Add Catholics to tourists lost

It's no secret that Hawaii lost the gay and lesbian market years ago thanks to politicians like Sam Slom and Mike Gabbard. The Japanese aren't coming because of swine flu, and it's cheaper to vacation closer to home. Now, thanks to Coach McMackin's slur against the Catholics at Notre Dame, we are probably going to lose a good portion of the Catholic market and anything that was left of gay and lesbian travel.

It seems like Hawaii is certainly getting to be known across the country and around the world as the place not to visit. Here's the best part: Almost half of the people here still don't bother to vote, yet we contribute to McMackin's salary of over a million dollars a year. Are we nuts?

Lingle's sacrifice won't quite sting

I'd like to personally congratulate Gov. Linda Lingle for leading by example in handling this budget crisis. Her offer to take two furlough days a month plus reduce her pay 5 percent is way above and beyond considering her mortgage, utilities, car, car insurance, travel and other amenities are free. How ever will she live on her current salary plus her retirement pension that she receives as the former mayor of Maui?

State workers, how dare you complain about your pay being cut by 14 percent? Just work three or four extra jobs—it's the new trend! Private sector employees, you're absolutely right to complain about all those “;perks”; that state workers receive. Look at those teachers coming in early and staying late to tutor children or working on the weekends to prepare lessons, grade and serve as club advisers. Get this: They even get to buy their own school supplies instead of their boss paying for it. Wow, I'd hate to be the governor now. How will she ever survive these next two years?

BYU's vision conflicts with city

At a Honolulu City Planning Commission hearing in the early 1980s, a Brigham Young University representative presented a plan for extensive development in Laie, extolling the many features of the plan to develop the area. When asked how the proposal fit into the city's overall General Plan for Oahu, the representative was speechless. He had no knowledge of the plan. It now looks as if history may be repeating itself. A new proposal from BYU affiliates shows either no knowledge, or a lack of respect for the city's long range planning for our island.

According to the city Department of Planning and Permitting, the General Plan already accommodates all projected island growth. The City's Sustainable Communities Plan for the area permits little growth because the growth is directed to other areas of the island such as the Ewa “;second city.”;

A large development in Laie would mean that the entire General Plan would have to be redesigned, and most of the city's growth policies modified, not just an amendment to the Sustainable Communities Plan. The General Plan is well on its way to fruition, and represents multimillion dollars of investment of taxpayer money for infrastructure. Think of the cost of the new parks and schools in Kapolei, the cost of the new freeway interchanges, and the Honouliuli sewer plant expansion that taxpayers have already funded, not to mention the justification for the rail system.

The General Plan considered all of these factors, and many others; that is why the area is only designated for minor development. It should stay that way.