Amendment won’t lock in school funds

A recent editorial addressed the proposed constitutional amendment to allow the Legislature to tax real property, a right currently unique to the counties (“Let public decide on tax for schools,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, April 6). It’s being sold as a source of funding for the state Department of Education.

That’s a nice sales pitch, truly deceitful. That tactic is known as the “bait and switch.”

You see, nothing in this proposed amendment you’ll be asked to vote on in the November election guarantees one additional dollar to the education of our keiki. The power of the purse will not be given up by the Legislature.

The same tactic was used in selling the transient accommodations tax, now over 10 percent of the revenue of our core industry.

Much of the revenue from the TAT, sold as increased income to the counties, was eventually diverted to the state’s general fund.

Additional taxation on “investment” properties means higher rents on rental properties.

Everyone can agree that our schools and teachers need more funding. This proposed amendment does not put any more money into our schools. It will make housing less affordable.

Mike Curtis

Koloa, Kauai

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Modern schools can help students

If we follow Robert Short’s logic that new facilities are not necessary for better learning, then we need to regress to really old schools in which one teacher taught many grade levels in a single room and get rid of disk brakes and air-bag technology in cars (“New buildings won’t fix schools,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 23).

Propeller planes to Las Vegas, anyone?

New buildings do not guarantee anything; they only improve the chances that a student will succeed in an environment with fewer distractions and that is designed for learning.

Whatever the reason for Short’s faulting teachers, we all need to support our public schools. The world is different, the students are different, the parents are different, teachers are different (they’re better trained), and the roles of schools are complex and demanding.

A hostile, simplistic attitude helps no one.

Les Inouye

Manoa

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Shuffling homeless hasn’t been effective

Our condo on North King Street, right outside of Chinatown and across Aala Park, suffers from an identical “shuffle” that almost parallels the one described on the front page of the Star-Advertiser (“The Kakaako homeless shuffle,” May 23). But I’m sure it costs us, the city and the taxpayers far, far more than what’s going on at Mother Waldron Park.

That’s because city or state crews are the ones who come by three days a week to clean and clear the mess left behind on the makai sidewalk of our building facing the harbor.

Three days a week, caravans of shopping carts, pallets, tents, bicycle parts, scooters, tarps and bickering, stressed-out individuals head in two directions — some to Aala Park and others to River Street beside the canal between Nimitz and King.

Then after a couple of hours, it’s back home to the sidewalk outside our building.

Whether it’s private business or the government performing this maid service, it doesn’t work. Everybody loses, especially the homeless.

Chip Davey

Downtown Honolulu

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Hawaii island still a great place to visit

My family and I spent a recent weekend up at Volcano, in a beautiful lodge named Hale Ohia. We were roughly a mile and a half from the entrance of the national park. Our stay was safe, tranquil and relaxing. No smell of sulfur and no ash to be found.

We spent time on Mauna Kea, in Hilo and Naalehu with no ill effects from the volcano. Unfortunately, the mainland and even local media exaggerate the volcano coverage, scaring visitors to Hawaii island. Aside from the lava flow contained in a relatively small part of the island, there is much to see and experience on the Big Island.

This weekend we return for a golf trip to Waikoloa. Local people should consider vacationing on Hawaii island and supporting the community during these trying times.

John Taira

Mililani

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Taxis, hotels are the ones that overcharge

Let’s see: A taxi charges $60 from the airport to Waikiki, and Lyft charges $30. Who’s overcharging?

The hotels charge hundreds of dollars a night, whereas I can get a nice vacation rental for $100. Who’s way overcharging?

John Day

Kaneohe