Task force gives to the rich;
On behalf of big business and the state's wealthy, I'd like to thank the Economic Revitalization Task Force for its recommendations: a fat increase in state-funded marketing for big hotel chains, tax breaks for the rich and an excise tax hike for the rest, with a politician's promise of tax credits, presumably, to replace the personal tax credits removed by the Legislature two years ago.
takes from the little guyThese measures should have the added benefit of finally putting those irksome small-business owners out of their misery and will give our state's economy a shot in the arm, or the foot, or something.
Mike Colgan
Higher taxes will mean
It's appalling too see how little insight the governor of Hawaii has into the state's principal industry, tourism.
fewer visitors to islesIf the e-mail we receive is any indication, there's one major problem that visitors and potential visitors have with coming to Hawaii: cost. For Governor Cayetano to claim that increased taxes mean nothing to visitors demonstrates how far removed he and his office are from the very industry that keeps the state chugging along.
When is the last time Cayetano sat down with actual visitors on a regular basis to ask them what they think?
Raise taxes on tourists? BIG mistake.
Richard Sullivan
Driving & Discovering Hawaii
Electronic Magazine
Los Angeles
(Via the Internet)
Full text of the Governor's
Economic Task Force recommendations.
Kekaula couldn't get away
I feel compelled to comment about Robert Kekaula's recent firing from his perch as sports director at KHNL-TV, and more specifically about Paul Arnett's sympathy for him (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 24).
with grabbing producerIt's interesting that Arnett's column started with Kekaula's interaction with some school kids. If we want to teach our young people that there are no serious consequences for violent behavior, then let Kekaula get away with a slap on the wrist. Put him back on TV and let him lash out at someone again. That'll teach 'em.
Arnett says that Kekaula "did not let his young and enthusiastic admirers know that life as he knew it was over." What a shame. If Kekaula wanted to influence them in a positive way, he should have acknowledged his actions and (at the time) the possible consequences. What an incredible teaching moment he had. Yet the butter-fingered receiver let the ball slip away.
Arnett is critical of KHNL manager John Fink, who made the very difficult but right move in terminating his volatile employee.
The manager of a station has the responsibility of getting the ratings as high as possible. And Kekaula surely has an ability to attract an audience. But it's not all about ratings. Fink also has a responsibility to the other people who work for him. What kind of signal would he be sending to his other employees by being soft on violent behavior in the work place? There is no place for it.
It's all about priorities. Fink and KHNL have their priorities in line.
I'm not so sure about Arnett.
Michael Shishido
(Via the Internet)
Kekaula was best reason
Paul Arnett's Oct. 24 column, "Local sports won't be the same without Kekaula," is absolutely right! Without Robert Kekaula at KHNL Channel 8, there's no reason to watch its newscast. Local news is local news, but sports without Robert Kekaula ain't local sports reporting.
to watch KHNL newscastThe station erred in its judgment by giving Robert and his producer the boot instead of a suspension. He admitted he was wrong in getting physical with his producer. But the station management's knee-jerk reaction firing was not appropriate either.
I hope another local station takes advantage of KHNL's mistake and puts Robert back on the air quickly.
Vince Shahayda
Ford Island
(Via the Internet)
Here's ultimate solution
We sure can ignore the need for more prison space. I'm tired of my tax dollars going to build more prisons and other programs that don't benefit the majority populace one iota.
to lack of prison spaceMr. Foley and Mr. Kaneshiro: Do you want adequate jail space? Easy, just do what many of the working people of our state do -- add extra shifts.
Half of the prisoners should have the day shift, and sleep at night. The rest would have the night shift and sleep during the day. Cruel and unusual? I don't think so, because many taxpayers have had to do it for years.
Got still more prisoners? Then add a graveyard shift.
Larry Solomon
Kaneohe
(Via the Internet)
Are teachers in charge—
The Star-Bulletin's Oct. 27 article about a Maui school teacher who was reprimanded for allegedly striking a student is disturbing. This incident makes me wonder who is the real victim.
or unruly students?Why are unruly and disrespectful students allowed to go unpunished? The superintendent and school principal should have been there to prevent an escalation of the problem. Isn't that one of their jobs? They must ensure and restore order in the classroom for conducive learning.
I am sure the administrators know who the problem students are, and they should have been at the school to create an amicable resolution for the student and teacher.
It was easier for them to let the teacher deal with the problem alone. It's doubly easy for weak administrators to reprimand a teacher as opposed to dealing with a rebel student. It appears that the teacher erred in frustration, while working in good faith to restore order in the classroom.
I disagree with using corporal punishment when other methods are available. But teachers should not be left to deal with these situations unsupported.
Edmund Lee
(Via the Internet)
Bishop Estate Archive
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