Koa Ridge will add to water burden

Here we go again (“Koa Ridge finally reaches building stage,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 3).

I used to attend the Mililani Mauka neighborhood board meetings when Castle & Cooke was proposing the addition of 500 or more homes in upper Mauka. Right after Castle & Cooke’s presentation, the representative from the Board of Water Supply made a pitch that we should limit our use of water.

Now Castle & Cooke is given the go-ahead to build hundreds of homes on Koa Ridge. If our water supply is limited, why in the world was it given the green light to put more of a burden on our fragile system? My guess is that our politicians welcome the additional tax revenue that allows them to waste even more money without any concern for the long-term consequences.

We need to dump these ill-informed robots ASAP.

Ronald Torngren

Mililani

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Taxes not main issue for vacation rentals

Paying taxes on vacation rentals should not be the main issue, but according to what I read in the paper, this seems to be the magic solution for the state government (“Gov. Ige pursues Airbnb tax deal,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 1).

If vacation rentals are allowed in residential neighborhoods so property owners can make money, then anyone should be able to open a moneymaking enterprise there.

So I suggest having an open season for all to make money anywhere, and the state can collect the appropriate tax.

By the way, what is the meaning of “residential”? This is land used for housing, not business or commercial enterprises.

Gisela Dewith

Hawaii Kai

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Senior citizens reject ‘entitlement’ label

Today, the phrase “entitlement” in relation to U.S. government programs connotes government oversight.

Supposedly someone or some group was unintentionally slighted by policy legislation, insisting that the government enact special programs to bring equality to us all. Ethnic minorities, people suffering disabilities, gays and women seem the most headlined groups.

Today we hear repeatedly Social Security benefits for seniors being falsely labeled as just another entitlement by a government trying to shed its payouts for past entitlement programs.

Social Security is not an entitlement. It is a system that our government forces upon businesses hiring salaried and hourly workers, decreasing take-home pay for a mandatory savings program. We’re not begging to draw others’ tax dollars for a select group.

Challenge people who falsely label Social Security an entitlement.

Gary S. Viveiros

Makiki

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Don’t give killers media exposure

I think the Star-Advertiser did the right thing by not presenting big-story coverage of the recent New York City attack, because such coverage would provide the killer or killers exactly the media exposure they crave (“NYC attack belonged on front page,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 2).

It is understandable that some readers (myself included, to a degree) may resent it. However, our society must not make celebrities of sordid killers.

Stuart N. Taba

Manoa

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Ban cars from Kalakaua Avenue

New York City adds its name to a list of cities that have been infected by vehicular terrorism.

As a citizen of the world, my heart aches. As a native New Yorker, I’m angry. ISIS has encouraged its radicalized recruits to use trucks as weapons.

Just in 2017, this type of terrorism has been deadly in New York City, London, Barcelona and Stockholm. Hindsight solutions are always 20/20. We do not want Waikiki to be added to this growing list.

Is there an absolute solution that can prevent these lone sick predators from striking soft targets? No.

Let’s start the conversation about banning cars from Kalakaua Avenue. Difficult to execute? Yes. Impossible to execute? No.

Oslo announced a plan to ban all cars from its city center by 2019. Tourists would embrace it. Residents would embrace it. A radical idea? No. An idea for its time? Yes.

Chuck Cohen

Kalama Valley

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Abuse of TROs can be unfair to fathers

TROs (temporary restraining orders) have saved countless women from horrible mistreatment.

However, it is an unfortunate truth that because they are so easy to obtain, TROs are misused, mostly against men to gain advantage in child-custody cases. This false practice clogs the system and depletes victim assistance resources, preventing true victims from getting help.

TROs are granted with little to no accountability to facts. The father suffers immediate alienation from his children while waiting on this clogged judicial system. His reputation has been tainted and on his court date, he can only hope the courts see through her false allegations. In the meantime the children suffer.

To any women reading this, if you are a true victim of violence or abuse, I am sincerely sorry. And I am saddened that other women obtaining frivolous TROs have misused the system, causing delays in services that you need to stay safe.

Linda McIver

Haleiwa

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Internet may not be more efficient

Internet retail saves us money by squeezing out the middleman. But is it truly more efficient?

There are so many choices of books and music on Amazon that I sometimes long for the days of the small brick-and-mortar store, where a knowledgeable buyer picked items to offer for sale. And I still use a broker for buying insurance and doing investments.

Sure we can cut out the middleman, but in the long run, do we really save time and money?

I think something of value is being lost. At least this deserves some thought, given the impact on local jobs.

Lloyd Lim

Makiki