IME process not independent

Excellent coverage of the failure, once again, of our Legislature to make the independent medical evaluation (IME) process more fair ("Shelving of 2 bills hampers reform of workers’ comp," Star-Advertiser, Wealth of Health, April 7; "State-picked doctors not independent, critics claim," Star-Advertiser, April 9).

The insurance companies are very powerful and give significant campaign contributions to our legislators; as a result, they fail to do what is right.

There is overwhelming evidence that the IME process is anything but independent and fair.Insurers have their doctors, who give the report that the insurer wants in order to deny the claim and treatment. Injured workers gave up their right to sue with the assurance of medical care. However, they are often not able to find a doctor to take their case and then their case is denied.

Linda Rasmussen
Kailua

Cloth bags are health danger

We will soon have to do without the household essential of plastic grocery bags.

Some people are bringing cloth bags into the stores to haul their groceries now, and I suspect that the bags have been transported on the seats and floors of cars, where germs accumulate from shoes, pet dander and just plain road dirt.

They are most likely placed in the grocery cart on the child seat recently soiled by a leaking diaper. And at the checkout they are placed on the cashier’s table to pass all that filth to the next customer’s goods.

They then transfer this germination to kitchen counters. The bags are probably not cleaned before the next trip.

This "bring your own bag" theology is absolutely counterproductive and dangerous to our health.

Please come up with a solution to the perceived problem, such as biode-gradable bags.

R. Spotswood Robertson
Kailua

Sum might be more than parts

What appears to be missing from the hearings on Koa Ridge and Ho‘opili is the combined effect of the two projects.

The concern that infrastructure to mitigate the impacts may not be com- pleted appears to be discounted.

Are these projects funded and ready to start work to match the completion ofthe housing that will generate additional traffic? If these projects are valid, why not build infrastructure ahead of them? This would provide the jobs that are also used to justify the projects.

Sen. Clayton Hee’s comments about the composition of the Land Use Commission not meeting the intent of the land use law are on the mark. It may be time to look at where the state Land Use Commission sits in state government and realign it under the state Department of Land and Natural Resources so it can be a true arbiter of what is the best use of our scarce lands.

Bill Rudich
Mililani

Public libraries meet our needs

In response to Kathryn Okazaki, when was the last time she visited a public library ("Don’t squander funds on library," Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 7)?

The library has more formats than just books. Has she looked at our movie DVDs, music CDs or audiobooks on CDs? Has she used our recently activated wireless connection, or needed to use our public access computers to search the Internet?

Does she know about our foreign language book collection? Has she explored Powerspeak languages, part of our online databases?

These are excellent ways to keep up language skills for school or work credit.

Has she attended any library programs on various topics or story times?

Reference librarians can also direct people to authoritative sources for the definitive answer on a question. Just because it appears on the Internet, doesn’t mean it’s the correct answer.

Go into your nearest library. You will be surprised at what you can find.

Stewart Chun
Pearl City

Teachers need better incentives

Taxpayers reading the Star-Advertiser’s article on assigning unlicensed teachers to hard-to-staff schools such as Waianae should all be asking why schools with the lowest test scores in the state, and highest dropout rates as a result, are being used ("State project explores new ways for teachers to earn their licenses," Star-Advertiser, April 8).

Teachers have acknowledged that it takes three to four years to become confident and productive teachers.

We should all be concerned because it’s usually due to failure in school that most kids end up on welfare, homeless and in trouble with the law.

A solution is to end the tenure privilege of filling teaching vacancies and to provide incentives, such as bonuses and lower student-to-teacher ratios, to teachers in these areas.

Bill Punini Prescott
Nanakuli

Tuition idea is Pandora’s box

I cannot comprehend why our legislators are even remotely considering illegal aliens being afforded the benefit of resident tuition fees in the University of Hawaii system.

For our cost-conscious lawmaking body to introduce such a bill is perplexing. These lawmakers should not just talk the talk about reducing expenditures, but also walk the walk in doing so.

It was mentioned that there are a relatively few students with "illegal" status at UH. But if they are afforded the benefits of legal resident tuition, the doors will be open to many, many more.

Ron Mata
Pearl City

Don’t build on park beachfront

What is the city thinking ("No walk in the park," Star-Advertiser, April 8)?

Kapiolani Park is a treasure; it’s a reason people love Honolulu. It is not a bunch of land just waiting for the city to put another building on and cover with a parking lot.

I blame the Hannemann administration for starting this horrible idea, but Mayor Peter Carlisle will be well advised to end this wrongheaded plan now. The parks and beaches are not there for the convenience of the city and the water safety officers. They are there for the enjoyment of the citizens and visitors.

Do not take away the park area and beaches. Sorry, lifeguards, but you can walk to the beach from buildings set back along the Paki Avenue or some other location.

Garnett Howard
Pearl City

Teachers’ salary not high-paying

Your article on high-paying jobs noted that teachers were expected to be in high demand, with a chart showing the teachers’ identified salary was $48,000 ("Teachers, nurses highly sought," Star-Advertiser, April 8).

Teachers’ compensation was the lowest on the chart. Teachers earned less than construction laborers. Despite the fact that teachers help fashion the minds of our keiki, they are offered rewards below those who fashion our houses, namely carpenters.

Regardless of the enormous responsibility that they have and extensive education that they are required to amass, teachers’ compensation remains meager.

John F. Johnston
Honolulu

Don’t let even 1 kupuna go without adequate care

Our senior population increased by more than 30 percent, according to the U.S. Census. In 2011, the first of the baby boomers turned 65. In less than eight years (2020), one out of every four people in Hawaii will be a senior.

This has been dubbed the “Silver Tsunami,” and it is here.

Compounding our growing senior community is the shrinking middle class. Many who thought they would be prepared for retirement are finding that their savings and pensions are far short of their expenses.

Thirteen years ago, Kupuna Care was set up by the state to provide seniors with support services such as home-delivered meals, personal care, help with chores, case management and transportation assistance, so they could age in their own homes. These services form an important safety net that provides basic care to the elderly and prevents them from being forced into more costly institutional care settings. It also reflects our values, which have traditionally held our kupuna in high esteem.

Unfortunately, Kupuna Care was not a priority for the previous administration, and the funding in the state budget has not increased for the last 10 years. We have to change that.

We have an opportunity now to make our voices heard by our legislators. They can increase the base funding of Kupuna Care. Let them know that we can’t let our kupuna be treated like this. Not one of them. Tell them to fund Kupuna Care and pass out Senate Bill 2320 to ensure that there are adequate services for our seniors in need.

Hawaii’s kupuna and our state cannot afford to wait any longer.

Jerry Rauckhorst, President, Catholic Charities Hawaii
Howard S. Garval, President, Child & Family Service
Laura Robertson Smith, President, Goodwill Industries of Hawaii
Marian E. Tsuji, President, Lanakila Pacific
Jan E. Hanohano Dill, President, Partners in Development Foundation