Don't shed tears for well-paid judges

Once again I'm prompted to write because of a sense of frustration over the issue of judicial pay. Oh, the poor judges. So they can't make it on $80,000 a year, and they'll leave if they don't get their way? So let 'em.

Perhaps it's time to get intelligent non-lawyer types into the courts anyway, and start to bring a little common sense to the system, not lawyerese. I know plenty of very intelligent individuals who would make excellent judges. They know right from wrong, and when they are being flim-flammed by criminals and slick lawyers.

Judges should realize that government and the law were created by and for the people, not the other way around. So, I say again, if you can't make it on $80,000 annually, take a hike.

Arlang Parnell
Sunset Beach
Via the Internet

More could have been done on assisted living

I was pleased to read Jerry Tune's May 7 article on assisted living, an idea I tried to achieve using subsidized housing resources some 30 years ago when I was the executive director of the Hawaii Council for Housing Action. Our rents were in the low hundreds a month! But the then short-sighted FHA director said that no supportive services could be provided, as these units must be independent.

One proposed project was to have been above a shopping center, so residents could do basic shopping by taking the elevator down to the shopping center level. Also, we were going to include one meal a day with a "buddy check," to be sure that if someone did not come to the meal, a check would be made to find out why. Also, the meal program would have been in a small dining room that would have doubled as a social area -- so vitally needed by our seniors.

Unfortunately, this project was taken away from HCHA, and now just the shopping center exists there.

D. Richard Neill
Aiea
Via the Internet

Quotables "We need more entertainers out here. A lot of singers have really lost that class, the way they dress, their mannerisms on stage, their patter with the audience." Melveen Leed Singer and five-time Hoku Award winner On the need to increase the amount of professional entertainment in Waikiki "Lovisa was scared. It was dark. Through Murphy's Law, the shot hit the woman in the head and she died." Dana Ishibashi Attorney for Lovisa Rauch, 17 Describing how his client tried to break up a fight with her Waialua neighbors by firing a gun, resulting in the death of 62-year-old Julia Alameida

Five freshman senators should be ashamed

The Star-Bulletin's May 17 front-page puff piece about the five freshman state senators read like something they had put together to make us forget that they erred in voting against Attorney General Margery Bronster's confirmation. The story should have pointed out that they were not smart enough to put the public first, and therefore should not be in office:

Sen. David Matsuura doesn't see any conflict in his voting the Bishop Estate party line, even though he makes money off a contract with the estate.
Sen. Jonathan Chun thinks we are going to buy his rhetoric about needing to learn how to "work with other people."
Sen. Jan Buen says she really "wanted to come here and deliver for the people."
Sen. Bob Nakata admittedly "got even" with Bronster because his friend lost his job.
And Sen. Colleen Hanabusa smugly says, "We've got three more years," as if the public will forget.

These senators make the point that they are not a part of the "overall Senate team," as if that makes them any better. There was some truth in the statement, as they are being written off as no better than anyone else.

Keith Haugen
Via the Internet

Reckless drivers must be held accountable

Your May 12 articles on speeding cast light on only one facet of a larger problem: Driving is not taken seriously. Autos, as potentially lethal weapons, are more akin to firearms than they are to the family toaster.

Much of the behavior referred to as "aggressive" can cause a person to be charged with reckless driving, a serious offense. How many of these citations are issued per year? How many people are cited for tailgating, failure to yield the right of way, failure to keep right, running red lights and "driving the cell phone" inattentively?

Although these cannot be easily quantified with a speed gun, they are dangerous acts that often put other drivers at risk. By contrast, a lone speeding motorist on an empty interstate endangers only himself and his insurance rates.

To cut down on the sheer volume of traffic, and to remove unsafe drivers from their autos, we should encourage bicycling and walking, build mass transit and put some teeth into driving competency examinations.

Khal Spencer
President, Hawaii Bicycling League
Via the Internet

Ron was a Bright star dating back to the '50s

What many people don't realize about Ron Bright (Star-Bulletin, May 27) is that, in addition to his stage credentials, he was one of the pioneers of early Hawaii television. He was one of the hosts of the TV show "Campus Canteen," which ran locally in the early 1950s. The show featured a malt shop set with teens and music.

As Hawaii television approaches its 50th birthday (in the year 2002), people like Bright should be applauded for their early contributions to the medium.

Wayne Maeda
Via the Internet

Camera captured director's persona

Lights! Camera! Action! "I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille." Photographer Dennis Oda is to be congratulated for his dynamic and creative photo of Ron Bright in the foyer of the Hilton Hawaiian Village (Star-Bulletin, May 27).

As a former photographer in Hawaii for more than 20 years, I had the privilege of knowing and working with Bright in various Honolulu theater group productions. It was delightful for Oda's camera eye to capture, for all of us to view, Ronnie's kolohe side.

Stan Rivera
Van Nuys, Calif.
Via the Internet

A garland of flowers for story on lei-makers

As a veteran and a longtime visitor to Hawaii (who feels more like a resident), I would like to thank you for the May 28 story about the Wilson Elementary students making leis for Punchbowl Cemetery on Memorial Day. Last year I went to Punchbowl and it was a wonderful experience.

Vern Orr
Mesa, Ariz.

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