Brainstorm! Challenge

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Leaders will create compelling drug plan

I would like to congratulate and thank Governor Lingle and especially Lt. Governor Aiona for their leadership in convening the recent drug summit. What a great "new beginning" for our state and people.

I've been blessed with the opportunity to live in our land of aloha for some 43 years, and am doubly blessed to have found my recovery from alcoholism here in 1961. I also have been a substance abuse professional for 37 years, and have never seen this kind of activism by the community, coverage by the press and response by government on the issues of drugs, alcoholism and addiction.

The leadership this administration has brought to our state is awesome and compelling. I see a coalescence and collaboration developing that will bring a solution-focused plan to address drug addiction (including alcohol), thereby bringing in all the elements needed to help folks like me to get into recovery, whether through treatment, faith-based efforts or 12-step programs.

This was an outstanding job of bringing a "new beginning" of hope for our addicted citizens. Mahalo nui loa.

Andy Anderson
CEO, Hina Mauka
Kaneohe

Drug summit perpetuated a fantasy

The drug summit is now history with tens of thousands of words, much wringing of hands, numerous pie-in-the-sky recommendations, but no money even to keep pace with the numbers of addicts and related criminal activities.

During the summit, law enforcement officials trumpeted a raid on a major Waipahu drug house arresting nine people, some of whom were arrested on a raid at the same location some months prior. One of those arrested had 80 prior arrests, a second had 50 prior arrests and a third had 41, but they were released. In the latest raid, unless they had outstanding warrants, all were again released pending further investigation. Not much of an incentive to reform.

The spineless Legislature refuses to give our city prosecutor the tools to fight this blight and does not allow local laws to conform to the more stringent federal standards. Meanwhile, the parole board keeps pushing dangerous criminals out the back door to make way for recruits coming in the front door.

The only alternative I see after almost 40 years experience in federal law enforcement is for the federal government to be petitioned to take over the entire justice system from the state. Honest citizens need constitutional protection as much as if not more than our criminal elements. Let's get moving.

Frank D. Slocum
Waianae

Democrats haven't done much, either

In his Sept. 26 letter to the editor, Keith Haugen writes about a plan he would like the Democratic presidential candidates to follow that would defeat President Bush in the 2004 election. Each of the candidates has been blaming the president for the problems that exist today, such as much-needed repairs to our roads and bridges. They complain that the education system has not improved since he came into office, and that our senior citizens have not received adequate medical care. These candidates also say the cost of medicine is still beyond the reach of these citizens.

Most of these candidates have been in office for 20 to 30 years. Why doesn't Haugen question why they have done nothing to improve the situation? The president has been in office for less than three years, yet those who are against him insist he should have done something! Haugen also says that since the president was elected into office, he has driven our country to a new low. I would like to remind your readers that the previous administration already did that.

Tere Fase
Honolulu

Who really won (and lost) in strike

The losers in the bus contract dispute were the drivers and the public. The drivers lost 30 days of pay. Many of them will never make up the loss.

The winner is local Teamsters president Mel Kahele. Why did the settlement come after the announcement of his running for re-election unopposed? Was he holding out to get re-elected?

The losers are the working families who are going to have to pay more for mass transit. The June increase in fares was to avoid the loss of 22 routes. Now, to avoid layoffs and give bus employees pay raises, the City Council is increasing elderly fares and monthly bus passes for adults and students. A family of four with a working mother ($40 monthly bus pass) and working father ($40) and two teenage children ($20 and $20) will have a $120 monthly bill.

The winners are the City Council and the mayor. They look good in the public eye for getting the buses back on the road. Do you see Council members or the mayor riding the bus? Do Council members and the mayor pay downtown parking fees to the city?

It looks like the hard-working middle class is "taxed" again.

Harvey Lee
Honolulu

Ode to Rainbows and other extinct species

"Oh you Rainbows, what's happened to thee?
Team names and colors are now donned arbitrarily.
United and true you were once praised to be.
Sigh, sigh, sigh for U. of H.
Cry, cry, cry for U. of H.
Virtue went bye-bye
at U. of H."*

*Sung to the tune of the former Rainbow fight song, "Oh You, Rainbows, Hats off to Thee," which suddenly disappeared one day as did the football team name, Rainbows.

Richard Y. Will
Waikiki

Some reader letters are good for a laugh

So, America's self-centered women caused the 9/11 attack! (Letters, Sept. 23). I haven't laughed so hard since ... well, since the letter you ran urging you to only take photographs of law-abiding bicyclists. Talk about an oxymoron!

Michael Cashman
Honolulu

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] What can be done to disguise or beautify those hulking steel utility boxes found in parks and other locations around town? Send your ideas, drawings and solutions by Wednesday, Oct. 15 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or mail them to: Brainstorm! c/o Burl Burlingame Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Fax: Brainstorm! c/o Burl Burlingame 529-4750