For the past four years, I have participated in an annual Nuuanu Stream cleaning in Queen Liliuokalani Botanical Garden organized by the City and County of Honolulu. Multiple volunteer organizations pitch in, including, but not limited to, Trout Unlimited’s Hawaii Chapter, 808Cleanups and the Oregon State Alumni Organization.

During these recent years, I have noted a significant reduction in the amount of plastic bags that find their way into this drainage ecosystem that is heavily pressured by a dense surrounding urban core.

The plastic bag ban works! It’s all about changing your habits — reducing impulse behaviors, such as shopping and the wasted associated travel in favor of planning ahead, a bit of discipline in your routine and paying attention to the bigger picture: taking a useless product out of circulation to improve our environment.

Tom Bellit

Kailua

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ACLU ‘weaponizes’ Eighth Amendment

I commend the Star-Advertiser for its editorial, “Clear campers from sidewalks” (Our View, July 5) that strongly supports the reasonable measures now proposed by Mayor Kirk Caldwell to apply some “tough love” to address the homeless problem. Such action has been long overdue.

Unfortunately, the ACLU objects to these common-sense measures and argues that banning campers who are living on public sidewalks violates the Eighth Amendment because it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Isn’t it ironic that the ACLU complains about conservatives who allegedly “weaponize” the First Amendment, and it now seeks to “weaponize” the Eighth Amendment? Does anyone really believe that it is cruel and unusual punishment to keep our sidewalks clear of the homeless? Of course not.

Jeffrey A. Keating

Kapiolani

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Kim-Case exchange looked bad for both

I’m wondering why Sophie Cocke’s article, “Congressional seat face-off gets heated,” (Star-Advertiser, July 3) didn’t fact-check debate claims. It mentions how Donna Mercado Kim accused Ed Case of missing (48 percent!) of votes while he served, later clarifying that it was 6 percent over his career and that the 48 percent was in 2006. Case insisted missing only “3,4 or 5 percent.” It was very easy to check this one. Both are wrong.

A glance at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/ed_case/400069 shows Case missed 6.1 percent of votes (when the median of missed votes was half that — 2.9 percent). His peak was 35.2 percent in 2006. This reaffirmed my opinion that Kim likes to be seen as a watchdog, but frequently is a bully showboating without factual basis. It also reaffirmed my poor opinion of Ed Case.

Hawaii can do better. The Star-Advertiser could have done better. TV reported the debate live, so the paper should have checked facts and added context.

Andrew Wertheimer

Makiki

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Bikeshare expansion hailed as visionary

Recently, I was biking home from work, and went to meet my husband and friends at the tennis courts at Diamond Head. The cycle track and Biki made it possible to ride safely, and they are the only reason that we can have one car — saving at least $7,000 a year by our estimate.

I’m so looking forward to having Biki around Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head. This will make my commute and small shopping trips around town so much easier. I want to thank the mayor and City Council for their leadership in building bike lanes and placing new Biki stations along the park, even in the midst of opposition.

People will always be uncomfortable with change, so I’m impressed with our city leadership that has a vision for making Honolulu a city that is accessible and affordable for all.

Dawn Lippert

Diamond Head

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Let $50,000 of earned income be tax-free

Here’s a novel idea for income equalization. The cost of living in Hawaii is almost impossible for the average person. How about that the first $50,000 to $60,000 of earned income become both federal and state tax-free?

This would allow the majority of people living here a chance at making a decent living while putting the tax burden on the richest who are already eating steak and lobster every night.

Food for thought for the politicos who are seeking office.

Whiting Hyland

Kailua

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Bag fee seems like more taxing, gouging

I find that the new shopping bag fee is ridiculous and an inconvenience — for the simple fact that items purchased from any establishment in this state have already been factored into the item being purchased. Why do we have to pay double — an increase in the tax? Everything is taxable, so I’m sure that the government is getting its share; it’s an example like airline baggage fees. How clever of our policymakers to do this ridiculous bill. I say, get rid of this ridiculous law; enough is enough on gouging.

Ethel Lundberg

Kaneohe