Exploitative ‘predators’ come in many forms

Ramon Garza is right about one thing: A law should protect our children, daughters and sons (“‘Bathroom law’ is common sense,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 13).

That means a law recognizing needs of trans children and adults, not a discriminating law reminiscent of the Jim Crow era in North Carolina.

Any discrimination against humans based on race, religion or sexual orientation is backwards and ignorant.

And as far as fear of predators, a predator is any person or group that ruthlessly exploits others.

Anne Rauh

Kaimuki

Council chairman has chance to be our hero

Now that City Council Chairman Ernie Martin seems to have put his foot down on any further rail expenses, he is in the enviable position of being able to stop this unaffordable, ugly and misnamed project (“Rail in danger of deficit,” Star-Advertiser, April 3).

For far too long, we have been lied to about the supposed cost of this useless project. We should just end it.

If Martin could perform such an important service to our community, his political future would be unlimited, wide open — on the city, state or even federal levels.

He would show himself as a strong leader.

Our mayor is useless, if not counterproductive; our governor hardly ever produces anything; and our representatives in Washington, D.C., are probably just sitting on their comfy chairs counting their lobbyists’ donations.

We need a leader. A hero.

Gerhard C. Hamm

Waialae Iki

Many homeless have no regard for others

The cruise ship Westerdam was docked in Honolulu recently, and as I drove past, the tourists were walking toward Ala Moana.

They had to walk past the homeless encampment in Kakaako — what a greeting for our visitors to our beautiful city.

I’ll bet this will be a topic of discussion with friends and family when they get home from their cruise.

This might also be the low point of their long-awaited overseas vacation.

We are asked to have compassion for the homeless, but what compassion do the homeless have for the residents and visitors to our islands? They obviously don’t care what others think.

Like the sticker says, “Ainokea.”

They set up in various locations, causing problems and making a huge mess, costing taxpayers thousands of dollars to clean up.

We need to take back control of our lands and make Hawaii beautiful and inviting again.

Gregory Mishima

Foster Village

Waikiki resident erred in locating ‘the jungle’

Suzan Danforth needs to do some fact-checking before suggesting that the current property upon which the Ainahau Vista building, or any future building, is located in the area of Waikiki known as “the jungle” (“Residents fight plans to put up low-income site,” Star-Advertiser, April 10).

Having grown up in Waikiki during the 1950s and ’60s on Ohua Avenue, I know where “the jungle” was located — across the street from where I lived all the way east (Diamond Head) to Wai Nani Way.

It was bordered on the makai side by the Waikiki Baptist Church (215 Ohua) and the St. Augustine School (now Waikiki Health Center).

There were also various run-down spots to the west, but they weren’t as concentrated as “the jungle” area mentioned above.

Robert Gillchrest

Pawaa