Disabilities not always obvious

Phillip K. Ho is right in that disability parking permits should never be abused ("Disability permits being abused," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Feb. 20).

His comment, however, that people exit their autos "and seem picture-perfect healthwise" is far off the mark.

One need not limp or use a cane or walker to need a permit. My husband was a strapping man of over 200 pounds, tan, muscular and the "picture of health" almost until the day he died of congestive heart failure, diabetes, stroke, end stage kidney failure and emphysema, none of which made him appear anything but robust.

We got dirty looks from people as we emerged from our car when people judged without knowing.

As to his comment that, "The city should start charging more for these permits," our medical co-payments were nearly $1,000 a month.

Should there be a big fee on top of that?

Sandy Gottesman
Moiliili

Drop-off zones are traffic culprit

I agree that much of the Honolulu traffic mess is a result of school commuters, especially round trips undertaken by parents dropping their kids off at school and then driving home (alone), repeating the process twice a day.

I propose banning automobile drop-off zones at schools, or at least pushing them back one mile from the schools (designated drop-off zones), thereby encouraging kids to ride the bus, carpool or walk/bike/skateboard to school. The parents can walk them to and from the bus stop for that special quality time.

By simply adding more bus routes in school areas and banning or distancing the school automobile drop-off zones, this could be accomplished, thereby reducing traffic, oil dependency and obesity.

Robert Yonover
Hawaii Kai

Contraception a morality issue

Finally, the real guts of this "war on religion" became apparent with Ben Boychuk saying the fact that "95 percent of Catholic women have used birth control is perfectly irrelevant. If most Catholic women choose (contraception) … it means those women are bad Catholics" (Star-Advertiser, RedBlue-America, Feb. 19).

This is not about freedom of religion; it’s about legislating morality. And it’s not even real morality, but virtual morality.

The fact that Catholic women use contraception doesn’t make them bad Catholics, but it does make fools out of everyone who accuses President Barack Obama of waging war against something that exists only on paper but not in the real lives of American families.

And for all those stone-throwing conservatives, there is not enough room here to actually list every verse of the Holy Bible that few, if any, people really comply with, like "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth" (Matthew 6:19).

Peter Barmus
Kailua

Keep public land in Haleiwa public

I oppose the sale of public land in Haleiwa for many reasons.

When is enough enough? The North Shore has been exploited far beyond its capacity, between surf contests and their effects on the local people looking for an escape from the toiling life of work and expenses, as well as the ousting of old plantation families because of the high cost of real estate. We do not need more people with capital continuing to push the local people out.

We all love Haleiwa for the serenity it brings to our busy, everyday lives, just the way it is. I feel that this is one of the last places we have on Oahu to see nature for what it has to offer us.

Reggie Rowland
Mililani

Tell police about child sex abuse

I wonder why parents whose children are victimized in school by their teachers, coaches or staff for heinous acts such as sexual assaults go to the school for action.

These cases are crimes. Parents should immediately go to the police.

Cases for the school authorities should be those such as ethics violations or matters not against the law.

After seeing how schools and universities have handled these cases, I hope parents go immediately to the police. I believe it is a conflict of the schools’ interest to investigate their own.

Protect your babies!

Regina Lum-Ho
Mountain View

Bike plan so far has been all talk

Once again Honolulu Transportation Services Director Wayne Yoshioka is hyping the Bicycle Master Plan ("City’s big plan for bicycles due by the end of February," Star-Advertiser, Parkway, Feb. 17).

It’s just a plan. Is it backed with funding?

Yoshioka should follow through on the many past promises to fix the Pearl Harbor Bike Path. Bridges identified by city engineers as a risk to the public have continued to deteriorate. The asphalt has deteriorated to such an extent — in some places completely gone, exposing dirt — that it creates significant risk to bicyclists. Yoshioka should take some action and fix the neglected bike paths we already have.

Ken MacDowell
Waipahu

Lobby to help defeat cancer

In September 2001, the American Cancer Society created the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem.

This year, President Barack Obama asked that Congress make every effort to delegate monies to support cures for cancer, and to make it a national priority. I thank him because I myself am a cancer survivor, and would like to see a cure in my lifetime.

Through the advocacy of ACSCAN, cancer patients and survivors have reached milestones due to lifesaving cancer research. I hope more people will sound their voices and become active in lobbying and making sure that our local government officials continue to support avenues to find a cure for this disease.

Lillian Kehau Matsumoto
Honolulu

Developer owes for broken vow

The loss of the Ewa Beach marina is a financial blow to every family that purchased a home in that development as well as the Ewa Beach community. The developer should be held financially liable for the loss of property and use of the marina resulting from its "change of plans."

Reasonable compensation for loss inflicted by the developer might include an option for the individual buyers of homes in the development of returning their properties to the developer with full compensation plus possible damages.

Doug Worrall
Kahuku

Rail should not be main priority

I am sure the mayor and his administration will put a positive spin on the latest rail poll showing a majority on Oahu now oppose rail. But all the spin in the world cannot hide the fact that the administration pushing rail cannot even maintain the roads on Oahu.

If your roof is leaking and termites are eating through your house, you do not go out and buy a brand-new Cadillac. The city needs to spend money on repaving roads and replacing water and sewer lines. That would also create jobs.

Peter Chisteckoff
Mililani Mauka