Ala Moana isn’t just a free parking lot

For all the talk about Ala Moana Beach Park being the “People’s Park,” it seems that once again drivers just see our wonderful open spaces not as a park but as their free parking lot.

I know of no other city with our density where drivers demand (and get) hundreds of free or subsidized parking spots right on expensive shoreline, whether at the Natatorium, the Ala Wai Boat Harbor or Magic Island.

The new plan for Ala Moana Beach Park results in no decrease in parking but instead enhances the experience for pedestrians and joggers by creating an attractive promenade.

Give me a break, drivers. Walking another eight feet from the mauka side of the street is a small price to pay for creating a wonderful visual and natural experience for all at the beach, not just you and your car.

Jeff Merz

Waikiki

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Pesticides correctly used aren’t deadly

How is it that Zahava Zaidoff, a behavioral health specialist, gets a large editorial piece about pesticide use (“Regulating pesticide use a life-or-death matter for our keiki,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, April 5)?

Is she a farmer or a certified pesticide applicator? No. So why give her so much space to tout her opinions, which are not based on facts?

She mentions pesticides causing problems in utero and in keiki. I have personally worked in the seed industry, in the fields daily with three women who became pregnant and continued to work 40 hours per week in these fields where pesticides were correctly and safely applied.

All of these women had babies who went full term, were normal at birth and years later do not suffer from ADHD, asthma and other supposed problems associated with pesticides.

Zaidoff is spreading her opinion that is not supported by real-life experience.

Trust me, I have been there and know what I am talking about.

Dee Brock

Mililani

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Liberals rage against good gun owners

Jared Wickware is totally wrong (“Gun devotion lacks common sense,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 6). It’s the liberals that have the mindless rage.

We Second Amendment people are just responding to the hateful rhetoric that we are murderers because we own guns. Does he realize that more people get killed by drunken drivers?

I have never seen a drunken person handling a gun at the shooting range. Responsible gun owners take safety seriously. There will always be someone who abuses the privilege of owning a gun, a knife, a car or whatever. The only thing that will stop a crazy guy with a gun is a responsible person with a gun.

God bless America. MAGA!

Mike Miura

Ewa Beach

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Politicians need to demand the truth

The lying must stop. it is reaching Orwellian proportions.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, press secretary for President Donald Trump, lied about an article from the Los Angeles Times describing the problems immigrants have in their long trek from Mexico.

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox implored our president to “stop the lying” on national TV.

Last I checked, there were more than 2,000 documented instances of this administration publicly misrepresenting the facts to the public.

Meanwhile the country waits to see if the president will testify to the special counsel. No one has stated that they think the president can be truthful in such an interview.

Republicans have allowed this to happen and they must demand that the truth be told consistently. Democracy is screaming for the truth.

David Campbell

Kailua

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Young people can make a difference

After reading the letter, “Young voters can drive out bigwigs” (Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 31), I am confident that we, as young adults, have the ability to bring about an actual change through our voices and our actions.

We have already begun to come together in rallies and protests, showing great compassion and drive. Many people believe that children are too young to know what’s going on or how to fix it. However, children are setting the path by unifying and forcing their voices to be heard.

This now opens up a great chance for Congress and possibly the National Rifle Association to finally see, hear and understand what’s going on and their failures in keeping our children safe.

Holding the recent march in Washington, D.C., was the first big step in the attempt to reach out to politicians and the citizens of the United States.

Aniston Cabael

Kaneohe