Bill Leary’s objection to the release of criminals with multiple prior convictions fails to consider what those prior convictions were for (“Dangerous criminals shouldn’t walk streets,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 2).

Not every multiple offender belongs in prison for a long term. We cannot lock up every multiple offender for life because most of the state budget would go for prisons, meaning a lot less money for education and public health.

Our judges, corrections officers and parole officers have a difficult job as it is because of limited resources. The Legislature never appropriates enough money for the criminal justice system because reform and rehabilitation have no constituency.

The public just wants to lock everybody up without consideration of cost. Until we demand sufficient funds for rehabilitation programs, the problem Leary complains about will remain.

Earle A. Partington

Punchbowl

Elected officials allow unbridled development

If you like the plans for huge development all over Oahu, then continue to support the majority of our elected officials.

Support more development of expensive or affordable housing, with more outside money to “speed up” population and visitor growth, which we don’t need.

Support more tourist stops and recreational sites for more visitors, which we can’t handle, causing hardships for the majority of us.

Jobs created from development won’t match our cost of living and housing, yet our political leadership continues down this path. Some elected officials had an opportunity to do something right in the past, but they didn’t. Wind farms address electrical needs for fast and furious future projects, with no concern for others. This is a part of the termite culture expanding.

Can you hear the call to vote?

Robert Robinson

Waialua

Adopting a pet should be easier, less expensive

I was shocked to read that our Hawaiian Humane Society is proposing shortening the holding period for stray pets, and increasing fees and fines (“Honolulu City Council considers shortening time Hawaiian Humane Society must keep stray dogs, cats,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 13).

I believe it should be doing the exact opposite, so as to enable more people to own pets in our islands. Many mainland shelters are no-kill facilities. But ours wants to euthanize more animals, and sooner. Absolutely outrageous and unconscionable.

The Humane Society should make it less expensive to adopt a pet and encourage more adoptions. There must be a better solution.

Maybe the group should be re-named as the Hawaiian Inhumane Society. Shame.

Deborah Peck

Waikiki

Sleeping on streets should be illegal

Led by Mayor Carolyn Goodman, Las Vegas passed a law making it illegal for the homeless to sleep on streets when beds are available at established shelters. I just returned from Las Vegas and did not see a single person sleeping on the streets downtown.

We here in Hawaii need to protect our visitors and our local residents from any potential negative confrontations with the homeless and their animals. Use Goodman’s legislation dealing with the homeless problem.

Patrick N. Custino

Kaneohe

Clean community more important than profits

I am in support of City Council Bill 40. As a longtime community volunteer, I can attest to the severity of the discarded plastic trash in our environment. I, with many friends, walk the streets cleaning up the immense amount of plastics littering our beautiful community.

Many exemptions in Bill 40 are available to businesses who do not have options to use a compostable container. Entities who oppose Bill 40 are putting minor conversion costs ahead of the health and beauty of our paradise.

Similar laws already are in action on Maui and other islands. I challenge anyone who says the dollar is more important than littering our landscape with multitudes of Styrofoam clamshell to-go containers to join a beach clean-up operation. See for yourself that these plastics are not biodegradable. It takes 50 years for Styrofoam to break down small enough to be labeled “microplastic,” and then the microplastics enter our food sources, and right back to the human.

I think we can be much smarter than this. Aloha o ka aina.

Robert Binnie

McCully-Moiliili

Let kids into stadium for free to watch football

Why won’t the Aloha Stadium let kids 12 and under into the stadium for free on football days? The kids would have their parents with them. Parents also will buy food and drinks. Maybe then your seats will be filled.

Patrick Carvalho

McCully

EXPRESS YOURSELF

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