Stealing is stealing, no matter the total

The article concerning possible electricity theft is, indeed, getting in front of the issue ("Unauthorized charges," Star-Advertiser, April 9).

It costs approximately 38 cents per hour to charge our Volt at current residential rates. While a small amount, theft is theft.

Most charging stations being installed offer free charging through 2012. In many cases they’re conveniently located near the food court entrances of shopping malls. On several occasions we’ve detoured to the mall, ate lunch and shopped. All because of the free charging station. Our two-hour visits cost the mall less than 80 cents in electricity. If these charging stations charged $2.50 per hour, you can bet we wouldn’t use them.

It will be interesting to see which business model works in the long run: Volta’s free charging sponsored by businesses or Better Place, which will "charge for a charge."

Lynn Miller
Mililani

Connector board lacks oversight

It is not acceptable that the Hawaii Health Connector is being created as a private, nonprofit company, which then allows this board to operate outside of the state Sunshine Law and the state Ethics Law ("Health exchange board needs to be accountable to public," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, April 4).

In addition, the nominations of Hawaii Medical Service Association, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii and Hawaii Dental Service to this board by Gov. Neil Abercrombie and the approval by the full Senate over the protests of representatives for consumers and proponents for open government is disappointing and wrong.

This is analogous to appointing foxes to guard the chicken coop with no oversight. This situation needs to be corrected for the sake of open government and for the unbiased and best representation on this very important board, which is the cornerstone of the Patient Protection andAffordable Care Act.

Stanley S. Shimoda
Pearl Ridge

Premise was unfair to IME physicians

I disagree with the implications in Dr. Ira Zunin’s column ("Shelving of 2 bills hampers reform of workers’ comp," Star-Advertiser, Wealth of Health, April 7).

His premise appears to be that independent medical evaluation (IME) physicians are biased, work for insurance companies and are unfair to worker’s compensation patients.

I work as an IME physician. I am board certified, licensed in two states, and required to take additional training every three years, plus pass a specialty examination, to maintain my credentials as an IME physician. I am independent. I do not work for or cater to any insurance company or attorney, and believe it is my role to explain the injured worker’s case in a fair and unbiased way. When people ask me which side I am on, I reply, "The side of truth."

I take exception to the assumption that I can be bought by anyone.

Deborah Agles
Downtown Honolulu

Let’s not sanction that ‘Hilo justice’

Lee Cataluna’s column was irresponsible because it encouraged vigilantism (she referred to it as "Hilo justice") as it relates to the photograph of the alleged public restroom Peeping Tom photographer who apparently got his butt kicked by the citizen who apprehended and detained him until police arrived ("Alleged peeper’s photo shows mark of ‘Hilo justice’," Star-Advertiser, Lee Cataluna, April 8).

In view of the killing of Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watch captain in Florida, I would hope that such opinions would be reserved for youth league soccer sidelines instead of your paper. The Peeping Tom is a bad guy, but the citizen who took justice into his own hands just might deserve prosecution as well. He should be prepared to stand for what he was done, and perhaps it was worth it to him.

Perhaps a jury of his peers will not convict him because they support his conduct. Let’s let our justice system handle it.

Patrick K. Shea
Kailua

IHS helps homeless during the day, too

In response to Claudia McCloskey ("Offer homeless a day facility, too," Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 5), people might be surprised to learn that some of our shelters for those who are homeless do provide services during the day.

At The Institute for Human Services, for example, we offer employment support, health screening and urgent care, life skill classes (anger management, budgeting, parenting, etc.), urban farming training, educational and enrichment programs for children and housing placement services.

Our service centers at 546 Kaaahi St. and 350 Sumner St. offer much more than food and shelter; they offer hope by making compassionate care and practical services available to those ready to make the move toward housing and wholeness.

To learn more, please visit www.ihshawaii.org.

Connie Mitchell
Executive director, The Institute for Human Services, Inc.

Money for jobs must be spent wisely

Readers, please stop submitting letters in favor of rail, if the only argument is that rail will create construction jobs.

Imagine if the state designated $100 million for a project to tear up all existing sidewalks, then replace them with stairs so that you always have to go up and down steps anywhere you walk.

Would this create construction jobs? Yes.

Would this be a good use of state taxpayer money? No.

In a better scenario, imagine if we took all existing and future funds set aside for rail and used them instead to repair and improve state facilities, including schools, libraries, prisons and administrative offices, and repair, improve and expand existing infrastructure. These initiatives, too, would create construction jobs — and they would be a better use of state funds.

No one denies that rail will create jobs, so arguing that it will is pointless. The real question is: Are there not better ways to create construction jobs?

Allison Ikeda
Manoa