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Saturday, December 30, 2000

State spends too little on education

Forty-four states are now spending more on higher education than they were a decade ago. Five states spent less than they would have had their appropriations simply kept pace with inflation, but those states all increased their spending in the past year.

"Only Hawaii has consistently failed to gain ground," according to the Dec. 15 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Adjusted for inflation, the Hawaii state allocation for higher education fell by 4.5 percent in fiscal year 2000 to $339 million. Compare this to the expenditures for the University of California at San Diego, which rose by 18.3 percent to $343 million. This is for one campus, mind you.

Richard Thompson

More must be done to save feral cats

Bravo to all who adhere to humane standards of animal care, especially those who oppose euthanasia. As we progress in reaching zero population growth of cats because of education, and especially with regard to the feral colony cat programs, we need to address immediate, not just long-range, concerns.

Exactly correct is the urgency of longer holding times for possible adoption of animals and/or a separate facility for adoption. It could be private. All other cities seem to have this type of shelter or similar long-term housing for unwanted animals.

The difficult task of actually finding suitable homes is worsened by the large rental market with a "no pets" rule. Yet there are homeowners who may not make the best pet owners.

The current accusations of inhumane treatment of the innocent unwanted animals at the Hawaiian Humane Society are not to be ignored. Astounding euthanasia numbers (45.56 cats and 15 dogs per day) are the real sin.

To the humane society: Clean up your act. "no kill" is the only right way.

Donya Izbicki
Makawao, Maui

Quotables "I'm a little cautious about 2001." David McClain DEAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Among the local analysts predicting a slowing of the state's economic expansion next year "From my experience, every (police) department from the state of Hawaii that hired a chief from outside its jurisdiction suffered greatly." Brian Fujiuchi RETIRED KAUAI POLICE CHIEF A supporter of Acting Big Island Police Chief James Correa, who is a finalist for the permanent position. Most of those testifying before the Hawaii County Police Commission favored Correa, while others backed Honolulu Maj. Robert Prasser.

Police get special treatment in DUIs

I was astounded to learn of yet another Honolulu police officer charged with driving under the influence and who was involved in an accident, but who was set free and wasn't required to post bail.

This was on the heels of Clyde S. Arakawa, the officer who allegedly caused the death of a young woman while he was driving under the influence. Also, he was reportedly afforded "courtesies" at the accident site, such as being allowed to roam around, to look in on the ambulance attendants working on the victim, etc.

A police spokesperson explained that the purpose of bail "is to ensure the person will appear in court" and that an officer is not a flight risk. While technically correct, this is shibai. Other citizens are not extended this preferential treatment, no matter how improbable the flight risk.

I know because I've been there. Some years ago, I was arrested for DUI. I was driving a $60,000 automobile, owned my own business and home, and was well established in the community. I had a $20,000 limit on my credit card, and could write a check up to $5,000.

But I had to sit in jail all night because I didn't have $150 in cash. Flight risk? I don't think so.

Everyone knows that one of the greatest deterrents to a DUI is the incredible humiliation, fear and inconvenience of being arrested and put in jail with other criminals, yet these officers had no such experience. Shame on our police department, again.

Roger Tardy

GOP dominance will backfire on Lingle

Mililani Trask, a defeated candidate for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees, once called Sen. Dan Inouye "a one-armed bandit" because she perceived him as a lukewarm supporter of Hawaiian sovereignty. She should seriously reflect on her erroneous assessment of Inouye, who is in fact on the side of sovereignty.

Now, with Republican opposition -- especially in the U.S. Senate by Republican Sen. James Inhofe and with the election of George W. Bush as president -- native Hawaiian legislation is dead. As a result, Republican Linda Lingle's chance of being governor is nil. Hawaiians will not vote for her.

How Tim Chang

Bush didn't win office legitimately

George W. Bush did not win the election -- he won the presidency, by what many of us consider contemptible methods, thanks to the electoral votes from Florida, where the governor is his brother, and the secretary of state was co-chairwoman of that state's Bush campaign.

Watchers say that Al Gore's margin in the nation's popular vote will easily exceed 400,000 when final counts are reported.

Forrest Furman
Haleiwa

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