Pharmacy school should be priority

The University of Hawaii-Manoa has proposed creating a "library" to honor the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.

This is estimated to cost at least $25 million. Presumably, the funding will be sought and approved by our overwhelmingly "Oahu-centric" Legislature.

Meanwhile, the Daniel Inouye School of Pharmacy at University of Hawaii-Hilo has been languishing, and begging the Legislature to provide at least $25 million (as promised) to start building a permanent structure for the School of Pharmacy. It now works out of modular structures. Next year, it will lose accreditation if it does not start construction of a permanent building.

It seems to me that Inouye’s memory would be better served by funding a permanent pharmacy building, whose plans have already been approved at a cost of $5 million.

Certainly, if and when state coffers are full, the Legislature may consider spending taxpayers’ monies for an Inouye library. Let’s get our priorities right.

Dr. Pradeepta Chowdhury
Hilo

Hawaii has fine mental health court

I am responding to a letter that said Hawaii’s limited offerings of service for the mental health community lag in comparison to other states and lauded California’s Mental Health Treatment Court ("Zunin eloquent on mental health issue," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 26).

The Hawaii State Judiciary has a Mental Health Court (MHC) that’s been serving Oahu since 2005. MHC redirects nonviolent offenders with serious and persistent mental illnesses from prison to treatment. Many of the offenders also have substance-abuse problems. Thirty-eight clients are currently enrolled and there is a waiting list. Eighty individuals have gone through the program, and 29 have successfully graduated.

Participants undergo psychiatric and substance-abuse treatment, and are closely super- vised, including on home visits, random site visits, drug tests and judicial review hearings.

The MHC motivates participants through graduated sanctions, rewards and incentives.

Marsha E. Kitagawa
Communications officer, Hawaii State Judiciary

Deedy’s behavior was not ‘heroic’

What’s upsetting to me is not that Christopher Deedy’s trial ended in deadlock, but that a nonprofit group called the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association that supports Deedy states he "performed heroically" ("Jury deadlock was at 8-4 for acquittal, foreman says," Star-Advertiser, Aug 28).

I don’t understand what is heroic about it. Carrying around a work gun when off-duty. Drinking and carrying a work gun. Not speaking with the on-duty security guard (clearly visible in video of the shooting) at McDonald’s to get her assessment of the situation. Turning a verbal assault between two people into a physical assault and then death. Firing a gun three times in a crowded restaurant.

Trudy Grilho
Kaimuki

Legally enforcing ‘conscience’ wrong

I did a quick double take on your editorial regarding same-sex marriage and church exemptions ("Don’t overreach on church exemptions," Our View, Star-Advertiser, Aug. 27).

Jonathan Rauch of the Brookings Institute is quoted as saying, "I also think that there is a moral reason. What the gay rights movement is fighting for is not just equality for gays but freedom of conscience to live openly according to their identity."

Society must now be morally accountable for how others’ consciences work? Many of those on the traditional marriage side predicted that gays wanted not only equal rights, but special rights, not just tolerance but celebration (by the mainstream) of how they choose to have sex. This seems to validate that suspicion.

When it comes to morality, we can respectfully voice our opinions either way on this issue, but legally enforcing "conscience" is way off. I say, your conscience is your kuleana.

Faith Burns
Hawaii Kai

No exception exists to deny equal rights

Many letter writers on the same-sex marriage subject are forgetting the only one real issue: Both federal and state constitutions mandate (demand) that allcitizens have equal rights. Case closed, end of story. The word "except" is not in there.

How can any right-minded person even consider putting another person’s rights up for a vote? No one has ever put up any rational, justifiable reason for opposing same-sex marriage.

Fred Metcalf
Kalihi

Symbols to help homeless exciting

Burt Lum’s exciting community project has people coming together and thinking outside the box to solve a complex and multifaceted problem ("Designers pursuing language of symbols to assist homeless," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 24).

Please put as much thought and design into what is behind those symbols. Maybe start with a comprehensive list of resources both online and paper handout that includes services for the homeless (and jobless) from all departments and agencies both public and private, and make it available in every public library, where many of the homeless visit.

Sheryl Lynch
Pearl City

Parking a problem with Kaneohe site

About the Kaneohe satellite city hall being not that far from Kailua: While I agree with the mileage factor, I also know a disturbing fact — parking at Windward City Shopping Center is a disaster. I never had that problem at the Enchanted Lake site. That will severely limit my use of the Kaneohe office.

Lou Torraca
Kailua