Brainstorm! Challenge

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Mainland prisons and recidivism

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Raiding funds isn't 'good housekeeping'

Rep. Romy Mindo (D, Ewa Beach) has a rather unusual way of describing the raiding of special funds to pay for public worker pay increases. His May 23 letter, "Political foe distorted special funds uses," tries to make the raid of more than $39 million from the state Department of Transportation during the last two years as "a good financial housekeeping measure (that) moved excess money in special funds to the general fund where it can be used by the governor."

When I fill up my car's gas tank, I know taxes are being paid into highway special funds for the repair and construction of roads. I don't mind that. What I do mind is when a legislator like Mindo thinks it's "good housekeeping" to raid those funds, and we consequently end up with roads that have so many potholes and irregular surfaces that it knocks your teeth out every time you drive your car on a state street or highway.

This money should have been used to speed up the work on Ft. Weaver Road so it wouldn't take three years to widen four miles of road. Or, heaven forbid, the Legislature could have reduced the state tax on gasoline and reduced the high price of gas in Hawaii. Maybe Mindo's good housekeeping moves should be used by his constituents to sweep him out of office.

Earl Arakaki
Ewa Beach

What if beheaded man worked for TV news?

When CBS first broadcast the photos of the Iraqi prisoner abuse, I condemned this action as serving no purpose other than sensationalism (or maybe appealing to prurient interest), something like broadcasting the pictures of brutalized rape victims. I believed the broadcast of these photos could inflame our enemies and possibly lead to reprisals.

However, after al-Qaida beheaded an American possibly as a result of these pictures, I changed my mind. I hope CBS broadcasts even more of these photos of Iraqi prisoner humiliation, even if a hundred Americans are beheaded. Indeed, if an employee of CBS is kidnapped, I want CBS to broadcast these photos day after day, hour after hour, and show the world that a few American lives are a small price to pay for the principle of a free press and ratings.

Paul Lococo Jr.
Honolulu

Ruling is a victory for Oregon's terminally ill

On Wednesday, a three-judge panel from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued its favorable opinion in Oregon vs. Ashcroft, Compassion In Dying's case on behalf of 16 terminally ill patients.

Congratulations to Oregon! The 9th Circuit confirmed a lower court ruling -- and our position -- that Oregon's law on assisted dying is valid and beyond the reach of Attorney General John Ashcroft's Department of Justice: "We hold that the Ashcroft directive is unlawful and unenforceable."

Ashcroft had assaulted the right of Oregon patients to avoid needless suffering and die in peace and dignity. He threatened physicians with federal prosecution if they complied with Oregon's assisted-dying law. Sixteen patients had courageously come forward to protect the law from Ashcroft's threat. Only five remain alive to see this happy day, but today we honor them all for the courage, energy and good will they contributed so those who follow can face terminal illness with the peace and security of choice.

Roland L. Halpern
Executive Director
Compassion In Dying of Hawaii

Hawaiian language was never illegal

Pat Gee's article of May 24 was an enthusiastic, unpaid commercial for a Hawaiian language CD. That's fine -- I love the language and speak it myself.

However, the article quotes the CD author as saying that "speaking Hawaiian used to be forbidden -- when Hawaii was subjugated to rule of the United States in 1898."

Hawaiian language was never illegal. By 1892, a year before the overthrow, 95 percent of all the schools were already using English as the language of instruction. That's what Hawaiian parents and the sovereign Hawaiian government wanted. Teachers probably did forbid Hawaiian -- and Japanese and Chinese -- because everyone was supposed to learn English. Hawaiian parents refused to speak Hawaiian to their children at home, even while speaking it between themselves, because they wanted their kids to learn English.

The Hawaiian grievance industry has perpetuated the lie that Hawaiian was made illegal by evil haoles hell-bent on subjugating Hawaiians. That lie generates sympathy for reparations and race-based government (the Akaka bill), but it is hurtful to the love we should all feel for the language -- and for each other.

The Hawaiian language was never banned, but that lie should be. For a thorough study of the alleged banning of Hawaiian language, see:

www.angelfire.com/hi2/hawaiiansovereignty/hawlangillegal.html

Ken Conklin
Kaneohe

Don't blame developer for poor infrastructure

Developers are not responsible for building infrastructure. That duty falls squarely on the shoulders of our city and state governments. In Makakilo both have failed our community.

Governor Lingle has refused to release the design monies for a new building at Mauka Lani Elementary for almost a year now. There are students who used to be able to walk to school but because of overcrowding are now bused to Barbers Point Elementary.

Makakilo Drive is in desperate need of repaving but the city has come up short on funds for years. But there is still money for Sunset on the Beach and the rest of Mayor Harris' pet projects.

All of these failures belong to our government agencies, but what does Kioni Dudley want to do? Punish the developers who are doing nothing wrong ("Gathering Place," May 25). They have their permits and they are providing a much-needed service. Although I do find it hypocritical that Dudley is calling for a building moratorium less than year after he finishes building his home in Makakilo.

Instead of going after the developers, the Friends of Makakilo should be going after Lingle and Harris for not doing their jobs.

Michael J. Golojuch Jr.
Makakilo

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Hawaii's mainland prisoners
have lower recidivism rate

The Department of Public Safety agrees with the conclusion of your May 18 editorial, "Rising inmate numbers call for new prisons." Hawaii must construct new correctional facilities. However, the editorial contains some erroneous data and misleading information.

First, recidivism rates for Hawaii's out-of-state inmates are lower than the rates for Hawaii-based inmates. A December 2002 study compared rates for various levels of recidivism (i.e. arrest, conviction, felony conviction, and parole violation and revocation). The results consistently showed lower recidivism rates for out-of-state inmates. Depending on the level of recidivism measured, the rate for out-of-state inmates ranged from 50 percent to 78 percent. This is much lower than the 90 percent recidivism rate noted in your editorial. In contrast, recidivism rates for Hawaii-based inmates ranged from 52 percent to 81 percent. The study can be accessed at www.hawaii.gov/psd.

Second, inmates on the mainland have comparable -- in some cases, better -- access to education, substance abuse treatment and therapeutic community programs than in Hawaii. The men and women who return to Hawaii from out-of-state prisons have indicated that it is easier for them to enroll in those programs, unlike here in Hawaii where there is often a long waiting list to get into certain programs, particularly drug abuse treatment. Also, more vocational programs are available at mainland prisons.

That has been the case since we contracted with the Corrections Corporation of America in 1998. I also would note that the mainland facilities are all new, modern facilities, much better designed than any of Hawaii's facilities. The physical conditions at the mainland facilities are more conducive to successful programming for inmates.

Finally, improving Hawaii's jail and prison system depends largely on funding sources from the Legislature. During the recent legislative session, Governor Lingle requested, and the Legislature appropriated, funds to construct a new facility on Maui, and sufficient funds to plan and design replacement facilities for Oahu Community Correctional Center, Kauai Community Correctional Center and for a new secure treatment facility.

This is just the beginning. It also will take the collective will of the people of Hawaii to support much-needed housing infrastructure, program space, program staff and other support services so that we can achieve the ultimate goal of bringing Hawaii inmates back home.

John F. Peyton Jr.
Director
Department of Public Safety

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] The ponds at the state Capitol are full of icky green stuff. What, besides holding an election, can we do to get rid of all that scum at the Big Square Building? Or should we just replace the ponds with something else? Tell us what you think, whether you know of a way to clean the ponds or if you'd rather see a remodel of the Capitol grounds. Anything would be an improvement. Send your ideas by June 16 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or by mail: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Or by fax: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson 529-4750