NIMBYs a bit late in complaining

The backlash to development in Kakaako is a sad reflection on some of the residents there.

Plans to develop Kaka-ako have gone through more than 15 years of public hearings, countless environmental reviews, input from nationally known urban planners, reams of design and zoning regulations and hundreds of public notices at every decision-making stage.

I know, because I went to the meetings, read the plans and provided my input at every opportunity I could.

Where were these Kakaako NIMBYs over the past 15 years? Only when their unobstructed lanai views are in jeopardy do they become passionate about their neighborhood.

I personally find their demands to halt development disingenuous and self-serving. I join countless others in looking forward to the full buildout of Kakaako into a walkable, vibrant community.

Jeff Merz
Waikiki

Kakaako condo obscenely costly

The monthly maintenance fee for the penthouse apartment in the Howard Hughes super-luxury tower is nearly $20,000.

That’s about $5,000 more than a person earns on minimum wage a year.

To me, that’s obscene.

The super-luxury owner may spend, perhaps, a couple of months here, without putting more money into our economy than the property tax.

We’re in desperate need of affordable housing for people who live and work here — not what’s being portrayed as affordable housing, which doesn’t even have conditions onkeeping it in the affordable housing pool.

Rike Weiss
Niu Valley

State legislatures breed arrogance

David Shapiro stated in his column, "(State Rep. Sylvia) Luke and (State Sen. David) Ige have been among the more thoughtful and respectful in their comportment. Both rose to power as part of reform factions, and if the taste of power has so soon gone to their heads, it’s a dismaying commentary on the impossibility of real reform in the self-important culture of our Legislature" ("Overbearing legislators are tarnishing their images," Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, Jan. 19).

One supposes in the face of much similar evidence that most states generate the same big-headedness in their legislators.Alarmingly, state legislatures are the usual training grounds for national legislators.

Do we stand a chance of any large numbers of balanced, realistic national legislators, or are we doomed?

Richard Stancliff
Makiki

School incidents reflect society

I am very saddened to see how school violence is happening on our high school campuses, from a school shooting to a bomb exploding.

I believe that how a student behaves in school is a reflection of what is going on at home, and how the school responds to the violence is a reflection on the school.

If our schools are concerned about the whole student, we have to get the help necessary to ensure all our keiki get the mental help they need, to give them the support to make our children better children. Both parents and schools have to work together to do what is best for the children.

Alan Kim
Moiliili

NAMI Hawaii ready to help

As our community contemplates the sober events that unfolded recently at Roosevelt High School, it is important that we understand these events in their full context.

Awareness of undetected or under-treated mental illness continues and is the primary barrier for families and the community in developing solutions for and resilience against the violence, addiction, homelessness and shattered lives often associated with mental illness.

Despite the apparent linkages and access to services that were in place for the young man, our system for supporting him and his family failed.

NAMI Hawaii (National Alliance for Mental Illness Hawaii) advocates a system that does not criminalize mental illness but supports systems of care for our community and families to more fully understand and execute supports and interventions — before it’s too late.

NAMI Hawaii can be reached by calling 591-1297 or online at www.namihawaii.org/contact-us.

Jerry Coffee
Clinical director, The Institute for Human Services Inc.

Only now do we fight the fire ant

The media has reported on the state’s desire to bring the tiny fire ant and coffee borer beetle under control.

One wonders why now?

Perhaps because the tiny fire ant has been found on Maui and Oahu.

If the fire ant spreads to all Oahu, where 976,000 people live, constituent complaints will be more numerous than the nighttime stars.

However, the fire ant has been on Hawaii island since 1999.Why was nothing done 15 years ago?

One can only guess that with Hawaii island’s smallish population, coupled with incompetent state legislators, Honolulu risked little voter wrath from that island backwater.

Just as people in New York City believe nothing exists west of the Hudson River, state government in Honolulu believes nothing exists outside of Oahu, except as a source for more tax revenue.

Arthur Warren
Keaau, Hawaii island

Executive orders erode Congress

In the letter titled "Executive order the way to rule?" (Star Advertiser, Jan. 31), the author makes the point that the president’s threat in the State of the Union address to use executive orders in lieu of dialogue, compromise and deference is disturbing.

It was puzzling to watch the Democrats standing and wildly cheering the president when he made the threat, since it also suggested bypassing Congress and its legislative function.

Supportingthe president may be good party politics in view of his struggling agenda, but congressional Democrats should not so blithely second a weakening ofCongress’ role in government.

Tom Freitas
Hawaii Kai

Vog victim made poor decisions

The article, "Damage from vog merits payment" (Star-Advertiser, Jan. 24) once again demonstrates the result of poor personal decisions and the legitimacy given to them — in this case by the Hawaii Supreme Court.

Where have common sense and personal responsibility gone?

Could Lynedon Van Ness not figure out initially that living in a location with vog and working a job with these particular physical requirements might not be good for a man with asthma? When his symptoms got worse did he think it was time for a change?

No, better to blame it on the employer and collect.

Now living on the mainland waiting for compensation, he did very well for himself, and the system let him.

Carol Rothouse
Waikiki