Arcade raid meant to discern legality

The editorial, "Raid on arcades of dubious value" (Star-Advertiser, Our View, Oct. 16), completely misses the point of the operation in which machines and records were seized from several gaming arcades. It calls the action "unseemly, considering the legal ambiguity involved."

"Legal ambiguity" is precisely the reason for the operation. For years, questions about gaming machines have gone unanswered.

Owners of the machines flaunted what they saw as legal loopholes. Members of the community questioned whether the machines should be allowed.

Until now, no one did anything.

Information gathered during a seven-month undercover operation by police vice officers showed that the machines offered games which people paid to play and won or lost money on.

In accordance with the law, a search warrant was issued by a judge and machines and records seized as evidence.

This starts the process that will lead to a long-overdue judicial determination of the legality of these machines in Hawaii.

Dave S. Koga
Department of the Prosecuting Attorney

State should restore funding to the arts

On behalf of the board of my organization, weurge Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s administration to support funding for the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Biennium Grant Program.

Weask that his administration rescind any decisions or actions that would impose additional cuts to HSFCA’s already reduced fiscal year 2013 budget.

In fiscal year 2012,HSFCA Biennium Grant Program amounts were reduced across the board, by 60 percent.This reduction, which came with no forewarning, was a difficult financial blow. But we recently learned that even more drastic cuts will continue in FY 2013.HSFCA’s Biennium Grant Programfaces an existential crisis.This program affects hundreds of nonprofit arts organizations across the state.

Such funding is a very small portion of the state budget, but those dollars accomplish much good. The arts foster creativity, expand our capacity to imagine, enliven our lives and communities, lift our spirits and re-energize our economy.

Robert Pollock
Executive director and founder, Ebb & Flow Arts

Two major parties exclude alternatives

It’s nice to see Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson discussed in this week’s newspaper ( "GOP frets about libertarians spoiling vote," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 15).

In relation to the role the two large parties play in attempting to minimize the ability of others to run for office, the real issue is why media play along with it. Why does network television simply go along with a national debate system organized by a bipartisan committee (read Democrats and Republicans only)?

Shouldn’t there be an unambiguous standard, such as appearing on the ballot in 40 states, rather than allowing two self-interested parties to exclude whomever they want?

Neither the Republicans nor Democrats have any legal, constitutional standing to set up a two-party system that excludes anyone and everyone who doesn’t like their message.

Tracy Ryan
Makiki

Cayetano plan will end up costing a lot

I am surprised at former Gov. Ben Cayetano’s apparent lack of understanding on how infrastructure projects, especially of the scale of the rail project, are funded and built ("Cayetano sees shifting rail revenue to bus system," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 16).

The money set aside for our rail system, both federal and local, cannot just be transferred over to his FAST plan.

More important, his plan needs to start from scratch with environmental impact studies, iwi surveys, 20-30 community meetings, approvals from the Legislature and City Council, all taking at least five to seven years and costing millions of dollars more.And, of course, the city will be out millions of taxpayer money defending and settling of all the lawsuits that we know will be filed the day after he moves to kill the rail project, which we voted for and which has been under construction.

His lack of a grasp of very basic governmentalprocedures is alarming and reckless, especially from someone who claims to be a fiscalconservative.

Jeff Merz
Waikiki

Ariyoshi appealed to our better sides

I vote for George!

Former Gov. George Ariyoshi’s commentary eloquently articulated what I hope is the silent majority’s feeling about rail ("Rail is a matter of equity for West Oahu residents," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Oct. 17).

I live in Kaneohe and am embarrassed by all the signs that say, "Rail won’t benefit us so why should we pay for it?"How sad if the first and only question that we ask is, "What’s in it for me?"

Joyce Tamanaha Takahashi
Kaneohe

Reality of sex abuse was poorly phrased

Regarding the article, "Children identify themselves, man in pornographic photos" (Star-Advertiser, Oct. 12): The opening paragraph says that the children identified themselves and the man "with whom they were having sex."

I am appalled. These children were not "having sex." They were being assaulted. Raped. Attacked. Surely the authors could have found a better way to express what was happening when those photos were taken.

I am astonished and disappointed that the editors of your paper did not recognize the insensitive and inappropriate nature of this statement.

Deborah Schmeding
Kailua