Vacation rentals bad for neighborhoods

I found economist Paul Brewbaker’s pronouncements in your vacation rentals article both fatalistic and disempowering ("Guests at vacation rentals, B&Bs spend less on their island getaways," Star-Advertiser, April 19).

He stated that vacation rentals are happening everywhere and that it is futile to resist their spread. He is here to tell us, whether we like it or not, "There is a vacation unit and an accessory dwelling unit coming to a neighborhood like yours. The sooner we figure out how to exploit this development for gain, the better off we will be."

Really? What kind of gain, and for whom? Who will be better off? Not the social fabric of our local communities. Not the quality of life of our neighborhoods. Not the housing situation for local residents. Not the environmental quality of our island.

Brewbaker is right only if he assumes correctly that we as a people have no voice in our destiny, or that our political leaders are sure to go along with the financial interests that are pushing this neighborhood-busting juggernaut.

I hope for the sake of us all that he is wrong.

Ursula Retherford
Kailua

Leasing parking lot hurts area residents

The Honolulu Mayor’s Office should be ashamed for leasing the municipal parking lot at Lewers and Kuhio to the developers of the Ritz-Carlton Residences for two to four years. Residents’ needs for reasonable parking in Waikiki are further limited by this misguided decision.

No low-cost parking alternatives exist in this area of Waikiki.Street parking is minimal.Private garages and hotel parking are exorbitant. For those with disabilities, this parking lot was a godsend, providing five dedicated parking stalls. The needs of our local and disabled residents have been leased away to the "needs" of a private developer.

Was public comment invited?Instead of leasing the parking lot for more money than the meters generate, why didn’t the city sell the lot to the highest bidder for yet another unwanted condo or hotel in Waikiki?Now there’s an idea for tax revenue.

Is Honolulu Zoo parking next?

Darryl L. Summers
Kakaako

HMSA also bullies physical therapists

It was refreshing to see coverage on HMSA’s new contract requirement for in-network physicians ("New rule viewed as meddling," Star-Advertiser, April 12) and the follow-up editorial that it should revise this requirement ("HMSA should revise new rule," Our View, April 20).

Unfortunately, this is only the tip of the iceberg.

HMSA has pushed physical therapists into an even deeper corner by dictating how they treat patients for years now. Regardless of the treating physicians orders, HMSA, through hired gun Landmark, limits how much physical therapy patients can get. HMSA knows what’s best from the start,without even seeing the patient or with any medical evidence to the contrary. This is clearly what’s in its best interest, not the patient/member.

Sad to say, this insurance monopoly now bullying physicians already has a stranglehold on physical therapists.

Paying less and authorizing fewer sessions than the treating physician prescribes equals more profit while cheating members out of what they are entitled to and need.

It’s time to break the monopoly.

Francis Wailani
Makiki

Kenoi is a disgrace and should resign

The first time I heardBilly Kenoispeak, I thought he was a breath of fresh air blown in to clear the air in Hawaii’s bureaucratic, bungling government.

Today, I believe he is completely devoid ofcharacterand integrity.

To have spent more than $129,000 on personal playthings like hostess bars, luxury hotels on his own island and around the world, expensive surfboards and other toys, and only repaid $31,000 to date is unconscionable.

No apology is acceptable for his behavior.He should resign immediately.

How many parents in this state are in struggles with their own children, attempting to explain away a lack of character and integrity in an elected official? Where are the moral examples supposedly set by our elected officials for all residents, including school children and other elected officials?

Joanne Fong

Ewa Beach

Tax on medical pot would be hypocritical

Regarding the question of whether medical marijuana dispensaries, once set up, should be taxed 25 percent on sales: Does anyone see the hypocrisy of dressing up a previously illegal recreational drug as a medically proscribed pharmaceutical just so government can tax it at a ridiculous rate?

Most states don’t tax medications at all.

Jack M. Schmidt Jr.

Kailua

FROM THE FORUM

Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.

“Tax hike that targets isles’ wealthy to expire,” Star-Advertiser, April 20:

>>  Temporary taxes must be temporary. If they want a permanent tax hike, then legislate on its permanency. Don’t lie to the public about temporary and then say, “Oops!”

>> These people can easily afford the extra tax.

>> So everyone should be taxed based on what they can afford? Do you have any other great economic philosophies, or just socialism?

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“Guests at vacation rentals, B&Bs spend less on their island getaways,” Star-Advertiser, April 20:

>> The state needs to realize that some of these people could not afford to come, to make their dream trip to Hawaii with their families, if they stayed in a hotel and had to spend so much more. They spend money in grocery stores, maybe more at the fast-food restaurants, and not as much at the hotel and Waikiki restaurants that are overpriced. Better to have them come and spend than not come at all.

>> The reality is B&Bs and vacation rentals are here to stay, so why not make them permitted and above-board like most businesses?

>> As long as these vacation rentals and B&Bs pay the appropriate business taxes, they should be allowed to serve the budget-minded traveler.

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“More homeless living on streets,” Star-Advertiser, April 21:

>> They’re out of Waikiki and no longer camping on multi-million-dollar beach front property. Now they’re living next to an open sewer. I’ll bet Sand Island can’t open fast enough for these people.

>> Where’s the portable luas? And what about free food trucks and portable showers for these poor people? Can you imagine all the untreated feces going into the Kapalama Stream? Where’s the city on this? There aren’t enough trash cans along the canal. Each tent needs them.

>> Just don’t go crabbing.

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“Humpbacks no longer in danger, NOAA says,” Star-Advertiser, April 21:

>> I was wondering when I could refill my oil lamp!

>> Read the article. They aren’t legalizing whaling. Jeez.

>> Just because something is taken off the endangered list does not necessarily mean open season for hunting. In the case of the whales, it just changes how they are managed.

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“BOE weighs expansion of sex ed policy,” Star-Advertiser, April 22:

>> Judith Clark, executive director of the Hawaii Youth Services Network, is making dubious statements in order to spook parents into supporting their programs. … Statistics show that Hawaii’s rates for teen pregnancy and STD’s are lower than the national average, and like the rest of the country, are dropping.

>> Opt in? How silly. Kids need to be educated about sex. They should not be allowed to go through school ignorant. Just saying “no” will not work.

>> I’m a retired high school administrator. I’ve worked with kids who were pregnant and with them after giving birth. There is no policy that will stop this or will end the cycle. … It really is a complicated world out there.

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“Opihi picker had ‘passion’ for ocean,” Star-Advertiser, April 22:

>> Many have given their lives for the precious opihi in the past. Has anyone ever considered that it’s not worth it?

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“Mea culpa fails to sway public angry at Kenoi,” Star-Advertiser, April 23:

>> It is clear that the people definitely want Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi out and the other politicians are scared to death and are afraid to address it. I wonder why that is?

>> I suspect that it was common practice to use the pCard for occasional personal use as long as the bill is paid. Sadly, if this was common practice, it won’t be for long. How else do you explain such use by the mayor?

>> The state attorney general should investigate all of the Hawaii County Council members’ pCard accounts. Apologies or paying back to the government are not going to make it right. Kenoi should be man enough to resign. 

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“Sit-lie ban might not survive its expansion, mayor warns,” Star-Advertiser, April 23:

>> Those who choose to be homeless and defecate, urinate, intimidate, drink, smoke pot and trash the streets, refusing to go to shelters, are not “vulnerable.” They are criminals in their own right and should be treated as such. We need someone in the government that has the common sense and the backbone to act. Mayor Kirk Caldwell is not that person.

>> Just bring back vagrancy laws and be done with this already.