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Oahu is faced with a number of issues, such as the high cost of living, traffic, homelessness and marginal economic growth.
It’s time for our politicians to think outside the box. One way to help alleviate these issues is to move the University of Hawaii at Manoa to the West Oahu campus at Kapolei. The state can sell the high-value land in Manoa, allocate a certain percentage of units toward affordable housing, spur economic growth in West Oahu, and take the pressure off commuters coming to Honolulu.
It’s a win-win for the state and the citizens of Oahu.
Shasha Fesharaki
Kailua
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House immigration resolution deceitful
Well thank you, House Judiciary Committee. How clever — a properly worded declaration to not cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that is meant to make Honolulu not quite a sanctuary city, so we can have our cake and eat it, too (“Immigration resolution passes House Judiciary panel,” Star-Advertiser, March 24).
Aren’t we being duplicitous: the practice of subtle deceit by which one may derive benefit at another’s expense? We want federal funds, but we don’t want to comply with federal law. Coming from the Judiciary Committee, it boggles the mind.
Kathy Novak
Moanalua Valley
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Fukumoto’s seat a Republican one
State Rep. Beth Fukumoto’s switch to the Democratic Party is a slap in the face to the Republicans who voted her into office (“Fukumoto leaving Republican Party,” Star-Advertiser, March 23).
Her transfer to the Democratic Party is dishonest and unethical. Her stated reasons of sexism and racism in the Republican Party are ill-founded, ridiculous and a weak excuse to justify her decision. I voted for her as a Republican because I wanted more Republican representation in our one-party state.
She should do the ethical thing: Resign and let the governor appoint another Republican to replace her. That’s what the majority in this district voted for.
John Cloughen
Mililani
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Columnist claims false equivalence
Although Ben Shapiro’s point about scandal-mania may be true, the two cases he cited couldn’t be more different (“Scandal-mania weakens public, political debate,” Star-Advertiser, March 22).
President Donald Trump’s claim that he was wiretapped by then-President Barack Obama was merely an attempt to divert and deflect from the real scandal. The FBI has flatly stated that Trump’s assertion has no evidentiary basis, while it is actually investigating Trump’s ties to Russia.
While the column purported to discuss confirmation bias and polarization, it was really another conservative attempt to equate Trump’s phony-baloney claim with a legitimate scandal. There is no comparison.
Jim Keefe
Waikiki
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Reduce high levels of incarceration
The debate to move or not move OCCC (Oahu Community Correctional Center) has been raging for some time.
A majority of Kalihi residents want it gone, rightfully so. Other interest groups want it to remain and be improved upon. The state wants to continue to throw millions of dollars at the problem to either expand the Halawa complex or remodel OCCC.
The less-talked-about piece of this puzzle is criminal justice reform. Our jails and prisons are stuffed with minor offenders. Locking people up for nonviolent crimes continues to flood the system. It leads many to a cycle of crime and/or life on the streets because they can’t find work due to their criminal record.
We don’t need to dump millions of taxpayer dollars to refurbish or expand OCCC or Halawa. We do need to reduce incarceration rates by modifying our criminal justice system and archaic laws.
James Logue
Chinatown
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Mililani Tech Park no place for jail
I understand that Castle & Cooke Hawaii owns the land in Mililani Tech Park that made the short list as one of the four potential locations for the new Oahu Community Correctional Center.
As a developer of a town that was voted “All-America City” in 1986 and one of the best places to live in the United States in 2005, why would Castle & Cooke sell its land for a jail in such close proximity to this safe, family-friendly community it developed?
With so many inmates escaping from work furlough programs, does Castle & Cooke know that a jail in our town would have an effect on property values and, in turn, on Castle & Cooke’s reputation?
How about when the homeless who trespass get put in jail overnight and then get released into Mililani?
We already have a homeless community in Mililani and it can only get worse.
Chiara Albertson
Mililani
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Marijuana not ready for decriminalization
Since the 1970s, the U.S. Controlled Substances Act has classified marijuana (Cannibus sativa L.) a Schedule I drug. A change in classification is not warranted (“Gabbard introduces act to decriminalize pot,” Star-Advertiser, March 25).
The legal status of marijuana for consumption, growing and selling must not change. The impact of the drug on the individual and our environment is unknown but potentially enormous.
Marijuana produces the drug tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Over the years, marijuana plants have been modified to produce higher amounts of THC, resulting in a currently wide range of effectiveness.
Furthermore, selected parts of the marijuana plant are consumed by humans, but the Environmental Protection Agency has yet to approve any pesticide to control known diseases that infest marijuana plants.
James Kuroiwa
Kaneohe
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