So Gov. David Ige signed House Bill 1501 that dramatically reduces the penalties for possession of all kinds of drug para- phernalia, while state Rep. Joy San Buenaventura predicted the new law will help to ease jail overcrowding (“Gov. Ige signs bill cutting penalties for possessing …,” Star-Advertiser, July 8).
Common sense would tell you if the jails are overcrowded, then build more jails. Don’t weaken the laws.
Robert Cravalho
Moiliili
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Rail essential, and ferry won’t work
Rail is absolutely essential. Serious problems are unavoidable with such a massive undertaking and should be expected. “It’s crucial to fund, finish rail — for all” (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, July 9), was right on. So was “Rail-oriented development wreck can still be prevented” (Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, July 2).
On the other hand, “Modern ferry, not rail is the solution” (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, July 9), is another flawed and simplistic attack on rail. The claim that a non-stop ferry churning water between Kalaeloa and Aloha Tower is superior to rail transit is nonsensical.
Rail transit will service all communities between Ewa, Waipahu, Pearl City, Aiea, Kalihi and the airport, and between downtown and Ala Moana Center. A ferry would bypass thousands who desperately need rail for a fraction of Leeward residents who might benefit from water rides to a single destination — Aloha Tower.
John Hoshibata
Mililani
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West side folks need transit options, too
Some Windward residents don’t appreciate the needs of west side families whose lives are affected daily by traffic problems most of us cannot imagine (“Riding the rail means an endless parade of buses,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, July 4).
Every day, pau hana traffic reports deliver the same message: “Traffic going west is backed up to Fort Shafter. Travel to Kapolei is about two hours. Traffic on Pali, Likelike and H-3 is flowing smoothly.” I’m thankful I live on the Windward side and make it home early enough for dinner and family time with my kids.
Windward residents should sympathize with our Leeward and west side friends — who continue to suffer in traffic gridlock on a daily basis — and support the rail project, the only viable alternative to their traffic woes. With rail, they can make better use of their commuting time, reading or working on their computer. But the biggest benefit will be those precious evening hours with their children. Who could object to that?
Shannon Alivado
Waimanalo
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U.S. citizens should have all the basics
The U.S.A. is a rich country, whether by hard work or good luck. U.S. citizens should benefit from living in such fortunate circumstances.
All of our citizens should be afforded basic standards of living. These standards should include the right to shelter, to food and to affordable health care. Some of our citizens, who include those who served in our military, are homeless and every day are struggling to obtain adequate shelter, food and health care. Most times they are unable to find money to pay for these basic needs.
There are leaders of our community and country who want to reduce funding for basic social needs. When they succeed in their efforts, we as a community lose out. Not only is it charitable to help others in need, we lose by not giving others a better opportunity to be successful.
Stuart Shimazu
Kaimuki
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Trump’s voter fraud lie not delusional
Jacob Sullum argues that when President Donald Trump says there were “millions of phantom fraudulent voters who cost him the popular vote,” it was just “a fanciful claim” or an “ego-stroking delusion” and not a lie.
No, this is a calculated lie, and we are seeing the ultimate purpose of Trump in repeating this falsehood. He wants to collect sensitive voter data from all the states and just like the Republicans maneuvering gerrymandering rules, he wants to purge voter rolls and suppress those voters who are anti-Republican.
According to the Huffington Post, Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ office sent a letter from the Justice Department, asking states to explain how they complied with a section of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. That is even more alarming than the original request for data.
I applaud Gov. David Ige for being skeptical, the editorial board of the Star-Advertiser for advocating not surrendering the voter data (“Don’t surrender state voter data,” Our View, July 7), and all the states that are not complying with this outrageous deceit.
Judith Pettibone
Makiki
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Provide private tents for homeless people
We all feel distressed by the ever-worsening homeless problem here on Oahu.
Many folks refuse to go into homeless shelters. Often this is because they won’t abide by the rules that do not allow smoking, alcohol, street drugs or pets, and they resent having to be in and out of bed at certain times.
Why not let these folks do what they want inside their own private tents, safely set up on state land, with food delivery, picnic tables, portable toilets, showers, and security patrolling to prevent violence? Men, women and families could be in separate areas.
The state and taxpayers would be released from liability if, for example, a homeless person sadly but quietly overdosed inside his or her private tent. It would be much cheaper and quicker to set up tents right now, rather than expensive houses that take so long to build. Tents are good enough for our military; why not our homeless?
Deborah C. Love
Makiki
