Letters to the Editor

Cataluna's column on foul language offensive

The bad thing is that someone who gets paid for giving her opinion (whether people agree with her or not) is celebrating that someone else was removed from the airwaves for giving theirs.

I agree with Lee Cataluna that the dialogue between the two radio hosts of "Loveline" ("KPOI, listeners cry foul," Dec. 23) was offensive to some, highlighted their ignorance on the subject, and simply was not very funny or clever. I feel the same about some of Cataluna's columns, yet I have never called The Advertiser demanding her column's removal.

The sad thing is this: Cataluna's column, with a verbatim transcript of the offensive dialogue, spread that garbage to more people than those who heard it on the radio in the first place. Should her column now be discontinued for spreading such insults?

To close her column, Cataluna triumphantly stated that since the program has been pulled from the air, " ... Hawai'i just doesn't have to listen." Wrong. Hawai'i doesn't even have the choice any longer, thank you very much.

The good thing is ... ?

City Council caved in on police pay increase

The city administration acted irresponsibly by being unwilling to carry out its proper budget and finance responsibilities with regard to police pay. Instead, the mayor tossed the vehicle weight/police pay issue to the City Council for a yes or no vote — no options.

Councilman Rod Tam is correct in calling the Harris administration "dysfunctional" when it comes to finances. The administration testimony presented at the hearing was pathetic, and the council not only let it get away with such sad testimony, but it passed the bill, to the delight of the mayor. Its actions prove the wisdom of the mayor's strategy to put council members in a corner.

For the mayor to push off the police pay raises to the council and propose to fund the raises with a vehicle weight tax demonstrates the administration's disregard for its own budgetary authority and responsibility. This shift of responsibility shows the contempt that the administration holds for the City Council.Ê Nevertheless, the council having only one brave soul (Charles Djou) to vote against this tax increase indicates that the council deserves the contempt of the mayor and also the taxpayers. To make matters worse, Councilman Nestor Garcia called for "statesmanship" as he stuck his hand into the pockets of taxpayers.

The City Council can expect to be used as a doormat until it starts to insist that the administration do its financial job. No policy group should ever accept an assertion that "there is just no other option" than to raise taxes. There are always options, and a policy group must be given options.

Don't blame judges for loopholes in statutes

Honolulu Police Department officer Michael W. Hunt's Dec. 22 letter attacking the district court judges for "dismissing cases right and left," the "loopholes in ... so-called laws" and lettingÊdefendants "plead out" to lesser charges is something that an HPD officer should know has no basis in fact.

Our district judges are very reluctant to dismiss cases where the prosecution is not ready, and two or even three continuances are granted routinely in order to permit the state to be ready for trial despiteÊobjections from the defense counsel. If there are loopholes in our traffic laws, that is the fault of the Legislature for poor drafting of the statutes in the first place, not the fault of judges.

Last, judges have no authority to permit defendants to plead to lesser offenses. Only prosecutors have this authority. Please do not blame our hard-working district judges for a problem over which they have no control. Put the blame where it belongs: on the Legislature and our prosecutors, who all too often do not do their job to protect the public.

Salt Lake roundabout costly and dangerous

The Ala Napunani-Likini roundabout design is costly (over $600,000) and creates problems in terms of safety and traffic delay.

There are numerous traffic guide posts that create a problem. Drivers, focused on navigating the roundabout and making it to the Salt Lake Boulevard intersection, will not see pedestrians in the midst of guide posts within the traffic islands, especially at night.

Drivers frequently do not signal their intent within the roundabout. Drivers at the yield signs are delayed because of having to wait to see which direction drivers are headed in the roundabout. In addition, if there were an accident in the roundabout, there would be a major traffic jam.

The roundabout at times creates a backlog of traffic, which leads to safety problems for drivers exiting out of driveways and having to cross two lanes of traffic to get into the appropriate lane.

The Neighborhood Board voted against the roundabout. The Transportation Department should not impose a solution that creates as many problems as it is intended to solve.

Gov. Lingle worsening Hawai'i taxing climate

As a taxpayer in Hawai'i, I was angered to find I agree with Rep. Neil Abercrombie's characterization of Gov. Lingle's rail tax increase as poorly considered.

The anger came when I realized that as damning as the congressman's comments are in their accuracy, they overlook the damage her actions did to the people of Hawai'i and the Republican Party. Specifically, she cut the legs off Republicans in elected office who previously provided principled opposition to more taxes in a state whose per capita taxation is near to the highest in the nation. I mean, how can Republicans now credibly oppose other tax increases when it was the Republican governor who first reached for more taxes to spend in pursuit of re-election?

Now it feels like tax-increase proposals are surging like water through a burst dam. My real property assessment increased above the highest price ever paid for a like unit in my condo. I note proposals to increase the real property tax rate, and then see those quickly followed by moves to push up vehicle taxes. I don't think this sudden activity is a coincidence.

Here's hoping the Republican Party soon sheds its "New Beginning" role as the governor's alter ego and resumes its commitment to broad principles intended to benefit all the people of Hawai'i.

There's a difference in civil, church marriages

What harm could there be in mixing religion into government and law in these enlightened times? Well, for example, one of the major religious controversies today is gay rights and (shudder) marriage.

Some churches thunder that gays are not equal citizens, that it is necessary for the good of God and country to deny gays basic rights and privileges, and to enforce those denials with prison if necessary. Fearful individuals go even further, advocating violence.

If these ideas remind you of the days of slavery and racist laws, don't forget that many churches once justified slavery.

We can expect even more evangelical outrage about the recent Massachusetts Supreme Court decision finding laws against gay marriage to be unconstitutional.

I think we are missing a crucial difference — between civil and church marriage. One, based on law, confers important rights and obligations; the other, religion-based, offers moral and historical rules (some of which have been questioned regarding women's rights).

Our courts are required to abide by principles of equal rights; our religions, at their best, follow the highest aspirations of love and wisdom.

An excellent marriage, it seems, from an ethical and community point of view, would offer mutual support and cooperation growing out of love. It would create a safe and nurturing environment for children and elderly relatives, ready to help those in need.

Can we focus on these values, as Jesus probably did, and let gender take care of itself?

OHA funds misspent

Regarding the Dec. 26 editorial "Annexation monument not exactly OHA kuleana": I'll accept that OHA shouldn't pay $50,000 to underwrite Ke Kia'i's political statement if we can all agree that OHA shouldn't be paying untold millions of dollars to support Sen. Inouye's (Stevens-Akaka bill) political recognition scenario.

Preference specified

One thing missing from all the letters about whether or not the non-Hawaiian youngster should be admitted to The Kamehameha Schools is the fact that Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop said in her will that the trustees should give "preference to Hawaiians of pure or part aboriginal blood." Our gracious ali'i nui didn't exclude anyone, but did make it clear that Hawaiians should be considered first.