HOMELESS

CLOSE ALA MOANA ONE SECTION AT A TIME

I see the Ala Moana closure as a not-so-clever scam to get the homeless out of the park.

I am not against the idea of refurbishing the park and making it safer and cleaner for everyone. There's just one small problem: The homeless people who live in the park have nowhere else to go. What part of that concept does the city not get? Close the park on a section-by-section basis.

The advocates for the homeless need to become more proactive and protect their clients better — perhaps through lawsuits and sign-waving.

HOMELESS

GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE COMPOUNDS

I am amazed that someone in the "Help the Homeless" brigade hasn't figured out a quick, temporary solution to housing these people.

All it would take is for Habitat for Humanity or some other group, even the state or county, to build a compound with tents, some for families, some for single males and some for single females. It could include feeding facilities like the military uses for field operations and training. There could be shower and toilet facilities. Perhaps the compound could be surrounded by chain-link fencing to be sure that those who would take advantage of a safe, clean place would be able to feel safe. It should be located near bus stops.

The state or the counties could provide public-owned land to build such a facility. After all, they do it for the criminals; why couldn't they do it for the temporarily homeless?

CONVENIENCE

TRANSIT STATION MUST BE WITHIN THE AIRPORT

The release of the rapid-transit alternatives for Honolulu mark an important first step in addressing the ever-growing transportation problems on O'ahu. However, the success of rapid transit will greatly depend on how wisely the routes are chosen.

Of great concern to me is the need for a station "at" the airport, as opposed to one that is merely "near" the airport (for example, on the mauka side of the H-1 viaduct). There will be a big difference to travelers between these two options in terms of convenience and travel time, and will likely mean the difference between travelers using rapid transit or not when they go to or return from the airport.

Imagine how convenient it would be for interisland travelers if they could walk with their luggage directly from the rail transit station to the check-in counter without the delays and other hassles of an intermediate shuttle bus.

NOISY NUISANCE

POLICE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH ROOSTERS

My Kalihi Valley neighbors have hundreds of roosters in their backyards. These roosters crow 24 hours a day, seven days a week — even in the rain!

I find it unbelievable that if I call the Humane Society to report the noise problem, it refers me to the HPD. I refuse to phone the police for crowing roosters. I would rather let HPD focus on real crimes and not crowing roosters.

It is sad to think that the bird flu might be the only way to free our neighborhood from this problem.

ROOSTERS

ONE NOISE SOLUTION

There is an old saying that to keep a rooster from crowing on Sunday, you must eat it on Saturday.

DONATIONS

HOLD THE DEMOCRATS ACCOUNTABLE? HAH!

Your editorial "Where's accountability from Isle Democrats?" was both amusing and naive. Amusing, because you even bothered to ask the question. Naive, because you even bothered to ask the question.

Since when has the Democratic Party ever shown a semblance of accountability? We have a deteriorating school system, deteriorating roads and parks, one of the worst reputations in the nation for attracting business, taxes that are out of control and a government that is effectively run by labor unions. Has any Democrat even whispered a whimper of accountability? No.

What, pray tell, makes The Advertiser think that being busted for sending a few bucks back and forth in a convoluted scheme to circumvent campaign laws would be any different? Democrats, accountability? I think not. However, it is not the Democrats' responsibility to be accountable.

Where the accountability lies is with the voter. If we tolerate this type of behavior and keep re-electing Democrats, it is what we should expect. People get the government and the leadership they deserve. Unfortunately, this seems to be the best we can do.

SAVE THE WHALES

PROPELLER GUARDS ARE ALREADY WIDELY IN USE

In your March 27 article "Safety of whales feared," Dave Schofield of NOAA stated that propeller guards could be required on whale-watch vessels.

Ducted propeller shrouds, known as "kort nozzles," have been in use since 1935 and are commonly found on a wide variety of Navy and commercial vessels, such as tug boats and trawlers. The U.S. Marines have used them on the outboard motors of their small inflatable boats.

In addition to protecting whales from propellers, korts increase thrust 20 percent or more and improve fuel efficiency. Kort nozzles can be retrofitted on virtually any propeller-driven vessel.

Water jet propulsors, which the Navy uses on its Mark V high-speed special operations craft instead of propellers, are even safer for marine mammals. Water jets are also commonly used on large, high-speed catamaran ferries, such as the proposed Superferry.

Water jets do not protrude beneath the hull, can operate in very shallow water and can stop much more quickly at any speed than propeller-driven vessels.

RURAL AREAS

PSYCHOLOGISTS WOULD BE WELL TRAINED TO PRESCRIBE

House Bill 2589 was introduced by the Hawai'i Primary Care Association to address the overwhelming need for access to mental-health treatment in poor, underserved and rural areas. It would allow appropriately trained psychologists, in these rural areas, to prescribe psychoactive medication.

The bill was authored and introduced by the only medical doctor in the Legislature, Rep. Josh Green, vice chairman of the House Health Committee. The bill is also supported by the medical directors of the rural health clinics where these psychologists would prescribe.

The bill clearly establishes an advanced training curriculum that includes four and a half years of post-doctoral training and supervision. This means that before a psychologist could prescribe, he or she would have completed 11.5 years of professional training in diagnosis and treatment.

Psychologists have been safely and effectively prescribing mental health medications for 10 years in the Department of Defense and more recently in New Mexico and Louisiana. To date, there have been no complaints or critical incidents.

Despite this record of safety and rigorous professional training, psychiatrists have engaged in a campaign of distortions and scare tactics to maintain their monopoly on prescriptive authority.

It is time to admit that due to a long-term shortage of psychiatric personnel, an estimated 55,000 of our neighbors in rural areas are without adequate mental healthcare. It is time to let appropriately trained psychologists respond to the requests of the rural medical community and safely and effectively prescribe medications to treat psychological problems.