Task force members have right to lobby

I’ve had the privilege to facilitate a task force the Legislature selected to advise it on establishing policies to improve the readiness for school among all Hawaii’s children.

The task force members were authoritative, articulate advocates representing many different points of view. These volunteers also possessed and lavishly expressed mutual respect, focus on their task and a willingness to act in the best interest of the keiki they represented.

In the end, a high level of consensus was achieved, resulting in strong advice to the Legislature, which produced ground-breaking legislation and the now-seasoned Early Learning Council that leads policy development in this area for our state.

Does Leslie Kondo, executive director of the state Ethics Commission, expect these leaders to forego their duty to advocate, lobby, cajole and help our Legislature improve results for kids? These people can’t agree to that. So, should our legislators and our children be denied their assistance? What a myopic waste that would be.

Thomas J. Mitrano
Honolulu

Open up market for vacation rentals

Peter Carlisle is a quick-on-his-feet, tough-talking lawman who lives to put away the bad guys. Excellent.

It appears he’s teamed up with Keep It Kailua, and the bad guys are our neighbors who, when I see them, are ordinary people just trying to earn an honest living renting out parts of their homes for less than 30 days.

There’s a new proposal in town to use my tax dollars to enforce this outdated city zoning ordinance.

The mayor should work to change the law for the benefit of all of Oahu, the gathering place.

Keep the neighborhood by having the rentals owner-occupied. Collect taxes and fees. Enforce the good-neighbor laws about noise, dogs, rubbish and drug traffic.

Go get ‘em, pardner. I’m with ya all the way!

Wayne Conlee
Honolulu

Use natatorium for volleyball contests

Now that the NCAA has sanctioned the sport of sand volleyball for women, it’s time to begin a campaign for our island to host a permanent annual national championship venue, such as the one for NCAA baseball in Omaha, Neb.

What better site could be had than the old Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium across from Kapiolani Park? Do not tear it down. Fill it with sand and hold tournaments of this new emerging sport there. The University of Hawaii-Manoa could also hold its scheduled games there.

The natatorium is one of the few places for sand volleyball where stadium seating is already in place, and Hawaii is one of the few places with the interest in sand volleyball to draw a crowd of spectators that size.

NCAA, bring your annual national championship tournament here.

Jerry Mershon
Mililani

Rebate regulation insults consumers

Larry Harris’ commentary criticizing credit card rebates cleverly masquerades as educating consumers but in reality is advocating big-government socialist regulation ("The hidden cost of rebates," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 6).

He is saying you are too stupid to use credit wisely, so government must make the decision for you. The basic premises are that people who use rebates are encouraged to use credit unwisely, which also raises the prices for those who use cash.

Just because credit, like any tool, can be used unwisely, does not mean we should be discouraged from using it.

Just because some will use the credit card rebate system unwisely does not mean we should punish those that use it wisely.

Almost any discount system (coupons, club membership, etc.) creates pressure to increase prices on those who choose to not participate.

So do we now ban or let big government regulate all discounts? It is none of government’s business.

Leighton Loo
Mililani

OCCC conditions are inhumane

I always believed the criminal element deserved what they got in jail. That was, until I found myself in a bit of trouble and ended up in the Oahu Community Correctional Center.

The conditions in this facility are inhumane and would be condemned if government inspectors came in.

For example, I read in the Star-Advertiser that inmates had it good, with three meals a day at taxpayer expense. Not one of the meals provided while I was there was hot, and we were lucky to get 1,200 calories a day.

A roof that leaks profusely, black mold on ceilings and the module roof, no air conditioning and three men to a single cell. The inmates in the module I was in hadn’t even had their day in court yet but were treated like convicted prisoners.

No visits from loved ones, phone calls or recreation because of staff shortages. I am a veteran and I think the United States and Hawaii can do better than that.

Tony Sim
Honolulu

Lanikai sidewalks are not for cars

In response to Andrew Beh’s letter complaining that he can’t park his car in Lanikai because residents are obstructing the unimproved sidewalks: He negates his own argument and his complaint is baseless ("Residents abusing Lanikai sidewalks," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Aug. 15).

He’s griping because he can’t park his car on a sidewalk?

If it was an improved sidewalk would he try to park on it?

The purpose of a sidewalk, whether it’s improved or unimproved, is to be a pedestrian walkway, not a parking place.

It is illegal for cars to park on a sidewalk, whether it is improved or unimproved, and I’ve seen cars ticketed for it. Like he says, these areas aren’t private property, but nor are they public parking stalls.

I don’t blame Lanikai residents for trying to enforce the law against violators (residents must obtain a variance from the city).

If Beh wants to go to Lanikai Beach, he can walk or ride a bike, like I do.

Kelly Blanchard
Kailua