Senate tried to find balance
on privatization issue

I would like to clarify the Senate's position on the privatization issue. The Senate gave this complex, highly charged issue immediate attention and worked hard to propose emergency relief.

Our objective was to find a balance between the counties' desire for blanket authority to privatize services and the need to protect public employees from the effects of privatization, as validated by the Supreme Court's decision in Konno vs. County of Hawaii.

The priority was to deal directly with the concerns of all stakeholders. We proposed giving the state and counties a two-year blanket exemption for all existing contracts and any entered into before July 1, 1999.

Our bill listed specific current disputes between the state and counties and the public-employee unions, and excluded them from this blanket exemption so that the parties could settle their differences without legislative intervention.

Our bill proposed that the governor convene a task force to review the privatization issue and that it report to the 1998 Legislature with proposals to resolve the disputes resulting from the Konno decision. The measure also asked the legislative auditor to consult with the attorney general on any improper personal-services contracts.

The Senate's bill allowed reasonable time to bring stakeholders together to address concerns while preserving the integrity of the civil service laws. We cannot allow emotions and fears to put a stranglehold on our way of life. We must work together to iron out differences in order to provide needed services for the people of Hawaii.

Norman Mizuguchi
State Senate President

Speedy Hawaii drivers push
visitors past comfortable limit

My sister and I have returned home after a week's visit to your state. We really enjoyed our stay -- lots of fun, sun and entertainment. But the one thing that really bothered me was the traffic.

I come from the Pacific Northwest and traffic can sometimes get a little hairy, but I always manage to stay within five miles of the speed limit.

On Maui, I felt like I was being pushed all over the island. When the speed limit was 35 mph, and I was doing between 35-40, people rode my bumper and flashed their lights.

Being from out of state, I was in no mood to get a speeding ticket just because someone else was running late for whatever function -- and it seemed that everyone was late for something.

This problem was not so bad on Oahu, but I was still amazed at how many people disregarded the traffic laws over there. Everyone was running red lights, including our tour bus driver.

In spite of this one area of frustration, we both had a very good time while we were there. I am looking forward to my next visit and will be better prepared for the traffic issue.

Tina Bailey
Kirkland, Wash.
(Via the Internet)

Governor is too defensive
about magazine's criticism

The cry-baby excuses that the governor gave in response to the June 2 Forbes magazine article show someone who will never learn from his or government's mistakes, because he will just blame someone or something else.

If Cayetano would open his eyes from dreamland, he would notice that everything the article states is cold, hard fact.

Of all things, he should think about the future, not by trying to direct it but by nurturing it!

Neal Sakumoto
(Via the Internet)

Forbes writer knew more
about Hawaii than locals

The summary of the Forbes' article in your June 2 Money Monday section, especially about Hawaii's problems, was right on the mark.

Although the author apparently spoke to a limited number of sources, he was able to accurately pinpoint the source of our troubles. They are, in fact, self-generated, and I see little evidence -- certainly none from the last legislative session -- to indicate that things will change in the near future.

It was also interesting to read Gary Rodrigues' pooh-poohing of the article. His line that "(the author) just doesn't understand what's happening in Hawaii" has become a standard for local pundits responding to negative criticism.

I don't know whether Rodrigues has ever been in business either within or outside of Hawaii (as I recall his history, he has not) but I have. Let me assure him and others who parrot this theme that there's nothing that unique about Hawaii.

Business is business. The same forces apply and the same negative factors will affect the results, regardless of where you are.

R.W. Parkinson
(Via the Internet)

Teachers are doing work
that belongs to parents

On Mother's Day, I stopped by my 5th-grade classroom to drop off some supplies. I thought of my students and wondered what they were doing to celebrate this special day with their moms.

As I walked into the room, I looked around in horror at the shambled state of my once neat and orderly room. We had been robbed and, to add insult to injury, the thieves had defecated all over, desecrating our sanctuary of learning.

Custodians and teachers had to clean up the mess. A teacher had to counsel students to help them cope with the crisis.

Where are the mothers of these individuals who disrupted our learning and violated our rights?

Teachers are continually faced with experiences like this. Yet week after week, they sacrifice hours of personal time, energy and money in preparation for helping students to succeed. We mother them, love them and teach them the skills necessary to survive because we care.

Our society puts so much responsibility on teachers that we just can't do it all. Where are the mothers? When did parenting switch from a mother's responsibility to a teacher's?

L. Flores
Public school teacher
Laie

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Same-sex archive

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