Walgreens brings back memories of youth

I am eagerly looking forward to the green walls opening on Oahu ("Walgreens confident of success in Hawaii," Star-Bulletin, July 13). I grew up with Walgreens. I was homeless most of my youth and Walgreens was my hangout. I consumed all my meals in their comfortable cafes and booths. One of the new concepts is a Cafe W beverage bar. My kind of drugstore. I'll be the first customer when Walgreens opens within walking distance of my abode.

I predict Walgreens will be a hit in Hawaii.

I would work for Walgreens if I wasn't an ancient antique almost 90 (nonagenarian) years young. Walgreens will get my green kala.

Try having empathy for overweight people

Regarding obese children (Star-Bulletin, July 15): I recently saw an obese woman and before I could manage any negative thoughts, something told me that if she could have the figure she really wanted, it certainly wouldn't be the one she had; as she was clearly struggling with her weight. Even though I don't have a weight problem and manage to work out somewhat regularly, I don't have the body I would like.

Maybe, instead of attempting to change the behavior toward obese children and adults, we should try changing thoughts. Perhaps we should emphasize that all of us are struggling with what we have been given, whether its youth, age, disability, obesity or other problems, and a of lot of us based on knowledge and ability are doing the best we can.

Returning inmates will make us safer

We should all thank the legislators who wisely voted to override Gov. Linda Lingle's veto of Senate Bill 932 creating a Community Safety Act -- Comprehensive Reentry System, which includes restorative justice approaches, funding the outstanding Maui BEST rehabilitation program and bringing people home from mainland prisons.

These legislators had the foresight to realize the long-term value in creating a meaningful re-entry system for people in prison. This new law benefits our community tremendously. It protects the public with decreased exposure to crime; allows people in prison an opportunity to rehabilitate; and it does something our current system ignores: It gives crime victims a chance to heal.

Research shows that more and harsher incarceration does not protect us in the long run. Most of the people we put in prison come back, and sadly many are more criminalized. We can predict with certainty that more than 50 percent of the people in prison will be right back in a few years.

In Hawaii, we also risk increased exposure to more serious crimes by sending people away to mainland prisons. We humans are social. If we don't have our aunties, tutus, children and other good people we know to socialize with, then we are likely to socialize with whoever is around, and for people from Hawaii in mainland prisons, that usually means criminals.

People from all over the United States and the world are looking at this new law and rejoicing in Hawaii's step forward. Big mahalos to the senators and representatives who enacted Senate Bill 932.

City Council needs a legislative watchdog

Regarding the story "City Council taps lobbyist to track Legislature work" (Star-Bulletin, July 2):

Is she a small fish in a murky pond? A little power has gone to her head! City Council Chairwoman Barbara Marshall claims that "she does not waste money." As a Kailua resident, I think that Marshall is a waste of taxpayer money.

If Marshall, with all her assistants and staff people, can't figure out what legislative bills are important to the city, and she needs to hire another "politician" -- former state lawmaker Alex Santiago -- to figure it out, we are in more trouble than we thought!

Already there are too many ex-politicians working for the City Council.

There seems to be only one voice of reason on the Council, and he seems always to be pushed aside. Will Councilman Charles Djou ever be appointed chairman?

Hawaii should reject paperless voting

All electronic (paperless) voting machines should not even be considered for the state's next voting system (Star-Bulletin, July 16).

Legislators and voters need to ensure that "verifiability" is a non-negotiable factor in selecting a new system. Efficiency and reliability, while important, are secondary to a system that provides both the voter and election officials with a paper record of all votes.

If this means it may take a little longer to count (or recount) votes, so be it. Despite manufacturer claims, any completely electronic system is open to manipulation, and you won't be able to fix, or even spot irregularities if you have no paper record.