The proposed city budget neglects to include any increases in the minimum property tax rate for those enjoying city services at a ridiculous rate.

Minimum property taxes of $300 apply to properties that qualify as historic homes (including multimillion-dollar homes in Manoa and Waikiki). Also included are homes on Hawaiian Home Lands that receive city services.

According to the city, trash pickup alone cost $50 per month, so qualified minimum property tax properties pay half of even what trash pickup costs, plus they get free police, fire, lifeguard and all other city services.

If the city is now saying it is fair to charge for city trash pickup, isn’t it also fair to charge all properties a fair property tax?

Earl Arakaki

Ewa Beach

—

Candidate Trump wasn’t president

Even a tin monkey could have convinced U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson to rule against the Trump travel ban.

Watson apparently had already made up his mind against President Donald Trump as far back as the presidential campaign. He cites candidate Trump’s campaign rhetoric vis-à-vis radical Islam as being an important part of his decision.

But can there truly be a legal nexus between a presidential executive order and the past words of a political candidate who at the time held no elected office?

Watson thinks so. He equates candidate Trump with President Trump, thus ignoring an almost incomprehensibly vast sea of distinctions our system of government makes between an ordinary citizen and the president of the United States.

The safety of this nation rests solely with our commander- in-chief. But how well can he protect us if his every effort to do so is blocked by someone like Watson?

Charles Kerr

Kalama Valley

—

Oppose increase in defense budget

A front-page story of the 2018 presidential budget (“More losers in isles,” Star-Advertiser, March 18) speaks to enormous cuts in social programs that will impact our state. The caption under U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa’s photo assures us that Hawaii’s congressional delegation will “fight many of the cuts.”

While somewhat assuring, we know how little success the Democratic minority has had thus far in thwarting the president’s frightening agenda.

I urge the Congresswoman and her Hawaii colleagues in House and Senate to put equal energy into cutting the $54 billion increase in military spending proposed by the president.

Cuts in the already bloated Pentagon budget will help fund programs that uplift rather than destroy.

Advocates of the Friends Committee on National Legislation have begun visits to the local offices of our four members of Congress. We are hopeful that their message of peace will fall on receptive ears.

Wally Inglis

Palolo Valley

—

Obama’s successes ignored by GOP

People who do not know the difference between government and business finance, including President Donald Trump, should study before talking.

Facts do matter when our national economy hangs in the balance. President Barack Obama knew, when faced with an inherited recession, to maintain the stability of our economy by borrowing at low interest and spending on jobs.

Obama’s jobs bill, killed by House Speaker John Boehner and the Republicans, would have sped up the recovery.

As it is, Obama’s efforts, in spite of Republican obstruction, pulled our economy slowly out of deep recession.

Our national debt will be repaid when our economy recovers, unless the Republicans, with Trump, rescind regulations, cut taxes, kill Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, and increase spending, thus blowing another hole in our national debt.

It is easy to make baseless accusations and insinuations. It is just as easy to do the research and to look at the big picture.

Melvin Sakamoto

Palolo

—

Motorcycles make Honolulu noisier

We visit here about two months every year. This is something we notice.

Honolulu has become so noisy. I realize trucks, buses, trolleys and some cars make excessive noise. TheBus is making efforts to reduce noise, but it appears they are the only ones.

Motorcycle owners are proud of their ride and rightly so. Some make so much noise. I guess it must be: “Hey, look at me. I can make more noise than you.”

The patrol officers must all be deaf from listening to this racket.

Nothing like a loud backfire from a motorcycle at 3 in the morning to get your day started.

W.F. Brooks

Decatur, Ala.

—

Find better ways to raise money

We all agree that the proposed federal budget will have a negative impact on revenues for Hawaii. The discussion should be on we make up for those losses.

We could increase taxes and fees on everything. That’s the expected solution from our current crop of politicians.

Or, we could generate needed revenues through a state lottery, casino gambling, or taxes from legalized recreational cannabis. Let’s ask the citizens of this state which path they would they like to take.

Leave it up to the politicians? How’s that been working? Or, let the people decide? Increased fees and taxes place a greater burden on those who can least afford the increases.

We don’t live in a perfect world, there are no perfect solutions. Let’s get creative.

Chuck Cohen

Kalama Valley