State teachers strike: loans or lobotomies?

Regarding Edith Ellis' articulate thrashing of what should be done about the phantom teachers' contract ("Cayetano should yield to the teachers' demand," Letters, Aug. 11): That takes care of the state. But what about beginning a new school year for teachers? To what should we yield, economic terrorism or mental duress?

The purpose of the teachers' strike was to gain a contract, which had been absent for two years. We were called off the picket lines to vote on a contract, we voted, and now we are right back where we began. we have no contract.

Now I am faced with a dilemma: Continue the strike without support of the Hawaii State Teachers Association or return to the classroom without a contract. If I continue the strike, then I will have to get another loan to feed my family, and I may risk losing my teaching position.

But if I return to the classroom without a contract, then I will need a lobotomy to measure up to the mentality that is expected of someone who went on strike for apparently no reason. What will it be for teachers: loans or lobotomies?

Leonard J. Wilson
Kailua

State never agreed to HSTA language

Edith Ellis' Aug. 11 letter symbolizes a frustration among a public unaware of the facts surrounding the state's negotiations with the Hawaii State Teachers Association:

>> The state has before the HSTA the best contract offer ever, including a 16 percent raise, hefty retention incentives for many, a $5,000 differential for nationally certified teachers and another 3 percent one-time bonus for teachers with professional diplomas or master's degrees.

>> The faulty contract language drafted by an HSTA staffer not even present in negotiations remains unsigned because it does not reflect what was agreed upon in negotiations.

>> HSTA's own two documents distributed at ratification were in conflict with one another: The summary outlining key values of the package correctly reflected the agreement; the contract language drafted by the HSTA staffer did not.

>> The bonus was never to be funded by state general funds. The superintendent of schools offered and the Board of Education approved funding the 3 percent bonus using this year's federal impact aid.

The governor, Davis Yogi and the Board of Education are insisting that HSTA leaders, to use letter writer Edith Ellis' words, exercise "good faith and character."

Jackie Kido
Director of Communications
Office of the Governor

Mayor should assist in community action

Your Aug. 11 article on Rep. Mindy Jaffe forcing (via threatened civil disobedience) the city to act on installing a crosswalk in Kapahulu is a manifestation of a greater problem. Mayor Harris claims to seek out community input but he tends to reject any that does not fit his predetermined template.

If he really wanted to give communities input, he would assist in forming self-governing, funding entities to manage parks, police, streets and sidewalks, in accordance with community needs and wants. That's a concept that is building steam on the mainland -- "Competitive communities," they call it. But it decreases centralized power, so don't expect Harris to embrace it. He is not a home rule kind of guy.

Richard O Rowland
President,
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Inc.

[QUOTABLES] "It is awful to call anybody at the theater. You'll never talk to anyone. There's a lot of time wasted on the consumer's side, just getting information." Pono Shim, Concierge at Consolidated Theaters' Ward Stadium 16 theater complex, describing how the new service takes the hassle out of movie-going. Concierge service cardholders can call ahead, order tickets, reserve certain seats and get advice on where to go to dinner. "With our island total water resources being depleted, it's absolutely essential that we get going now with water reuse." Steve Holmes, Honolulu City Councilman, on the possibility that the Board of Water Supply may take over island sewage plants and convert them into reclamation facilities.

Clinton book title could say it all

President Bill Clinton's book promises an examination of his insatiable sexual addiction. It's titled, "It Takes More than a Village."

George I. Nakamura
Mililani

It's time to forgive Clinton and move on

Say what you want about Bill Clinton, under his administration America prospered, the economy improved and generally he got things moving.

As the commander-in-chief, Clinton lacked foreign policy initiative, vision and shot from the hip. Health-care reform was a total failure. Still, for the better part, Clinton was an effective leader.

Politics is still a dirty game and Americans have to look at their candidates fairly and not be swayed by media sensationalism. You just can't judge a man on a few selected events of his life (good or bad). We need to see the bigger picture.

When it comes to presidents, it is imperative to consider political savvy, leadership ability and effectiveness. I think people generally were only concerned with Clinton's personal life (his poor decisions and irrational behavior) and failed to recognize the duality that exists in all of us.

Although I'm not a Christian, I do embrace the universal message that Jesus proposed when he said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." It's time for tolerance and forgiveness. Forget about Clinton's scandals and move on.

Chas LeRoy

Fair animals destined for slaughterhouse

Corky Trinidad's Aug. 9 cartoon showing animals sunning on the beach with the caption, "Aww, is the State Farm Fair over already?" is less than an accurate depiction. Most of the helpless fair animals will be sold and then killed at the Ewa slaughterhouse, cited numerous times for violations of the Humane Slaughter Act.

For the fair animals, and the nine billion others who suffer and die each year to satisfy Americans' taste for flesh and blood, it's no day at the beach.

Jim Brown

Oahu doesn't need to be beautified

We keep hearing that the mayor and his visioning teams are only trying to improve and beautify Oahu. The last time I checked we are living in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The only improving it needs is the repair and maintenance of the city and county properties already in existence.

We all know that repair and maintenance do not offer many photo ops for a mayor running for governor, but let's take care of what we already have before we build anything new. To quote a friend of mine: "Do we need it? Can we afford it? Can we maintain it?" If we can answer yes to all three questions, then let's do it. If not, let's wait until we can answer yes.

Sharon McCarthy
Hauula

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