Reform needed on ethics panel

Your call for the City Ethics Commission to void its media policy is the clarion call for needed cultural change of this body ("Ethics panel’s media policy must be voided," Star-Advertiser, Our View, June 29).

The "Rules of Procedure, Ethics Commission of the City and County of Honolulu" require that the chair and vice chair are elected by secret ballot. Why? Most other governmental bodies elect their officers openly, with minutes showing who voted how.

Additionally, the commission may appoint a committee of one to three members who shall have power to take actions or make decisions, which include deciding motions, implementing orders, etc. Not the full commission, just a small group.

The rules mention mandated ethics training, but not Sunshine Law training. That is odd, inasmuch as the body is subject to the Sunshine Law and a city ordinance requiring the training.

Outdated. Outmoded. Out of touch with the people. Major change is required here.

Lynne Matusow
Downtown Honolulu

Gays finally get equal justice

The recent Supreme Court ruling that the U.S. Constitution provides same-sex couples the right to marry is an historic victory not only for gay and lesbian Americans but for all Americans who cherish equality, liberty and justice for all.

Reassuringly, this ruling bears witness that "equal justice under law" — words that are etched into stone on the front of the Supreme Court — has at long last triumphed over discrimination and inequity.

With the landmark ruling, same-sex marriage now becomes legal in all 50 states. My guess is we’ll get used to it in no time.

Michael Ra Bouchard
Hilo

Another word for ‘marriage’

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right, those who believe that marriage is between one man and one woman should rethink what they call their union.

I believe in equality for all, and thought that "civil unions" would lead to equality.

The same-sex advocates are winning, the religious beliefs of others not with standing.

It appears that what some homosexuals want most is use of the word "marriage." This is more important to some homosexuals than just having the same benefits as married heterosexual couples.

Maybe heterosexuals should accept the loss in this war of semantics and find a synonym for "marriage," a word that could represent marriage between one man and one woman.

Semanticists, theologians and others who know the English language better than I might have a suggestion, and may substitute new words for "husband" and "wife" in same-sex marriages.

Cordell Keith Haugen
Nuuanu

Tax hike for rail is political folly

Has anyone told Mayor Kirk Caldwell that the current rail system under construction is $900 million over budget?

Instead of trying to save what is already planned, now he is looking for more money to build extensions to west Kapolei and the University of Hawaii at Manoa ("Mayor’s tax warning not about shortfall," Star-Advertiser, June 26).

Until December 2014, the public was continually told that there was a billion-dollar contingency fund that would absorb any cost overruns that might happen, however unlikely. Then the billion-dollar contingency fund was wiped out by $900 million in cost overruns.

Raising property taxes to pay for rail extensions and operations will result in a high political price for Caldwell and all current City Council members running in the 2016 elections.

Pam Smith
Ewa Beach

Open summit, arrest protesters

Gov. David Ige pledged to keep the Mauna Kea summit road open. This hasn’t happened. For "safety reasons," the protesters "chose" to clear the boulders and altars ("Altars to be moved out of roadway," Star-Advertiser, June 27).

These protesters should be arrested for blocking the road. The University of Hawaii and the state have met with the protesters to try to come up with solutions to this situation, to no avail.

This Thirty Meter Telescope project has the lawful right to proceed. Two attempts failed. The protesters will not compromise. They want this project stopped. Ige has vowed to see this project through.

Unless the protesters back off or TMT agrees to shut down, things could get ugly for Ige. The proverbial line has been drawn in the pahoehoe and a‘a lava at the summit. If it gets confrontational, Hawaii County police and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources may need backup. Ige has the option of activating a National Guard unit from Oahu.

Steven Burke
Aiea Heights

Who decides what is sacred?

We’d love to see the credentials of those who say they know sacred from not-so-sacred or not sacred at all.

Could they share these great secrets with us average people so we can get on with our lives?

Ron Weinberg
Kailua

Red Hill tanks a public hazard

I am writing to express my extreme concern for the quality of our drinking water threatened by the jet fuel leaking from Navy storage tanks in Red Hill.

The leaked jet fuel should be completely cleaned up immediately. Twenty-five years is too long to wait before acting to save our most precious resource. If the leaks cannot be immediately fixed, then the tanks must be drained.

The public comment period on the negotiated agreement between the U.S. Navy, Environmental Protection Agency, and Hawaii Department of Health needs to be extended to allow the public meaningful opportunity to understand and weigh in on this important issue.

Sheila Wendler
Kaneohe

Increase exams to protect eyes

As we get older, more extensive eye exams should be done because regular eye exams may not detect damage to the eye.

Macular degeneration is an age-related medical condition that usually affects people over 50, resulting in loss of vision. It is a leading cause of blindness. About 15 million people in the U.S. have the disease, which can rob you of your ablity to read and recognize faces.

Early detection is necessary to retard or stop macular degeneration. When you see symptoms, it is usually too late — the damage has been done. There is no cure.

A retinal scan can provide early warning of macular degeneration.

I have been suffering with macular degeneration for about 15 years. If it had not been for the early detection, diagnosis and treatment, I would probably be blind.

Otto Cleveland
Pearl City