99-year-lease housing plan is bleak future

Anyone else see state Sen. Stanley Chang’s “public housing for all” plan? A 99-year lease with the fee held by government, purchased by the lessee at an “affordable” $300,000, 75% of any profits going back to government, narrow streets to prevent car traffic and necessitate foot travel. He even mentioned possible digital retinal scans to ensure owner occupancy.

Have we admitted defeat in allowing local families all the great things home ownership brings, like build wealth, ensure security and provide for retirement, in favor of what sounds like a world out of the dystopian novel, “1984”? A permanent underclass with no means to build wealth, jammed into one high-density area, tracked through digital retinal scanners?

Pre-1984, leasehold was the most common form of land ownership in Hawaii. I see no reason to trade Bishop Estate or other large landowner as masters of my parents’ and grandparents’ domain, for state government as the master of mine today.

Michael Ronald

Hawaii Kai

Community needs to invest in UH athletics

Congratulation to Coach Nick Rolovich.

In recruiting his replacement, we should recognize that a major shortcoming during Rolo’s tenure was the continued decline in game attendance and life-support cash contributions from business leaders. This trend has even touched our nationally ranked Wahine and Rainbow Warrior volleyball programs.

Importantly, this translates to declining revenues from the major source of funds for the entire University of Hawaii athletic program and could eventually result in the program’s demise. Imagine not seeing any more UH football games, volleyball matches, basketball games, etc., live or on TV. Our community and business leaders must join with AD Dave Matlin and lead a public campaign aimed at sustaining a competitive UH athletic program.

This starts now in recruiting a new coach and staff for the football team, and offering competitive pay and benefits packages. Football must continue to rise competitively to attract the level of support essential for a viable UH athletic program.

Charles Ota

Aiea

Based on road pace, good luck on stadium

I just read where the new University of Hawaii football coach won’t have a new stadium for two years. Ha, ha.

In Kapolei, the state has been building an off-ramp. It’s been well over two years and it still isn’t open. For those unfamiliar with construction terms, an off-ramp is a short road. Government can’t build a short road in two years, but it says it can build a modern multipurpose stadium in two years? Right.

If you believe that, I have a train to sell you (for only double the price of what you want to pay) — if it’s ever finished.

Mark Middleton

Kapolei

Minimum wage hike has domino effect

I don’t think raising the minimum wages will help solve the problem. This will only cause a domino affect on everything else. Everybody else will expect a raise, prices will increase, which in turn will increase the cost of living. This will also affect the senior citizens who are on fixed income. Our so-called leaders should look for ways to bring down the cost of living that would benefit everybody instead of helping just a few. This is another reason why people are moving out of our state and moving to a place with a lower cost of living.

Kenneth Ikenaga

Pearl City

Trump is threat to national security

Donald Trump’s presidential campaign promised to end “stupid wars.” President Trump carelessly withdrew from the multilateral Iran nuclear deal, although it proved effective and might facilitate further negotiations.

He ordered Qassem Soleimani’s assassination, Iran’s second-highest government official. This was an extrajudicial execution and violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, a fractious and volatile country. This increases Middle East instability, empowers Iran, and could trigger war with Iran, even WWIII.

Mohandas Gandhi said an eye for an eye leads to blindness. Four decades of reciprocal threats and attacks between American and Iranian governments produces blindness on both sides.

President Barack Obama partially escaped this blindness through negotiations with some success, rather than belligerent militarism.

Greatest deal-maker Tweeter Trump, although a pathological liar and flip-flopper, should pursue negotiations to avoid another war. However, that is unlikely because he erratically generates hostilities. The greatest threat to national security is Trump. Impeach ASAP.

Leslie E. Sponsel

Hawaii Kai

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