BUILDING TO BE RAZED SERVES SCHOOLKIDS

Your July 26 story about the Department of Health's expansion plans missed a fundamental point: the building to be razed was renovated by and is currently the classroom for Hakipu'u Learning Center Charter School, which serves children in grades 7 to 12 and their families. Most disappointing was The Advertiser's omission of this information even though it interviewed HLC's staff. The community deserves the full story.

DOH has consistently acted in bad faith. In 2001, HLC was allowed to renovate and use the Haloa building on WCC's campus, which was abandoned for years. After HLC fixed up Haloa, DOH (which owned the building) insisted it needed Haloa immediately and forced HLC out. A compromise was reached in approximately 2003-04 when HLC was given access to another abandoned building (Bishop). All agreed that DOH would turn over Bishop and its parcel to WCC for HLC's long-term use. DOH reneged.

Now, after HLC invested more than $300,000 in repairs, DOH insists it needs Bishop immediately — even though Haloa still sits vacant. During these tough times, the last thing we need is to evict schoolchildren from their classroom. We understand that elderly need care, but that shouldn't be done on the backs of our children.

Kahikukala Hoe | Hakipu'u Learning Center Teacher Board chair

MIGRANT HEALTH CARE

ABERCROMBIE COULD EFFECT REAL SAVINGS

Well, here comes the campaign chest-pounding with U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie proclaiming how he has saved us more than $100 million annually for the costs of health care of migrants of Compact of Free Association nations (that's people of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau). Well, he hasn't saved us anything; it just means that we are now paying for it out of our right pocket instead of out of our left pocket. We are still paying for it.

Neil, you want to do something meaningful? Provide legislation to put these health costs, unemployment and welfare costs back on the governments where the people immigrated from. It should be their financial responsibility to care for them instead of shipping them off to the U.S. to be cared for.

You want votes? That will make a difference.

Fred Rackle | Wai'anae

CASH FOR CLUNKERS

CONGRESS NEEDS TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS

The government's "Cash for Clunkers" (Car Allowance Rebate System or CARS) program appears to have been a resounding hit, running out of funds within a week of inception, depleting the $1 billion Congress allocated for it.

It is obvious to see why the program was such a success. Cars up to 25 years old worth less than a couple hundred dollars could be traded in for up to $4,500, and people would be crazy not to take advantage of the program.

A few caveats need to be reviewed. In continuing funding for the program, Congress needs to re-address the qualifications to make sure the program does not run out of money so quickly. The program was expected to last a few months, but to run out of money in a few days is astounding.

Secondly, what will happen to the auto industry once the program ends? Car sales will plummet to levels lower than what was before since a huge number of sales will surely reduce the number of car buyers immediately after. We cannot continue this program indefinitely.

Finally, is it fair for the taxpayers to further subsidize a small segment when the money could be used to help other disadvantaged indus-tries?

Jon Shimamoto | Mililani

STATE DEFICIT

RHOADS FLAWED ON 'SHARED SACRIFICE'

It looks as though Rep. Karl Rhoads has "come out of the closet" and now displays that he supports a "redistribution of wealth" policy leading toward socialism. Claiming that the governor's approach to reduce Hawai'i's deficit (furloughs for government employees) is shielding the rich from "shared sacrifice" is critically flawed.

What about "shared sacrifice" for the many bosses of our local labor unions who make excessive executive pay ("As unions struggle, leaders' pay goes up," Aug. 2)? These leaders don't even produce anything to our economy, yet they enjoyed a 9.4 percent salary hike last year. Rep. Rhoads supports an increase in tax, and argues that "state workers did not cause this recession and they provide services."

Well, neither did the private sector, yet the private sector provides the "engine" for economic growth. You don't penalize those who fuel that "engine." Rep. Rhoads is the chairman of the state House Labor and Public Employment Committee, so where do you think he is coming from? Follow the money, and don't take his comments too seriously.

Phil Powers | Honolulu

WITH RHOADS, PUBLIC LUCKY IT'S NOT WORSE

With Rep. Karl Rhoads, chairman of the state House Labor and Public Employment Committee, the taxpaying public is lucky the public employee unions are not receiving wage increases to tide them over these tough times.

The furloughs recommended by Gov. Lingle are the only way to treat all public employees equally, because percentage wage reductions apply equally to all union members.

Layoffs, on the other hand, allow those union members with a maximum of seniority, the highest pay grades and the most power in the labor union, to bump the lowest-paid members out of their jobs.

To make matters worse, when the senior members begin performing the lower-paid job, they are still paid their previously high pay grade salary.

Only Rhoads could suggest that this is fair.

Public employee unions spent money on television ads telling us how great they were, so it's really disconcerting to find the leaders and senior members of the union are perfectly willing to sacrifice the lowest-paid union workers to protect their own interests.

Marian Grey | Hawai'i Kai

OCEAN AQUACULTURE

DISEASE, OTHER RISKS NOT EASILY DISMISSED

Jay Fidell ("Hawai'i has a lot to gain from open ocean aquaculture," Aug. 2) stated that critics of ocean aquaculture are "completely wrong."

Apparently we, as citizens and consumers, should just believe the aquaculture industry that there will be no escapes, that disease transmission both within and outside the cages will be kept under control, and that 'ahi aquaculture will keep wild 'ahi stocks from becoming overfished.

And I guess we should just believe the meat industry that hamburger and chicken is always safe, that farmed Atlantic salmon never infects wild stock with parasites and diseases, and that consumers will like the farmed product so much they will forgo the wild-caught fish, allowing stocks to recover.

Right. And I have some beachfront property to sell you about 500 yards in front of famous Waikiki.

Robert Schmidt | Manoa