City should buy new trash trucks

The city has a $2 billion operating budget. For the past two years, the City Council cut funding requests from the Department of Environmental Services for new front loaders.

Because city trucks cannot safely maneuver on the properties of some condos, they must have private service. To be equitable, these condos should fix their properties. This is why some have city trash pickup and others don’t.

Trash pickup is funded by the taxes we all pay. How is it equitable for those who follow the rules to now be denied city trash pickup? How is it equitable for condo owners to subsidize trash pickup for single-family homes?

The City Council needs to meet its basic responsibilities before it gives away millions of taxpayers dollars. The city needs front loaders for parks and city facilities. The City Council needs to stop trying to deflect its negligence and buy new trucks.

Pauline Arellano
Mililani

Important issues need attention

This election provides Hawaii with clear options for the first time since statehood. Unfortunately, the Star-Advertiser has focused on personalities and party affiliation rather than serious commentary on important issues.

» Laws: Enforce existing laws (such as immigration). Otherwise, if deemed unnecessary by the citizens in cooperation with lawmakers, amend, repeal or pass new ones.

» Fiscal responsibility: Reduce debt, eliminate deficits, reduce taxes in order to empower consumers and empower the private sector.

» Integrity: Insist on public-servant integrity, discipline, analytical acumen and a proven ability to prioritize. Remember the promises made with the Hi-5 recycling program?

» Remain focused on medical care, not broken software, inflated services and overhead.

The incumbents have failed; it’s time for a change. It’s time to issue pink slips.

Chris Neff
Mililani

Coverage unfair to all candidates

Shame on the Star-Advertiser for giving a candidate his own campaign billboard on the front page ("Ige leads gov race," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 23). Rarely would (or should) a newspaper devote 11/2-inch letters to announce a poll of 605 "likely voters" who may not even be any of the almost 700,000 "registered voters."

Buried on Page A6 was the statement, "Most voters have a favorable impression of Ige (59 percent) and Aiona (56 percent)."

An above-the-fold large photo on the very popular Local section was of a smiling candidate shaking hands with happy children — his opponent’s unflattering smaller photo was several pages within.

Whatever happened to unbiased reporting and providing facts and photos so readers can make informed decisions, without being tainted with personal and political agendas?

Angela Rickabaugh Shears
Waikiki

Grace serves homeless well

I want to thank the Star-Advertiser for its endorsement of Janet Grace for the 22nd House District (Waikiki-Ala Moana-Kakaako) ("Changes afoot in state House," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Oct. 21).

What a breath of fresh air. As a longtime resident, I’ve witnessed Janet’s consistent integrity in working with the homeless, assisting hundreds of families coordinate their home care needs for loved ones and spending her weekends mentoring disadvantaged kids.

Janet has the passion to advocate for the diverse issues of our neighborhood. I remember 20 years ago when she would get up at 4:30 a.m. to make sandwiches for the few homeless wandering our streets. Today, with an influx of homeless, she is still doing all she can help them move them off the streets into supportive shelters and permanent housing.

I knew then she was a public servant through and through and holds those same qualities today. The voters in Waikiki truly have a solid and authentic candidate in Janet.

Pauline Buckley
Waikiki