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Tuesday, June 6, 2000
Passage of pay raises shows need for change
Regarding pay raises for city officials, your June 2 issue reported that City Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura's resolution to reject most of the raises failed to move out of the Council's Budget Committee, which means it will not get before the full Council before the 60-day deadline." 'We didn't have consensus in our committee,' said Budget Chairwoman Rene Mansho. 'Without having agreement among the three members present, the measure was deferred.' "
Well, isn't this just a classic case of procedural shibai?
It's time for completely new City Council members, mayor and members of the Salary Commission. These people have bound themselves up in such a wad of red tape that electoral scissors are the only way to restore their senses.
As a voter, I will do my part to help them recover from this malady, as I step into the voting booth next time around.
Robert "Rabbett" Abbett
Kailua
SUV haters should leave Cayetanos alone
I have never seen such wasted space in a newspaper as all the letters to the editor criticizing the governor's and first lady's choice of vehicular transportation.It's alarming that some who choose not to drive sport utility vehicles for their own reasons can be so intolerant of those who differ. I drive a compact car, but I don't chastise the Cayetanos for deciding on SUVs.
I, too, am concerned with the environment so I understand where the opposition is coming from. But to imply that SUVs are unsafe for all and that everyone on this island should be driving smaller vehicles is offensive.
The part that bothers me the most, though, is that now I have become yet another contributor to this waste of space on the SUV controversy.
Kathryn Kam
Lots of support puts computers in schools
In her front-page May 23 article, "A mouse in the house," reporter Suzanne Tswei aptly pointed out the shortage of computers in many local schools. Although it is disheartening that Hawaii is among the 10 worst states in student access to computers, we should applaud the outstanding efforts of parents, teachers and community members who work hard to ensure that these statistics aren't worse.In the face of limited budgets, they look for other opportunities within our community to obtain the computers that are so critical in education today.
In the 12 years that Foodland has offered schools the opportunity to earn computer equipment through our "Shop For Better Education" program, I've been impressed by the dedication of school representatives who have volunteered their time and energy to earn computers.
What's more, I have been overwhelmed by the tremendous and continually growing support from our community. This year, more than 100,000 Maikai members participated in helping their favorite schools, enabling Foodland to give more than $700,000 in computers and related equipment to 344 Hawaii schools. This brings our 12-year total to more than $5.4 million.
Jenai Sullivan Wall
President and Chief Executive Officer
Foodland Super Market Ltd.
Quotables
"I'd give anything in the world
to bring them home
with me." Linda "Fritz" McKenzie
MILILANI RESIDENT On babies at an orphanage in Croatia, which she
has visited every summer since 1993 to serve as
a camp counselor to children traumatized by war
"We have Project Graduation
so they don't have accidents after
graduation. Now we need something
for the three or four hours
before graduation." Gilmore Youn
PRINCIPAL OF KAPAA HIGH SCHOOL After a Kauai automobile accident in which
two Kapaa juniors were killed just minutes after
noon last Friday, when school let out
for graduating seniors
Cal Thomas follows lead of Time magazine
Congratulations to syndicated columnist Cal Thomas, who appears to have lifted his June 3 syndicated column, "Danforth would help GOP ticket," directly from Time magazine. The less we hear about Thomas' own investigations and analyses, the better.Bret Heilig
Kailua
Mr. Mick is effective teacher of safety
During the past eight years, Mickey "Mr. Mick" Campaniello of the Someone Special Program has visited 380 different schools. He has brought free materials (Mr. Mick's Safety Activity Book, I Am Someone Special magnetic picture frame, I Am Special sticker, class book, class safety puzzle, playground ball and a class poster) to more than 100,000 children statewide.We truly appreciate the efforts of director/performer Campaniello and corporate sponsor HMSA for their generosity and the positive impact they've made on Hawaii's keiki.
The following letters, written by kindergarteners at Nuuanu Elementary, are about Mr. Mick.
Linda Kato
Kindergarten Teacher
Nuuanu Elementary School
Mr. Mick says do not play with matches. Put on your seat belt. Do not go on the road and do not drink colorful water. I like the show.
Jordan Kondo
Jordan Teraoka
Travis Sabatino
Chloe Greer
Memories and more last after graduation
Reading Senior Editor Diane Chang's June 2 column was like attending a reunion. As an expatriate and daily reader of the online edition of the Star-Bulletin, I was touched by Chang's sentimental reminiscences and advice to Hawaii high school graduates.I couldn't help but see the metaphor she was building: that, as we graduate on to new situations and opportunities, we can keep our common bonds alive through friendships and our love for the islands.
K.C. Anderson
San Antonio, Texas
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