Crazy situation reigns at new convention center
I need to see a shrink. We build a convention center with a beautiful rooftop garden and palatial area for conventioneers to mingle and enjoy a typical balmy evening outdoors. Then add a little island music to complement the whole experience. What's wrong with that?Well, somebody forgot to issue ear mufflers to nearby residents who retire early, because large groups of people have a tendency to generate noise.
My doctor's appointment is next Tuesday.
John L. Werrill
Outsider's view of Hawaii gave a clear picture
Concerning the View Point May 1 column: William Taylor has hit the nail squarely on the head. Maybe having it put in such simple terms from an "outsider" will get the attention of local legislators.But I really doubt it. They seem to have very short attention spans and very selective memory. After all, they seem to have trouble remembering which strip club they went to last.
John Jinnette
Kapolei
"Partial-birth' abortion bill should have passed
I'm writing because the Senate of the state of Hawaii would not bring to the floor the bill that would have banned partial-birth abortion.This is not a matter of pro-life or pro-choice, it is condoning murder. We can hold different positions about abortion, but this is I say again murder. Just look at the name partial birth, you know the procedure the baby is in the process of being born and is killed. How can we say this is a right? If this was happening to dogs, cats, dolphins, or humpback whales can you imagine the out cry? Who will cry out for the babies, I know I weep for those we have thrown away for our convenience or pleasure. Senators, I ask for those who cannot, why? If this form of killing is right, what will we do with those in our jails?
George Parton
Kapolei
Task force ideas can be savior of economy
Hawaii's economy needs to be improved and the Economic Revitalization Task Force package can accomplish this.In general, I support the package as a whole, including the increase in the general excise tax, which will be offset by income tax cuts. Adopting the entire package will help taxpayers, without hurting Hawaii's less fortunate families by cutting important government and social services.
Although I support the increase in the GET, more help should be given to lower income residents by exempting taxes on food, rent for primary residences, medicine, medical devices, and hospital services.
Curtis Harada
Kaneohe
Raising GET is fatal flaw in economic plan
Raising the GET is the most idiotic thing that the Legislature could do.If you lower one tax and then raise another, you have accomplished nothing. In even simpler terms, if you move the change from one pocket to the other, nothing has changed.
The economic revitilization plan does have some good ideas, but they are meaningless if the excise tax is raised. It is simply a way for the governor and legislators to act like they did something in an election year. It will accomplish nothing!
Here's an idea: cut government spending! Why not shift some of the government sevices to the private sector. This would bring in competition, which would mean lower prices and better service. It's a novel concept; it's called free enterprise.
Dalton Sinclair
Lahaina, Maui
Public worker benefits are much too generous
If the state and city really wanted to cut government costs, they would reduce benefits that government workers enjoy over their counterparts in private industry. Government workers currently enjoy 21 days of vacation and 21 days of sick leave per year, and full family coverage on medical insurance. In addition, these government employees are allowed to accrue these vacation and sick days.Government should bring these benefits more into line with private industry, such as 10-14 days of sick leave, 14 days of vacation, and medical insurance for individuals only. This would save hundreds of millions of dollars.
The problem is that, in order to do this, government has to negotiate with public unions like the HGEA and UPW.
Steve Sofos
(Via the Internet)
Foodland handles well closing of Kailua store
My husband and I are saddened to see the closing of Foodland's Kailua store. While shopping recently, we asked a clerk how the store's closing would impact the employees. The clerk told us that every employee was offered a transfer to another store, including the most recent person hired one month prior to the closing.The clerk could not say enough about how hard Foodland's management was working to ease the transition for employees. We were greatly impressed.
On top of this, yesterday's mail included a letter from Jenai Wall, president of Foodland, explaining the company's reasons for closing the Kailua store, along with special coupons to be used at other Foodland locations. Again, we were impressed at the personal attention.
In these disconcerting times of economic uncertainty, corporate downsizing and the influx of "big box" retailers from the mainland, it is comforting that a local company such would go the extra mile to take care of its employees and customers. We hope other companies facing this situation would handle it similarly.
Marcia Murakami
Kailua
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