Occupy’ tents are a public nuisance

Is it just, legal and fair to block our city sidewalks as an expression of free speech protected by the First Amendment? I am referring to our "Occupy Honolulu" movement mauka of Thomas Square.

I have witnessed no successful attempts by city officials to clear these tents, which pose health and safety hazards. This forces my 87-year-old father to walk with his cane on the uneven, unpaved area adjacent to this sidewalk, while holding onto my mother, so as not to trip over these tents that take up a good portion of the sidewalk. Who is liable if either of my parents fall?

I support free speech. However, I find this movement quite ironic. While we, the majority, no longer have access to this public space, this small group of protesters (less than 1 percent) has been allowed to have exclusive rights to it.

Daniel Mew
Kakaako

Cull deer on Lanai for their own good

As a resident of Lanai, it saddens me to see the devastation of our island by the axis deer.

They are completely out of control.They are literally starving, which is why they come down from the forest and mountain areas seeking food and water.They have become so aggressive that recently, when I pulled into my driveway, there were seven deer chomping away in my yard. When I honked my horn to scare them away, they merely looked at me and continued to dine.

We need a deer-management program that will allow axis deer to be maintained for the hunters, both for sport and for those who live off the land, but they need to be systematically culled to reach a sustainable number for both their survival and ours.The state Department of Land and Natural Resources and those in charge of land management owe us a plan to save both these poor creatures from suffering and our land from being devastated.

Mary Charles
Lanai City, Lanai

State energy policy benefiting just a few

Bravo to Paul Brewbaker and to Richard Borreca for spreading Brewbaker’s message ("Isle economist lambasts ‘clean energy’ tax policy," Star-Advertiser, On Politics, June 5).

Many of today’s green tax credits don’t make economic sense. As Brewbaker points out, they benefit a few individuals while providing little or no public good.

Furthermore, because systems like rooftop photovoltaics do not store energy for use during peak demand periods, they do not help defer the installation of additional electric generators on the grid, and that cost is passed on to all electric ratepayers.

There are people who understand these things. Are our legislators and politicians listening to them?

James B. Young
St. Louis Heights

Plastic bag ban is height of hubris

The issue of whether we should ban plastic bags or charge for them is an interesting one.

I am for a cleaner environment and believe that most companies, when producing a product, take this into account. However, to think that we are making a dent in the waste that goes into the environment is ludicrous.

How long would it take us, if we stood at the edge of the water throwing bags into the ocean, to put into the environmenteven a very small percentageof whata natural disaster like the Japan earthquake can do? Do we have that big of an ego? I see the bag fee, if that is the way we go, as just another tax.Can’t our government do better than this?

Rob Rietow
Nuuanu

Be responsible about plastic bags

So-called biodegradable plastic bags do not break down completely, but only turn into tiny pieces. Therefore, these pieces are still plastic.

Plastic will not rot. The only way plastic can be destroyed is by burning. Therefore, regardless of whether the plastic bags are biodegradable or regular, they should be recycled to the H-POWER plant.

Remember, "plastic" is used in many products, such as pipes, clothes and shoes. Hence, it is the people’s responsibility to dispose of the plastic goods and to protect the environment.

Albert Nishi
Aiea

All city services threatened by rail

People on Oahu should not be surprised to find bus services decreased or eliminated. We should be aware that all city services are subject to bleeding cash as well.

The train will slither through the city’s budget to the detriment of parks and beaches, roads and highways, waterworks and sewer services. Even fire and police funding are threatened by the snake that squeezes the public purse.

Michael G. Palcic
Honolulu

Cayetano welcome was impressive

Former Gov. Ben Cayetano does more than get the kinks out of one-dollar bills from a lei with an ironing board ("Ironing give Cayetano peace and spending money," Star-Advertiser, Lee Cataluna, June 3).He takes a chance on unknowns.

He took a chance on me, an unknown back in 1994, when he was governor. I’d sought to meet with the man one-on-one, to talk about some issues of interest. But I was nobody special.

And guess what?He let me into his office, and for half an hour or so, we kicked some issues around.He listened. He spoke.And most important, I felt like a citizen who really mattered to him.

So will he make a good mayor?I don’t know. He doesn’t go with the popular flow all the time.

He likes to go with his gut.

Dave Baumgartner
Moiliili