Trio who quit panel cared about public
I am very upset and frustrated at the recent resignations of three members of the Charter School Review Panel in protest of the Board of Education’s decision to overturn the panel’s decision to heed the strong desires of the Laupahoepoe school community to remain a public school.
All three have been long-time servants of public education who care deeply about the effect of their decisions on those most affected by them. No one can blame them for getting fed up not being supported after all their time, research and efforts.
The former elected Board of Education members took a lot of time listening to those wanting to testify and engaging in sometimes heated discussion and debate, but they did so to best serve the public.
It could sometimes be a messy process but one member believed was necessary to arrive at the best decisions possible. After all, aren’t board members — appointed or elected — public servants?
Eileen Clarke
Immediate past member of the elected Board of Education
Aiea
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Alcohol abuse affects everyone
I would like to clarify the Star-Advertiser story, "At sentencing, lawyer slams Micronesians" (Star-Advertiser, Jan. 28).
Last week, in asking a judge to impose a 20-year prison term for a Micronesian man who killed his cousin during a drunken fight, it was my hope that such a sentence would send a strong message to young Micronesian men about the consequences of making bad choices with alcohol.
In 25 years as a prosecutor, I have personally handled and also been made aware of cases involving young Micronesian men. Recently, some of these cases have shared a tragic thread — excessive drinking followed by fighting, ending with the death of an acquaintance, friend or family member.
It was with this personal perspective and in this context that I asked the judge to "send out a message."
Unfortunately, my choice of words may have sent the wrong message.
To be clear: I did not in any way intend to suggest that alcohol-fueled crime and violence are solely a Micronesian problem. Nor did I intend to hold the Micronesian community up to public humiliation or disgrace.
I apologize that my remarks may have been perceived in that manner.
Alcohol abuse and its relationship with violence and crime is a serious problem that affects every ethnic group in Hawaii. No group is immune. None should be singled out.
Darrell Wong
Deputy prosecuting attorney
Are insulting ads best HECO can do?
Hawaiian Electric Co. is spending lots of money running these silly commercials obviously intended to deflect responsibility for astronomical electricity rates to anybody and anything but themselves.
The cost per kilowatt-hour we pay here is easily more than double that of most places in the U.S.
The rate of increase in those rates over the last year is more than twice the increase in their fuel costs.
They have succeeded in getting a decoupling rule passed that will ensure they can bill the same amounts, even if their generation costs get reduced by alternative sources such as wind and solar for which other people have paid.
HECO asserts that we should just cut back on our wastefulness by turning off the air conditioning, getting rid of that extra refrigerator and wash clothes in cold water. It adds up to $235 a month. Say what? Does anybody else see something very wrong with this picture?
Jim Wolery
Kaneohe
Rep. Hanabusa against Internet bill
Jonathan Banasihan recently wondered where the members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation stand on SOPA and PIPA ("Do isle delegates back censorship?" Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 30).
U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has made her position clear:
"While I support a legislative approach to combating online piracy, I do not support the Stop Online Piracy Act in its current form. In addressing the large and growing problem of piracy and counterfeiting on foreign websites, Congress must strike a balance that addresses online piracy without inadvertently taking us to the slippery slope of government intrusion on the Internet."
And Congresswoman Hanabusa has made her position available to Banasihan and others via the Internet itself; the statement is on her Congressional website, Hanabusa.house.gov.
Richard Rapoza
Director of communications for U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa
Tenure is unfair to newer teachers
This statement may not be fair to the really good teachers who have stayed with us for years, but it is very frustrating to see many veterans using tenure as a weapon to shoot down newer teachers.
New generations of teachers don’t necessarily become upset with the students and the job itself, but with the system that is set up against us. We want to do good, but tenure is then used to bump us around from school to school, giving us four to five separate subjects to teach.
Tenure has become a job guarantee with added benefits. And sadly, while it is unfair to me, it is even more unfair to students and parents who have to tolerate bad teachers who take advantage of this system.
Corey Allen
Mililani
Perhaps we should drug-test politicians
Before any legislation resurfaces for consideration on drug testing of low-income housing applicants or residents, legislation should first be introduced to drug-test state and county elected officials and candidates running for elected office in the state of Hawaii.
Peggy McArdle
Kailua-Kona