Candidates should leave out religion

One’s religion should not come into play when one is a candidate for a political office.

So Manny Pacquiao is endorsing Duke Aiona, a Republican?A few years back he endorsed Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat. Pacquiao said Gabbard "stands for the people and will fight for their interests."Isn’t he saying the same thing about Duke?

Negative TV ads by the national parties are not whatI want to see.That may be the mainland way of doing things, but it leaves me wanting to vote theopposite of what was intended. The same goes for a priest or pastor or church member suggesting how I should vote.

I vote the way my conscience tells me and for the person I think can doa good job as a leader, no matter which party that person represents.

My appeal to candidates is this: "No talk stink" about the other candidate. Just stick to the issues and when you get elected, do what you said you would do.

Alexander Yray
Waipahu

CVS tobacco ban in line with science

We citizens in Honolulu should appreciate the great health lesson from the cancellation of harmful cigarette sales by Longs Drugs here and at more than 5,000 other pharmacy stores of the giant CVS company.

Misleading criticisms that alcoholic beverages, candy and other products also can be harmful can be countered. Healthy living in moderation can help prevent any problem with them.

Consequences from cigarette use can include crucifixion-level pain from cigarette-related lung cancer and other terrible illnesses. Numerous scientific studies show that using only one common cigarette a day can be harmful.

Edward Arrigoni
Honolulu

Make portable toilets available

Focusing on homeless rights ignores a significant public health risk: contamination of public surfaces with fecal matter and urine.

Public defecation/urination is not a "right" anyone should defend. Hepatitis A, viral meningitis, salmonella, campylobacter, and rotaviruses are all transmitted via the fecal-oral route. Even urination on public surfaces can transmit cytomegalovirus.

Residents should expect better from the state Department of Health, which has been mum on this issue. While the City Council appears to be stuck on debating the rights of the homeless to relieve themselves at will, the Department of Health has failed to look at ways to reduce the health risks associated with open elimination.

We might as well be a Third-World nation. The strategic placement of portable toilets islandwide would be better than what we have now. And just wait until we add multiple rail stations, which will lack adequate toilet facilities.

Jean Manly
Aina Haina

Business restrooms should be free to all

As a tourist who just returned to the mainland, I was disappointed to find that many Hawaii businesses do not have restrooms available to customers.

The general statement is, "We have no public restroom."

One answer to this problem would be to require that businesses provide free restroom access. An even better answer is to require a government-taxed access fee, maybe 50 cents, that can be split between the businesses and government to provide for cleaning and paper products replacement.

Something should be done to encourage tourists to return to the pleasure of visiting Hawaii.

Ken Karwowski
Kansasville, Wis.

Publicize Council’s advice from counsel

The Honolulu City Council’s vote to release two legal opinions on Bill 16 relating to hotel-to-condominium conversion was described as being "unprece- dented," but it was the right call.

Why should the city’s top attorney be allowed to opine on pieces of legislation and not be required to publicly defend those opinions, especially in this instance?

The city’s top attorney was most recently the top attorney for Outrigger — one of Hawaii’s largest condominium hotel operators, a benefactor of Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga’s decision to defer Bill 16 and a contributor to her re-election campaign.

Perhaps Councilman Breene Harimoto has a point. Why didn’t Fukunaga request the opinion’s release earlier — like in March and April when Bill 16 was at the fore and the main subject in the committee she chairs?

From my perspective, it was all political. But also too little and too late for me to be swayed into Fukunaga’s camp.

Joli Tokusato
Nuuanu

Loosen HEI’s grip on electricity monopoly

Not only is Hawaiian Electric Industries’ business model outdated, it belongs to an earlier time when corporations in Hawaii had monopolies ("HECO energy plan criticized as archaic," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 10).

It is a perfect example of predatory capitalism, with a CEO being paid millions of dollars in salary.

The only solution to this greed and corruption is to make electrical grids, transmission, distribution and generation of electricity publicly owned.

Is it possible? Probably not. The powers that be in this state are in the pockets of HEI.

Douglas Bennett
Waikiki