Safeway, Rod Tam cases both shameful

So on the one hand, former City Councilman Rod Tam gets two days in jail for stealing from the city from 2007-2009, with his record wiped clean if he stays out of trouble for a year.

On the other hand, Child Protective Services takes a 2-year-old daughter away from her handcuffed, pregnant mother for forgetting to pay for her sandwich at Safeway after paying $50 for her groceries.

What? Shame, shame shame.

Taking a child away from her mother for forgetting to pay for her sandwich? Seriously, folks?

Last time I checked, this was still America , the land of the free and home of the brave. Prosecute the crooked politicians, not innocent mothers and their young children.

John Shiarella
Kaneohe

Penalties similar but crimes were not

Pregnant mother Nicole Leszczynski was arrested and charged with stealing $5 in sandwiches from Safeway. Her 2-year-old daughter was taken from the parents by Child Protective Services overnight due to the arrest.

Former City Councilman Rod Tam was sentenced to serve two days in jail and perform more than 300 hours of community service for stealing taxpayers’ money and violating state campaign spending laws.

A mainland woman gets nearly the same punishment over $5 in sandwiches as the local thief who embezzled nearly $12,000. It’s as if we are living in a banana republic.

Marco Garcia
Honolulu

Don’t eat the food before it’s paid for

I would like to comment on the incident involving Safeway supermarket and the couple who forgot to pay for sandwiches before leaving the market ("Safeway apologizes to family for treatment in theft case," Star-Advertiser, Nov. 2). They should have paid for the sandwiches first, then gone ahead and done their shopping. In my opinion they are either very irresponsible or they thought they could get away with it. Does this mean anybody can go into the market and eat anything while shopping with the intent to pay for it later? It doesn’t belong to you until it is paid for.

Kenneth Ikenaga
Pearl City

Tam’s punishment was more like a gift

Rod Tam did not get a slap on the wrist; he got a kiss on the cheek.

Norman MacRitchie
Kakaako

Taxpayers tricked, Tam got the treat

Former Councilman Rod Tam is convicted of stealing money from the city and violating campaign spending laws and gets two days in jail? And Tam also doesn’t have to serve his time until his unemployment compensation runs out? Tam is a practicing attorney … and I thought Halloween was over.

Joe Carini
Nuuanu

Let’s build on sustainability plan

I am 19 years old. I have my whole life ahead of me. What kind of life will be here in Hawaii?

Will the islands finally become self-sufficient in terms of energy or rely on the mainland and international sources? Will I pay $5 a month for electricity or closer to $500?

In order to have a greener future tomorrow, the decision-makers of today need to stop their debates, their meetings, and start getting things done.

Former Gov. Linda Lingle gave us a plan. Now let us build on that plan and do something amazing, right now.

Amber Davison
Mililani

Shapiro overlooks Hirono’s strengths

Regarding David Shapiro’s claim that the power establishment "is now backing the light-hitting Hirono for lack of a stronger candidate" in the Senate race ("Congressional changes put Hannemann back in the game," Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, Nov. 2), it seems Mr. Shapiro often takes cheap shots at Mazie Hirono. Does he have something personal against her?

What does he mean by "light-hitting"? Does that mean not being heavy-handed, as he accuses Hannemann of being?

Mazie Hirono was elected lieutenant governor twice and has won three elections to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Perhaps the power establishment is backing her because they approve of the way she has performed in public office and also because they believe that she is the strongest possible candidate to win the vacant Senate seat.

Linda Estes
Koloa

Pedestrians should take precedence

We are being subjected to a deluge of insistence that we take care of the poor bike riders who are being shortchanged because we have not provided exclusive traffic lanes, etc., for them. Let’s take care of first things first.

I am a pedestrian in Waikiki and am regularly forced off the sidewalk by speeding bicycle riders and skateboarders. They select the sidewalk as a preference to stalled traffic. They ignore traffic lights, swerve from lane to lane and sidewalk to street, cut off both walkers and traffic and generally ignore the safety of others in their mad dash to get somewhere.

Is it all bikers and skateboarders? No, but many, and enough to intimidate and make the sidewalks hazardous.

Before we cater to the special needs of the cycling group — a relatively small group — let’s take care of our pedestrians — the vast majority — by protecting them from the dangerous behavior of cyclists and skateboarders.

Lulu Connally
Waikiki