IMPOSING FEE WOULD BE A HUGE MISTAKE

With all due respect, Mayor Hannemann, your idea of imposing an additional fee for trash pickup is not good. First let's set the record straight on some of the comments printed in The Honolulu Advertiser this past Sunday:

1) Pickup has never been free; it is already paid for directly from resident taxpayers.

2) Resident households were never given an option to decline "free" trash bins; they were forced to use them to accommodate newer trucks.

3) Curbside recycling was never an option either; it was mandated and is being paid for with taxpayer money.

We all realize that economic times are tough; however, by imposing a fee for trash pickup, you will see an increase in litter everywhere and our public trash receptacles will be overflowing from people trying to avoid this additional cost burden.

A better answer:

Properly impose a tax on nonresident property owners. Yes, for the nonresident investors and speculators who pushed Honolulu's housing market way above reach of the average local family, let them share the burden of the economic situation they have helped create.

BUDGET, EDUCATION

HAMAMOTO HAS TOO MUCH TO HANDLE

Pat Hamamoto is once again attempting to steal the people's right to fair representation concerning issues crucial to working-class parents of schoolchildren. Her track record does not support her notion that she can appropriately manage any of the areas in which she is currently attempting to consolidate under the direct control of her office.

Hamamoto wants to reset prices drastically upward on school lunches and school bus transportation, two areas that will directly hit working-class families.

Her proven inability to ascertain even the most basic facts about schools she wants to arbitrarily close is documented in her own office's memorandum history, in which she woefully under-researched supposedly crucial points about targeted schools and had to issue a corrective memorandum a month later after public meetings revealed her manipulative inaccuracies. Pat Hamamoto wants more than she can handle or be trusted with.

WHERE DO IKEDA'S REAL PRIORITIES LIE?

After reading the April 3 Advertiser article regarding the meeting between the governor's staff and the Board of Education, one wonders where Donna Ikeda's priorities lie. She is at the throat of the governor's staff and maligns the governor regarding the education stimulation money while urging schools superintendent Pat Hamamoto not to sign on to the governor's plan.

First of all, while the governor is trying to comply with the constitutional requirement to balance the budget, Ikeda mouths off urging disrespect and noncompliance by Hamamoto, while offering nothing in return to assist the governor in her constitutional requirement.

Second, if Ikeda is so interested in the health and welfare of Hawai'i education, why is she not standing up to the teachers union for taking their raise but not living up to the requirements of the contract for random drug testing? How can those who dishonor their word and contract be expected to impart an honor system to their students?

Third, in all her public offices, I don't remember Ikeda ever being one who worried about the amount of taxpayer money that was spent.

CIVIL UNIONS

REAL EMBARRASSMENT IS FAILURE IN EQUALITY

Now that equality has been affirmed for all families in Iowa, Hawai'i senators should act this session to assure its citizens, and visitors from around the world, that they will be guaranteed equal protection under the law. While Lt. Gov. Aiona is embarrassed by a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, the real embarrassment for Hawai'i is the failure to act to protect civil rights and equality. Hawai'i senators can still bring the state some much needed positive publicity, and help save families and jobs, by going on record in support of equality for gays and lesbians.

SAME-SEX PAIRS HERE ONCE HAD EQUALITY

On Statehood Day, I spent most of my time with the Native Hawaiians at Kamehameha's statue, on the grounds of 'Iolani Palace, and then at the Capitol protesting the "theft" of Hawai'i. The missionaries from my part of the world stole Hawai'i, used the Bible to condemn mahu, aikane, and much Hawaiian culture that did not fit Christian dictates. The contemporary red-shirted missionaries continue the tradition.

Fortunately, Native Hawaiian leaders and kumu like Vicky Holt Takamine, Puanani Burgess, Poka Laenui and Brad Ka'iwi Lum who spoke at the March 7 candlelight vigil for LGBT equality are willing to speak truth to power: Same-sex couples in Hawai'i once had equality. Granting civil unions would be a tiny step toward restoration of the aloha spirit.

TORT REFORM

EXCUSES WON'T SOLVE SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS

Lawyers against medical malpractice tort reform blame the low pay from medical insurance companies for the shortage of physicians in high-risk specialties. Executives in medical insurance companies and healthcare organizations cite high medical malpractice insurance costs as a reason for the shortage of certain specialists on Neighbor Islands.

However, finger-pointing does not help solve the critical shortage of doctors on our Neighbor Islands. Try giving those excuses to the mother of a patient of mine who recently had to seek repair of her child's severely injured eye on the Big Island and was told no help was available on that island. This brave woman spent eight hours coming to an O'ahu hospital for treatment of her child's bleeding eye.

Meanwhile, requests for reforms, suggested by the Hawaii Medical Association, continue to fall on deaf ears in our Legislature.

House Bill 1784 is strongly supported by the Hawai'i state insurance commissioner, J.P. Schmidt. Proponents of this bill should contact their legislators and ask them to support HB 1784.

Any more inaction in this crisis is akin to fiddling while Rome burns.

SMOKING CESSATION

ANTI-TOBACCO EDUCATION MUST STAY

I wish to express my appreciation to Dr. William Dang for his commentary (April 6) on smoking cessation programs. 

Keeping tobacco cessation education available to our community is an intelligent and thoughtful investment in our 'ohana's future well-being.