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Let’s have more lunch wagons
I don’t understand why it is so expensive to park a legitimate lunch wagon during the day at certain locations.
I get that some spots are dangerous for folks to pull in and out, but there are many safe locations that are empty. Take Sandy Beach, for instance. I can visualize three or four wagons selling shaved ice, smoothies, plate lunches, local shrimp and fish tacos, for example. The beachgoers, tourists and locals would love it, and it would support small businesses. This would also support the city, if the rents are not outrageous.
In New York and other cities, these small businesses are very busy and they have become popular spots to grab a bite.
I know this isn’t the mainland, but I believe supporting these unique and trendy small businesses would be a win-win for everyone.
Jody Green
Waimanalo
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Thielen right about ‘big tent’
As a lifelong Democrat, I tend to agree with Laura Thielen that we should be a "big tent" party and a new Democrat should not be on probation for six months in order to run for office as a Democrat ("Democratic Party of Hawaii acting against democratic principles," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, June 3).
I saw her up close at the Hawaii Democratic Party County Convention at Aloha Stadium on May 5 and she spoke with conviction on a resolution issue there.
Laura comes across as a Democrat with true grit, principle and a sense of urgency to be a Democratic candidate in this year’s primary election.
I hope she wins her case to be allowed to run as a Democrat and our Democrats will have a choice of candidates in her primary election race.
Frankie Kam
Waikiki
CASA not alone in helping kids
Ken Bailey betrays exactly what is wrong with the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program when he says "their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence — the one adult who cares for them" ("Volunteer to help foster children," Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 3).
Never mind the judges who dedicate their lives to this. Bailey lists and discounts the social workers for Child Protective Services, the doctors at Kapiolani and the lawyers of the attorney general’s office. The messiah complex of CASA is disgusting. I’d like to assure him that eachand every person involved in the court system cares very deeply about these children, not only him.
The state of Hawaii should not be in the business of divesting families of their children. For the number of children that go through the system, we are doing pretty well. Do we so soon forget that children die in foster care, too?
A wise lady once said, "It takes a village to raise a child." CASA would do well to appreciate the other members of the village.
Marcus L. Landsberg IV
Waikiki
HFD retirees deserve better
Why burn the bridge down?
Honolulu Fire Department Chief Kenneth Silva’s decision to prevent retired firefighters from using fire department facilities because of their organization’s political endorse- ments hurts everyone.
Political discourse and our freedom to openly support candidates whose beliefs and values are aligned with those of our own is the quintessence of an American democracy.
Political campaigns and politicians come and go every year, but, at the end of the day, we must always maintain our friendships.
It is my hope that Chief Silva rethinks and changes his decision. Burning down a bridge is permanent.
Rodney Nishimoto
Palolo
Cayetano plan would kill rail
To even consider former Gov. Ben Cayetano’s transit plan for Honolulu in the current climate would require killing the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation plan now.
The Federal Transit Administration has made it clear that any significant change to the HART plan would put it at the end of the line for federal funds, without which it cannot move forward.
The Cayetano plan would be a major change that would effectively kill mass transit for Honolulu for the foreseeable future.
Bob Nakata
Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE) housing committee member
Rail will need subsidy forever
It has been repeatedly stated that the half a percent surcharge for the rail project will end at the end of 2022. For those who believe in fairy tales, believe it. For all you pragmatics, when I retired 15 years ago, TheBus was already being subsidized by $8 million a year so as to keep fares low enough so people would ride it. I can only imagine what the subsidy is today.
Without the continuance of the rail surcharge or a subsidy to operate rail, the fares will be so high that people will not ride it.
Also, this talk of paying back the contingency fund appropriation, if used, through the rail fare box makes no sense because the rail will never be able to operate in the black.
Ernest Y. Suemoto
Mililani
City treats our seniors poorly
Working with seniors at Makua Alii Senior Center, I have witnessed the way seniors are treated with cutsby this city.
One 83-year-old, who needed to catch two buses and knowing that missing one meant an additional 40 minutes wait, was rushing across Hotel Street (not in a crosswalk) and was stopped bypolice, ticketed and fined $88, and missed her bus.
Another senior, 90 years old, stopped coming when bus stops during the Hannemann administration were moved three blocks away.
Another commented, "Now that we no longer serve a purpose, they want us to sit home and die."
I was told seniors represent only a small group who vote. They don’t count. Really?
Penelope Burniske
Honolulu
Feral animals hurt watersheds
Even if you don’t care about Hawaii’s native plants and creatures but want to take a shower, you want to save forests.
Native forests use a structure of high trees (ohia and koa), medium tree ferns, and moss and fern ground cover to slow down rainfall, letting it sink into mountains.Most tap water comes from sticking a straw in mountains.
These aren’t modern leftist ideas. In 1883, a Planters’ Labor & Supply Co. report chaired by banker Charles Bishop advocated forest protection from cattle, goats, deer and pigs to ensure water.
In 1903, Gov. Sanford Dole advocated for thirsty plantations to fence out the same animals.
In 1904, the U.S. Forest Service gave sugar growers advice for fencing out cattle, goats, deer and pigs.
We’ve known for more than 100 years that these animals in forests where we are capturing water is bad business.
I guess Hawaii does have a bad business climate?
Anita Manning
Waipahu