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Choon James speaks sympathetically about a certain class of people in our society who “lead frugal lives and sacrifice,” “barely make end meet,” and live in “shack(s)” (“Not all ‘investment real property’ owners are wealthy,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Sept. 18).
Who wouldn’t root for these people to get ahead? It’s incredibly ironic that she reserves these sympathies for real estate investors.
By contrast, she describes the apparently luxurious lives of public school teachers with their “guaranteed monthly salary, including a long summer, spring, Christmas and holiday breaks,” medical benefits and their potential to “receive a $1,000 monthly pension” for their years of service. Really?
There is a valid point to be made that increased property taxes will likely lead to higher rents, adversely affecting many middle-class residents. But making public school teachers the foil for her opposition is offensive on so many levels. Teachers lead frugal lives and sacrifice every day for the pleasure and responsibility of educating our children.
John Cheever
Kuliouou
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