With Hawaii’s recidivism rate at 50 percent, it will be prudent to produce a minimum 2,600-inmate facility. Hopefully we won’t reach that capacity, but better more than less to keep the ACLU at bay (“Animal Quarantine Station site marked for new Oahu jail,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 9).

Let’s hope the Oahu Community Correctional Center authorities learn from the errors of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation so as not to double its half-billion cost estimate.

Rick Ornellas

Liliha

—

Yajima and center assets to community

Loretta Yajima, the president of the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center, is a striking example to us all of what it means to be dedicated to making our community a better place for children and families (“Struggling Children’s Discovery Center grateful for support,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 9).

She has worked tirelessly for 20 years to provide a phenomenal place for children and their families to play together in a culturally rich indoor play space.

In recent years, the blight of the homeless at the doorstep of the Discovery Center has threatened the survival of this early education jewel. In an era when people of all ages are routinely glued to their smartphones and tablets, sometimes oblivious to those around them, the Discovery Center reminds us all that the most important person in the world is the one you are with.

Thank you, Loretta.

Dawn Garbeil

Kailua

—

Taxpayers give enough to homeless

There’s no way I’m interested in viewing or buying “artistic” shopping carts with proceeds going to help the homeless (“Homeless benefit adopts shopping cart motif,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 11).

My “proceeds” come in the form of hard-earned tax dollars, tens of millions of them used every year to address the homeless issue. Sweeps, trash pickups, belongings categorized and retained, misuse of the Honolulu Police Department, Honolulu Fire Department and emergency medical services on an almost hourly basis. Park closures, park repairs, bathroom closures, emergency rooms overburdened, crime, public safety issues — I could go on. No thanks. Taxpayers give more than enough.

I can only hope the artistic carts weren’t stolen, yet another way in which the homeless increase the cost of living on Oahu.

Leave those carts on the lawn of the Hawaii State Art Museum overnight and see how many of them have been “appreciated” the next morning.

Pat Kelly

Kaimuki

—

State failed public by letting Saito escape

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of public safety and how it should always be a priority.

It is a shame as well as frustrating that we were not immediately notified about Randall Saito’s escape (“State Hospital escapee has violent history,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 14). The public has every right to know within a reasonable time frame when a violent escapee is on the run.

The Hawaii State Hospital failed the public by not monitoring Saito at all times. The state Health Department failed the public by not informing law enforcement officials immediately once Saito was reported missing.

They both failed the public by not ensuring the safeguards were properly enforced because if they were, Saito would not have escaped.

Alexis M. Liftee

Nuuanu

—

Bushes can’t match President Trump

I have a blue T-shirt I am about to burn, with the inscription of “I MISS W.” and a picture of former President George W. Bush.

This T-shirt was distributed during the President Barack Obama’s tenure, with his horrible agenda against Christians and conservatives. But now we have a president, Donald Trump, who has done more for Godly family Christian conservative families than did George W. Bush.

In the new book, “The Last Republicans,” George H.W. Bush calls Trump a “blowhard.” George W. Bush said Trump “doesn’t know what it means to be president.”

George H.W. Bush is not only pro-abortion, but voted for Hillary Clinton instead of Trump in the 2016 presidential election.

If you look at the Bush family, it makes perfect sense. Trump is everything the Bush family is not.

I am proud to have Donald Trump as our president of the United States. God bless our president.

Melvin Partido Sr.

Pearl City

—

America can repair what’s wrong with it

For those who are disillusioned, disappointed, dissatisfied and/or dismayed with Donald Trump’s presidency and what his words and actions have cost us in self-respect and global esteem, I would remind us of Bill Clinton’s words: “There is nothing wrong with America that what is right with America cannot fix.”

Wendy Pollitt

Kaneohe

—

Name-calling doesn’t fit in global arena

Presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway defended President Donald Trump for calling the leader of North Korea “short and fat” because Kim Jong Un started it by calling Trump “old.”

The global arena is not an elementary-school playground where this kind of behavior might be found, and which can escalate to even worse behavior.

Perhaps it’s time to send someone to his room for a “time-out” and take away his phone privileges.

Carol Schmus

Mililani