DEADLY VIRUSES

IT'S AWFULLY SCARY AT THE LAB THESE DAYS

Holy Moly! Importing a deadly virus into our state for training purposes?

I guess it's fitting that this training and research is going to be conducted at the medical school's Nui Lolo lab, located across the hall from the rabies research lab, located directly below the Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fevers wing and three floors below the soon-to-be-constructed 'Iole Nui ("big mouse") annex for the study of CDC-stored viruses.

IRAQ WAR

U.S. LEADERS SHOULD LET THE UN DO ITS JOB

With President George Bush increasing the number of our military force in Iraq, there will be unnecessary deaths and injuries to our servicemen and women, and an unnecessary financial burden on the American people.

The Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds have been at odds through generations, and the Shiites and Sunnis are engaged in a civil war. The only solution to settle their deadly conflicts is for the United Nations to divide Iraq into three separate countries.

Our country should stop being the world's policeman. The U.N. was created for this responsibility.

LIMIT CITY SERVICES

SOLUTION TO PROPERTY TAX MESS? IT'S SIMPLE

I've read the various news reports regarding proposals to soften the blow of increasing property taxes to homeowners who live on their properties.

I've also read with interest the various letters from other readers commenting one way or another about the proposal, especially those pointing out that renters who tend to occupy the lower steps of the economic ladder might not enjoy a reduced tax take without some complex program to help them.

I agree with many of them that the system being considered would be cumbersome and costly to administer, undoubtedly leading to errors and omissions. That produces inappropriate and unfair results.

Why doesn't the City Council simply follow the KISS system? You know: "Keep It Simple, Stupid."

All they really need to do is adopt a rate that provides for a constant level of city services. Set a rate that will raise the same amount of tax in dollars as the previous year, maybe with some recognition for inflation.

Last year's rate already contained a large increase in tax dollars collected due to rapidly rising values. Enough is enough.

It would take only a couple of minutes to adopt a resolution with the appropriate rate, and they could avoid having to hire more public employees to administer a complex program leading to inevitable inequities.

ENFORCEMENT

WHAT ABOUT PENALTIES FOR PEDESTRIANS?

Wednesday around 9 a.m., I observed a woman running across Kapi'olani Boulevard, against my left-turn light and in front of a marked police car.

I am supportive of increased vigilance for bad driving but have yet to see or hear of any repercussions against the pedestrians who break the law. When will laws be enforced for pedestrians as well?

KUKUI GARDENS

CHURCH, DEVELOPER BIG WINNERS IN SALE

Kukui Gardens smells bad.

To recap: Charities entrusted to oversee Kukui Gardens, including the Catholic Church, sell out the poor to enrich themselves. After downplaying redevelopment concerns, Carmel moves to immediately remove HUD protection. State passes legislation to save the whole of Kukui Gardens but wimps out. Carmel sells half to the state for $55 million and now hopes to buy a public park to make up their losses.

Outcome: Kukui Gardens residents will now live in a half the space they had before. That space will be double-density once the proposed additions are made. Residents will undoubtedly lose their community park and be neighbors to a gigantic development built atop their old homes. (Some would say, "They're poor, so of course they shouldn't expect to live anywhere nice.")

The "stewards" of Kukui Gardens pocket $137 million. The state uses $55 million in taxpayer money to save just half. They should have bought the whole thing, doubled its size, kept the land and leased out the management. Carmel ultimately pays $76 million for 11 acres of prime downtown property — plus whatever pennies it pays for the doomed public park.

Remember this lesson in how charities and churches work next Sunday when the plate is passed to help the poor. Because the $137 million isn't going to help the poor of Hawai'i, it's going to endow three private Catholic schools.

BUSH

THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE POSITIVE THINGS

I just read a letter by a Barbara Mullen from Waimanalo. After reading her rant that President Bush should be begging for forgiveness from the Iraqi people, I couldn't help but wonder how many Americans are naive to the situation our country is in.

We had legitimate cause to go after Saddam, and Congress agreed that we needed to remove him from power.

Why don't you try looking at the positive things President Bush has done? The economy is great, Hawai'i's economy is at an all-time high since they've kept records, we are getting results from talks with North Korea, oil is at $50 a barrel, and you still have the freedom to hug a tree, burn a flag and bash the commander in chief when you really don't have a clue.

'MAUI FEVER' CRITICS

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, VOTE WITH YOUR REMOTE

Re: Kaniala Farias' letter (Jan. 24) about the new show, "Maui Fever": If you don't like what you're watching, then change the channel.

There are plenty of shows that don't interest me. I choose not to complain but to watch something else.