Take down flag and other racist symbols

I cheer activist artist Bree Newsome for taking down the Confederate flag from the capitol of South Carolina. Instead of criminal charges, she should be given a medal.

On June 17, the heinous killing of nine African-Americans who attended a historic black church in Charleston, S.C., made headline news around the world.

The suspect, a 21-year-old white Southern male, surfed the Internet and found support from like-minded racists who pledge allegiance to the Confederate flag.

It is time for the Confederate flag to be removed from all government buildings and government-issued license plates.

All Americans, not just African-Americans, are beginning to realize racism is something that needs to be addressed, with reparations given and the elimination of racists symbols such as the Confederate flag.

Daphne Barbee-Wooten
Downtown Honolulu

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Most reject more vacation rentals

The results of a recent Big Q poll showed that 73 percent of respondents wanted no more vacation rentals permitted (“Should the City Council allow more residential vacation rentals to be legal/permitted?” Star-Advertiser, Big Q, June 22).

This implies that 73 percent want enforcement of our laws. On the same day, an editorial brief agreed that better enforcement is needed but, in the meantime, we should allow more vacation rentals (“Council committee kicks the can down the road,” Star-Advertiser, Off the News).

What? This seems very similar to the ethics problems with the City Council and legislators.

Some of them would say because these laws have been ignored for a long time, it’s not fair to start enforcing them. We, the voters, are tired of this attitude. Seventy-three percent of respondents want enforcement. Enforcement must come first. Then, and only then, talk about changing the law.

This is bigger than vacation rentals. This is about honest government, of the people, by the people and for the people. It is time for change.

Vern Hinsvark
Kailua

Police officers deserve support

A Star-Advertiser editorial once again unfairly criticizes our police officers (“Let public know about misconduct by police officers,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, June 25). 

Like all of us, police officers do make mistakes, but the Police Department itself is the first to acknowledge those mistakes and take appropriate action.

In these dangerous times, officers have had to use force while protecting our communities. 

It’s outrageous that people exploit these events to promote their own agendas. Instead of being praised for keeping the rest of us safe, officers are accused, tried and convicted before all the facts are in. These are times when we need our police more than ever. 

The media as well as others need to appreciate and respect our police officers, who are always there to protect us and uphold the laws. Kudos to our fine Police Department.

Lehuanui McColgan
Kaimuki

Mayor should be honest about taxes

How is it reasonable that Honolulu’s mayor would attempt to deceive legislators and the public about extending the rail tax surcharge (“Mayor’s tax warning not about shortfall,” Star-Advertiser, June 25)?

Now it seems his purpose all along in extending the tax had more to do with expanding an already bankrupt project than with just paying for the system being built. 

Any increase in property taxes to pay for rail must be only as a last resort, as it increases rents and greatly impacts those on fixed incomes. 

Mayor Kirk Caldwell is up for re-election in 2016 and should make sure he informs the voters that he intends to raise property taxes to pay for rail operations and extensions.

Shirley Gibbs
Kaneohe

Trees are valuable, not just rubbish

Auwe to Dr. Raymond Kang for having trees on his new property destroyed (“50 trees down, 1 city permit to go,” Star-Advertiser, June 25). 

And to those who call them “rubbish” trees,  here is a thought for you: People make rubbish, trees make oxygen. Sign me, one major tree hugger!

Leigh Prentiss
Kailua

Burn recyclables for isle’s electricity

Why put cardboard and newspaper or plastic in the blue bin and ship it to China or North America to get it turned into shoe boxes or other products?

The process of shipping this material is an additional cost to the state, uses a lot of fossil fuel, and adds to the pollution in the environment that we would like to reduce.

It seems to be much more environmentally proactive to put anything that will burn in the grey bin so it will be used to create electricity here at home, which, in turn, will reduce our need for fossil fuel. Because we have the H-POWER plant, it doesn’t make sense to ship combustibles overseas when they are beneficial at home.

Using our garbage to create electricity is a legitimate form of recycling and makes sense for Hawaii.

Bob Brown
Kailua