Wealthy getting unfair tax break

Sunday’s story in the Money section confirmed my suspicions (“Home price, taxable value can diverge,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 27).

I have been tracking Oahu’s high-value properties for many years.

During these years it became quite apparent that city property tax appraisers routinely appraise million-dollar properties much lower than the actual sales price. I contacted the mayor’s office on several occasions to question this practice, without success.

The Black Point property, which sold for $16.5 million and was appraised at $6.7 million, is just one example. These sweet deals for the wealthy have been going on for years and mayors past and present seem to have no concern. Or is there some other reason for such generosity? I guarantee you that such appraisal reductions never happen to properties selling for less than $1 million.

I think it’s time that the city prosecutor look into each and every case where assessments were reduced well below the actual sale price.

James L. Robinson

Aiea

The best taxis have innovated

In response to the editorial wondering if “taxicab companies are trying their best not to innovate,” (“Allow ride-hailing, taxis to innovate,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, Dec. 24): Have you ridden in a Honolulu taxi lately?

The best of them are brimming with technology introduced in the last few years. They can now track your ride to ensure you are being taken the shortest distance.

If you lose something, they can identify the cab based on the trip you took. They have monitoring to provide a higher level of security for driver and passenger.

Just because Uber and Lyft use technology for dispatch does not change the industry they are in. It’s called commercial transportation. Uber and Lyft should be subject to the same regulations as every other company providing similar services.

Ed Clapperton

Kaimuki

Taxis don’t want the competition

The “Our View” editorial (“Allow ride-hailing, taxis to innovate,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 24) was right on.

Taxi companies are making little effort to co-exist peacefully with ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. Instead, they are trying desperately to eliminate them altogether through City Council Bill 85, which proposes ludicrous requirements such as old-world-technology dome lights and mileage meters.

The taxi industry has always been influenced by new technology. Automobiles replaced horse and carriage cabs in the late 1800s, two-way radios replaced call boxes in the 1940s, and computer systems streamlined dispatch operations in the 1980s.

If this bill passes as is, it will send a strong message to the world that the taxi business environment in Hawaii is old and obsolete, and that lawmakers are denying the irrefutable fact that much of the world consumer market has totally accepted and embraced ride-sharing.

Nanette Napoleon

Kailua

UH can lead in geoengineering

I read with much interest in Sunday’s edition that atmospheric scrubbing might be one way to clean up carbon emissions (“Climate goal may require major atmospheric scrub,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 27).

Geoengineering solutions like fertilizing the oceans with iron to make them absorb more carbon is being put out by scientists as one way.

It would be great if the University of Hawaii-Manoa could lead the way in geoengineering solutions, given its location in the vast Pacific Ocean.

Jay Pineda

Waikiki

Obama should stop at Tripler

President Barack Obama has been coming to Hawaii for his Christmas vacation for so many years now that it must be hard to find something new and interesting to write about.

I remember a newspaper article quoted a woman who said she was thrilled just knowing she was on the same island as the president.

Shortly after, I met a man who worked at Tripler Army Medical Center. I kidded him, “Are you thrilled just knowing you’re on the same island as President Obama?”

He said, “No. I’m mad at him.”

He explained that Obama goes all around the island and play golf with his buddies but he doesn’t come to Tripler to visit the wounded warriors.

“Oh, you should write to him!” I urged.

“No,” he said. It wouldn’t be the same if he had to ask him to come.

I always feel a little sad when Obama comes here for Christmas and it’s the same-old, same-old.

Wynnie Hee

Mililani