Editorial should have offered solutions
"The city needs a contingency plan" for a sewage spill greater than anything we've been faced with before, exclaims your
March 29 editorial, yet it goes on and on and on without even a hint at what such a contingency plan should be. Your editorial is at least as irresponsible as the city's contingency planning.
Bill Thomas
Honolulu
Officials needlessly put people at risk
I am appalled the mayor of Honolulu and the governor both allowed and/or approved the
dumping of raw sewage into the Ala Wai Canal, and subsequently our oceans, showing a total disregard for the safety of the people as well as the environment. Afraid to inconvenience residents and businesses was the reason (excuse?) given. Having lived on the Ala Wai Canal, I would have gladly been inconvenienced as opposed to seeing this ill-considered action put into effect. The city is now "investigating" the 108,000 gallons of sewage that has leaked from a Sand Island treatment plant. Will the city investigate its own raw-sewage dumping and hold those making that poor, irresponsible decision accountable? I doubt it. The residents, businesses and visitors have been betrayed by authority for the sake of ease.
State health authorities knew for an extra day that the waters were unsafe (200 times higher than acceptable levels), and yet held back the information. Instead of erring on the side of safety with an immediate posting of warnings and closing of beaches, officials put thousands of people at risk and exposure to raw sewage. Absolutely unacceptable and appalling!
Two days too late and too stupid to believe. What happens with the next occurrence?
Lee Wheeler
Kihei, Maui
Smaller is better with Homeland Security
At last, proof that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is actually making progress with regard to protecting our children from Internet sex predators.
Who would have guessed that progress would come about by simply decreasing the size of the Homeland Security Department by one person?
The arrest and removal of the department's deputy press secretary, Brian J. Doyle, on Tuesday for "using the Internet to seduce a 14-year-old girl and transmission of harmful materials to a minor" will no doubt make the children of our nation a bit safer.
When it comes to U.S. government agencies, smaller is better!
Stann W. Reiziss
Kailua
Tourism pushes families into street
The houseless crisis proves one thing: we must change the way we do things. We need to seriously re-evaluate our priorities. A good start: actually caring more about the people in our community and less about the division between "mine" and "yours." Who cares if they have paid taxes, these are human beings -- children, grandparents, working parents -- who all deserve respect.
Next, we need to get over our obsession with serving up Hawaii as a luxury tourist destination. Faking like we're paradise has pushed the cost of living to an absurdity and driven hard-working families out on the street.
We need to freeze all luxury developments, at least until we have enough affordable housing for every person who needs it. That includes people who have to choose between paying bills or rent each month, people who have to live with their family or friends because rent is too high, and the 6,000 people who passed that point long ago and now have no house to live in at all.
Marti Townsend
Kaimuki
Homeless should not take over the parks
I agree with the city's move to
push the homeless out of Ala Moana Beach Park (I think it should be expanded to the Waianae coast, too). The homeless here have plenty of options for work and to get themselves back on their feet, they simply choose not to or have just given up.
When you walk to Ala Moana, you see people with their tents pitched, carts stacked sky-high with cans, sticks and the like. It puts down the park experience for everyone else who works hard and pays taxes to keep these parks clean and enjoyable.
Ben Robinson
Honolulu