1998, along with recent excise tax reductions in 1999, which The Chamber strongly supported and worked for, is part of a total package that has started the process of economic recovery in Hawai'i. Unfortunately, this recovery has not yet taken effect for many small businesses. We strongly urge the Legislature not to reverse course now.
Moreover, we believe that Hawai'i's general fund tax system should continue to produce more than sufficient revenue to fund the allowable level of spending permitted under the constitutional general fund expenditure limitation. Although it took more than two years to implement the limitation, the constitutional mandate remains the will of the people.
This ceiling provides the opportunity for lawmakers to alleviate the high burden of taxes Hawai'i's citizens have borne over the last 25 years. Concern over the rising cost of government and the ever-spiraling level of taxes has led taxpayers to demand that a rein be placed on the growth of government in Hawai'i.
Because the tax system in Hawai'i is broad-based, it should continue to provide increased revenues to fund the controlled growth of state government. Government, like a business, needs to live within its means.
We cannot stress more strongly that now is not the time to increase or establish taxes nor repeal tax breaks. Due to the war in Iraq, periods of slow growth and our economic uncertainty, any such actions would be burdensome and detrimental for businesses in Hawai'i.
Jim Tollefson
President and CEO, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
