Private stewards of land do better

Here we go again: The government wants to steal more land from private owners; its obsession to acquire the Turtle Bay property on the North Shore continues. 

Look around the island at other land confiscated under the guise of, "We care about you." 

Wise people know what is next, if the government gets its way. The land it cares so much for becomes another garbage pit. The site also becomes a place for the homeless to take up residence, since the land just sits there. 

Government continually wastes money stealing land it doesn’t need or use with money that could be used to repair pothole-infested roads and government buildings that sit empty for years. 

People need to wake up. The government takeover of their private lands is really about power and control.

The North Shore pothole heaven has gotten worse. The only decent road on the North Shore is the road that Turtle Bay put in. 

I think private business cares more than government. 

Joann Breeden
Kahuku

Homeless need clean shelters 

Whenever I read about affordable housing, it’s always for people who make 120 percent of the average income. 

It’s the poor who need affordable housing, not the upper-middle class.

Whenever I read about the homeless problem, I don’t see any solutions at all. The solution to the homeless problem is to make clean and decent homeless shelters. When you have free empty beds in clean and decent homeless shelters, then you can make it illegal to sleep, camp out or gather your worldly possessions on public property. The homeless can choose between getting arrested and going to jail, or going on a free trip to a clean and decent homeless shelter. 

Aala Park is the perfect location for a clean and decent homeless shelter.

If we’re not going to make clean and decent homeless shelters, then we should all shut up about solving the homeless problem. 

Richard Elstner
Downtown

Minimum wage not living wage

In no state can a minimum- wage worker afford a two-bedroom unit at fair market rent, working a standard 40-hour week, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition report, "Out of Reach 2012."

A minimum-wage worker in Hawaii would have to work 175 hours a week to be able to afford that apartment.

Even with a second wage earner in the household, still each person would need to work 87.5 hours a week. That’s more than four full-time jobs and the couple hasn’t paid any other bills.

The report calculates that one would have to earn $31.68 per hour to afford that fair-market-rent unit. 

Until the minimum wage gets closer to a living wage, we will continue to have the working poor priced out of housing and a large percentage of our extended ohana a paycheck away from homelessness.

Alika Campbell
Kailua

Heed advice about big stick

Pam Smith had it right ("Military cutback a danger to U.S.," Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 5). 

This is not the time for military cutbacks, with Russian President Vladimir Putin flexing his expansionist muscles in Crimea. 

This is the time to heed Teddy Roosevelt’s advice: "Speak softly but carry a big stick." We must speak from a position of strength. Cutting back our military will not send the right message.

Dick Boyd
Diamond Head

Cars rarely come to complete stop

In the not-too-distant past, motorized vehicles were required to come to a complete stop at the line next to the stop sign and then proceed with caution ("An apology," Star-Advertiser, Kokua Line, March 5). 

These days, vehicles stop in or beyond the crosswalk or just slow down before proceeding. Because I ride the bus or walk, I witness this on a daily basis. 

Police and city officials should observe the corner at Kapiolani and Keeaumoku streets. You literally take your life in your hands if you are not observant or fast. I pity the poor person on the phone or texting while walking across the street.

Gary Nakanishi
Kaimuki