OHA can help youth at risk in East Hawaii

1/1

Swipe or click to see more

MARK WINEMAN / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER

Melissa Mayo, 18, just aged out of the foster care system in Hilo. She says she had wonderful CWS social workers, but they were so overworked, responsible for so many kids in the system, that they had to cut corners in doing the required paperwork for their jobs.

Select an option below to continue reading this premium story.

Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading.

Get unlimited access

From as low as $12.95 /mo.

Subscribe Now

Regarding “East Hawaii in Crisis” (Star-Advertiser, March 11): This is an issue of great significance for both Child Welfare Services and families. So where is the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and why isn’t it using some of its rich endowment to make a difference?

Jim Newman

Waianae

—

Even with training, it’s hard to hit target

I support Robert Soberano’s view (“In real life, teachers won’t kill gunmen,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 19).

The Star Advertiser reported on shots fired in a Kalihi 7-Eleven store (“Officers shoot at suspect in 7-Eleven robbery in Kalihi,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, March 19). The story said, “The perpetrator allegedly pointed his weapon at police when officers fired gunshots. No injuries were reported.”

Even if a person has the mindset that would allow him to kill another human, those trained with weapons find it hard to hit a human target.

Ronald Wong

Salt Lake

—

Unions do ‘compel’ workers to join

Kevin Batey said using “compel” to describe how labor union dues are applied shows bias against unions (“Big Q union question skewed against labor,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 12). Rather, he said paying union dues is “being required to do the right thing.”

Require and compel are synonyms. I’m compelled to pay taxes — or required, if you wish — so I can benefit from government services. Yes, unions have greatly helped workers, but as with any entrenched bureaucracy, greed and corruption have tainted those past great deeds.

But fair is fair. How about workers who opt out of union membership not receive the benefits? They must negotiate with management individually. Union leaders should agree, because it’s all about the workers, not membership numbers, fees, and union executives’ pay, right?

Sean Goodspeed

Ala Moana

—

More redemption centers needed

Redemption for beverage containers is a chore. Recycling centers are far and few and often located in isolated areas.

I used to redeem my beverage containers at a small recycling center that closed a few years ago. Now I discard my beverage containers in the recycling blue bin.

Raising the deposit to 10 cents per container will not increase the redemption rate. It will hurt the poor and the elderly the most.

To increase recycling, the state should place more redemption centers in common areas, such as shopping malls and local shopping centers.

I suggest that all high schools conduct a monthly recycling drive to raise money for school projects. I would be glad to donate my beverage containers to my local high school for recycling. This will result in a high redemption rate.

Ray Lau

Kailua