While many may consider a 50 percent reduction on our property tax as unfair, one must also factor in that our tax has risen more than 425 percent in the last 15 years (“Want 50% off property taxes? Move your business here,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 21).

How many parcels in other areas of the island are subject to problems of central Kakaako? We are subject not only to height limits but many other restrictions. Nelson Koyanagi Jr., director of the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, speaks of unfairness. But while he notes the many unique obstacles that businesses face in central Kakkaako, he does not address the unfairness of the property tax assessment because these factors are not calculated into our values.

Due to a dispute with the Kakaako Land Co., we have been abandoned. Yet the city paved the road for developers on Waimanu Street, which is owned by Kakaako Land Co. Fair or unfair?

Frank Young

Owner, K&Y Auto Service

Kakaako

Series on police deserves praise

Many thanks to you and your investigative reporter, Rob Perez, for the “Broken Oath” article on Honolulu police officer misconduct (Star-Advertiser, Aug. 21-23). A truly excellent investigation, with no exaggerations, explained in clear, succinct writing. It deserves an award.

Neil Frazer

Kailua

Debates unfair to other candidates

Why are the networks allowing a bipartisan committee of Democrats and Republicans decide who will be in the debates they will televise?

This is biased. It works against Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, Green Party candidate Jill Stein and others.

Do the polls they are relying on ask voters who would make the best president? No. They ask who they are likely to vote for. This encourages people to vote against someone rather than for someone. It inflates the apparent support for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Furthermore, we don’t get to have head-to-head polls in which Johnson is compared directly to Trump or Clinton. Instead, he and the other non- Democrat or Republican candidates can only be considered in three- or four-way races.

Why limit the number of candidates in the debates? The GOP presidential debates included seven or more. Why do they only stop at two when other political parties are to be given the microphone?

Tracy Ryan

Chair, Libertarian Party of Hawaii

LNG, renewables go well together

Gov. David Ige is wrong in opposing liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Why is the governor opposed to natural gas, which burns cleaner and is more cost-effective than oil? Oil will be part of the power generation mix for at least another 30 years, as we need a firm power source to account for the intermittent nature of solar and wind.

LNG will save us millions of dollars per year as we transition to a renewable future. That’s a lot of extra kala filtering through the economy.

Is the governor afraid that citizens will like a cleaner and cheaper fuel supply source, thereby delaying the state’s push to a renewable future?

Outside of Hawaii, natural gas and renewables for power generation go hand-in-hand; they are complementary.

Shasha Fesharaki

Kailua

Explore options to rail transit

The real rail transit question we need to get answered is not the funding, but who will ride this train to Middle Street and back each day. Just how many passengers will drive their cars, walk or ride bikes to the rail stations, park, lock their car, get on the train, then get off the train to a bus, get off the bus — and repeat this entire time-consuming and complicated transit experience daily?

Would you?

Not to mention forgetting to pick up milk and a few groceries in town, or picking up the kids from school. A poll of potential passengers in all areas served by the rail line should be taken right now.

Billions spent on a transit system that may not be used as intended will be just the start of a huge financial burden for every taxpaying family on Oahu. There are other options, including using the present guideway at much lesser cost to all of us. Let’s explore them now.

Bob Vieira

Pauoa Valley

Close schools when it’s too hot

When I was a teacher in Illinois, schools closed on days when too much snow fell. But schools also sent students home at noon when the outside temperature reached over 100, which it did quite a few times, even in September.

The state Department of Education should not only start school after Labor Day, but also give school principals the authority to call off school when temperatures in the classroom reach a certain level. The lost time can be made up at the end of the school year, or students can attend school on a couple of Saturdays.

If the Legislature can “furlough” school for lack of funds to pay teachers, why can’t they “furlough” students (and teachers) when it gets too hot to pay attention in class? That’s a lot cheaper than paying millions of dollars for air conditioners, which would be used only a few days a year.

Wim Blees

Mililani

‘Free press’ can only blame itself

Hidden in Will Bunch’s commentary are phrases like “Triumph of the Will,” and “straight outta Nuremberg” to insinuate that Donald Trump and his support- ers are Nazi-like buffoons (“Foiling a free press,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 17).

The article rants about free speech, but fails to acknowledge the responsibilities that First Amendment disciples have avoided, distorted and skirted to this day.

Where was the Fourth Estate when college agitators across the nation shouted down, with threats of violence, any form of opposing views? When so-called refugees started real crime waves here and in Europe? When Christians and LGBT people were persecuted in the Islamic world? And what about investigating the mega-foundation run by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her family?

I have news for Mr. Bunch — the “free press” died of late by its own hands.

Tom Kenney Sr.

Mililani

Trump a danger to U.S. security

A sobering commentary by John Noonan expressed grave concerns about the possibility of Donald Trump having control over the nuclear codes (“Trump mentally unfit to have access to U.S. nuclear codes,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 11).

Any sane person would have to shudder just thinking about the possibilities.

Trump has a proclivity to shoot first and ask no questions later. He is impetuous and makes outlandish accusations and proclamations.

In a grade school, this obnoxious, confrontational bully would be sent to the principal’s office. It is incomprehensible that our nation might soon send him to the White House.

If Trump makes the White House, we all will pay a huge price, sooner than later.

Jim Kennedy

Ewa Beach