Nothing distracts a nation more from horrific policies and an investigation into Donald Trump’s ties to Russia than shooting off missiles in the name of “moral outrage.” The timing is perfect. This is the same person who has NO conscience about cutting Meals on Wheels for poor old people, health care for millions, and women’s programs as he exploits our tax dollars by doing “business” in sunny Florida instead of the White House.

Wake up, America. We’ve been had by a professional con man and it is just beginning. Be afraid, be very afraid. Never give up our constitutional rights, truth and justice for ALL. Have faith — this, too, will pass.

Maralyn Kurshals

Waianae

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Vacation rentals key to housing

Kudos to City Council Chairman Ron Menor for recognizing the damage that vacation rentals are doing to the supply of housing for local residents (“ADUs hold hope for affordable rentals,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 9).

The use of housing units and even rooms for transients in residential areas is a significant component of our housing crisis, and the loss of neighborhood character. It must be addressed from many directions. Any major or minor effort to help keep people from having to double and triple up in housing, to live in garages, in tents or in automobiles, could be a benefit.

It is important that the City Council finally has leadership that acknowledges that vacation rentals in residential areas are part of the problem, and has the fortitude to take action.

Chuck Prentiss

Chairperson, Kailua Neighborhood Board

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Money misspent on attack missiles

With a launch failure rate of 5 percent and an “astray” rate of 12 percent, I do not believe 59 Tomahawk missiles hit 59 designated targets on a Syrian airport.

I do believe that spending that $100-plus million on education (especially cyber skills), public health or affordable housing would have made a much greater impact on this world (59 missiles at $1.6 million each, plus storage, maintenance, transportation, etc.).

Instead, taxpayers must fork over another $100 million to replace the launched Tomahawks, which apparently caused only a few potholes.

Perhaps if Donald Trump had not fired 23 of his 24 science and technology staff and had controlled his knee-jerk reactions, the intelligence community could have informed him of where those chemicals were stored before they were transported to the airport.

Rico Leffanta

Kakaako

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Build a casino, not new stadium

Don’t replace Aloha Stadium. It will become a boondoggle like rail, fleecing taxpayers. No teams are coming, and no other stadium of this magnitude anywhere in the country doesn’t have a major sports team associated with it.

The few entertainment acts that do come to the island often don’t even fill the Blaisdell. Look at the tour schedule of your favorite act; Hawaii isn’t there.

Better ideas are to level it for needed parkland — 80 percent of the state’s resident’s reside here and we also host all five branches of the military — or, consider a casino. Yes, legalized gambling. Residents travel to gamble now. This would raise revenue and citizens could choose to lose their money or not; all would reap the benefits, unlike the rail and the proposed bloated plans for an unneeded stadium.

Richard Zarbetski

Waialua

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Jobs-for-homeless effort applauded

This is in response to the fantastic article on House Bill 1281 by Taylor Polson (“Bill to give homeless day jobs advances,” Star-Advertiser, March 25). I want to commend state Rep. Chris Lee for taking action to assist our homeless by providing real opportunities and incentives. As a Chinatown resident, I constantly see homeless folks asking for money, and I hope this bill passes to give them the opportunity and motivation to earn a few dollars and get their lives back on track.

The homeless issue in Chinatown and Kalihi- Palama continues to grow, but sometimes, all people need is a helping hand and some guidance to push forward through hard times.

With such a high cost of living here and programs being cut to aid low-income renters and homeowners, we will only see this issue increase. It’s great to see a representative step up and provide a real options for those in need.

James Logue

Chinatown

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Hey, Mr. AG, sue on military action

Considering his past actions, it would seem that the state attorney general should immediately file legal action with the District Court to prevent any future military endeavors, e.g., in Syria, by President Donald Trump. After all, it could impact Hawaii and its tourism.

Paul Miller

Kaneohe