Support insurance for long-term care

In Gov. David Ige’s recent State of the State address, he spoke about realigning our values and our actions, saying, “They are what define us as a community,” and mentioned “our obligation to be true to our past and cultural heritage.”

What he did not talk about was caring for our kupuna, and the growing challenge of how we do that in Hawaii, and do it in a way that aligns with our values.

State Sen. Rosalyn Baker has introduced a bill that would create the nation’s very first long-term care social insurance to build a stronger support system for family caregivers. Care for our elders is at the heart of our culture, fulfilling our obligation to our parents and our community.

As the governor said, “Pledge to it, make it real every day and lead the way.”

It’s time for Hawaii to lead the way in caring for our kupuna.

Clementina D. Ceria-Ulep

Pearl City

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Rail should feature an express option

The City Council needs to act quickly to force the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to construct the guideway, stations and systems so that express trains can carry passengers from Kapolei to Ala Moana Center in 20 minutes or less.

Express trains would stop at only four or five major stations.

Stopping at all the planned 21 stations along the rail guideway will take 55 minutes from near Kapolei to Ala Moana Center.

The City Council should stipulate that every other train would be an express train, which would get people who live on the West Side home quickly.

Isn’t that what the project is all about anyway?

Robert Rodman

Downtown Honolulu

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IT investments will pay off in long run

The Ige administration should be applauded for its focus on improving accountability in information technology investments to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely (“Upgrade required,” Star-Advertiser, Insight, Jan. 24).

It is encouraging to see the governor, chief information officer and comptroller all working together to identify challenges presented by the antiquated technology that our state government workers use to provide services to the public.

This collaborative approach should be fostered in all corners of state government to realize the changes necessary to bring our state into the 21st century.

As members of the Transform Hawaii Government coalition, we urge our state leaders to remember that a positive return on investment can come not only by saving money and becoming more efficient, but also by making government more accessible and transparent.

Ryan Field

Kaimuki

Robert Harrison

Makiki

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256 lane miles is but a pittance overall

I had a laugh reading about Mayor Kirk Caldwell paving a whopping 256 lane miles in 2015 (“City has resurfaced 256 lane miles in ’15,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 30).

The reality of how insignificant this is requires some perspective. With more than 4,000 lane miles of road on Oahu, paving 256 miles equals roughly 6 percent of the road surfaces that rock us on a daily basis.

We all know how terrible roads are in Honolulu. We have Third World streets in a first-rate tax state. If Caldwell wants to toot his horn, try getting that number to 20 percent and in five years maybe we will see a dent in the problem.

When fixing potholes is the government’s main priority, then fixing government must be our priority. We truly deserve better.

Bryan Holt

Kakaako

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Clinton fan missed point of email issue

Jane Wylie claimed Hillary Clinton is not at fault for using her private email account to communicate on subjects which at the time were unclassified, but later deemed to be classified (“Clinton telling truth about her emails,” Star Advertiser, Letters, Feb. 2).

This is not the issue. Since 2005, State Department policy has required that “normal day-to-day operations be conducted on an authorized (automated information system), which has the proper level of security control to provide nonrepudiation, authentication and encryption, to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the resident information,” according to the department’s Foreign Affairs Manual.

If Clinton had used an official State Department e-mail account, improperly transmitted classified or sensitive but unclassified information could have been rapidly identified and “scrubbed” off the department’s servers.

Clinton’s blatant disregard of her own department’s policy has jeopardized the security of our country and makes her unfit to be president of the United States.

Alan Richards

Aiea

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Mall’s CenterStage has lost its charm

CenterStage in the Ala Moana Center has always been a special performing arts location, including its beloved daily hula show.

Alas, the Hawaiian sense of place there has been ruined by the installation of a giant electronic billboard now overlooking the stage. Its bright flashing and moving commercial images are aggressive and intrusive, especially in Hawaii, which decades ago banned all outdoor billboards. This abomination should be switched off and then dismantled.

Brian Bagnall

Waikiki

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Tenants with pets are calmer, happier

Thank you for the article, “Pet Peeves,” examining various condominiums’ pet rules (Star-Advertiser, Jan. 24). I’m glad to see that pet-friendliness has improved over the years.

Expanding the conversation to single-family landlords’ pet policies, I find the majority says, “No pets.” This is unfortunate.

I’ve welcomed pets into my rental properties for years and find that tenants with pets are calmer and happier.

If pets damage property, the tenant pays. I’ve benefited from two new screens and two new rugs — free to me.

Pets have a great humanizing effect. Let them in and be happy.

Howard C. Wiig

Manoa