Posted on: Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Letters to the Editor

City permit service in Kapolei is stellar

Recently, I had to obtain a building permit. After speaking with several people with experience in this area, I was told that I would have to wait at least four hours to obtain the permit. I called the office of council member Barbara Marshall, and her staff informed me that I could get the same services at Kapolei.

I got to Kapolei at 7:30 and was the eighth person in line. The permit office opened at 8, and at 10, my number was called. By 10:30, I was leaving Kapolei with permit in hand. The two women issuing the permits, Jenny and Elaine, were extremely knowledgeable and very helpful and friendly and it made me wonder why more people don't take advantage of the city offices in Kapolei?

I'd like to thank the permitting staff at Kapolei and also would like to thank Marshall's staff, who answered all my questions, suggested Kapolei as an alternate site, and provided me with accurate directions on how to get there. Outstanding customer service is alive and well in city government!

Sen. Kanno works hard for community

I am deeply saddened on the recent event surrounding Sen. Brian Kanno. I am a longtime Makakilo resident and know Sen. Kanno.

Brian Kanno is a breath of fresh air to politics. He is a well-rounded, deeply concerned individual who goes out of his way to make our community a better place to live in. On numerous occasions, I have called Brian's office, house and cell phone to share my concerns with him. He is always more than willing to listen to my concerns and acts accordingly. He is supportive and helpful; he makes you feel proud that he is our senator.

Everyone knows politics, especially in our neighborhood. It just seems to me that this is nothing more than other politicians trying their best to oust a man who gives so much for his constituents. Wake up, get the facts and support the man who does so much for your community.

Why does government continue to fail us?

According to the April 18 Advertiser, the state refuses to release data on traffic accidents for fear of lawsuits. It doesn't, however, seem to fear lawsuits related to keeping hundreds or even thousands of people prisoners, trapping them on highways for hours with no access to water, their families or emergency services while the state "investigates" traffic accidents. "Investigations," whose results will never be available for use by the public that pays for them and is inconvenienced (and endangered) by them.

Something is not right here.

Why is it that Hawai'i seems to be at the bottom of every category of good, competent government? Our students do poorly on tests compared to other states, so now there are allegations of cheating on tests rather than teaching subject matter. The schools are caving in, but there is no money for replacements. People are concerned about unsafe driving, but there are only a relative few police officers dedicated to traffic enforcement on O'ahu. O'ahu pays to enforce the traffic laws, but does not get the revenue. Roads fall apart sooner here than in locations with hotter weather followed by freezing cycles every year and with more rain than here. Sewers and water mains break and leak. The government is paralyzed unless threatened by legal action, and then the response is to bury its head.

We have had Democratic governors and now have a Republican governor, and things are the same. We have mayors from the left and the right, and things are the same. Who is to blame?

I blame the Legislature and the City Council, both of whom seem to be more interested in power plays and infighting than in doing their jobs. Those two bodies are the one constant with little change in political orientation or attitude.

Before raising taxes, answer the questions

Our legislators should answer this question: If we increase taxes to pay for a rail transit system, how do we know how much in new taxes will be required? The tax increases may be more than even advocates of rail would accept.

Remember that we have no route for the train, no adequate projection of ridership, no solid estimates of costs. All we know is that in cities where rail has been added, the taxes to keep the train running are very high.

So, legislators, I suggest that you get a true estimate of the tax burden before you start adding taxes onto an already overtaxed people. If you find that raising the general excise tax is not enough, you may see even more taxes added.

My guess is that the rail system would start in Iwilei and go to University Avenue. People in Kapolei are going to be badly disappointed. Perhaps the reason that we have no route stated for the train is that knowledge of the route would decrease support for the project. The train will perhaps not go where you want it to go. Nor will it much affect traffic because the ridership will be drawn from bus riders.

What you are likely to notice will be heavy taxes ($900 per year, they say, but my guess is much more, as these things get underestimated). Legislators, before raising our taxes, answer the questions!

It's all about greed

The rightful rejection of a $9 million grant to eradicate coquis will not stop the determination of officials and scientists to burn these beautiful little creatures to death. This is about one thing and one thing only: property values. The noise is perceived as a detriment to real estate. It has nothing to do with alleged damage done to native insects. There is no proof in that direction. Frogs are being killed because of greed.

Establish designated areas for graffiti

As with street racing, public skating, biking, etc., places have been constructed to create a domain for them to be done legally, so why not do the same for graffiti?

If the government allowed graffiti to be done legally in ditches, skate parks and places of that sort, it could greatly reduce the amount done on the streets, and no money would be needed to make these facilities, as they already exist.

Ditches are ugly to begin with and out of public view, and skate parks could become the display of some of the best street art in the Islands.

There is nothing to lose in this idea, and money can actually be saved for the betterment of the city and state.

'Perfectly legal' trip excuse doesn't hold up

We are assured again and again by Republicans that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's (rather expensive) trips that were sponsored by businesses in which the money was passed through a charitable organization were "perfectly legal." Assuming a tax rate of, say, 30 percent, these businesses were buying influence at 70 cents on the dollar. Well, just one more tax break for business!

I, too, could save on taxes by donating money to a charitable organization for the purpose of paying for my children's college expenses. One reason for not doing this is that it would be illegal. Is it "perfectly legal" in Tom DeLay's case?

Electric car race brought out the best

Congratulations to the students, educators and supporters of Waialua High and Intermediate School on their recent triumph in the electric car race and success of their "rocket extravaganza." Kudos as well to the other participants, as it must have taken many hours of planning, cooperation and effort to tackle such demanding projects.

With public education and educators under assault by what seems insurmountable challenges, it is encouraging and comforting to know that our youngsters are invested with those who nurture their intellect and talent, and provide the learning environment that yields such commendable academic accomplishments. There are many similar examples at other schools, proof positive of this commitment to hurdle those barriers to educational excellence.

To all who participated, congratulations again as you are assets to your schools, communities and this state.

Recycling problem solved

I recently moved to O'ahu and have been reading with great curiosity the debate of the fate of recycled bottles and cans. And needless to say, I was startled to read Fred Belt's gruesome account of his experiences trying to redeem the large trash bag of bottles at the local redemption centers.

The next moment a brilliant plan was conceived: I'll load my luggage with all the plastic bags of empty aluminum cans and Perrier bottles stashed in the garage, cart them back to California on my next trip to the Mainland, and hand them over to a homeless person who will know what to do with the priceless treasures. With these actions, I will not only be helping another human being less fortunate than I, but also helping an island in a messy redemption tizzy. Conscience cleared!

Thank you, Fred and the island's ill-managed redemption centers, for guiding me to my own personal solution of the statewide problem of to can or not to can. I think I'll go open that Mango Tango now, for I'm feeling much better.

State is doing a miserable job on the recycling law

The recently enacted Hawai'i recycling law is too late to the table, poorly executed, designed for graft, user-unfriendly and already fraught with accusations.

In less than a week, taxpayers have heard two miserable excuses for the state's tardiness in paying back the deposits that have been collected since last November. The first suggested that various interdepartmental local government agencies did not know how to disperse back the collected deposits.

Here is a simple suggestion: Pay back the money you collected without the canard of "we're not sure which agency has to OK the redemption." On face value, that smacks of corruption, poor planning, gross stupidity, or one and all. I should think that, partisanship notwithstanding, cheating the public would be frowned on if not prevented.

The second "excuse" was claimed by the attorney general's office: Island Recycling had not paid excise taxes for previous recycling projects. Previous recycling projects ... drawing a blank here. Can someone refresh my memory? In any case, Island Recycling's excise taxes amount to less than what the state owes Island Recycling. There is only one reason why the state would hem and haw about the payback: Government is too busy trying to figure out a way to continue this mess.

Only on the Big Island is there something like equity in the recycling market. Lucky denizens of Hawai'i are not only given back the 5 cents paid for the "beverage container"; if the weight of their recyclables is significant, an additional fair-market value is paid for the scrap weight. Now that is recycling!

It is a genuine pity we in Hawai'i are so xenophobic. Nothing raises the hackle faster on a "local" than to begin making a genuine point regarding method or procedure than by beginning "On the Mainland ... " To be sure, Hawai'i has nothing to learn from states like Oregon or California, states that have had robust, user-friendly and profitable recycling programs for the better part of 30 years. Why pick up tips from others who have blazed the trail when it is easier to ignore their lessons learned in order to reinvent the wheel?

Meanwhile, many of us are religiously saving and sorting our cans and glass with the hope that, despite the fact that we are really being charged 6 cents per container, we might actually be able to reclaim our deposit. It sure would be nice if the Fourth Estate picked up the stick on this issue; who knows, maybe it might make a difference.