ACLU enabling dysfunctionality

Finally an improvement, but the American Civil Liberties Union would bring a lawsuit ("2 bills would rid sidewalks of tents," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 15).

While it’s sad to realize a person’s entire belongings sit before you, there’s still no excuse for turning the streets into a Third World country.

The ACLU is just an enabler of dysfunctional behavior.It’s time to let the government do its job and protect the environment. In light of very poor choices of the majority of the homeless (drugs, liquor, mental issues) decisions should finally be made by a more reliable source.Even people thrown to the mercy of fate through no fault of their own must accept benefit from a structured environment.

Unfortunate circumstances don’t give people the "right" to bring the rest of society down to their level. There is no malice in civilizing our streets.It’s not just "civil rights."

Carol Rothouse
Waikiki

Pension outlook ignores reality

Your recent story reported that the state’s $8.4 billion unfunded pension liability will be completely eliminated in 30 years, as long as we assume the pension fund will earn an annual 7.75 percent return ("State’s pension fund falls short $8.4 billion," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 14).

That’s a pretty big assumption, given that the current 10-year U.S. Treasury return is only 2 percent, and the U.S. stock market is just now getting back to where it was five years ago.

The graphic with the story shows that the pension liability has gone up every year for the last 12 years. Given the miniscule reforms that have been taken, it is far more likely that the past is the best predictor of the future, and the pension liability will actually get worse.

The state is balancing its books by changing assumptions, not fundamentally changing the facts.

Richard Manetta
Wilhelmina Rise

Mother Waldron Park is a mess

Opponents of rail transit who cite the negative impact on Mother Waldron Park should actually visit the park as it exists today.

Admittedly, it is used occasionally by organized school groups, but it is all day, every day occupied by the homeless. They sleep and cook in the bathroom access,monopolizing the only shaded seating in the park. The entire park is littered with discarded clothing and cardboard, drying laundry and bedding on bushes, and trash everywhere.

I live in the neighborhood and see other parks used by local families as playgrounds, but not Mother Waldron. Families need to feel comfortable going there with their children and have access to clean bathrooms and shaded seating.

I wish these concerned anti-rail citizens would expend some of their energy and funds toward taking back the park and restoring it to what it once was and improve upon it with better gathering areas for visitors with shaded seating.

Mary Hardy
Kakaako

Obama library should be here

Where would President Barack Obama want to see his presidential library — in a state that embraced his call for justice and equality or in a state that rejected that call?

Supporting marriage equality was a big risk for Obama, yet he took it and he made it a tenet of his re-election campaign.

What will be the economic impact of Obama’s library? Taking into account that Obama is the first African-American president and from Hawaii, and his intense popularity around the world, we are easily talking about more than $5 billion in the first five years alone.This would come from new projects, library visitors and the building of the complex.

Illinois has gone all in for marriage equality and support of Obama and his presidential library. We cannot say the same thing about Hawaii. Rep. Karl Rhoads declared that Hawaii’s House has no political will to help Hawaii ensure justice and equality and our economic future.

Michael J. Golojuch Jr.
Chairman of the GLBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii

Feral cats help control rats

A letter to the editor suggested that "we rethink the support enjoyed by feral cat supporters and begin the process of actively eliminating feral cat populations" ("Feral cats have no place in isles," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Feb. 15).

My position differs. Feral cat feeders fulfill various environmental and humane needs. They are part of a "TNR-M" program — "T" for trap, "N" for neuter, "R" for release and "M" for management, i.e., feeding, with the purpose of preventing suffering and disease, not to mention help control the rat population.

As for Hawaii’s endemic bird population, please name any area where endemic birds are endangered by a TNR-M cat colony. Unfortunately, it is our growing human population causing habitat destruction.

Finally, it is likely that in the process of "actively eliminating feral cat populations," some domestic pets will be destroyed by accident.

Celeste Voeks
Mililani

Maybe PLDC is OK after all?

Whiplash is the word that comes to mind on reading the news that the state Senate is likely to squash the Public Land Development Corp. ("House voids PLDC, Senate likely to do the same," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 15), and the feature on Mililani Trask ("Mililani Trask," Star-Advertiser, Name in the News, Feb. 15).

I have been against the PLDC for perceived vagueness of intent, sensing that it allowed large corporations to make end runs around the long-term interests of the people of the state. It seems that Trask supports the PLDC for precisely the opposite vision: that it would support development of public lands for Hawaiians, particularly for development by small farmers and sustainable energy upon which those farmers depend.

If the PLDC legislation had that kind of focus and constraint within its provisions, why was it not highlighted in the legislative and public debate? Will we now slam the door on a good thing badly misunderstood?

Daniel Benedict
Waialua

Project raises many questions

The headline, "Construction project near trail entrance raises concern" (Star-Advertiser, Feb. 13) should read "raises serious questions" about the proposed development on Hao Street in Aina Haina, near the trail head of Wailupe Loop Trail.

Why did the city violate its own ordinance by failing to purchase this parcel? Why is it now approving development in an area it once sought to protect due to slide concerns? Does the city assume liability for slide damage on the parcel, or has it obtained long-term legally binding guarantees from those who would develop the property? Why did the Department of Planning and Permitting approve a project blocking public access to a trail that has been continuously used and is included as an easement in property records? Why did the DPP approve a permit for the entire 9-acre site vs. only for the area that the developer claims to want to develop? Why were requests for information denied until after the permit was approved? ‘

Too many questions surround this project.

Andrea Wagner
Aina Haina