Voter ID laws have foul intent

Where is Michelle Kerr getting her information ("Vote on Election Day, not before," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 1)?

Name one fraud case in Hawaii, or in the entire U.S., that has influenced an election? There are none.

All this gloom and doom is generated by one party — guess which one.

This is because when minorities, younger voters and women vote, they vote Democratic. The intention here is to oppress these groups of people, create roadblocks and discourage their vote.

Research the kinds of hoops that people have to go through. If you don’t drive, why would or how can you get a driver’s license? Why is a gun license acceptable and not a university student ID? Many elderly may not have birth certificates to register. The cost of getting one can be prohibitive. Why would anyone need to pay to vote?

The only power left for the common folk is the vote, and that is now being taken by those who have paid to put these politicians in office.

Frank Dumlao
Kapolei

New bike lane seems dangerous

The new cycle track under construction on South King Street is an accident waiting to happen.

The city took away a much-needed lane of traffic and then created parking spaces in the next lane of traffic.

This cycle track goes right in front of the Alapai Transit Center, with hundreds of buses turning left into the center every day, plus vehicles turning into Straub Hospital’s parking garage and vehicles turning left on Ward Avenue to pick up H-1.

Trying to exit South Hotel Street onto South King Street from the Alapai Transit Center parking garage and the shortcut from Beretania Street to South King Street is almost impossible and dangerous.You have to go through one bike lane and cars backed up from the new parking spaces — two lanes — and at times it is very difficult to see the oncoming traffic.

This cycle track should be removed before someone is killed in a tragic accident.

James C. Kidder
Kakaako

Coach Arnold deserved better

I played basketball for University of Hawaii Coach Red Rocha, then spent 30 years in the Army as a commander. I understand about mistakes and consequences across the entire spectrum and dealt with them the best I could, straight up and with a reasonable perspective.

I believe Coach Gib Arnold was one of the best coaches UH was fortunate to have. He worked hard to move the basketball program forward.

He is a grown man who made a mistake, just like all of us have at some time in our lives, me included.

Did the mistake involve life or death, bodily harm, grossly inappropriate conduct in public, humiliation of a player, giving a prospective recruit a Cadillac, or disloyalty to UH or the athletic director?

The AD needed to take a step back and put this issue in perspective. Instead, he pulled the firing trigger before aiming. He should have found a level of punishment short of firing instead of trying to look tough for the NCAA. Now UH basketball is back to square one.

George Smith
Kailua

UH athletics an embarrassment

When is it going to stop?

Our university and its athletic department are under so much scrutiny and it’s getting to be an everyday thing.

Money, dishonest faculty members, NCAA sanctions, firing coaches, event promotions — what’s next?

The people of Hawaii love our university and its athletes. However, these issues are now deterrents to bringing top prospects to the University of Hawaii.

Bill Pirtle
Waipahu

Helping needy wasn’t so easy

When I heard about the 25 people displaced by a house fire in Kaimuki, my sister and I filled eight large garbage bags with good used clothing and household articles.

I even included special items for the children and for fun.

I called the Red Cross to see where I should deliver these items. They told me they don’t take donations of clothing. They give the recipients "cash cards" so they can go shopping themselves. (But there are many nonprofits that would like to receive my donations.)

As there was about $2,000 worth of goods at Goodwill prices, I was not happy.

I am angry that the community doesn’t have a better way of dealing with disasters.

Sandra Conrad
Ala Moana