PLDC offers solution to stalled projects

The Public Land Development Corporation (PLDC) would like to correct factual inaccuracies in Richard Borreca’s column ("PLDC could divide state like Superferry once did," Star-Advertiser, On Politics, Oct. 19).

The PLDC is required to comply with HRS Chapter 343 (environmental impact statement) and HRS Chapter 6E (historic preservation).

Although HRS 171C-19 exempts the PLDC from laws relating to land use and zoning, projects cannot move forward without county permission for hook-up to their infrastructure (water, sewer, etc.).

What opponents of the PLDC have not addressed is a solution to the 20-year backlog of capital improvements, totaling more than $240 million, and the limited stewardship at the state’s 67 parks, 20 small boat harbors and more than 600 miles of trails across the islands.

The PLDC presents an opportunity to create partnerships with other government agencies, non-profits, local businesses and community groups and can play an important part in addressing these issues.

Lloyd Haraguchi
Executive director, PLDC

PRP ads misleading on Cayetano pardons

The Pacific Resource Partnership organization is running daily TV ads claiming that Gov. Ben Cayetano pardoned 203 convicted felons and implied that with a stroke of a pen, he set them free.

The truth is that pardons in Hawaii usually are granted only for those individuals who have led a life of exemplary behavior after being discharged from probation or parole supervision for a minimum of two years.

On Aug. 17, 2000, The Honolulu Advertiser conducted an investigation of pardons granted by Cayetano and found that after six years in office, he had granted a total of 84 pardons, 37 of which were for felonies and 47 for misdemeanors. It was noted that he had granted three pardons for negligent homicide — none for either murder or rape.

Cayetano also denied a number of pardon requests.

On Aug. 25, 2000, I wrote an article on pardons for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. I wrote: "Violent offenders with a history of criminal conduct will have no chance of approval, especially under Gov. Ben Cayetano, who is more conservative than his predecessors." The bottom line: Except for one instance, when Cayetano pardoned attorney Tom Foley, who was later re-admitted to practice law, none of the pardons approved by him involved releasing anyone from confinement. So much for being soft on crime.

Edwin S. Uyehara
Retired Parole Branch administrator, Hawaii Paroling Authority

Obama leads through two kinds of storms

As soon as he stepped down on the New Jersey airport runway, President Barack Obama reassured the American public that the federal government would do all in its power to help rebuild the life and livelihood of all those who had suffered from the massive storm know as Sandy.

But, he added, "The people must realize that this will take time … there is a lot to do." The Republican governor, Chris Christie, immediately embraced Obama and was effusive in his praise, sounding a note that has resonated across the nation. Hopefully, all will now realize as well that the economic storm that hit the nation prior to Obama’s presidency was no less destructive and it, too, will take time to heal.

Mark Helbling
Manoa

Let’s restore dignity to political process

Disasters bring people together. Neighbors who never talked are now each others’ friends, helping each other in basic survival.

Politics is a dirty game, citizens suffer as partisans spin everything to fit their desired agenda of making the other guy fall. Politics has become a war of Republican vs. Democrat with the citizens of the U.S. losing on all fronts.

Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, the keynote speaker at the 2012 Republican National Convention and huge advocate for Mitt Romney, is praising President Barack Obama for all he has done to expedite storm relief with less red tape and bureaucracy.

Seeing Christie and Obama working with each other is a step in the right direction. Politicians need to learn from this and quit partisan warfare for the benefit of all America and the world.

It’s sad that it takes a disaster to do what’s pono. May this disaster bring dignity back to politics from this point forward.

James "Kimo" Rosen
Kapaa, Kauai

Neither high-rise should be built

You asked readers to vote on the best high-rise ("Two developers are competing to build residential towers in Kakaako rising up to 650 feet on state land. Which one do you like best?" Star-Advertiser, Oct. 25).

They are both extremely ugly and have absolutely no connection to Hawaii. Those towers would look right at home in Los Angeles or New York, but in Hawaii? Not to mention the fact that a 650-foot tower would detract from the skyline of Hono-lulu. The Hawaii Community Development Authority should hold out until someone offers better goods.

Pam Gring
Palolo

Give agriculture broad support

The Hawai‘i Green Growth Initiative strongly supports the state’s call to grow and eat more local food and strengthen our agriculture industry statewide ("State pursues investments in food production," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 21). With nearly 85 percent of our food imported at more than $3 billion per year, increased local food production is a high priority for everyone.

HGG is a collaboration of leaders from energy, food and the environment committed to work across sectors to achieve ambitious green growth targets, including doubling local food production by 2030.

While the state’s new "Increased Food Security and Food Self-Sufficiency Strategy" focuses on food, it also points out that food production does not operate in a vacuum. Support is needed for the entire agricultural industry, including affordable land, reliable water and, most important, for our farmers, ranchers and other local food producers. It calls for community action through the "Buy Local, It Matters" campaign.

Audrey Newman
Hawaii Green Growth Initiative

Use nonviolence to handle axis deer

Overpopulation of axis deer in Hawaii presents a crisis in human values. Deer are fully conscious, sensitive beings. Killing them results in collateral deaths of orphaned offspring.

As a medical doctor, I have learned to value life. I oppose the deliberate extermination of innocent beings, as such action is inconsistent with compassionate living, embraced in the tenets of major religions and human decency.

Deer are soulful, harmless animals, and their survival instincts impel them to find nourishment. If there’s encroachment of deer, the landowner must erect fences or take other nonviolent actions.

Declaring "open season" on axis deer feeds the cycle of war and aggression that currently predominates among humans, and between humans and other sentient species.

We in the land of aloha must lead the way in finding humane solutions to challenging problems. Once we see that each deer is not some-thing — but rather, someone! — we can craft more creative, life-affirming solutions.

Barry Sultanoff
Haiku, Maui

FROM THE FORUM

“Rail pulls back into favor among voters”

Star-Advertiser, Oct. 28

>> Without rail our grandchildren have no future.

>> They’ll have a future full of despair and debt.

>> The greatest benefit for rail will be for the areas between Kalihi and Ala Moana. The ridership will be tremendous in that corridor.

>> The question is will our grandchildren be able to afford the future. With rail, the city’s transportation budget will nearly double in cost, which means the citizens of Oahu will end up paying more in their property taxes to support rail.

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“No damaging waves, but lessons learned” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 29

>> Maybe one of the changes to consider is to mandate the closure of stores and gas stations in and along evacuation routes at the time the alert is given. Public safety is far more important than greed and poor preparation by others.

>> I disagree that things went smoothly. As the expected arrival time came and passed we could see traffic jams around the island in low lying areas while watching TV.

>> It is so important to take the warnings seriously. We have been lucky these past two experiences!

>> Hey people, our search for village idiots has been solved. I watched TV coverage and saw several people by the Waikiki groin who gathered to watch the event.

“HSTA called mightiest U.S. teachers union” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 30

>> Everyone wants to be so politically correct, they miss the whole point of unionization. Unions exist for employees and no one else.

>> I know. Teachers should work 15 hours a day for minimum wage. So should doctors and nurses. Yes, I say it with sarcasm.

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“State plan puts solar in all public schools” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 31

>> Let’s just hope that a local firm gets this contract. Show that you have faith in the local business community, and make that commitment, DOE.

>> If they get their sums right, and get the right tech, DOE could be getting money from HECO from selling excess power, and schools could get budget boost. Could be the start of the democratic energy revolution!

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“Group calls for repeal of PLDC” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 1

>> Abercrombie may be right about the Sierra Club saying no quite often. But he is absolutely wrong to continue to support PLDC. I guess he forgets his roots because he would have been one of the naysayers in his salad days.

>> The Sierra Club as well as the Outdoor Circle have indeed opposed many projects but thanks to their advocacy Hawaii doesn’t look like the mainland, marred by billboards everywhere. At least not yet!

>> The state is the developer here. Of parks, harbors, public housing, etc. The state is us. So, why can’t WE reuse land that has nothing good going on now for better uses. That’s good stewardship.

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“Project must take a closer look at impact” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 2

>> Without all these new problems, Honolulu rail is already the most overpriced, oversized, monstrous transit projects in the world. City leaders are doing a huge disservice to the people of Honolulu by continuing to pursue this misguided project.

>> We cannot let the project fail on technicalities. We have to look at the big picture that rail transit is beneficial for our community in providing a better transportation alternative to being stuck in congested traffic and providing a boost to our economy with more development and jobs.

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“Regents to cover UH president’s job, deal with Donovan” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 2

>> At UH, sports seems to be the root of all evil. Maybe state priorities should be shifted away from UH sports and more towards high school sports. You would think the state high school sports structure could do plenty with the $1.3 million plus that’s been and will be spent on this.

>> The only ones coming out of this with a big smile on their faces and money in their pockets are the attorneys.