It was with great sadness that I read of the high-rise fire at the Marco Polo tower (“Inferno,” Star-Advertiser, July 15).

My father, a retired New York Fire Department lieutenant, was a tireless advocate of fire sprinklers in Hawaii high rises for more than 40 years.

While the hotels were mandated by law in the early 70s to retro-fit for fire sprinklers, there were many residential real estate property owners who opposed the adoption of those laws that protect so many who come to vacation in Hawaii.

Why are the lives of Hawaii residents any less valuable?

Hank McMonigle

Plano, Texas

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Use rail money to retrofit buildings

I predict, in light of the Marco Polo tragedy, that some City Council member will propose a new law mandating sprinklers in all condominium buildings (“Lack of law has condos left with no sprinklers,” Star-Advertiser, July 17).

As a condo owner (in a non-equipped building) I would agree to such a law — if and only if the city will divert the money being wasted on the incredibly ineptly-managed rail project toward paying to equip all condos with sprinklers. It would benefit a lot more people than this rail fiasco.

James Ko

Downtown Honolulu

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Chin courageously fights travel ban

State Attorney General Douglas Chin is a breath of fresh air.

He has the guts to stand up for the Constitution and against the unwarranted travel ban preventing families from reuniting (“Hawaii attorney general claims guidelines violate travel ban order,” Star-Advertiser, June 30).

What is it about the criticism of his actions? So we spend a couple hundred thousand dollars — I am willing to contribute. We are spending billions on the rail transit system, where the benefits are not as clear.

To date there is no clear evidence or history connecting the people included in the ban to homeland terrorism. So what is the ban attempting to prevent? The only result appears to be to make people suffer unnecessarily without really preventing anything. Let’s not be so afraid that we have to become “Fortress America.”

Paul Tyksinski

Kailua

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Public employees helpful, friendly

Everyone has read or seen on TV comedic representations of county, state or federal employees, in which they are portrayed as uncaring and stupid buffoons.

Recently I applied for the first time for Medicare, and coincidentally went to renew my driver’s license.

In both instances every single person with whom I came in contact, over the phone or in person, was uncommonly pleasant and helpful.

From the guards at the Federal Building when I was entering, to the police officer at the Division of Motor Vehicles, who was helping people find where they needed to be.

From the telephone call I had with a local Medicare representative — who basically took all of the responsibility of doing the work out of my hands and did it for me — to the wonderful people at the Kapalama DMV who were so nice and so helpful (and this was a few days after the system had been down, and they were still trying to get back up to speed).

Mahalo to everyone for two extremely pleasant experiences.

Barbara Jurkens

Ala Moana

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Churches shouldn’t fear information

Regarding the article, “Religious group sues over law on pregnancy information” (Star-Advertiser, July 13): Free access to information is available to all citizens, except when power and control are oppressive.

Aren’t churches that don’t want women to have certain information to make a free choice, also using oppressive tactics?

Often churches support their stand with fear of disapproval, shunning, or fear of hellfire. If their “truth” won’t stand up when options are presented, then is it a worthy truth?

Power backed by fear is a tactic used by weak theology and government.

Paul Reeser

Waikiki

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Hawaii needs to pay its teachers enough

Hawaii has a continuous teacher shortage and parents are not doing enough to demand the problem be fixed.

Our children’s education is the most important thing we can invest our money in, and yet our teachers are the lowest-paid teachers in the nation when adjusted for cost of living.

There are approximately 530 vacancies. How does the state address this problem?

It has recruiting drives on the mainland in Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Dallas that have produced only 350 applications, not committed teachers. The state must realize that this is probably not the best use of limited funds. It also started a program at the University of Hawaii to help 50 substitute teachers and educational assistants to become certified teachers, but that program cost $400,000.

Even with both of these expensive efforts, it still will not be able to fill the vacancies.

Bruce Black

Diamond Head

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Test Ala Wai Canal for bacteria levels

The Ala Wai Canal needs to be tested for bacteria levels far more than it is now.

I would estimate that more than 10,000 people live adjacent to the Ala Wai Canal in Waikiki. In addition, there are many boaters who touch the water with their oars and hands.

Also, airborne levels near the canal need to be tested. I think a joint project with the University of Hawaii for comprehensive bacteria testing would be a very positive thing.

Jay Pineda

Waikiki