Put public toilets in commercial areas
So, we are continuing to close "facilities" (sidewalks) used by the homeless and near-homeless, without stopping to think where these people (yes, people like you and me) will or should go to meet their needs.
The latest example of myopic thinking is replacing the water feature at Sun Yat-Sen park in Chinatown with grass, because people, without nearby public toilets, are relieving themselves in the fountain basin.
Obviously the answer is to give people a more private and sanitary place to "go."Here, where the city already owns public space and where many indigent and disabled people hang out, is a perfect opportunity for our city to install low-maintenance, vandal-proof public toilets like those in other U.S cities, like Portland.
Let’s face up to the reality of human bodily functions and clean up our streets, sidewalks and parks by installing public toilets in every commercial neighborhood. Many parents and desperate pedestrians would be grateful, too.
Beppie J. Shapiro
Waialae-Kahala
America exploits Latin Americans
President Barack Obama’s executive order on immigration is based in part on moral persuasion.
The thought that much of the poverty that prompts thousands of Latin Americans to endure great pain to trek north to the new El Dorado is America’s doing.
American intervention in the evolution of Latin American society has been known and practiced since the Monroe Doctrine of 1823: The Western Hemisphere is America’s domain, America’s backyard, and America will tend to it. And, indeed, America has, as a treasure chest of resources for a ruthless capitalism that created productive miracles and a wake of social and political inequalities that today’s youthful energy will not suffer.
As a political move, Obama’s immigration proposals bind the Latino-American voter to the Democratic Party — for now.
Tomas Belsky
Hilo
What took so long to look at contract?
I was amused and disgruntled as a taxpayer of the rail project by the apparent lack of awareness by the executive director of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, Dan Grabauskas, and the City Council about an acquisition valued at $6 billion ("Acquisition creates rail project conflict," Star-Advertiser, Nov. 20).
Did Grabauskas know about this huge acquisition, which was publicly announced on July 13?
Are not issues and conflicts like this addressed in city contracts regarding obligations of accepted bidders?
Only after the sale was closed on Oct. 17 did Grabauskas contact both companies and ask them to address and explain the conflict.
It will now be impossible or too costly to do anything about it, and Hawaii taxpayers will bear the cost and consequences of lax monitoring to fix this.
Is anyone monitoring the rail authority and Grabauskas?
Ed Ige
Kaneohe
Students will never be priority at UH
Your editorial shocked me: "Students should be UH priority" (Star-Advertiser, Our View, Nov. 26). Really?
Let me provide you with evidence that supports my claim that students are never going to be top priority at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
In existence for 10 years, the Academy for Creative Media has been unable to secure one large classroom big enough to house 20 computers and desks for the animation program.
The reasons given would make you think that allocating a classroom is as difficult as former Chancellor Tom Apple trying to fire the former director of the Cancer Center.
The only way UH students can become a UH priority is for persons at UH in positions of power — who can make a difference but are unwilling (or uncaring) — to hand in their resignations.
Just like the thoughtful Michele Carbone has done.
Vilsoni Hereniko
Professor, Academy for Creative Media, University of Hawaii
Military doesn’t need isles anymore
Peace on Earth, or more correctly, peace in Hawaii.
Militarization was destined to become obsolete in Hawaii given the development of ballistic missiles and their accuracy to reach their targets from the continental United States.
No more sacrifice of Hawaiian lives for the sake of the empire and barons. We kapu Makua, Lualualei Depot from mauka to makai and all of Schofield.
We envision farming and ulu trees producing an abundance of food for feeding our families.
We will set up online broadcast media centers that understand the value of telling the truth over spinning the truth to justify profiteers.
Mahalo nui loa to Glenn Paige, educator and father of peacemaking, for his dedication in speaking truth to power. We are witnessingpeace arriving in Hawaii.
Ho‘oipo DeCambra
Waianae
Clearly things were running amok
After being gone for 40 years, I returned to Hawaii only to find high-rise condos exceeding permitted height levels; plans for a 20-mile high-speed rail system; development of Kakaako targeted for offshore investors. Where was the help for our kamaaina? Why were localsnot given the affordable housing that is soneeded in our island state?
As head of state, the governor of Hawaii has a leadership role to ensure that our residents are in good hands.
Clearly, things were running amok and the people wanted a change.
It was the gubernatorial debates that made me believe that state Sen. David Ige was sincere and would not let special interests dictate the future of Hawaii.
Ige conveyed a sense of trust and commitment to our island state. The people of Hawaii have always been a loving and caring, multi-cultural ohana. Marriage equality was just another act of kindness and caring and, in my opinion, did not cause the defeat of Neil Abercrombie.
Norma Nomura DeSaegher
Ewa Beach
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