Local ILWU is being unrealistic about pay

Your July 9 article about the International Longshore and Warehouse Union's work slowdowns should alert Hawaii residents to the devastating effects this union can cause on our already ailing economy. Our state is facing harmful cost-of-living increases due to the unrealistic demands of the ILWU in Hawaii.

The union wants the same benefits that mainland union workers receive. It is irrelevant to them that the Hawaii economy is in recession while the mainland's is booming.

This lack of consideration must be brought to the public's attention if we ever want to become a competitive state.

Julie Hassel
Via the Internet

Readers didn't need to see body of dead man

I was dismayed to realize how low the Star-Bulletin has stooped. Was it really necessary to publish a photo of the man murdered on the lawn at the Circuit Court building?

Have you no sense of decency? How about some empathy? That man has friends and family. I don't suppose you can possibly imagine how they must feel?

Such a photo has no place in a family newspaper. Shame on you!

Robin Makapagal
Kaneohe
Via the Internet

Congress is generous when it comes to itself

Can someone please explain why each member of Congress deserves a pay hike of $4,600 to an annual salary over $141,000? Meanwhile, while the representatives are giving themselves raises, most people in America are struggling to get by.

It is amazing how they can agree on raises but, when it comes to gun control, HMOs or anything else that matters to the people they represent, they just sit on their hands while making sure they protect the lobbyists on Capitol Hill who line their pockets with money.

Luke Meyers
Via the Internet

Quotables "We've been working for years to get educational prevention messages to the public...If 'Baywatch' does just one episode on Sandy Beach, it'll show that it's a great beach but also a place where you can get hurt. Think how many people the show reaches." Ralph Goto DIRECTOR OF HONOLULU'S OCEAN SAFETY DIVISION On the public relations effect of having "Baywatch" film in Hawaii "Even though I'm innocent, I expect the attorney general's office will continue their malicious attack because they have gone too far to stop now." Henry Peters FORMER BISHOP ESTATE TRUSTEE Accusing state investigators of conducting a "witch hunt" that led to his temporary removal as trustee

Full restoration is foolish idea

I am greatly relieved that the City Council is reconsidering support of the Natatorium restoration. There are many reasons to conclude that this is a misguided idea:

There is no need for a salt-water pool. Unlike when the Natatorium was built, there are many fresh-water pools throughout the city for those wishing sheltered swimming opportunities. Also, the memorial arch can be saved independently of the pool.

A salt-water pool would provide a poor swimming environment. The waters around the Natatorium are notoriously murky, so there is no way the water in the pool would be clear enough to see the bottom, a minimum safety requirement.

Water circulation will never be sufficient unless it becomes an open ocean environment. If the circulation is to be high enough to mimic an ocean environment, the Natatorium will have to be open enough to allow currents and surface waves. This is NOT the protected environment proposed.

Where will the funds come from to support the facility? We will need staff to clean, repair, serve as lifeguards, test the water and medically screen users. The Kapiolani Park staff is hard pressed to even keep the park's rest rooms clean and functional.

Residents and visitors want and need more beach space. We should be spending what funds we have to restore and expand the beaches in Waikiki.

Frank Sansone
Professor of Oceanography
University of Hawaii
Via the Internet

Natatorium foes have done much damage

Opponents of the restoration of the Waikiki Natatorium are probably crowing over their "victory," but they really should be ashamed. Because of them, we have:

Dishonored the memory of Hawaii's veterans by refusing to restore a World War I memorial to its original condition.

Deprived ourselves and our children of an enjoyable and valuable recreational facility.

Missed the chance to renew what was once one of Honolulu's most popular visitor attractions.

We commend Mayor Harris for fighting the good fight throughout this controversy. He held fast to his beliefs and refused to be swayed by short-sighted thinking or political pressure.

Bill Daves
President, Oahu Veterans Council
Haleiwa
Via the Internet

Just add Hawaiian names to streets

I agree with a lot of folks that the elimination of the Barbers Point street names would be a sad loss of a bit of 20th century Hawaiian history and our wonderful relationship with the U.S. Navy. It seems to me that an easy solution would be to add a Hawaiian prefix, suffix or second word to the existing names.

My Hawaiian vocabulary is very limited and my grammar non-existent, but how about streets named Moku Saratoga, Ka Enterprise, Aloha Barbers Point or Barbers Point Pau?

Jack Busekrus
Kailua
Via the Internet

People must defy religious zealots

There are a couple of same-sex marriage battles going on in Vermont and California. Religious organizations like the Mormon and Catholic churches are getting involved and are opposed to anything gay.

How do the more accepting members of these churches feel about being a part of this ignorance? Are they complacently accepting these religious zealots to speak for them?

I just want these people to know they can be leaders in their own communities by speaking out against injustice. Remember, you can choose your religion, but you can't choose to be gay or not to be gay.

Braddoc DeCaires
Via the Internet

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