EV owners don’t need special perks

Why give owners of electric vehicles any freebies? Case in point: free parking at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport for 30 days and free parking in municipal lots (“Airport parking perk well used,” Star-Advertiser, July 22).

Electric vehicles are on the road in Hawaii because of the perception of “saving the planet.” Hawaii’s electricity is generated by 15 percent coal and 71 percent oil. Nationally, it is much different — oil generates just 1 percent of electricity.

So, please clarify why these darling little cars should get all of these free rides? I’m paying for electricity and I pay for oil in my gasoline-powered cars. Electric vehicles contribute to road wear just as a gas-powered car does.

Again, it’s stupidity on the part of our local government and the “save the planet” crew that is as misled as our government. It’s the crowd mentality.

Kathryn Kane

Waikiki

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Cutting free parking won’t benefit state

Don’t infer that the state is losing revenue of $2.6 million in avoided airport parking fees, because it isn’t (“Airport parking perk well used,” Star-Advertiser, July 22).

We have an electric car and frequently take advantage of the airport benefit. However, we would immediately return to being dropped off at the airport if the perk was eliminated. I suspect every EV owner would do exactly the same.

James Crittendon

Waialua

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Owners should pay for fire sprinklers

The Marco Polo fire incident was preventable and tragic and my heart goes out to all who were affected.

Whether you live at ground level in a single-family house or 26 stories up in a high-rise condo, a sprinkler system for fire prevention or containment is a good idea.

The Legislature will inevitably create legislation mandating the installation of sprinkler systems for high-rise condos. There will not be an executable plan for this legislation but there will be legislation done nonetheless.

At issue is the funding of the sprinkler system installation. This is an issue for building owners and the occupants to work out, not state taxpayers. I do not want my taxpayer dollars funding a sprinkler system for a privately owned building.

Take care and protect where you live, high or low.

Mike Godfrey

Kailua

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Many ways to put in sprinkler systems

Condominium associations that refuse to install sprinkler systems in their buildings ignore the fact that many of their owners actually do want to install sprinklers.

These associations, either voluntarily or by government mandate, should install a core sprinkler system for their common areas and corridors, allowing individual condo owners the opportunity to tap into the line to install sprinklers at their own expense. This would allow for the freedom of choice while elevating the general safety level for all residents of the building.

Lenders can get on board with low-interest home equity loans.

Insurance companies can offer discounts for condos with sprinklers, while charging a surcharge for those that don’t.

Mortgage companies can require that all new home loans apply to homes with sprinklers installed, with the cost added to the loan amount, thereby protecting their collateral.

This would be a work in progress, but it would spread eventually. It begins with the core system.

John Tokunaga

Kapahulu

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Support alternatives to pain-killing drugs

Dr. Virginia Pressler, director of the state Department of Health, mentioned four cornerstones for dealing with the current opiate addiction problem (“Epidemic of opioids, Star-Advertiser, Insight, July 23). There was no mention of why we got into this mess; doctors over-prescribing painkillers.

Doctors should be allowed to look at alternative forms of treatment in dealing with acute pain. I was having back problems. After X-rays were done, my doctor wanted to prescribe pain killers.

I said, “Doc, that takes care of the symptom, but not the problem.”

I went to a chiropractor. After an adjustment, I was given a pamphlet of back stretching and strengthening exercises. I have done these religiously and have had no back problems.

What works for one might not work for another. However, doctors should not be quick to prescribe pain killers.

Robert K. Soberano

Moiliili

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White House poses existential threat

Arguably we live in the greatest republic since ancient Greece.

How tragic then, that only six months into a new presidential administration, investigations abound. Talk is of pardons, and President Donald Trump and his backers appear to be laying the groundwork to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller, a fear-induced attack that will provoke an unnecessary constitutional crisis.

This White House is staffed with a collection of incompetents, family members and others simply divorced from reality. Even the role of the president’s personal attorney is reduced, reportedly because he is not eligible for a security clearance.

In my 70 years, I’ve only feared for my country twice: once during the Cuban missile crisis when we faced destruction from a foreign adversary; and again now when we face an existential threat to our democracy from within — intolerance, nepotism, incompetence and (as yet unproven) criminality.

How odd that these are the same failings that mark the kleptocracy that is Russia. Pity the poor Russian people.

Pity us.

Craig Stevaux

Kaneohe