Fire sprinklers save lives and property

Building codes requires all new multi-unit residential buildings to have fire sprinklers for one simple reason — for their cost they are incredibly effective at saving lives and minimizing property damage.

The fact that the City Council has balked at requiring older building be retrofitted is shameful. I blame the Council for all future deaths in apartment fires, as well as groups such as Association of Apartment Owners who have testified against the idea due to financial concerns.

The Marco Polo fire cost more than $100 million. How many buildings could have been retrofitted for that amount? Quite a lot. I don’t care who pays for it or what financial help the city offers — it simply needs to get done.

Remember, it’s not a question of if there will be a fire in an older apartment building. It’s a question of when, and how many lives sacrificed on the altar of “financial concerns.”

Bryan Mick

Kakaako

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Wong helped other women to speak out

I am proud of Rachael Wong for speaking up and doing something about workplace sexual harassment for thousands of women who are unable to do so (“Souki to resign,” Star-Advertiser, March 21).

The courage of Wong to not sue or seek financial compensation spoke volumes about her integrity to right a wrong in a most powerful way.

We all know workplace sexual harassment has victimized thousands, causing untold pain and anguish, leading many to drink, drugs, depression and even suicide.

Doing something is not easy because the risks are so high and our society and system of adjudication are not ready to listen.

I am glad the “#MeToo” movement has finally opened a way for abused women to find some safety in numbers to report against powerful men who violated them by using their positions of power to satisfy their sexual aberration.

It’s hoped that more women can come out to the state or city ethics commissions, the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission or the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock

Chinatown

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Souki came from older generation

I’m really sorry to read about state Rep. Joe Souki (“Souki to resign,” Star-Advertiser, March 21). I lobbied at the Capitol for more than 30 years for the disabled and knew Joe well.

I have a lot of respect for him for all he did for Hawaii. I have a hard time believing Joe intentionally hurt anyone — he is too nice of a guy. In fact, the first time Joe met my haole wife, and every time thereafter, he gave her a big hug and kiss.

Joe, like me, is from an older generation, where we grew up learning the way to show your aloha and respect for others is to hug and kiss them. My mother would give me the “stink eye” if I didn’t do that.

There are women I know, working at the Capitol, who also are having a hard time believing what Joe has been accused of. They know Joe well from working with him for years.

Mahalo, Joe, and happy retirement.

Art Frank

Makaha

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Be informed about paid-for politicians

Why are the politicians we voted for beholden to their campaign contributors rather than to the public who voted for them?

It seems that our politicians in Congress are unwilling to move on anything that the money that put them there opposes. Aren’t we a democracy, or did we somehow lose that when we elected our current president?

A democracy is government by the people, with majority rule. It appears the rich are now the majority, since they are the only ones who can make our politicians move on anything in Congress. Up until that moment I was part of the majority — the other 99 percent.

With the midterm elections looming, the public should be very careful of the rhetoric that will be spewed about the candidates. Learn more by reading the “real news” and not “fake news.”

If we do at least that we will be able to make a more informed decision before we vote and we might actually make a difference and become a democracy again.

Claudia Torres

Aiea

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Only certain people would be armed

Writers have stated President Donald Trump or others have implied that “all” teachers should carry weapons to defend “all” students. That is far from the truth.

Many teachers who are retired or reserve military or law enforcement officers are ready, willing and able, if they were allowed, to conceal-carry by law or by the state Department of Education superintendent and the chief of police, both of whom oppose such a policy.

In my humble opinion, schools should not be “no-gun zones.” Hawaii already has had a teacher shot by a student, in 1988.

No one except a principal should know who is authorized to carry a weapon. Only adept, trained and dedicated personnel should be allowed. The main purpose is defensive, and not offensive, against a shooter as a last resort, should police not arrive on time. Authorized persons who are revealed should be disallowed.

Russel Noguchi

Pearl City