It's anyone's guess where Colt will go

My husband, David, and I are having fun discussing University of Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan's future. Whether or not he wins the Heisman Trophy this season, we both know he has a pro career ahead of him. But where will he end up?

How about the Atlanta Falcons? With QB Michael Vick indicted by a federal grand jury and the likelihood he will be suspended for sponsoring dogfighting on his property, Atlanta will be in desperate need of a quarterback. Will they pick Colt?

Or how about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Quarterback Jeff Garcia is getting old and the team is predicted to be dead last this season. They will need a quarterback to eventually replace Jeff. Will they pick Colt? That would be wonderful, because one of my favorite UH athletes, Chad Owens, was just hired by the Bucs. And, of course, there is no handsomer coach in the NFL than the one and only John Gruden. Love his blond hair and blue eyes!

Where else could Colt Brennan go? Any guesses?

Accountability missing along with tax money

Accountability ... here's a word that somehow no longer is used today. Today we, the taxpayers, are footing a $50,000 bill to reprint and resend property tax assessments for a typographical error, which likely was someone's paid job to proofread and correct in the tax or printing office (Star-Bulletin, July 25).

Several days ago, we taxpayers were assessed a $90,000 settlement for a disgruntled state Department of Land and Natural Resources employee's complaint to go away. The list increases daily. Both problems and complainants remain anonymous.

Of course, people and situational differences exist, but without a wrongdoer, how can we ever improve?

It's business as usual with property taxes

Property tax goof -- what else is new?

Stop blaming others for your own failings

It's sad that in the year 2007, people like Eric Poohina and Sharon Pomroy (Letters, July 24 and 25) have such negative views on the world and life in general. It's so easy to live in their small corner of the world and have a holier-than-thou, me-first attitude. If a hardworking family from somewhere else wants to come here and respectfully appreciate our islands, who are they to tell them they can't come here or make them feel unwelcome?

I like when people throw out dates of significant events as if that was a struggle that they went through themselves. Why is it so hard for people to understand that there are people who are of different skin colors, races, sexual orientations and religions in the world other than their own? We all want to feed our families, look good, eat well and be around good people, not to mention we all use the bathroom the same, so why can't people get over their own sheltered, stunted existence and stop blaming others for their unhappiness with life?

I'm glad that over time that old way of thinking is starting to die out as all cultures begin to mix with each other. That's what makes this place special.

Council meetings shouldn't be secret

Regarding your July 20 article about City Councilman Rod Tam reporting Charles Djou to the Ethics Commission: What a joke! Djou is one of the very few Council members for whom ethics is the last thing about which anyone should be concerned. He has shown time and again to be one of the few Council members concerned about the taxpayers and how THEIR money is spent.

Since all the Council members are put into office by the voters, why should any of their meetings, executive session or not, be kept secret from the public? What is Tam trying to hide?

Kapolei court will burden some families

I write in response to Gary Meyers' letter of July 22, with respect to the Kapolei Courthouse. I believe he took Adrienne King's comments out of context. My understanding of her point is that if the entire Family Court were to be moved to Kapolei, it would be difficult for individuals living in Waimanalo, Haleiwa or Laie to make court appearances at 8:30 a.m., especially those using public transportation.

I work for a nonprofit and am quite knowledgeable of many mothers with children and even fathers who use public transportation to attend Family Court hearings. I cannot fathom how a mother of two toddlers traveling from Waimanalo can get to Kapolei Courthouse by 8:30 a.m. for a hearing. Add to this the need to bring her young children along. Are they to spend the day in Kapolei waiting for the next "express" bus home in the afternoon?

Then we have the transfer point that all these individuals must handle, probably at Ala Moana Center or some other central location. I agree fully with King that a new Circuit Court in Kapolei would be the answer, allow the outlying community continued access to Family Court in downtown, and add a new full-service court to Kapolei, which, if successful, will complete the vision of a "Second City."