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Those with multiple arrests should be jailed

Usually when I read the police/fire section of your newspaper, I just shake my head and move on to more positive news. Then there are items such as the one in your Nov. 14 edition. It reported the burglary of a Kahala Mall bookstore in which the 34-year-old suspect had more than 40 prior felony arrests.

This posed some hard questions about our criminal justice system:

How could anyone with over 40 felony arrests (as distinct from misdemeanors) still remain free to commit yet another crime? Even taking into account that arrests do not necessarily equal convictions, such a criminal record is difficult for the average citizen to comprehend.

What assurance does the public have that the 41st arrest will be any different from the prior 40 as far as the protection of society is concerned?

Do we not have laws making it a crime to be a repeat offender, especially a multiple felon?

At what point does the system say enough is enough?

Don Gardner

Kailua

Hawaii must pay down its debt, too

The federal government ended its fiscal year on Sept. 30 with a $237 billion surplus. To generate this surplus the federal government legislated the groundwork by reducing its size and budget. This same successful plan could be used by our state and local governments, state Legislature and City Council.

The feds used the surplus to pay down debt, which reduced the debt-carrying costs and consequently required less tax collections and reduced tax rates. We need similarly practical elected officials on a local level -- people with visionary powers for a greater debt-free Hawaii.

Chester M. Obara
Pearl City

Quotables "I am innocent. I believe in democracy. I believe in our system of justice. My name will be cleared." Andy Mirikitani HONOLULU CITY COUNCILMAN Pleading not guilty to federal charges of wire fraud, theft, bribery, extortion and witness tampering "Given his experience in the last election...(he) will be a little more open." Governor Cayetano Who believes that state Sen. Brian Kanno, who has been criticized for being too close to unions, will be more open and flexible in the coming legislative session given his narrow re-election victory. The Kapolei-Ewa Beach legislator will be chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee.

Heco project will bring visual blight

Hawaiian Electric Co. is pushing ahead with its planned electrical transmission line development known as the Kamoku-Pukele 138-kv transmission project. It wants to erect 20 steel towers as high as 120 feet -- rising 50-70 feet above the tree line -- each draped with 10-foot-high power transmission lines on scenic Waahila Ridge/St. Louis Heights between Manoa and Palolo valleys.

The most obvious visual blight will be from Dole Street up the ridge (to the forest area above), where there will be virtually no vegetation to mask the industrial image they would be creating. In Hawaii, where natural beauty is a prime selling point, we must draw a line in the sand and resist taking the easier, less costly path.

If the effort and cost can be expended along King and Beretania streets and Kalanianaole Highway to install the power lines underground, surely the same sensitivity can be put forth for this very visible location.

Harry and Patti Spiegelberg

Renewable energy needs more champions

Now if Maui's elected officials would only make it mandatory (with a commensurate tax break for the property owner, maybe?) for all new construction to have a certain amount of solar photovoltaic capacity (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 11), the county would really lead the state in renewable energy.

Randy Bartlett
Lahaina, Maui

'Wet houses' are needed for homeless

Partners In Care, a coalition of service providers and others committed to ending homelessness on Oahu, knows that harassing and removing people who are homeless are not solutions to this complex problem.

If you want them off the streets, consider developing "wet houses," shelters for alcoholics who repeatedly cycle through detox, treatment programs, jails and hospital emergency rooms. This option will encourage some individuals to leave the parks, beaches and streets for a safe environment with services that will not require sobriety.

Individuals must detox prior to being accepted into most established rehabilitation programs. Detox centers are virtually non-existent. Rehabilitation facilities for the uninsured are also needed.

People who are homeless because of a mental illness often need someone to assist with their treatment and care. Medication and money management are among the most important supports offered by these case managers.

A range of permanent, supportive housing needs to be welcomed in communities rather than opposed based on arguments of NIMBY. We need to develop and preserve all types of permanent, affordable housing as an integral part of the solution to homelessness.

Lynn Maunakea
Chairwoman
Partners In Care

Law is getting rid of hostess, strip bars

Thank you for your Oct. 25 article on the "buffer zone" law and the need for the Liquor Commission to enforce it.

I am the author of the law (Rule 45-2) that prohibits the Liquor Commission from approving a liquor license for a nude strip bar, hostess bar or cabaret nightclub with a 4 a.m. closing time within 500 feet of another bar of the same type.

I wish to confirm that the Ala Moana Neighborhood Board is correct that there is no clause to exempt license transfers. The current Liquor Commission's interpretation to make this rule not applicable to transfers when a bar changes owners is in direct conflict with the community's wishes and an attempt to circumvent the purpose of my law.

This buffer zone law is working very successfully to clean up the Keeaumoku-Ala Moana area and reduce the proliferation of hostess and strip bars in this community to protect family neighborhoods and businesses.

Anyone driving or walking down Keeaumoku Street can see the real difference since 10 years ago in the return of a more family-oriented neighborhood and a revitalized Ala Moana, which until a short time ago was overwhelmed with hostess and strip bars.

Andy Mirikitani
Honolulu City Councilman
District V

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