It’s not high-three reform
if legislators still benefit
Who are they kidding?
Instead of putting an end to this egregious practice, sitting legislators merely ensure in Section 9 of the bill that any changes in the law will not apply to any of them!
Denying future members of the state Legislature a place at the public trough while still indulging yourself is hardly the "reform" that most of us had in mind.
It is sloppy work (or deliberate deception, take your pick) like this "bipartisan effort" that has the people of Hawaii up in arms over the games that legislators play.
If this measure passes as is, let's do our part to make sure that none of these people ever profit from this scheme.
Don Neill
Kailua
One man is determined
to clear pesky vines
Philodendrons are growing out of control up in Makiki Valley, stressing our stately trees by promoting tree-bark rot and cutting off sunlight.
Various ivies are choking smaller trees and bushes. What shall remain, if not treated, are brittle skeletons under a carpet of green.
I've decided to act unilaterally by cutting 3-foot swatches through the entangled philodendrons around the base of some of these stressed trees.
It takes about a week or two to notice the yellow of the dying philodendrons. I shall soon work on the ivies.
But I'm only a single volunteer. I urge everyone to adopt a stressed plant and cut away some of these opportunistic pests.
It's good physical exercise, it's good for the plant and it opens up the area, allowing breezes to clear away the mosquitoes.
Frederick C. Lee
Freezing property tax rates
is unfair to homeowners
Now that the trend seems to be in the opposite direction, Mayor Harris realizes it is true that what goes up must come down.
The rainy day is here. Responsible city officials would have prepared for this. Do not try to feed us the shibai that freezing the tax rate at last year's levels does not constitute raising taxes.
Reduced property values should spell tax relief for property owners. Please give us our day!
Donald A. Brown
Kapolei
(Via the Internet)
Rey Graulty’s appointment
as commish is heartening
As a senator and representative, Graulty authored many bills that were enacted and now serve the public well. His even-handedness and sense of fairness, however, were ruthlessly and shamelessly distorted in a massive campaign of lies that cost him his Senate seat. Ironically, the ideas that he offered for addressing the same-sex marriage issue are now the same ones being espoused.
We thank him for turning down the comforts and luxury of private law practice to again accept the sacrifices that come with honest public service.
Florian Flores
Waipahu
(Via the Internet)
Taxpayers got ripped off
in book-buying controversy
How long is it going to take to get this situation with Baker & Taylor resolved? Sylvia Mitchell hit the nail squarely on the head with her Feb. 1 View Point column. Why then is state librarian Bart Kane still trying to give this company more slack?
I'm a businessman and know that basic business protocol dictates that you always write an "escape clause" into a contract to protect and benefit your company, which in this case is the state.
Hence, why is it so difficult for Kane to liberate the people of Hawaii from this expensive mess?
Ten to one, if it were his own money, my "book" lays that even Kane himself wouldn't have ventured into a deal such as the one he made us pay for.
John Kim