Mayor blew it when he blamed predecessor
I am glad that Cynthia Oi wrote about Mayor Hannemann's handling of the sanitation problems that now face our city (
"Under the Sun," Star-Bulletin, April 12). I wish she had taken the gloves off, however. I do not like the way the mayor has handled the sanitation crisis. He has blamed the entire mess on someone else, and in doing so, he has alienated many voters. The mayor could have rallied the citizens for support in coping with the issue, but instead he sloughed it off by talking about the former mayor's faults. He chose to think about himself, not the community. Big mistake.
The fact is that the 1994 sewage main break at Sand Island was a clarion call for help, but no one paid enough attention -- including the mayor. As his first fiscal act after inauguration, he approved large monetary contract increases for two public employee unions. Now we all can see that he should have earmarked funds for sanitation upgrades instead.
Look, I voted for the guy. But now, after he blamed others for his neglect, I do not trust him with my money. And what's worse, I would ordinarily be the first in line responding to a call for help in this crisis, but not when the mayor is concentrating his efforts instead on covering his okole.
Norm Scott
Kailua
Residents could have cut their water use
I could have helped. I could have used Lysol after No. 1 and only flushed after No. 2. I could have postponed doing my laundry. I could have taken a sponge bath or shorter showers. I could have used a waterless hand cleaner. I could have easily cut my sewer use by two-thirds if someone had asked me to.
We could have told our visitors that we have an emergency so please help us save our beaches. A little inconvenient but a much better vacation.
If we had cut our sewer use by two-thirds, instead of having to run 70 tanker loads per hour, we would have to do 25. Is that doable? Maybe, maybe not, but we could try.
This is my city, this is my home; so if someone had asked me, I would have helped. Next time, please ask.
Warren Higa
Honolulu
Parents, class size make the difference
Writer John Thatcher II of Hilo (
Letters, April 9) asks us to "go figure" how it is that while charter schools get half the amount of money that regular public schools do, charter school students do just as well on tests as students in public schools do.
I'm a retired public school teacher (Michigan), but I don't believe that one has to be a teacher to realize the advantage charter schools have -- smaller class sizes, plus another factor that people like to ignore. That advantage is parental involvement.
Parents who make conscious choices regarding their children's education are probably parents who care, who guide, who teach ... all factors that make for greater success in their children's lives, educational and otherwise. Both these factors have been proven by numerous studies to be key factors in school success.
Shirley Parola
Honolulu
Sky's not falling because of ethanol
Regarding Mike Rethman's
April 13 letter concerning the statewide implementation of ethanol, it should be noted that ethanol is used as an oxygenating agent in gasoline. MTBE is the agent that has been typically used for the purpose, but its use has been outlawed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Ethanol is the most economical and environmentally friendly alternative, and it will replace MTBE in gasoline nationwide by the end of May.
We're all in the same boat on this one. If it's any consolation, I filled my truck with E10 this week, and have run through about a half tank since. My engine runs more smoothly and appears to be achieving better fuel economy with the new mix. Hope you get the same results.
Erick Ahlgren
Kailua
Loyalty to nation doesn't rely on religion
In Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, given in 1863 during the Civil War between the Northern and Southern states, it is interesting that in the closing sentence, repeated below, Lincoln included the words "under God."
"It is for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."
There are religious reasons for having "under God" in the address, and for having added it into the Pledge of Allegiance, and that is the crux of the arguments for and against having that phrase included. The effort to unite this nation, or the pledge to have allegiance (loyalty) to this nation, does not depend on being religious; one can be devout, or have no religion, or worship the devil, and still pursue the intent of the address, and to have allegiance, loyalty, to one's nation.
Ted Chernin
Honolulu
Not all homeless deserve public's help
In these times it is increasingly more difficult to make ends meet, and it is not getting any easier. We are all at risk for becoming homeless, but it is not our responsibility to take care of anyone but ourselves and our families. The few who need public assistance can be weeded out through interviews and drug and alcohol screening, and the remainder left to fend for themselves. If you choose to abuse drugs, including alcohol, and it leaves you with nothing, then get clean and get a job. Simple. Take some responsibility for your actions and choices.
I have sympathy for the true needy, but none for the lazy. Maybe the state and city should give them jobs instead of handouts.
Kapena Hill
Hana, Maui