Local leader needed for Hawaii’s schools

I’m very disappointed in the state Board of Education’s selection of the two finalists for the state superintendent’s position (“Schools chief finalists tout access,” Star-Advertiser, May 5).

Neither is from Hawaii and therefore would not be familiar with our statewide school system, which encompasses seven diverse school districts and student populations.

Haven’t we learned our lessons yet from past selectees from out-of-state? The best Hawaii superintendents came up through the ranks as teachers and/or school level administrator such as Charles Clark, Charles Toguchi and Patricia Hamamoto.

They knew from personal experience how our local schools are and the challenges faced by students, teachers and school administrators. Those from out of state have generally bombed out. Among the dozens of candidates, I can’t believe that the BOE selection committee could not find at least one or two local candidates to consider.

Joanne Swearingen

St. Louis Heights

Rail fiasco bodes ill for building stadium

Now they want to build a new stadium (“Bill to move ahead on a new stadium in do-or-die mode,” Star-Advertiser, April 28). They can’t do a good job on the rail; what makes them think they can budget a new stadium?

Every time the state or city tries to build, the project goes over and beyond budget. They never learn.

Patrick Carvalho

Moiliili

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Consider alternative views of rail project

The question at this point isn’t whether to build rail or not build rail. It is how to integrate rail into the downtown area while containing runaway costs.

A mandate to build should still be subject to budget costs and alternatives. People who voice concerns and urge cost-cutting and alternatives should not be dismissed out of hand as “opposers.”

Their ideas and suggestions could have merit and should be considered. That is why our government is founded on principles of openness, participation and the right to speak. The U.S. Congress is gridlocked because members have lost the ability to compromise. Has Hawaii lost that ability as well?

I read about replacing committee assignments of state legislators because they are trying to hold the line on rail costs and have alternatives considered. If the powers that be feel that they already have all of the answers and anyone who doesn’t “go along” or speaks up is a troublemaker, then our problems are much bigger than rail.

Lee Stack

Makiki

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Property tax hike will be unaffordable

When he first campaigned for mayor as well as this second time, Mayor Kirk Caldwell promised he wouldn’t raise property taxes and the rail will be done on time and we will have money for the project. What shibai!

And now he’s trying to go against an ordinance prohibiting city taxes for rail.

My poor mom passed away and left me her property; my daughter lives there. I don’t live there so I can’t get an exemption from the Residential A tax. I can’t afford the high tax, and there are others like me. I’m keeping it for my children and don’t even intend to sell it, so why do I have to pay extra taxes? Why doesn’t our wealthy mayor chip in for his pet project?

Oliver Mattoon

Liliha

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NSA surveillance protects Americans

I am glad the National Security Agency is overseeing communications between terrorists (“151 million telephone records drawn from 42 terror suspects,” Star-Advertiser, May 3).

I do not understand why people, who talk on their cell phone in the middle of the sidewalk or grocery store, are upset that someone may be listening to their conversations. I would much rather have NSA identify and help capture terrorists than have them open fire where I am out shopping or at a concert.

Has the NSA sent the FBI to the homes of ordinary Americans making ordinary phone calls? I’ve not heard any evidence of that.

Edward Snowden had his 15 minutes of fame based on exposing security practices that keep us safe. If you want your conversation to be private, do it person-to-person, in private.

Shirley Hamilton

Kailua

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Unruly politicians cause chaos in D.C.

Someone once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results.”

Based on this, I thought the most logical course for America is having an unpredictable president, with no strings attached to special-interest groups, thinking and existing outside the box.

Yet now Capitol Hill resembles unruly children in a sandbox. Or in the flower box of strange bedfellows, fertilized by hubris, incompetence and bureaucracy, growing distrust, insecurity and despair.

Maybe voters in another four years will cause the entire box to change.

Peter Uyehara

Pearl City

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Pedestrians need to put down phones

I’ve driven Hawaii’s roads on the highways and in many towns and neighborhoods. Here is a common and still-lingering problem: the use of cell phones while people are outside and not paying attention to their environment.

I’ve seen people waiting at an intersection for a walk signal. While on a cell phone, they sometimes don’t notice the walk sign flashing and people crossing the street all around them. They are texting or watching something on YouTube or maybe trying to find one of those Pokemon things floating around.

People just don’t pay attention to the world around them, and when they do, it sometimes is too late.

A pedestrian who walks the street should obey the rules just like a driver of a vehicle should do.

Duane A. Cabe

Kaneohe