Let higher-ups sweat until schools are cool
The situation of
hot classrooms at Campbell High School as well as other public schools are reported in the March 10 issue of the Star-Bulletin is unacceptable. I call upon the governor, both houses of the Legislature as well as the Department of Education to turn off the air conditioning of your offices and work spaces until ALL public schools are properly air conditioned.
Doing so will show your commitment and solidarity with our keiki, to provide them with the best and safest learning environment.
Ron Yasui
Honolulu
The need for rail to Leeward is obvious
I live in the fastest-growing area in the state, the Leeward Coast. Our infrastructure, especially transportation, hasn't always kept up, and that has caused some growing pains.
There's lots of momentum for rail now, and we are closer than ever to building the transit project we so desperately deserve. There is no reason to doubt its need; just try getting from downtown to West Oahu on any afternoon.
But as a Leeward resident, it bothers me when I hear the vocal minority who live mostly in East Honolulu or the Windward side says they don't want the train built because they will never ride it. Now they are saying just do with more buses instead.
Perhaps someday soon they will find they want or need to get to the "new city" of Kapolei, and maybe more often than they realized. And they will wish for a rail line to serve their communities. Well, they'll just have to stand in line.
Tyson Baisac
Ewa Beach
Some people try too hard to oppose rail
I am enjoying reading the letters that seem to find new ways to oppose rail transit.
The arguments against rail are almost comical, and "Chicken Little-esque." Let's see, what happens to rail in a tsunami? What about a hurricane? And when global warming causes our shoreline to recede all the way to the rail stations, what then?
They must have forgotten about tornadoes and blizzards, too. Never know when one of those will hit Oahu and knock out our transit service.
Now they say it's the noise from rail transit. Let me tell you, rail will be a lot quieter than a new highway, especially when those big trucks and tour buses come barreling down past you.
Beth Cole
Ewa Beach
Put slot machines at Honolulu airport
Slot machines in Hawaii hotels is a bad idea. Slot machines in the boring passenger areas of the Honolulu airport would bring in $80 million a year -- a good idea. Residents couldn't go to the airport to gamble since nobody can get past the guards without an airline ticket.
Sitting and waiting for your plane to arrive is boring ... I have waited many times. Machines could be covered in bamboo, with pineapples and coconuts on the spinning reels. In other words, it wouldn't be Las Vegas chrome and noise.
If the coming recession reduces Hawaii tourism from 6 million to 4 million it might be good to have another $80 million in tourist revenue. Or is that something that can't happen?
Edward Kelly
Lake Isabella, Calif.
Yes, animal lovers care about people, too
I would like to respond to Joe Gedan's thought-provoking comment on the public getting upset about animal abuse, but turning away from human abuse ("
According to Joe," March 7).
I think you will find that those of us who stand up for animals do the same for people. We not only will pull our car off the road to stop someone who is kicking their dog, but will talk to an adult verbally abusing a child in the mall and will help an elderly person who seems to being having difficulty.
In other words, we stand up for all the defenseless, sentient beings with whom we share this planet. Unfortunately, there's a lot of work to be done.
Judy Mick
Kailua
Target greedy plaintiffs, lawyers
I approve of medical tort reform bills. While it might be legitimate to hold medical practitioners accountable in some measure for proved gross negligence (as determined by both their peers and gathered evidence), the malpractice liability suits have gotten way out of hand. My wife and I have experienced a urologist and an OBGYN leaving practice at least in part because of excessive malpractice liability costs. In the rural area of Kau on the Big Island, where we live, it is hard to attract local physicians and registered nurses because their income is lower here but their liability insurance remains high.
The fault lies primarily with laws that don't restrict the unscrupulous demands of some lawyers and patients that are unjustified and far out of proportion to need. This robs other patients of access to ever scarcer medical resources. What the law really should do is penalize both plaintiffs and their lawyers who flaunt reason and compassion in favor of pure greed.
Robert Williams
Naalehu, Hawaii