Letters to the Editor
TRAFFIC
COST OF TRANSIT SYSTEM WILL BANKRUPT CITY
Again, we must congratulate Sen. Daniel Inouye for his clear thinking.
A few days ago, he said he does not support the proposed $1 billion repair of our sewage system because it would "bankrupt the city."
If a $1 billion sewer repair would bankrupt the city, then a $6 billion rail transit system would bankrupt us six times over.
Lois AbramsHonolulu
HANNEMANN
FULL-PAGE AD HELPED CLARIFY SEWAGE ISSUES
Contrary to what Councilman Charles Djou says, I am glad that Mayor Mufi Hannemann outlined in specific detail what he has done since assuming office just two and a half years ago to correct many years of neglect of Honolulu's sewer system.
For a while, I thought it was the same old government attitude toward infrastructure, which is to always leave it to the other guys to fix it later.
The full-page ad also helped to clarify that the city is not dumping raw sewage into the ocean from its treatment plants.
It's also nice to see that experts, not politicians, point out very clearly that we don't have to do all the stuff the Environmental Protection Agency wants us to do to keep our ocean safe and clean, which would cost millions and millions of dollars. So keep it up, Mr. Mayor!
Frank ButcherHonolulu
HSTA
APPALLING TO TIE RAISES TO RANDOM DRUG TESTS
I am appalled that Gov. Linda Lingle would leverage random drug testing for teachers for them to receive a manini pay raise.
She actually believes this is going to improve education? If we want to see a comprehensive improvement in education in Hawai'i, drug-test the parents, particularly those who show signs that they can't take care of their children.
Teachers have students for approximately six hours a day. What is going on in the other 18?
Olivia CockcroftKapoho, Hawai'i
RANDOM DRUG TESTING IS LOSS OF CIVIL LIBERTY
I would like to voice my opposition to the recent pact made between the Hawai'i State Teachers Association and the Department of Education, which would submit teachers to random drug testing in exchange for a pay increase.
The testing, as it is proposed, is unconstitutional and represents a forfeiture of civil liberties.
Civics and social studies teachers, as well as anyone with rudimentary knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, will tell you that testing of bodily fluids for drugs is a case of unreasonable search and seizure of a person (a right specifically protected by the Fourth Amendment).
Peter HansenHonolulu
DISABILITIES
HELP TEACH CHILDREN TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS
A few thoughts about how to prevent shootings such as that at Virginia Tech:
If lonely, depressed, solitary children with symptoms that may be precursers to mental illness could be embraced by their peers, rather than ridiculed, bullied and further isolated, the outcome at young adulthood could be far different from what happened this month. We can all teach our children to reach out to those who are different, rather than stigmatize them.
If a patient answers yes to either question, he/she is given the opportunity to meet with a licensed clinical social worker, who probes more deeply about depression and offers support/ treatment.
Executive director, Mental Health America of Hawai'i/Mental Health Association, and president, board of directors, Waikiki Health Center
SHORT-TERM RENTALS
CITY MUST STEP UP ON VACATION UNITS' PERMITS
Your April 25 editorial "Vacation units require regulation plan" was fair and balanced.
Vacation rentals and bed-and-breakfast issues have been a dividing force in communities and neighborhoods.
People think it is only a Kailua issue. It is not.
There is a real demand for these accommodations. To maintain the integrity of small-town ambiance and harmony among neighbors throughout the whole island, it is time for the city to take the steps to provide regulations and open up the permitting process.
Zenobia LaiHonolulu
WORKFORCE
ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS BACK VETO OF SB 1642
The four county police departments strongly oppose Senate Bill 1642 because its passage will jeopardize public safety.
The bill's purpose is to amend the law relating to collective bargaining by making certain subject matter areas that are currently excluded from negotiation into permissible subjects of collective bargaining. The bill proposes to allow the negotiation of procedures and criteria for promotions, transfers, assignments, demotions, layoffs, suspensions, terminations, discharges, or other disciplinary actions. It will also allow the current grievance procedure to be utilized in the event there are alleged violations of negotiated and agreed-upon procedures and criteria.
As law enforcement agencies, our ability to provide optimum service to the community is dependent upon our ability to direct the workforce as the need arises. During daily operations, and especially during an emergency, the police departments need to be able to assign officers and dispatchers when and where they are needed most.
Requiring negotiation for suspensions, terminations and other disciplinary actions will reduce employee accountability by delaying the departments' ability to remove police authority from officers who are being investigated and to terminate employees who should be discharged.
We strongly urge the Legislature not to override Gov. Linda Lingle's veto of SB 1642.
BOISSE P. CORREAChief of Police, Honolulu Police Department
THOMAS M. PHILLIPS
Chief of Police, Maui County Police Department
LAWRENCE K. MAHUNA
Chief of Police, Hawai'i County Police Department
CLAYTON K. ARINAGA
Acting Chief of Police, Kaua'i County Police Department
