Someone get Mayor Kirk Caldwell a hearing aid. He somehow doesn’t hear what the public wants or he just isn’t listening to what the people are saying.

Bill 35 was created because the public complained about surge pricing created by Lyft and Uber and wanted to see caps on surge pricing.

Instead, Caldwell vetoed the bill and then proposed that cabs also participate in surge pricing. Was Caldwell even listening to what the public is saying?

But we shouldn’t be surprised; Caldwell hasn’t listened to the public on the Ala Moana Park upgrades and the Pensacola Street bike lane. Why should he listen now?

Either Caldwell has a hearing problem or he has a listening problem.

Stan Sano

Makiki

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Legislators must be held accountable

As we approach election season, the knock that it’s all a popularity contest, and that voters need to understand candidates’ stand on issues, again begins to bubble up.

Many of us know who our own legislators are, but other than a biased glossy mailout from them, do we really know what they have accomplished in the Legislature this year?

The Star-Advertiser needs to do a more in-depth analysis than just listing what the candidates’ views are.

We already know the pat answers to that — help solve the homeless situation, support local businesses, work to ensure our kupuna are cared for, etc.

Anyone can talk the talk (especially politicians), but the question is who walked the walk.

Print what bills each legislator introduced this last session and how many of those were passed. Then we can truly judge who’s actually working and making a difference.

Steve Dang

Kaimuki

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Sorry for mistakes with campaign funds

I’m sorry.

As I maintained throughout the entire inquiry made by the state Campaign Spending Commission (CSC) into my state House races, I take full responsibility for my mistakes. I apologize to everyone I let down.

I was first made aware of many of my mistakes when the complaint was filed. I promptly worked to correct them and have built a team to make sure they never happen again.

As I presented at the CSC, I immediately reimbursed my campaign account after I saw campaign funds mistakenly used for personal bills. This was long before the CSC inquiry. Unfortunately, this went unreported by most media outlets.

Bank records reflect that I did not benefit financially or politically from my mistakes. As a young father with student loans and no assets, the $15,000 fine only hurts me. I have learned valuable lessons. I remain deeply honored to be a public servant.

Kaniela Ing

State representative

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High office risky in Philippines

Holding high office — president, chief justice of the Supreme Court — has become risky business in the Philippines.

Two recent presidents, Joseph Estrada and Gloria Arroyo, were accused of corrupt practices. Estrada was convicted but pardoned by Arroyo. He is now mayor of Manila. The charges against Arroyo were dismissed but not before she spent four years in confinement because she was not permitted to post bail. She is now a member of Congress.

Now Arroyo’s successor, Benigno Aquino III, has in turn been charged with illegally funneling funds to his congressional supporters.

The current president, Rodrigo Duterte, has a host of critics and might face charges himself.

On the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Renato Corona was ousted by impeachment and his successor, Maria Lourdes Sereno, by vote of her colleagues.

All these charges raise suspicion that the judicial system is being perverted for political ends. This is not good for democracy.

Carl H. Zimmerman

Salt Lake

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Zero tolerance for the powerful only

Some people question the effectiveness of zero-tolerance policies, and well they should.

Zero tolerance denotes a hard, clear line drawn in the sand, allowing for no deviation. However, it is a naïve, inappropriate, and simplistic response when applied where gray areas abound and where the emphasis is on controlling the powerless, such as the situation of immigrants crossing a border.

Zero-tolerance policies work best when applied to the powerful. For example, it would be a different story if there was a zero-tolerance policy regarding any form of abuse directed toward immigrants by the government.

Personally, I believe that every organization should have a zero- tolerance policy against abuse of any sort — starting with government, churches, corporations and police forces, and aimed at the clear power holders, not the weak. The weak must be protected.

Fran Kramer

Ewa Beach

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Businesses should not discriminate

I find it interesting that many people support a Virginia restaurant that asked Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave just because she works for the president.

There was such an outcry about the baker who refused to bake a wedding cake for two men who were getting married. I guess it’s OK not to serve someone in a business if that business is a liberal one, but not OK if the business is a conservative one.

I feel that if a business is open to the public, it should serve all who enter without prejudice, or close down.

Alan Takumi

Mililani