Island Air execs lack decisiveness

In order to fly, one not only needs wings,one has to flap them.

The lack of decisiveness by the Island Air management is remarkable ("The next move?," Star-Advertiser, March 22). If you take too long to make a decision, you will find that you already have made it.

Hawaii needs an alternative to Hawaiian Air, that’s for sure. The golden opportunity arose whena knight with a truckload of money arrived and bought Island Air. Paul Casey, then the CEO, made the right aircraft choice.

But Island Air management now seems to have entered into a "paralysis by analysis" mode, giving Hawaiian Air plenty oftime to react andeven form another airline,Ohana Air. Goodbye, competition.

Franco Mancassola
Hawaii Kai

Use property tax to pay for rail

It is obvious now that the Legislature will let the city continue adding costs on to the rail, and to pay for the massive boondoggle by extending the general excise tax surcharge.

Why not make city officials use property taxes to fund it, since they do not even need the state’s permission to increase property taxes?

I believe it is because rail’s actual cost to each family would be glaring if property taxes went up drastically rather than being hidden in the GET.

Don’t forget, the GET is regressive and hurts poor people the most. Shouldn’t folks who are already struggling be relieved of this burden?

The argument that visitors don’t pay property taxes is false. Hotels, timeshares and residential units being rented to visitors do pay property taxes that, in the end, are paid by visitors.

Nancy Nagamine
Kailua

All rail expenses should be public

It just amazes me that the state would not have a complete accounting of rail projectexpenditures ("Measure calls for rail audit," Star-Advertiser, March 25).

Does it surprise anyone that this rail project is projected to cost nearly $1 billion more than expected?

What is more disturbing is that by state law, rail officials are not required to keep track of all expenses.

Really, why would our legislators pass such a law?

One can only speculate, but it smells real bad. You would not be in business very long if you didn’t keep a record of your business expenses.

Our state legislators feel a need to pass laws that hide costs from the taxpaying public. It’s time our elected officials do what they were elected to do:Work for the people of their community and be accountable to voters, not to special interests.

The public should demand an audit and that laws be changed to show how every dollar of taxpayer money is spent.

Morris DeRego
Waipahu

Schatz boycott was distasteful

Many of us find it distasteful that U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz boycotted the joint session of Congress where the prime minister of Israel addressed the leaders of America.

Schatz recently asked for our votes and said he wanted to represent us all, regardless of viewpoint or background. Turning his back on America’s longtime ally in the troubled Middle East hardly rings true to his words.

Now that President Barack Obama has said the prime minister’s speech contained nothing new, and the majority who listened to it stated how moving and historical it was, Schatz should spend his time representing his district and not special interests.

I am personally offended that Schatz represented the Aloha State in this petulant matter.

Ed Stewart
Aiea

Vacation rentals should be taxed

Oahu does not have enough rentals for our residents.

By taxing vacation rentals as hotels and imposing a high penalty on illegal vacation rentals, we could have more housing for families.

This would bring stronger and friendlier neighborhoods.

Mary A. Guinger
Kaneohe