About 10 months ago I attended my first preliminary public housing meeting at the Hawaii Public Housing Authority’s headquarters on School Street.
The meeting room had a dais where several important people were sitting, with the center chair for the executive director, Hakim Ouansafi, vacant. The rest of us were situated in the galley — an “us and them” configuration.
Suddenly Ouansafi entered the room. After a sweeping glance he said, “Let’s make a circle of chairs so we can talk to each other.” I was inspired! He did not just bark words — he began grabbing chairs and his staff quickly followed suit.
My partner Frank and I nodded to each other: This is an action man. Sunday’s front-page article on the Mayor Wright Homes confirmed my initial reaction (“Plan would replace project with towers,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 16).
We can see the results of his innovations. Mayor Wright housing is safer, cleaner and brighter with higher occupancy rates. Leadership is everything.
Norma Nomura DeSaegher
Ewa Beach
Turnover needed at Mayor Wright
So they want to shed the stigma of low-income housing by mixing low-income with market-rate renters (“Plan would replace project with towers,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 16).
One renter at Mayor Wright Homes has been there for 27 years; his wife for 40. Does anyone see anything wrong with this picture? Do people actually aspire to remain in low-income housing forever? Are people really not motivated today to work hard to get ahead? This type of housing is supposed to be transitional to get people get back on their feet. About 14,000 people are waiting to get in.
Councilman Joey Manahan thinks the dynamic will change for the better. Really? Do you think the market-rate renters might later resent the fact that they’re subsidizing their low-income neighbors?
There appears to be no incentive to get out of low-income housing.
In other words, they want to make Hawaii a socialist state where everyone’s equal.
Lisa Adlong
Hauula
Monument won’t protect tuna
It’s a moot point since President Barack Obama has already signed the act to expand the Papahanau- mokuakea Marine National Monument.
However, if a reason for the closure to fishing is to reduce the number of tuna caught, that result may not be achieved. The Hawaii fishing industry is regulated based on quotas, not by restricting fishing areas.
The quota system shuts down fishing when the quota is reached.
Whether the tuna is caught in the expanded monument or elsewhere does not make a difference in the number of fish caught; but it does make it more costly for Hawaii fishermen because they will have to travel farther for the fish.
When the cost to fish increases, consumers pay more for the fish. It’s a bad law that does not achieve its goal of preventing overfishing, but instead just raises fish prices for Hawaii’s consumers.
Stuart Shimazu
Kaimuki
Clinton can heal divided nation
The outcome of the November presidential election will determine the country’s future.
There are two major candidates. One is Hillary Clinton, an experienced public servant and a proven leader. She is a passionate advocate of women’s rights and has devoted most of her political career to helping poor children and the working class. Above all, she has the best temperament to lead America.
The other is Donald Trump, a thin-skinned demagogue with an unregulated temperament. He became his party’s nominee by running a campaign built on bigotry, racism and minority- blaming. He preys on people’s fears and prejudices to foment racial animosity.
Trump’s erratic behavior and the way he degrades women and minorities give us a preview of how frightening and dangerous a Trump presidency would be.
America is a deeply polarized country. We need a strong leader who can unite and heal this grieving nation. Clinton fits that profile.
Rod B. Catiggay
Mililani
‘Islamic terrorist’ term misleading
Donald Trump says Hillary Clinton refuses to call Islamic terrorists Islamic terrorists.
President Barack Obama in his town hall meeting on CNN explained that Islamic terrorists is too all-inclusive a term for those who follow Islam. Not all people who follow Islam are terrorists. The term Islamic terrorists is misleading and blames innocent people for something they do not all do.
We should be careful what we say because it can incriminate folks who are totally innocent, making them vulnerable to wrong beliefs and possible, harsh verbal attacks or worse.
This position regarding foreign policy is indicative of the questionable way Trump would treat sensitive issues vital to America’s leadership and image in the world.
Gabrielle L. Makuakane
McCully
Kailua Beach needs cleanup
I am writing on behalf of Kailua Beach, which needs our love and attention.
This month, there has been an unprecedented amount of plastic washing up on the beach. Some of us have started carrying a bag on our daily walk so that we can collect plastic while we exercise. Some items are so large that they do not even fit into a bag — we just carry them to the nearest trash can.
If only a few people do this, we will barely make a dent. We need everyone who walks, swims, fishes or otherwise enjoys Kailua beach to take plastic away every time they visit the beach. Owners of vacation rentals and local restaurants might also want to join our effort.
After all, their business will inevitably decline if tourists learn that Kailua Beach is full of plastic. Please help to restore Kailua Beach to its original beauty.
Carole Petersen
Kailua
