Is it ‘selling out’ or prostitution?

Deborah Williams nailed it, although "selling out" may be too kind a metaphor; perhaps "prostitution" is more accurate ("Don’t let developers buy exemptions," Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 15).

Why else do our politicians have big ears for developers, but seem deaf to the protests of the citizens who elected them?

Turn the Symphony and Ritz-Carlton towers toward the ocean, blocking view planes and violating guidelines? Sure, no problem.

Let Kyo-ya replace an eight-story hotel with a 26-story one, violating shoreline setback and height restrictions that have stood for 35 years? Absolutely!

Gov. Neil Abercrombie, in one of his past lives, termed luxury condos "kennels for the rich," and called for revoking the Hawaii Community Development Authority’s ability to allow unhindered development in Kakaako. Now, suddenly, he is head cheerleader for the developer-driven building frenzy being politely ushered through the approval process.

Large "contributions" from development interests raise the question: Is it love, or merely love of money, that drives our key legislators’ infatuation with developers?

Ken Sentner
Moiliili

Keep residential zoning strict

I hope our politicians think twice before even considering the concept of accessory dwelling units as being proposed by the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice ("Group pitches tiny homes inside homes," Star-Advertiser, April 11).

Relaxing building requirements for individual lots and adding exemptions from parking limits will result in further chaos in our communities. The word "slum" comes to mind.

Kathy Novak
Moanalua Valley

Nanakuli to get its own library

The recent article "Pride in Nanakuli builds along with community hub" (Star-Advertiser, April 14) did not mention the Hawaii State Public Library System’s plans to begin construction of a new Nanakuli public library later this year.

The library will be located on the mauka side of the 89-100 block of Farrington Highway at the former Camp Andrews site.

Nanakuli Public Library will be an anchor institution for the community, uniquely matched to the culture, history, present and future of Nanakuli, with collections, display areas, inter-generational learning spaces and multiple, flexible meeting spaces to accommodate various learning, business startup and community uses. It will also complement the projects and developments mentioned in your article.

Hawaii’s public libraries and our dedicated staff take pride in serving with aloha and are eager to begin library service in the Nanakuli community. We look forward to promoting student achievement, workforce development and lifelong learning for Nanakuli residents.

Richard Burns
State librarian

Big money puts voting in peril

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-to-4 vote, has again ruled on the subject of campaign contributions.

Two columnists who appear regularly in the Star-Advertiser — Jacob Sullum and Thomas Sowell — have chosen to defend the most recent ruling of the court, prompting one to ask, "When does a political contribution become a bribe?"

A $100 contribution indicates support for a candidate;a $1,000 contribution might carry a small obligation to the donor.

What about a $10,000 contribution? Or better yet, one for $100,000 or possibly even one for a $1 million?What kind of burden does that place on a candidate?

The recent court decisions make all of this possible. Regardless of all of the sophistry that Sullum and Sowell include in their columns, one can reasonably ask, does all of this money enhance or destroy the democratic process? Could the net result be that fewer and fewer people will, out of a feeling of powerlessness, participate in the process?

Ed Sullam
Aina Haina

‘Problematic’ is problematic

If Gov. Neil Abercrombie found the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye’s Hanabusa letter "problematic," isn’t it strange that he said nothing at the time? Only now, when there is a close primary battle coming up, does he mention it.

I submit that he found the letter "problematic" only when faced with the possibility that his guy, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, might lose the primary.

How dumb does Abercrombie think we, the voters, are?

Nancy J. Whitcomb
Moiliili