Kristen Consillio’s front-page article must have scared the dickens out of 250,000 people in Hawaii (“Kaiser president bemoans insolvency in memo,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 1). It almost did me. Kaiser President Ron Vance was quoted as saying, “We have no clear path to a positive balance sheet.”
But after reading to the very end, I realized the bad news was emphasized more than need be, and the better news was left to the end.
As a 50-year member of Kaiser, this is the first time I have read such depressing comments from the president. All these years with Kaiser have given me excellent care and service, and I think my age (92) can attest to that.
Betty “B.J.” Dyhr
Waikiki
Rezoning of Kaneohe land should be opposed
City Council Bill 27 (to rezone land in Kaneohe) is a gateway to the urbanization of preservation lands for the sole purpose of putting money into the pockets of developers. Rather than build on existing residential land, developers are after the development of preservation lands.
Will the City Council allow this dangerous precedent for the sake of four houses?
The current preservation zone status is appropriate. The Department of Planning and Permitting director’s report said that this is “an environmentally sensitive area” and that this zone change presents “potential hazards due to flooding, erosion and soil instability.”
The passing of Bill 27 threatens the sustainability of our future generations. As an island state, it behooves us to fight global warming to the best of our ability and to sacrifice preservation areas only to mitigate a truly urgent situation.
The City Council needs to oppose this rezone request because it is destructive, unnecessary and contrary to the Koolau Poko Sustainable Communities Plan.
Deborah Collins
Puohala Village representative, Neighborhood Board
Kaneohe
Cataluna, not front page, has pulse on real news
Your Black Friday front-page article, “On your mark, get set … shop!” (Star-Advertiser, Nov. 29), does not in any way suggest an effort at serious journalism. Rather it is in keeping with many of your lead-off stories — commercial hucksterism with an appeal to readers’ wallets.
Compare this display of your frequent shallow non-news with the thoughtful and urgent article by your superb writer Lee Cataluna about criminal activity on Oahu (“Who is going to clean up criminal activity on Oahu?,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 29). Cataluna, as always, is much more deeply concerned with serious issues in our island paradise and what must be done by our mostly lackluster leaders and politicians. Brava, Lee!
Jim Hayes
Kailua
Allow folks to stay with preferred health system
Some candidates for the Democratic nomination for president propose a universal medical care system.
One candidate said it should be optimal for those who are happy with the system they have and would like to keep it. I am one of them and would like to stay a member of the Kaiser health plan.
One reason: Kaiser has a multispeciality medical staff that includes doctors of many specialties who work well to care for the patient. No competition among solo doctors for patients.
Doctors refer patients to other specialists when it is in the best interests of the patient. They are not losing doctors to another doctor; they are in the same organization. Medicine has become too complex for one solo practitioner to know it all.
I know of no proposal that includes a multispecialty system. People should be free to stay in the system they are in.
Ralph Conway
Kailua
Political column mars ‘Being Thankful’ spread
The “Being Thankful” section (Star-Advertiser, Insight, Dec. 1), launched the holiday season, and you asked your readers to share what they’re thankful for. The letters you shared were from various people from different communities of our state, which I think was your intention. There were inspiring and heartfelt stories depicting normal and everyday people in Hawaii and the lives they lead.
Then you inserted a politically biased article by Dahleen Glanton from the Chicago Tribune. Is she a loyal Star-Advertiser reader?
Ginger Sanderson
Hawaii Kai
Impeachment inquiry spotlights loyal officials
After watching most of the House impeachment inquiry hearings into President Donald Trump, I was strongly impacted by the dedication, loyalty and courage displayed by Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, and top Russia expert Fiona Hill.
In contrast, it was very upsetting and frustrating to watch the partisan tactics of the Republicans such as Reps. Jim Jordan and Devin Nunes.
My fervent hope is that in 2020 we will rid ourselves of this dishonest, self-serving and shameless Trump administration.
Diane Murata
Aiea
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