SPEEDY

IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY TO REINSTATE THE E-BUS

In his Jan. 1 letter, Ray Graham says that it took him 1 hour and 40 minutes to get to Waikiki after the movie let out at the Ward Theatre Complex. Most of this time was wasted waiting for the bus. Mr. Graham says from now on he will take the car.

The E-bus, which was canceled last June, would have sped him home. It ran every 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the time of day, stopping near the theater complex and went straight to Waikiki.

It is time for the city to reinstate the E-bus. It was the most efficient bus route, speedy, and took people where they needed to go (from Chinatown to Waikiki, including major shopping centers and tourist attractions) without having to transfer to another bus. Mayor Hannemann should restore funding for the E-bus in the budget he will present to the City Council in March.

With the E-bus, Mr. Graham would be able to leave his car at home.

PROPERTY TAX

SENIOR HOMEOWNERS SHOULD GET ORGANIZED

After postponing my simmering outrage over the indecent property assessment hikes over the past three years, I met with others at the Salt Lake McDonald's. Most senior homeowners there agreed that there is a need for some action, such as: (a) flooding the property assessment appeal process, (b) starting a petition, (c) writing letters to our mayor and council persons, (d) all of the above and more.

Individually, as we open our notice from the real Property Assessment Division and we only grumble over the back fence or write an occasional letter to the editor or call our city representatives, we are "blowing in the wind." Instead of blowing in the wind, are we angry enough to organize a force that can start a revolution against the wind?

Once we longtime homeowners who do not plan to sell begin to organize, we will be a force that can no longer be taken lightly. If we fail to see some corrective action before the fall elections, we may be compelled to take our displeasure out at the ballot box. More fixed-income seniors vote regularly, it has been my experience. We may forget other things, but we don't forget when we are hurt in our wallets.

Are there only a handful of homeowners in the City and County of Honolulu who are incensed enough and are willing to do something to express their displeasure? If yes, we should just pay the taxes and shut up!

IT'S OUR MONEY

FORGET 'RAINY-DAY' FUNDS FOR GOVERNMENT

As a Honolulu taxpayer, it is disturbing to hear our mayor and governor talk about "rainy-day" funds.

I remember when former Gov. John Waihee inherited a budget surplus. He squandered it on ballooning the state payroll and left a financial crisis that plagued the entire two terms of former Gov. Ben Cayetano.

That malaise also contributed to Hawai'i losing out on the boom days of the 1990s.

Governments should not be in the business of making money off taxpayers. Sufficient revenue should be collected to cover necessary governmental services only. Taxpayers should keep the rest to spend how they see fit.

HALLORAN

COLUMNIST'S VIEWS OF WORLD SCENE SKEWED

Richard Halloran's geopolitical analysis leaves much to be desired.

Our relationship with Japan is stronger than it has been in decades, thanks not just to President Bush's efforts, but to the aggressive posturing of China.

Mexico is a basket-case country that has long hated and envied its northern neighbor. Building a wall is an idea long overdue.

Canada is both militarily impotent and morally and socially in trouble; recent attempts to introduce Sharia law indicate the depth of its problems. It is no friend to the U.S. and it has nothing to do with Bush, and everything to do with a neo-European attachment as the vehicle to express its long-standing resentment of its southern neighbor.

The U.S. faces grave challenges primarily because it remains a strong beacon for freedom and the only military force in the world with the ability and willingness to defend freedom. That's the cause of the problem. Catch a clue, Halloran.

GIVE 'EM A BREAK

STUDY IS NEEDED ON STREET PERFORMERS

I was amused by the naivete in Ricky Roscoe's recent letter on the subject of street performers. He says, "It's not about freedom of expression, it's all about making money." Well, duh! Actually it's about both.

Millions of workers go to their jobs every day to make money. Where would the economy be without them? And if they're lucky, they also have found a niche for themselves that is interesting, challenging and, yes, even fun. But if the government restricts this freedom to earn a living and to make a positive contribution to society, then citizens must protest.

When my grandchildren come for a visit, one of the first things they want to do (after Jungle Fun) is go to Waikiki to see the "Buskers."

It would be interesting if some sociology major at UH did a study on the performers. Who are they? Why do they dress up in their gold and silver suits and sit on the sidewalk to be gawked at? How much money do they earn on an average night? What will they do if they are banned from Waikiki? Will they have to go on welfare? And, how many people have been injured as a result of the crowding their presence causes?

C'mon, lighten up! Give those guys a break! We need more than wall-to-wall stores on Kalakaua.

JAN SANDERS | HONOLULU

WAI'ANAE

CITY MUST ADDRESS HOMELESS PROBLEM

I'm a concerned resident who was born and raised in Wai'anae. I remember when we could camp at the beaches; currently the beaches are inhabited by the homeless.

I recently drove to Yokahama's, and I'm upset with the way my community is being neglected. I feel as if no one cares.

I really don't believe that the homeless people are all from the Wai'anae community. It seems as if the solution to the homeless problem is "out of sight, out of mind." They are all cluttered at the end of Makaha. This causes a lot of trash in these areas.

The homeless have nowhere to store the belongings they collect, which causes more clutter and gives our community the look of the city dump.

Why aren't our elected officials doing anything?

It is difficult to have pride in your community when your community is plagued with the homeless problem and illegal dumping. If our elected officials could find the passion to create positive change in our community's environment, Wai'anae could once again be paradise.

NANAKULI

THE UGLY BRIDGE BLUES

For years, only Leeward insiders understood the location reference to Nanakuli stink pond. But thousands of travelers along Farrington Highway who lost a quick glimpse of the green marsh vista with white sand beach and a backdrop of deep-blue Pacific can now easily identify the location of Nanakuli Ugly Bridge. Isn't there a song lyric about tearing down paradise to put up a parking lot?

PROPERTY TAXES

GIVE US THE SAME DEAL AS HAWAIIAN HOMESTEADERS

With all the talk about double or even triple previous year property taxes, there have been many suggestions on relief. Some have asked for increased exemptions; the mayor offers $200 off for those over 62; some City Council members are discussing limiting property taxes for those with incomes under $75,000 to 4 percent of their income.

Instead of any of these new schemes, I am asking the City Council for the same exemption that a segment of our county has already been receiving for almost 20 years. I want the Hawaiian Homestead exemption.

For those living on Hawaiian Homesteads, their property tax is simple: $100 per year per home. The homesteads in turn are provided the same city services such as garbage collection, police and fire protection, parks, roads, etc. received by all.

With my recent tax notice, I have to now pay $1,255 per year, an increase of $300 from 2005 and more than double the total 2003 tax. Hawaiian Homesteaders have the same right as I do to buy, sell and profit from the equity of their homes and, since my home is leasehold, too, the land value should be the same as theirs (except my lease rent is $120 a month and Homesteaders pay $1 a year).

The property assessment offers four grounds for appeal, the last being "Illegality, on any ground arising under the Constitution." That's the one I'll use to appeal. All citizens are afforded equal protection of laws under the U.S. and state constitutions. Therefore, the property tax law must be applied to all homeowners at the same level given to the Hawaiian Homesteaders.

I have my $100 ready to send in.

DUCKED BY HOUSE

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM — NOW!

Editor's note: This is another in a series of letters from previous Advertiser Community Editorial Board members on the 2006 Legislature.

Each day corporations and other wealthy special interests pump about $4 million into the coffers of our elected officials in Washington and the 50 states.

In return, special interests collect hundreds of billions a year in tax breaks, subsidies and other sweet deals. Their money also buys them opportunities to shape public policies to drive up their bottom lines. Can we as the public make the same claim? How can the playing field be leveled so that ordinary citizens can have equal access to our government?

The most important issue to come before the state Legislature is the Comprehensive Public Funding of Election Campaigns (the "Fair Elections Bill") for House and Senate races. It will be introduced again for the sixth year. It is "the reform by which all others are possible."

Simply put, it means that only if the special-interest money is out of the way can real change be made, so that the people's work can be accomplished. By special-interest money, I refer to the money that is given to the legislator under our current system, to win elections. It seems obvious that this money buys special favors.

It does no favors to the honest legislator to continue the status quo, and most especially not to the public, who are at a distinct disadvantage under the present system.

Last session, for the fifth time, this bill for campaign reform was introduced for state House of Representative races. It passed all House and Senate votes. It moved to conference committee, members were assigned, but the House refused to go to conference.

In an AARP-backed, widely published survey, two-thirds of all Hawai'i residents supported a legislative proposal to change the way state election campaigns are financed. Yet the House leadership, with majority support in both the Senate and House, failed to schedule a conference committee, which effectively killed the bill.

Is that doing the work for the public? Some in the House leadership validated their actions by saying that "many unanswered questions" remained with the bill.

Four-fifths of the public agreed that politicians become obligated to those who have given them campaign money, and think campaign contributions moderately or greatly influence policies supported by elected officials.

It's no wonder that many incumbents and the special interests behind them don't like the idea, since it threatens their hold on power.

If this is to be a meaningful legislative session, we must have campaign reform.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. To earn it, we must work for it and make it a priority, or the large and powerful interests in our state will take it away from us.