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Ocean safety is being compromised by city

For six months a lifeguard tower has been missing at dangerous Sandy Beach, at the entry and exit point for most of the jet-ski and scuba diver/fisherman rescues off the South Shore cliffs.

If the mayor, City Council members and bean-counting bureaucrats are so inefficient that they can't spend the already allocated $50,000 to erect a lifeguard tower (which should take two days to complete), why in the name of public safety should they be entrusted with our tax dollars?

Instead of a tide of money washing through various backrooms, let's see some of it spent on injury prevention. We need easy, inexpensive, tangible things like lifeguard towers and crosswalks.

Or is the money really for political purposes rather than public safety?

Mandy Higa

Quotables "Just this morning, we were reminded of the risks of your duty and the sacrifices that you make." President Bush Leading a prayer for the six soldiers killed and four injured Monday when two Army Black Hawk helicopters crashed during a simulated air assault exercise in Kahuku "Efforts now are still on search and recovery. It would be premature to talk about any salvage operations." Lt. Cmdr. Dave Werner SPOKESMAN FOR PACIFIC FLEET SUBMARINE FORCES On two deep -sea remote probes that may be used later to help with the search for the Japanese fishing boat sunk by a U.S. submarine off the coast of Hawaii

State must raise age of consent to 18

Two dainty figures gaily held out their thumbs as I drove up Campbell Avenue one late afternoon to pick up my granddaughter at pre-school. They were obviously quite young.

Anyone could have seen they were far from 18, though with more makeup they could possibly have passed for 16 at night. Needless to say, I tried to dissuade them from going to Waikiki.

As I drove away knowing that they would still try to go, I wished that I could kidnap them and take them to the nearest police station until their parents could be called to come get them.

Merely raising the age of consent to 16 from 14 is shameful. How can any legislator with children or nephews and nieces vote for a low age of 16? I read that the last time the matter was under discussion some private health agencies protested that raising the age would prevent young people from seeking help for sex-related health problems for fear of getting involved with the law.

Raise the age of consent to 18 and it will deter people who prey on our young, if the police enforce it vigorously. Then instead of having to be treated for venereal disease, emotional problems and pregnancy, young people will be prevented from getting them in the first place.

Alice Daltry Fisher

Pro is needed at Hawaii film office

Now that "Baywatch Hawaii" has joined other locally filmed series in being set adrift in the vast sea of cancellations, is this state losing its charm with viewing audiences as well as television producers and creators? I, for one, do not believe that scenario.

When a show is cancelled here, we always get the same lame explanation that Hawaii is more expensive than other places. Location filming is expensive no matter where it takes place. If the product is good, it will survive the ratings game.

According to all reports, not one show is in pre-production planning for Hawaii. Once again, we find ourselves sitting out here in the middle of the Pacific waiting for some network or production company to call.

The old show biz adage, "Don't call us, we'll call you," should not apply when dealing in this highly competitive business.

We have not had a long-running series here since the demise of "Magnum, P.I." in 1988. Instead of resting on our dwindling laurels, we should be actively competing for television production.

It is time to take a closer look at the workings of the Hawaii State Film Office and its budget. No longer can the head of the office come from the ranks of civil service employees.

An immediate effort must be made to fill that position with an experienced, knowledgeable film and television person. He or she should come with an energetic short-term plan as well as long-term overview to assure future film and television production on these uniquely beautiful islands.

Garrison True
True Casting Company

Gambling is coming, whether we like it or not

I believe the citizens of Hawaii no longer have a choice concerning whether Hawaii will have gambling. The only choice is whether we will authorize and control it, or if we will reserve it as a monopoly for whichever separatist group secures limited sovereignty.

If the community controls gambling, it will also receive the revenues that gambling will generate. This money can do much good in the islands in addition to paying for the minimizing or repairing of any damage.

On the other hand, if gambling is reserved for a minority, then the community will have no control over the money and will only suffer the ill effects. It will not benefit from the revenues, and we may even have to take money away from other programs to minimize and repair the damage.

George Berish

Pro-gambling ads make false claims

The full-page add by the Coalition for Economic Diversity (now who could be against that?) claims: "It doesn't happen in other states," referring to undesirable side effects of gambling.

Really? Ask someone from another state who knew what it was like before and after gambling was legalized and see what they say.

Everyone I have talked to who has experienced the negative effects of gambling encourages me to continue opposing even one seemingly small casino in Hawaii.

Bruce A. Fink

Filipino columnist's PC has run amok

Kudos to San Francisco columnist Emil Guillermo, who has successfully matriculated to the fully sublime from the merely ridiculous. His latest tirade appeared in your Feb. 8 issue, when he decried the national media for not identifying Filipino criminals by race.

Guillermo feels that Filipino Americans yearn for publicity recognition whether it is good or bad -- even to the point of giving racial credit to a serial killer.

Beyond political correctness, I doubt that anyone cared which race that serial killer Andrew Cunanan was claimed by.

Neither do I doubt that the next time the San Francisco Chronicle reports a bank robber as being Filipino or any other minority race, Guillermo will whip out his political correctness and decry racial stereotyping as is his usual wont.

Frank J. Kocsis

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