Don't like the bus? Take a walk instead
I have been reading the letters responding to Ray Graham's
Jan. 1 letter about how he had to wait an hour and 40 minutes for various buses to get to Waikiki from the Ward Theater Complex.
It's only about a three mile walk; he could have done the walk in an hour or less and gotten some nice exercise in, as well.
Ann Pobutsky
Honolulu pedestrian at-large
Leash might spare future doggie drama
I was thrilled to read of the reuniting of Missy the Pomeranian (
Star-Bulletin, Jan. 11) and her owner! The anguish the owner must have felt is unimaginable to me since I, too, have an older dog. However, one point has been omitted in all the coverage: The dog has always been off leash on public property. I drive by Sue's Mini Mart almost daily and the dog is roaming around in front of the store with no leash.
The reason Hawaii has a leash law is for the protection of people and dogs. Had Missy been on a leash, maybe this incident would not have happened, but all's well that ends well.
AnnaMaria Preston
Honolulu
Let the people decide their rate of taxation
The proposed amendment to the City Charter to cap property taxes at the 2004 level is the best. Let the people and not the politicians and bureaucrats be the ones to choose the level of taxation. If there's a need to increase taxes let the people make the choice through another charter update.
Property taxes have run amok and something needs to be done to permanently rein them in. This charter change is the best yet.
Ruben R. Reyes
Waipahu
Money can be better spent at DOE
It is obvious that early childhood education is a great asset to social and academic development. But now we have to ask ourselves if we can "afford" it.
As the state is learning, throwing more money and positions at the Department of Education isn't "reinventing" our public schools. Can we expect to provide an adequate preschool foundation for Hawaii's keiki if we cannot care for the essential, core public education system?
Kristi Sue-Ako
Kakaako
If it's good enough for elephants ...
Some people argue that marijuana use causes cannabinoid psychosis, brain damage, birth defects, schizophrenia, criminal behavior, short-term memory loss and that marijuana use is addictive. This is all sheer hog manure. Why are not 47 percent of the American population afflicted with all these maladies?
If marijuana is addictive, then where are the bank robberies and stolen car rings because of marijuana addiction? Where are the young harlots turning "tricks" so they can get their "fixes" of marijuana?
I think the federal "drug czar" dreams up manure to sling about the marijuana. Therefore, since the drug czar slings the manure, I will sling a little also. According to the Leary study of some years ago, a group of elephants were given large doses of marijuana for years at a time to see if they would suffer from short-term memory loss. The elephants did not forget anything.
The conclusion of the Leary study was that marijuana did not cause short-term memory loss.
Phil Robertson
Honolulu