Kakaako future will serve the wealthy

The Hawaii Community Development Authority’s rhetoric supports a Kakaako where ordinary residents can "live, work, play" in affordable urban residences rather than fighting gridlock back out to urban sprawl, thus saving precious land for agriculture.

But "affordable" and "workforce" housing are defined as up to 140 percent of median income. Since "median" indicates where half earn above, and half below, 140 percent reaches up into the upper income level — pricing most of us out of this "affordable" workforce housing.

HCDA’s actual plan precursors a luxury high-rise jungle developed by out-of-state, high-profit interests. Will upper-income condo dwellers take children to school or go to work on public transit? Or will they drive, negating transit-oriented-development’s attempt to make driving unnecessary?

While others build and attempt to create more economical housing, HCDA is creating a disastrous urban equivalent of our ill-conceived suburban sprawl.

Renee Ing
Makiki

IRS losing its image of being impartial

Some pundits compare the current Internal Revenue Service scandal to Watergate.

In Watergate, aides to President Richard Nixon targeted Washington insiders in order to get a tactical advantage.In the IRS scandal, supporters of President Barack Obama allegedly targeted average citizenswho disagreed with the president’s political agenda.

The current scandal is more frightening as it reaches deep into our society with the intent to stifle free speech. The IRS has had the reputation of being draconian but unbiased in tax law enforcement. If it is perceived as politically biased, then law-abiding Americans who view themselves as potential victims could increase efforts to not only avoid but evade what they believe to be unfair enforcement.For the first time since the Boston Tea Party, the tax resisters will hold the moral high ground.

"One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."— Martin Luther King.

William Vogt
Hawaii Kai

Tyranny just around corner after all

Was it just a month ago, during a commencement address, that President Barack Obama said the following?

"Unfortunately, you’ve grown up hearing voices that incessantly warn of government as nothing more than some separate, sinister entity that’s at the root of all our problems."

And, "They’ll warn that tyranny is always lurking just around the corner. You should reject these voices."

How time flies. Now we have more scandals on the "sinister" nature of government coming home to roost than one can keep track of: The IRS targets conservative groups and donors before a presidential election, the administration manipulates the Benghazi facts to mislead the public, the Department of Justice accuses a reporter of espionage for doing his job.Now, we read that the Obama administration has vastly expanded the government’s collection of citizen’s telephone, email and internet data.

Sounds to me that the "voices" the president argued against were more right than wrong.

Jeff Pace
Kapahulu

Bikers, mo-peders need to be quiet

I find it interesting that Honolulu’s motorcycle and mo-ped owners have joined together to fund an ongoing TV ad asking that Honolulu motorists give them extra consideration when driving on Honolulu streets.

Excuse me, but are these not the same people — motorcycle and mo-ped owners — who seem to take great joy in blowing out my eardrums by modifying their vehicles to make as much noise as possible?

As a Waikiki motorist, I’ll give them extra consideration when they give us consideration by installing standard mufflers on their vehicles.

Also, while on this subject, where does the city stand on the matter of excessive noise? As in other enforcement matters, it is noticeable by its absence.

Robert Vogtritter
Waikiki

Article on feral pigs showed our cruelty

Mahatma Gandhi said the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. Your story about killing feral pigs, and its graphic depicting of savagery and animal cruelty, indicates that we are a long way from it ("Going on a buta hunt," Star-Advertiser, June 5).

Regardless of how destructive these animals are, do they need to be destroyed in a barbaric and cruel way for thrill-seeking?

Is it not cruel to turn one animal against another? Don’t the dogs corner these defenseless animals and tear them to pieces before the hunters can dare to stab them?

Is it not disturbing that we have become so desperate for visitors’ money that we are exporting animal cruelty and savagery for thrill-seeking visitors?

"A Brief for Animals," posted by economist Paul Craig Roberts on his website the same day, offers an excellent argument for the defense of animals.

Hamid Jahanmir
Makiki

Prose on feral pigs was elegant, funny

Lawrence Downes’ hilarious honesty and similes first reminded me of Hunter Thompson, but the prose was so much more elegant ("Going on a buta hunt," Star-Advertiser, June 5).

Its grounding in eco-reality and crisp views of Halawa Valley made me wish the journey wouldn’t end.

Mahalo for the education about the impact of feral pigs, and the morning laugh.

Cindy Hartwell
Wailupe Valley