Don’t waste money on canal

If the city advances its proposal for the development of the Kapalama Canal, it will be creating a multi million-dollar attractive nuisance (“Feedback on Kapalama park sought at meeting,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 8).

For what? An urban feature in a commercial and industrial area? And at a time when the city is trying to raise funds for uncompleted projects and satisfactory, minimal maintenance that is lacking for many existing properties.

I also think that an environmental impact statement will show a great potential for lawsuits from building a water-oriented project along a polluted stream.

Ted Green

Kaaawa

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Limit judges to single terms

The issue of judicial reappointment or retention has been politically controversial since shortly after the 1978 Hawaii Constitutional amendment altering such reappointments from the process of gubernatorial nomination with Senate confirmation to approval or confirmation by the Judicial Selection Commission (JSC) (“Bill to make judges repeat confirmation is advanced,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 13). The argument advanced by proponents of this reform at that time was de-politicalization of judicial reappointments.

In the nearly three decades of post-reform experience, the JSC has a record of retaining a preponderance of sitting judges and justices. As such, once initially confirmed, judges and justices serve a de-facto lifetime appointment subject to the Hawaii Constitution’s manda- tory retirement (at age 70) provision.

Instead of partial reversion to Senate confirmation as proposed in Senate Bill 673, elimination of judicial reappointment altogether, concomitant with extension of a single-term of judicial service for 15 years, may be a different approach to securing the independence of the state Judiciary.

Edmund M.Y. Leong

Kakaako

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Trump distracts from real issues

Democratic legislators must recognize that President Donald Trump is the “Great Manipulator” of the media, and they must formulate a counter-action strategy.

Every news cycle is dominated by Trump’s nonsense news — tweets, size of inauguration attendance, illegal voting, etc. — while real issues are barely mentioned.

Like a magician using sleight of hand, Trump tricks the media and the nation into looking away from Cabinet confirmation hearings and the dangers of these appointments.

His nominees are testifying openly that Social Security benefits must be cut, regardless of his campaign promises. This would affect millions of Americans caught totally unaware due to Trump’s skillful media manipulations.

Emerence West

Makiki

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Homelessness isn’t an illness

I agree many homeless have medical conditions; but that does not make homelessness an illness (“Hawaii bill would classify homelessness as medical condition,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, Jan. 26).

And a prescription for housing? What about all those healthy young people who are homeless because they are too lazy to get a job and work? We already spend millions of taxpayer dollars on the homeless.

Face it: Many homeless are that way by choice, yet they have money for a cell phone, liquor, drugs and, in some cases, a vehicle.

Clifton T. Johnson

Waikiki

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Put Thomas in Thomas Square

Thanks for the article on Thomas Square (“Re-imagining Thomas Square,” Star- Advertiser, Insight, Jan. 29).

Every Saturday morning I walk down Ward Avenue to the Kakaako farmers market. As soon as I cross Beretania, I go off the street and walk on the grass parallel to Ward, enjoying the birds, the tiny ones, the ones who look like they are ready for a party, and many others. I also enjoy the ambience of the trees and water. Now I walk along the high boards.

In the planned stage, there is a statue of Kamehameha III. Wouldn’t it be better also to have a statue of Rear Adm. Richard Thomas?

The two could be facing each other.

After all, Thomas apologized to the king. He also is the only haole I respect from the long line of missionaries and business people.

It is not Kamehameha III Square.

Hanna Heintz

Kinau

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Pension benefits too generous

You’ve got to be kidding me. The Honolulu Police Commission gave Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha a separation package of $250,000 (if the feds can’t prove he’s a crook) in addition to his $150,000-a-year pension. The separation package is bad enough, but chew on this: Is your retirement 84 percent of your annual wage?

It’s no surprise that Hawaii has one of the worst unfunded liabilities in the nation for government workers’ pensions. Perhaps it’s time to make some significant changes at the state level, too. Unfortunately, I doubt our elected officials will go there.

Fred Fogel

Volcano