to the Editor
We must be stricter with 'ice' dealers
Living for longer than a decade in a community that has already been avalanched by this 'ice storm' (Star-Bulletin series, Sept. 7-14), I would first have to agree that truth in sentencing is a major part of the problem. The system we have now allows for crystal-meth dealers to be handled with mittens. They just don't feel the chilling effects of their actions on their bare hands long enough before they are let out of prison to continue where they left off.As for the addicts, even if they are not selling the drug, their actions are selling the lifestyle to our keiki. If we are to be a caring community, we need to address the criminal aspects of this activity with truth in sentencing. I also have to agree with city prosecutor Peter Carlisle when he recommends treatment within the prison system as a first wake-up call. A lot of these addicts likely will be our next dealers at some point, especially when they cannot envision the overall damage their behavior has on the community as a whole.
Jail time as a corrective step toward treatment would be a giant step toward stopping the snowball effect ice has taken in our state.
Sophie Mataafa
Lahaina, Maui
Netherlands practices the best bike safety
Currently it is just too dangerous for the average person to consider bicycling in our city. Without real bike paths -- and I don't mean just a painted line in the gutter -- cycling will never be a true alternative.My wife and I just came home from two years in the Netherlands. There, everyone has a bike and and uses it in his or her everyday life. Mothers take their small children to school, Grandma goes shopping and business people ride to work. The reason is, the Netherlands has invested in one of the best systems of bike paths and lanes in the world.
One of our fondest memories will be of riding our bikes in Holland. Can't we do something better in beautiful Hawaii?
Brad White
Honolulu
Veterans are hurting because of strike
Another group of people affected by the bus strike is disabled veterans. Many of us use the bus to get to the veterans' clinic at Tripler Army Hospital. Many veterans don't drive because of injuries from serving in the military to keep America free, and now we can't get to our doctors for medical help or for our medical exams for disability claims. We have to wait months and sometimes years for these disability exams, and now we will have to wait months and years for another appointment.There is a war going on right now, and many more veterans will be coming home soon. Many of them will have medical problems and need care. Please stop the strike and talk in peace -- and support our troops.
David P. Kaohi
Disabled veteran
HonoluluEveryone makes more than police officers
Mayor Jeremy Harris and Oahu Transit Services are making a big issue that the striking bus drivers are making more money than our police officers, firefighters and teachers. The public should realize that it's not the bus drivers' fault that they are making more than our underpaid public servants; it's the fault of the mayor, our City Council and the state Legislature.Police officers and firefighters cannot strike. If their contract cannot be negotiated on the table, then it goes to arbitration, with the outcome final and binding. In 1979, disgruntled police officers statewide went out on a four-day "blue flu" sickout, basically holding the state hostage until we got what we wanted. Then-Mayor Frank Fasi was the catalyst that brought us back to the negotiating table and an eventual settlement.
The public should further realize that not only are bus drivers making more than our underpaid public servants, but so are unionized carpenters, plumbers, painters, mechanics, electricians and our longshoremen, who make upwards of $100,000 a year. More power to them all!
Steven T.K. Burke
Former president State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers
Pearl City
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Hawaii must not spend money it does not have
As governor of the state of Hawaii, I appreciate the opportunity to respond to Richard Borreca's "On Politics" column of Sept. 7 ("Who knows how 'muchness' the state can spend?").Borreca correctly pointed out that Hawaii's Council on Revenues predicted back in May that tax collections would increase by only 1.8 percent in fiscal 2003, which resulted in a $187 million cumulative drop from its March projection. This covered the three-year period from the then-current fiscal year 2003 through the current fiscal biennium 2003 to 2005. Based on that troubling projection, I felt the most prudent approach was to rein in spending and initiate total fiscal discipline.
Not being able to fund worthwhile programs is always a painful and difficult process for a governor, but I need to keep the bigger picture in mind. We cannot continue the state's longstanding and risky practice of spending more money than comes in. We simply must live within our means.
As Borreca noted, the council issued a revised prediction that tax collections would grow by a healthy 6.2 percent. I, like all of our citizens, welcomed the news that our economy was growing. However, my optimism remains tempered by a necessary degree of caution, because a prediction is just that -- it's a guess about the future. And that is far different from actually collecting money we can put in the bank.
Much is uncertain in today's world, and we need look no further than California to see how quickly a robust state can sink into a financial quagmire. Then there is Oregon which had to send its children home early from the school year, because it too ran out of money.
My common-sense actions to restore fiscal discipline are aimed at making sure Hawaii does not get into similar financial trouble. I'm sure our residents can appreciate the need for a disciplined approach to the state budget process.
Many in the Legislature this year wanted to balance the budget by raiding the Rainy Day and Hurricane Relief funds. As I have consistently stated, I won't raise taxes or burden future generations with unpaid bills, nor will I divert money from the Hurricane Relief or Rainy Day funds to pay for ongoing programs. Another major hurricane, perhaps more devastating than Iniki, eventually will hit the Hawaiian Islands and the full amount of relief funding must be available at that time.
Last, I'd like to say that there are many reasons to be encouraged about Hawaii's future. And by following sound financial practices, we can ensure that our days ahead will be even more prosperous.
Linda Lingle
Governor of Hawaii
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