Sick-leave abuse bad for prisoner rehab

The repeated cancellations of prisoners’ visitation rights because of employee absence is unfair to prisoners, families and friends. This sabotages an important tool for prisoner rehabilitation. The director of the Department of Public Safety, Ted Sakai, only makes excuses.

The governor needs to get involved. Employees who get 42 sick and vacation days seem to disregard job obligations and have no incentive to change. Sick-leave policies encourage abuse.

A solution might be to shift the correctional facilities to the mainland. One reason in support of the high cost of maintaining the correctional facilities in Hawaii is to allow prisoners to stay connected to their community. When visitation days are repeatedly canceled, in-state incarceration is pointless.

Constance Oliva
Kailua

Building boom can’t continue unabated

The state’s chief economist, Eugene Tian, was right when he said, "Housing development is behind population growth" ("Housing production is left in the dust as population grows," Star-Advertiser, May 5).

However, he should have completed the thought by adding that infrastructure and sustainability are hopelessly behind the population growth.

We can continue to become Hong Kong, or we can realize a suitable plan that balances the population’s needs with the available resources. The current building boom cannot continue unabated. There will be a price to pay in taxes, time and lifestyle for the current plans.

Developers should get their permits in now. They have until election day on Tuesday, Nov. 4, the day of reckoning for Gov. Neil Abercrombie and his political allies, who will find out firsthand how the citizens of Oahu feel about all the development on our island.

Pat Kelly
Kaimuki

Botched execution reflected barbarism

As the jury deliberates on the possible death sentence of Naeem Williams, who was found guilty in the horrific death of his 5-year-old daughter, Talia, it’s worth pondering the recent botched execution of an inmate, Clayton Lockett, in Oklahoma.

Lockett’s death also was horrific, but caused by the state and attracted the attention of President Barack Obama.

There has been an outpouring of sorrow for Talia’s murder and enmity toward Williams, who certainly deserves to be punished.

Hawaii does not have the death penalty, but Talia’s death occurred on federal property and therefore falls under federal jurisdiction, which would allow Williams’ execution.

As an editorial in the Star-Advertiser pointed out, "The state-sanctioned killing of convicted criminals is revenge, not justice — no matter how brutal the crime" ("Put Talia’s killer in prison for life," Star-Advertiser, Our View, April 29).

Lockett’s death shows the barbaric nature of the death penalty; it should be abolished.

Michael Bornemann
Hawaii Kai

Free speech often has consequences

In response to Robert Craval-ho’s passionate defense of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s racially charged comments as an expression of free speech, I would like to humbly remind the author that Sterling’s free-speech rights were not violated ("Sterling’s punishment somewhat troubling," Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 4).

He expressed his views and opinions, which we are all entitled to do. However, free speech does not mean freedom from consequences. If memory serves me correctly, the NBA is a private organization, not a public one, and it has the ability to take action against any of its members and or affiliates, Sterling being one them.

Ryan Tin-Loy
Nuuanu

New UH president should cut football

Let’s face two facts: Only 23 of 228 NCAA Division I public school athletic programs break even, and University of Hawaii football will never be among them.

Putting aside the constant drain on administrative energies, and harm to UH morale and reputation, our football program perennially runs deficits. Covering those deficits ultimately cheapens the educational experience for all students. This defies justification.

Speculators keen on producing public entertainment, or on running a free farm team for the wealthy NFL, should be putting their own money at risk.

A true leader knows when to cut losses on one front when they impede success in the larger cause.

Whomever the UH regents pick as new president, I hope that it will be somebody with the brains and guts needed to wean us from our loser football program and get UH back to a full-court press on its core educa- tional mission.

Jerry Dupont
Kaneohe

Hawaii needs more exercise equipment

On a recent visit to Korea I was most inspired by the exercise equipment that was simple, practical and placed in areas where the young and elderly can use it.

Grandparents walking with young kids would stop and use these simple machines to stay fit. An elevated walkway versus a flat walkway is an example of how a simple basic function could be made into a healthy exercise.

Honolulu has a few parks with some exercise equipment, but much more is needed.

Both old and young could stay fit and the cost of health care would decrease.

The required space is small and would provide a place of social gathering, instead of people walking in a circle around their neighborhood for exercise.

Dennis Kinoshita
Hawaii Kai