SHOCKING

PROPERTY TAXES HURT THOSE ON FIXED INCOME

I received my property tax bill and was I shocked to see that the city doubled the tax. I don't think it's fair. I am retired and, let me tell you, not rich but on a fixed income.

Now I know why landlords raise their rents so high. If they don't, how can they pay their property taxes? No wonder there's so many homeless people. With the rents so high, poor people can't afford to pay their rent and become homeless.

People will get wise come the next election. Voting is so low because people who get elected are just looking to get rich, not to help the average poor guy, just themselves.

Marietta Mattoon | Honolulu

INJURIES

VETO OVERRIDE OF 'HANDCUFF BILL' CORRECT

I am writing to address the recent veto override by the Legislature of Senate Bill 1808, which ensures continued appropriate treatment for people injured in their line of duty. It is a misnomer to call this a "handcuff bill" as it applies to the governor's office since allowing the changes imposed on the system by the director of the Department of Labor under her direction does, in reality, handcuff physicians.

Under the Department of Labor's new rules, which include "cookbook" treatment guidelines promoted by a commercial book vendor from California, physicians would have been unable to practice as they have been trained, particularly with respect to complex and difficult injuries requiring surgery and chronic pain management.

I applaud the Legislature for standing up for those who have the misfortune of being traumatized performing their work duties.

D. Scott McCaffrey, M.D. | Occupational and rehabilitative medicine

HOUSING

MORE BBS MEANS MORE RENTERS ICED OUT

My objection to the overabundance of vacation rentals and B&Bs in Kailua isn't about the wafting of sunscreen on the beach or lack of parking in neighborhoods. It's the lack of available long-term rentals.

Many homeowners are choosing the bigger bucks and less wear and tear on their properties while renting to tourists instead of realizing the impact lack of housing is having on our community. The number of homeless campers by the canal at Buzz's is growing daily.

The residents living in the apartments between the Mormon church on Kailua road and Michael's Liquor store have received notices of eviction in 2007. Where are they supposed to go? Though I am sure they appreciate the lengthy notice, some of the families have lived there for 30 years and can't afford to move.

I employ between 10 and 15 people, usually women, and they are constantly overlooked for apartment rentals due to sheer numbers, as 200 applicants arrive for the same unit.

Where are the gas attendants, cleaning staff, students and waitresses going to live if everyone with a small apartment or empty house rents to our visitors? The rents are exorbitant, which encourages multi-family dwelling; however, with so many needy families, only one will find a home.

I would ask our community to solve this dilemma before making any final judgments.

Candas Lee Smiley | Kailua

FUNDRAISING

BEGGING ON STREET IS NOT WAY TO DO IT, KIDS

We see more street beggars in Honolulu at intersections holding signs "begging" for money. Some are truly homeless, others asking for "donations" for charitable organizations.

But last Sunday in 'Aiea, I was disappointed to see Little Leaguers holding signs and "begging" for help to pay for a trip to the Mainland.

In the past, we used to raise money for Little Leaguers by working for it. Selling sweet bread, Huli Huli chicken, cookies, chili, car wash, etc. Now parents and coaches seem to forget what the values of Little League are.

I'd like to ask these coaches and parents, besides creating traffic congestion, what values are they teaching their kids?

Frank Sanpei | 'Aiea

THEFT OF NATION

AKAKA BILL ATTEMPT TO LEGITIMIZE OCCUPATION

Someone once said: "If you get them to ask the wrong questions, you don't have to worry about the answers." The Akaka bill is just the latest wrong answer to the wrong question.

The confusion over the Hawaiian sovereignty issue is the result of an ongoing campaign by the United States and the state of Hawai'i to conceal and obfuscate their illegal occupation of Hawai'i, and to try to give it a legitimate face.

In carrying on the deception, the occupying powers use the ploy of shifting the question away from "What redress is called for concerning the theft of a nation?" to that of "How can we preserve race-based welfare programs?" Even though it is obvious that these are two completely different questions, the Akaka bill pretends to address the former by answering the latter. This is a classic swindle.

The Akaka bill is a scheme using the smokescreen of Native Hawaiian/indigenous people/Indian tribe/nation within a nation/self-determination to swindle the Hawaiian public, the U.S. Congress, the American people and the rest of the world into thinking something significant is being accomplished. In actuality, it is just another attempt in the protracted, 112-year effort to cover up, legitimize and secure the United States' illegal occupation of Hawai'i.

If the Akaka bill is the answer, what was the question?

Leon Siu | 'Aiea

DLNR

MISPLACED PRIORITIES

I believe we are making a very serious mistake by using our DLNR to protect cruise ships, rather than our stressed natural resources.

Dave Chenoweth | Lahaina, Maui