Why spend tax money on racial segregation?

With our state in debt and a crucial need to balance the budget, why do our lawmakers waste so much money?

>> $3.2 million for an art gallery: We don't need another art gallery. We have the Honolulu Academy of Arts, and most of us don't even go there.

>> $360,000 to replace the water system in the fountain of the state Capitol: Why? Do people drink that water?

>> $8 million to buy the Japanese Cultural Center? Are they taking money away from education to give to the Japanese? Are they promoting unity and equality, or segregation and favoritism?

It's not like the state has the money to spend. If you spend what you don't have on a credit card, you will be held responsible. The state should learn responsibility.

Sandra Boc

City Council is justified in recommending cuts

In the last two days I have received three letters ($1.02 postage, 6 sheets of paper, 3 envelopes) from members of Mayor Harris's cabinet, pleading with me to support his budget, saying the City Council was proposing draconian cuts that would affect garbage collection, street cleaning, neighborhood boards and vision teams.

How much time was diverted from normal work responsibilities to prepare these letters? How much is this costing the taxpayer?

I am not happy about the proposed cuts, but as long and the police and fire department budgets are not cut, I can live with them. I applaud the Council for asking hard questions.

I do not want the city to mortgage its future, forcing me to pay higher taxes down the road. The city must live within its means. If that means cuts in neighborhood board and vision projects, making Sunset and Brunch on the Beach pay for themselves, and not building more swimming pools until we can properly maintain the ones we have, so be it.

Lynne Matusow

Over-regulation could kill Internet radio

Internet radio is in peril. For those of you who have ever listened to a station on the 'net and enjoyed the music and culture of other places via computer, you might want to help save Internet radio from impending regulatory excess.

America's fledgling Internet radio industry could be effectively killed on May 21, if the Librarian of Congress accepts the recommendations of its recent Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel concerning Internet radio royalty rates and sets impossibly complex record-keeping requirements.

Webcasters must pay royalties to record labels for the music they play. However, the CARP's recommended royalty rates are currently more than 200 percent of most Webcasters' gross revenues.

If the CARP's recommendation is accepted, it will effectively kill Internet radio, as the retroactive fees would bankrupt all but the largest Internet-only Webcasters.

As Hawaii's first Internet broadcaster, I ask everyone with Internet access to visit saveinternetradio.org, which will fill you in and provide suggestions on how to effectively let Congress know your opinion.

Robert "Rabbett" Abbett
internetradiohawaii.com
Kailua

BYUH men, women were tops in KC

Congratulations to Brigham Young University-Hawaii on your double championships at the Division II National Collegiate Tennis Finals at Kansas City, Mo., Monday ("BYUH hauls in 2 national tennis titles," Star-Bulletin, May 14).

I attended the exciting finals of both the mens' and womens' teams at the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City. Every match was of the highest caliber and all the players were outstanding representatives of your school.

I congratulate all the student athletes, and also Dave Porter for coaching these excellent players to two national championships. The final points of the final match of the No. 5 mens' singles determined the outcome and brought home to me how important the contributions were by each and every player on the team.

As a former resident of Kailua now living in Kansas City, I thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful weekend of top quality college tennis.

George Howes
Volunteer Coordinator
Heart of America Tennis Division
Kansas City, Mo.

Inmates keep going through revolving door

Once again the ever-popular Women's Community Correction Center is full. I don't think the accommodations here are great. I've been here 23 months and I've seen people come back two or three times. Is it me, or is something not working properly?

Recidivism is a big word for "keep coming back." I thought prison was supposed to help people get back on the right track. I think the train took off without everyone on board.

Women in prison aren't treated as well as their male counterparts. At the men's facilities they are offered more opportunities to re-establish themselves back into the community after finishing various programs. I realize we have budget cuts, but even when funds are available they go to the men first, and women get the leftovers.

My understanding of the prison concept is that it is supposed to make us responsible for our wrongdoings and rehabilitate people so they won't make the same mistakes and become caught up in the revolving door.

Peggy Allen
Women's Community Correction Center
Kailua

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