Brainstorm! Challenge

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City worker should pay for his misbehavior

I find it incredible that government employees in positions of trust can abuse that trust and then fade into retirement ("Refuse official resigns amid allegations," Star-Bulletin, Aug 7).

When are such people going to be held accountable by having some of their retirement forfeited to repay costs incurred from their abuse of power? This is certainly something our lawmakers should consider at their earliest convenience.

Evelyn Pacheco
Hilo, Hawaii

High bus fares send people back to cars

The best way to create more traffic jams is to keep increasing bus fares and forcing people to drive their cars instead of taking the bus ("Bus riders fuming about fare hikes," Star-Bulletin, Aug. 7).

Think, think, think!

The point of no return is approaching.

Henry Yee
Honolulu

Someone should sue city about scooter ban

The city's ban on motorized scooters is ridiculous because it bans them on public sidewalks and streets (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 2). Well, where else are you going to ride them? They have small wheels and are not made for off-roading, so the only place you can ride one is on the road.

Also, if Mayor Harris is banning scooters in those areas then why does he allow them to be sold, since they can't be ridden anywhere?

Has anyone thought of filing a class-action suit against the city for the illegal ban, or at least repaying the people who bought the scooters before the ban?

And if we are going to ban scooters for safety reasons, why not ban mopeds for the same reason?

Jeffrey Ung
Honolulu

A lifetime of fear is not a 'choice'

Thank you so much for Cynthia Oi's column about Patrick, in which she wrote about the unfounded fears about gay marriage ("Under the Sun," Aug. 6).

As an old gay geezer almost 72 years old, I never thought that marriage was possible. I lived most of my years scorned by family and afraid that I would lose my job if my employer found out.

I wonder what my life would have been like if those real fears had been replaced by acceptance and encouragement. I suffered and missed a lot, but I am optimistic that I will experience real change during my life time.

Anyone who thinks that being gay is a choice has not walked in my shoes. Mahalo nui for your support.

Richard McWilliams
Honolulu

Aina Haina is the place for new police station

When and where will the proposed East Oahu police station be built? We don't know. In my opinion, it should be built in or near Aina Haina.

Neighborhood Board No. 2 (Kuliouou-Kalani) passed a resolution in June on this subject. The resolution says, "Neighborhood Board No. 2 believes that the location for the proposed police station in East Honolulu on Keahole Street is not in an appropriate area or safe site due to the fact that it sits in a flood zone, a tsunami zone and on a highly congested Keahole Street."

The motion passed 12-1-0.

Mark Terry
Chairman
Neighborhood Board No. 2

Lingle's claims about labor unfounded

Governor Lingle claims that the Labor Department has been "a tool of labor unions" under Democratic administrations ("Gov laments influence of unions at labor agency," Star-Bulletin, Aug. 2). She presents no facts to back this up. Here is a fact: The Labor Department's mission is to make sure that the state's labor laws are enforced to ensure health and safety on the job for every worker in this state -- union and non-union.

Indeed, the department has been, and I hope will continue to be, a tool of workers where they can turn when they have concerns about job safety, violations of the wages and hours laws, accessing medical treatment when injured on the job, seeking benefits when laid off, or opportunities for job training.

Rather than making false accusations and groundless allegations, Governor Lingle should be working with everyone, including unions, to ensure that our workforce is safe, well trained and productive. We believe you can be pro-business and pro-worker.

We are willing and able to work with her in this effort should she express an interest in doing so.

Harold Dias Jr.
President
Hawaii State AFL-CIO

Competition lowers cost every time

The main reason auto insurance premiums decreased 23 percent over a five-year period is because of one company: Geico.

It showed consumers that they didn't have to pay extravagant rates to insure their cars. All of the auto insurance companies followed by lowering their prices to stay competitive and in business.

Competition in business definitely benefits the consumer and keeps prices affordable. That's why there are federal laws preventing monopolies.

Store prices here were among the highest in the nation before the large discount stores came to Hawaii. Retailers like Costco and Sam's Club showed that it wasn't the shipping costs that inflated grocery prices in Hawaii. All of the other stores had to cut their prices and offer discount saver cards to their customers to stay competitive.

If you want to lower gas prices bring other oil refineries to Hawaii and watch the prices plummet.

Colin Kau
Honolulu

Outsiders need not apply to DOE

I am responding to a Star-Bulletin article published earlier this year (Feb. 8) about the shortage of school-level administrators in Hawaii. I am a trained school principal with seven years of experience at the middle-school level on the mainland.

In June, I came to the islands to find a job as a school principal or vice principal. I went to all the area offices asking about openings. Amazingly, there were no openings that I could fill at that time. I called on Aug. 4 as well, and all school-level administrative positions were filled.

You see, demotions, lateral transfers, trainee placements and even volunteers are solicited from the current school staffs before an experienced administrator from the mainland has a chance at even being interviewed for a position.

I talked with the state superintendent of schools, and she reiterated that there is a system in place and it must be followed. This system is created to promote from within regardless of ability. Our children and state need the best we can give them and that may just be from outside the system.

Brad Parker
Santa Fe, N.M.
Former Hawaii resident

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