CURRENT STANCE NOT PROTECTING MEMBERS

How are the unions protecting their members by taking a stance that's going to get some laid off? Aren't they supposed to protect all the members? Seems like they are willing to leave a few out to dry.

The budget deficit is way more than 5 percent. Heck, my company cut me back 25 percent in January. My wife is in a state employee union. These union leaders should put it to a vote, because I don't think their current stance is too popular!

D. Crisp | Foster Village

UNIONS ARE NOT HELPING WORKERS

People, wise up. If people are laid off, blame the unions. Gov. Lingle wanted furloughs (fewer hours, etc., but workers would still have a job and medical). It's the unions that are doing you in.

They are trying to fight the governor and what you will get is laid off because of them. They are supposed to be there for you, but it sure doesn't look or sound like it. As I said, wise up to them before it's too late.

Adrienne L. Wilson-Yamasaki | Wahiawa

STATE BUDGET

FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEK COULD HELP

I have read of states that are going with a four-day school session and then adding one hour to each day. The children don't lose school studies, teachers don't lose that much of their pay and the savings is one day less of transportation, cafeteria, janitorial, etc. costs.

It would probably be worth it to total pros and cons and see how much money could be saved.

N. Baxter | Pearl City

DILLINGHAM FOUNTAIN

ROYAL COUPLE'S VISIT HAD AMAZING EFFECT

I was so thrilled when new benches sprang up across from the Dillingham Fountain. Grass was trimmed with care and mulch placed around trees that I had never seen in my lifetime. I was certain the good fairy had decided to show some love to this little piece of the park and that potholes in the road were sure to be patched soon. Maybe they might even resurface this little portion of Kalakaua that never gets any attention unless you count the thousands of vehicles and feet from tourists and locals alike.

Still smarting from the hike in parking fees recently bestowed, I was sure someone who writes work orders had realized maintenance of Kalakaua always stops shortly after the Kapahulu intersection. I was shocked when I learned it was all because Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko had come to visit the shower tree planted 50 years before.

The cost of extra security, crowd control, police overtime and helicopters will have a long wait before parking revenues will cover it rather than the budget shortfall earmarked for. Can he come back next month? Maybe he would bring our Japanese tourists back with him this time.

Veronica Gail Worth | Honolulu

SHARK FINNING

UNSUSTAINABLE FISHING INTOLERABLE

Why would any Island restaurant sell shark fin soup? Shark finning is a very cruel industry that catches sharks, usually with long lines, slicing off all fins, and the bodies are returned to the ocean for the shark to either bleed to death or drown. Most researchers agree that shark meat is so high in mercury that it is unsafe to consume. To sell the soup makes a loud statement: "We support this harmful and cruel unsustainable fishing industry."

Sharks globally are in deep trouble and their future looks grim. Research shows that the number of 100 million sharks annually slaughtered is now incorrect. We are now told it's about 28 million to 30 million. Quite simply, there are now fewer sharks out there.

It is illegal to fin sharks in Hawaiian waters, but it is not illegal to kill them. Finned sharks have been seen in Maui waters. Sure, these restaurants might have great stir-fry, lemon chicken and garlic spinach, but any restaurant that supports a fishing industry that will eventually cripple our oceans and bring about what is predicted to be a catastrophic collapse will not get my support, nor that of my friends and family.

Surely there are other restaurants that believe in sustainable fishing and cook accordingly, and they are very deserving of our support.

Katie Grove-Velasquez | Kihei, Maui

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

HAWAI'I DOE SET ITS OWN PROGRESS GOALS

Two-thirds of Hawai'i's schools failed to meet progress goals under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Officials of Hawai'i's Department of Education complain that those goals are unrealistically high. (Advertiser, July 17)

But it was not the federal government that set those goals. It was Hawai'i's DOE. NCLB requires states to do the following:

States will establish academic achievement goals by setting academic standards in core subjects and measuring progress using tests aligned to state standards.

States will set annual progress goals for school improvement, so all students can reach proficiency and no child is left behind. (U.S. Department of Education Web site).

Perhaps when Hawai'i's DOE set the goals years ago, DOE officials didn't realize they would eventually be held accountable to achieve them.

John Kawamoto | Honolulu

HOME VALUATION

NEW APPRAISAL RULES A THREAT TO HAWAI'I

What is HVCC — Home Valuation Code of Conduct — and why should Hawai'i homeowners be concerned?

Since May 1, mortgage brokers and loan officers across the nation can no longer order appraisals for their customers' home purchases or refinances. Now appraisals must be ordered from an independent department with a bank. The intent of this new law by Congress was to curb mortgage fraud.

After just two months, the HVCC is proving more destructive for residents wanting to sell, buy or refinance their homes rather than curbing mortgage fraud.

Today, home values are lower and lower because appraisers now are really working for the banks. Instead of appraisers justifying higher values for homeowners, they are justifying lower values for the banks.

As a result, sellers cannot sell at lower appraised values below market, buyers cannot buy unless they have larger cash down payments, and homeowners cannot refinance without equity.

Property values in Hawai'i risk being further devalued from the spiraling downward mechanism of the HVCC.

Congress must end the HVCC now, while Hawai'i is still worth something.

Bob Iinuma | Mortgage coach, Legacy Mortgage Inc.