Can't Bishop Estate and tenants get along?

I don't pretend to understand the Bishop Estate-Coolidge Street Apartments situation well enough to say anything about rights and wrongs. But I'm frustrated to read again about a faceoff between the Bishop Estate and homeowners or tenants having deteriorated to the point where threats are made, people are frightened and the media feels that it's time to write another David and Goliath piece.

Surely the tenants at Coolidge Street realize that, at $522 a month, finding a place to live in downtown Honolulu is difficult; $73 a month is something that I would expect to hear from times long past.

Likewise, surely the Bishop Estate must admit that, despite its assertions about increases in land value and desirability, financially the estate can hardly be in a "tough situation."

It is a shame that these two parties cannot reach agreement without the prospect of lengthy and traumatic judicial involvement. Perhaps the Coolidge Street tenants would pay higher rents if the Bishop Estate extended its charitable nature beyond its lawfully proscribed sole beneficiary. It's called aloha, folks.

Mark Tanouye

Throw out villains who propose gambling

As a New England resident who loves coming to Hawaii, I urge Hawaii residents to resist the blandishments of the gambling industry.

While it's certainly true that the economy of Hawaii needs strengthening, this is not the way to do it. The only way to build a real economy (aside from the many attractions to visitors like me) is to provide goods and services that people really need.

Gambling brings dependence and crime. It preys on human weakness and destroys lives and families. It is an unsavory business, brought to you by unsavory people. Throw them out.

Michael Carnes
Arlington, Mass.

No-nonsense gun control is needed now

How many more school shootings and gun-related crimes must the public tolerate before Congress passes more effective gun-control laws?

A ban on private gun ownership would be most effective in reducing gun crimes. The next best way would be to adopt a federal computerized system to show who owns guns.

The computer would keep track of every gun transaction, sale, theft or loss. It would be the responsibility of individuals and gun dealers to report such information. Failure to do so would result in fines, penalties and confiscation.

There should be annual licensing of guns, with the revenue to fund controls, and each individual would be restricted to one gun and limited ammunition.

How Tim Chang

[QUOTABLES] "Many of us are like Paul Revere, riding through the country saying, 'It's coming. It's coming.' " Dr. Charles H. Roadman, American Health Care Association president, saying the shortage of nursing home beds and the number required by aging baby boomers will reach crisis levels in 10 years. "My advice to Rene Mansho would be to resign and not have all the gory details told...I told her many times and advised her not to do what she was doing." Michelle Kidani, Former aide to City Councilwoman Mansho, on the citizens' movement to recall the councilwoman in the wake of her admission that she misspent campaign funds and had city workers do noncity work on city time

Governor should give teachers respect

According to our government, teachers are essential and education is so important that some schools will try to open even in the midst of a strike. If that is true then Ben can give the teachers what they deserve: 1) a REAL raise, 2) automatic step increases that recognize that experience is good, 3) true respect for teachers, not lip service. For once, Ben, be the man who you claimed to be and just do it!

Maryalice Woody
Kailua

Teachers think too much of themselves

I would like to express MY thoughts on Hawaii State Teachers Association President Karen Ginoza's 15-minute speech regarding the possible teachers strike.

First, Ginoza makes it sound as if the teachers sit at the right hand of God. Are teachers important in our society? Sure, but isn't the farmer more important? I can think of many other occupations that would come between the farmer and the teacher.

Second, Ginoza repeatedly stated, "It's not the money." Aren't the teachers going on strike because the state isn't giving them the 22 percent raise they want? So, it's the money then, right?

Lastly, it is my opinion that although the teachers deserve a raise, I don't think it should be 22 percent. Have our students improved 22 percent in the national scores?

I also would like to recommend that teachers receive a mandatory money management course, taught by some of the tens, if not hundreds of thousands of us who make much less than their present salaries, and survive without whining or threatening to move to the mainland.

Joan Kawasaki
Keaau, Hawaii

Teachers voted Cayetano into office

If the public school teachers strike, they only have themselves to blame.

Their union endorsed Ben Cayetano for governor.

When will the majority of Hawaii residents ever wake up and stop voting for the "do nothing" Democrats?

Bradford P. Morriseau
Mililani

Decision to prolong pet's life is difficult

I must comment on the March 23 letter titled "Inhumane society." The writer was mad at the Hawaiian Humane Society for asking the family to quiet their dog because of neighbors' complaints about its barking. They felt they should have received more sympathy because the dog is unable to walk and barks to alert people when it needs something.

This family has made a choice because they love this dog, but I fear they may be the selfish ones in what they are asking of their dog, their neighbors and the humane society.

Two months ago I had my 14-year-old dog put down because he finally was unable to walk. It was very difficult to do, but the issue for my family was quality of life for him.

We did not think he wanted to continue living in that condition after having been such an active dog.

Now, every family sees things differently, and the family who wrote you may be doing what is right for them.

However, their decision carries with it the responsibility to make it work for everyone involved -- first, and most importantly, the dog, then family members and finally the neighbors.

Believe me, I understand the difficult situation they are in and I hope they can make things work out so the dog's final days are good ones for everyone.

Joel Kennedy

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