Use taxes to aid U.S. PV makers?
Federal and state tax credits were key to my installing photovoltaic solar panels, but I have a different take than Michael Rethman (“Solar tax credits not working out,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 27).
I specifically chose PV panels made in the United States, not China, so my money would benefit American companies and American jobs. I also used a local company to mount my panels on my roof, and local electricians to wire up the system — local jobs and pay that benefit the state of Hawaii.
Also, the excise taxes for this project came to more than $1,250, so my state tax credit was effectively reduced by that amount going to the city.
Maybe the state should reduce the tax credit for foreign-made PV panels to 20 percent or so to encourage American manufacturers or compel foreign manufacturers to open factories in the U.S.
Peter Chisteckoff
Mililani Mauka
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Isle medicine in Botticelli’s debt
Dr. Max Botticelli’s warm personality captured our attention on TV for decades as spokesman for the health insurance company he founded.
But he was foremost an educator who helped train generations of physicians of Hawaii.
The tremendous advancement in the quality of health care in our state can be attributed to the training offered at the John A. Burns School of Medicine in partnership with Hawaii’s teaching hospitals: The Queen’s Medical Center, Hawaii Pacific Health’s medical centers, Kuakini Medical Center and Wahiawa Hospital, and in the offices or clinics of nearly 1,000 volunteer physician faculty members statewide.
Nearly half of all practicing doctors in Hawaii were trained at the University of Hawaii medical school.
That is the tremendous legacy of physician-educators like professor Botticelli, the vision of Gov. John Burns, the state Legislature, elected and community leaders who have followed, and the people of Hawaii who continue to support our school of medicine.
Jerris Hedges
Honolulu
UH likely needs own chancellor
The University of Hawaii’s leadership structure, with a president and chancellors, is common among multi-campus public university systems and can be found in states such as California, New York and Massachusetts .
UH has multiple chancellors, basically one for each campus. Since UH-Manoa is by far the most complex and comprehensive component of the university system, it seems reasonable that there should be provision for an academic and administrative leadership person aside from the university president, who has systemwide responsibilities.
While arguments can be made both for and against the present structure, great care should be taken that this issue does not become a distraction to the university’s overall progress.
Garry Rechnitz
UH professor emeritus
Hawaii Kai
Public schools dumbed down
The commentary by Russ Robinson hit on the head the issue of blaming teachers (“Blaming teachers for society’s ills is common sport,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, March 28).
Although my perspective may reflect an old-school mentality, I know that the current system breeds disrespect and failure in the classroom, ultimately resulting in social ills for all of us.
Common ills are failure to tie behavior and attendance to actual learning, failure to enforce homework/tests in the guise of maintaining self-esteem, excessive mixing of students of varying abilities, and failure to identify and punish those responsible for school vandalism.
Dumbing down the entire school system to the lowest common denominator has led to poor results.
It is little wonder that many teachers who themselves have school-age children choose the private school route in order for them to attain their potential in society.
Paul Mizue
Aiea
Rail would be good for jobs
I just read that construction jobs are down 3 percent on Oahu, more than most U.S. cities.
To those who want to stop rail, please answer this question for me:
If we don’t do rail, what do you have to offer the economy and the construction industry in terms of job growth that is anything near comparable to this $5.2 billion capital improvement project?
And with a federal grant of $1.55 billion you would walk away from, how would you replace that amount of federal dollars and economic stimulus for our city and county?
Kristian Ah Sam
Ewa Beach