It is time for moderate-income residents to face the issue of the absurd high sewer charges on their water bills.

On a recent bill, our total water charges were $50.57 and total sewer charges were $100.93. This is a difference of 100 percent.

For a long-term sewer project, a type of bond should be issued and the sewage charges should be abolished or lowered to conform with the water charges.

Sewer charges are a city and state project and they should not be passed directly on to the consumer.

Robert S.K. Kam
Honolulu

Rail, Obamacare both will cost us

We think Washington, D.C., has brain freeze?

How many Hawaii congressional delegates have read the Obamacare bill? When they return to Hawaii, there should be a forum for each of them to explain the bill to constituents, in layman’s terms.

On another issue: It looks like the rail is going to prove to be another Obamacare — like Nancy Pelosi said, we’ll pass the bill and read it later!

Another disaster in the making: not enough money for rail completion or Obamacare.

Juney Ishida
Makiki

Throw the book at secrets leaker

Thanks for the Max Boot article on the intelligence-gathering fuss, one of the few intelligent, informed comments you have published (“Surveillance programs have contributed to keeping U.S. safe,” Star-Advertiser, June 12). Most have been mindless hysteria.

I object to the application of the term “whistleblower” to Edward Snowden. Whistleblower has a favorable connotation, as if the subject is a hero. I think Snowden is a dangerous idiot.

Contrary to your editorial (“Whistleblowers need protection,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, June 11), I think the government should throw the book at Snowden.

Carl H. Zimmerman
Salt Lake

Please shutter the word shutter

What is this fascination the print media has, especially the Star-Advertiser, with the word “shutter” and its variations (“Furloughs shutter IRS for a workday,” Star-Advertiser, May 25)?

What is wrong with the word “close,” or “closed,” or “out of business” or “belly-up” or “bankrupt” or even “ho‘opa‘a”? I see “shuttered” used all the time to describe businesses that have closed. This eatery or that eatery was “shuttered.”

Eatery! Now there is another stupid-sounding word.

What’s wrong with diner, restaurant or café?

It’s time to update your stylebook.

Jack M. Schmidt Jr.
Kailua

YMCA proposal is good for all

Congratulations to the YMCA on its Planning Commission approval for its mixed-use tower in the Ala Moana area.

Let’s hope the City Council approves it as well.Its development will ensure that the YMCA is fiscally sound for years to come.

Its location is within walking distance or a short bike ride of most of its members. No car needed here.

Best of all, it will provide high-density housing in the urban core, where there is currently an overwhelming public demand.As more residents choose to live in urban, walkable mixed-use neighborhoods in Honolulu, this development responds to that need, as well as provides an enhanced YMCA for the community.

We need many more, not fewer, of these types of developments in both Waikiki and Kakaako.

Jeff Merz
Waikiki

Kakaako will need schools

After reading about the proposed 22 condominium towers for Kakaako,perhaps the state Department of Education should consider building a new school for the students who will be living there.

Queen Kaahumanu, the nearest public elementary school, is quite some walking distance away.

Michael Young
Manoa