RECYCLING

SIERRA CLUB OMITTED FROM ADVISORY PANEL

The mayor announced the members of his newly created Solid Waste Advisory Committee. It is a representative group with excellent people, but there is an obvious omission.

There is no one from the Sierra Club, the organization that has done more than anyone in promoting solid-waste solutions at the state and county level (e.g., the bottle law and passing the comprehensive curbside charter amendment).

The Sierra Club hopes that the advisory committee comes up with workable solutions for the city.

We will be available as a resource and will monitor the administration's efforts to implement a comprehensive curbside recycling program.

FELONY OFFENSE

PUBLIC SHOULD SUPPORT ANIMAL CRUELTY BILL

On behalf of all the humane societies in Hawai'i and their supporters, our thanks to Sen. Clayton Hee, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, for his commitment to passing legislation that creates a felony-level offense for aggravated cruelty to pet animals.

Hawai'i is one of only eight states that do not provide felony-level protection for animal cruelty cases. Since the 1970s, the FBI and other experts have recognized the link between animal cruelty and human violence. People who intentionally hurt animals are likely to hurt people, too.

Hawai'i's people treasure their pets, and those who knowingly hurt, starve and kill animals deserve the toughest penalty the law will allow. The animal cruelty bill is crucial toward ensuring that the punishment fits the crime.

On behalf of the humane societies of Hawai'i and their supporters, we thank Senator Hee for his leadership and we urge the public to support the bill's passage.

WAIMANALO

FARMERS HAD WANTED LAND SLATED FOR HOUSING

In describing their plans for the five acres of agriculture-zoned land on lower Kaka'ina Street in Waimanalo conveyed to them by the Department of Land and Natural Resouces, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands says the land "was not being farmed when the agency acquired it."

In fact, I and other farmers in Waimanalo had made multiple requests to DLNR to use this land for agriculture over the past several years. I have a farm directly across the street, where I have had the soil tested and found it very high in plant nutrients. It is well-drained, and perfect for agriculture.

At the DLNR board meeting of July 28, 2006, after I testified that the land would be lost forever to agriculture, the board voted unanimously to transfer the land to DHHL.

Although the state Constitution says agriculture is a priority, DLNR, which controls hundreds of acres in Waimanalo, sees no problem in turning the land over for housing.

We've got the fox guarding the ag land henhouse here. Fifty-two acres on the Makapu'u side of the valley is next in line for takeover. If you think agriculture is important, better come see our farms before they're gone.

ADVISORY COUNCIL

SB 14 WILL POLITICIZE UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE

In reference to Garrett Toguchi's letter of April 4, it's Mr. Toguchi, not Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona, who has things all wrong on Senate Bill 14.

Mr. Toguchi alleges that those who have testified against this bill have never shown any evidence that a constituency-based, Noah's Ark-style candidate advisory council politicizes the selection process.

Clearly, he's never attended any of the legislative hearings on the matter at which my testimony was presented, documenting the serious reservations of the Association of Governing Boards on SB 14.

These reservations stem from AGB's experience with practices in the half-dozen or so states that use candidate advisory councils. When such councils are appointed by the governor, they work reasonably well; where they are constituency-based (as, for example, in Minnesota), they politicize the selection process.

Calling a black cat white doesn't change its color. SB 14 is a recipe for more politicized governance of our university; the governor should veto it, and the Legislature should let her veto stand.

FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

UH ATHLETIC DIRECTOR'S INACTION UNACCEPTABLE

University of Hawai'i athletic director Herman Frazier's inaction and failure to take responsibility on football scheduling is unacceptable.

He needs to be relieved of his duties before he leaves a further legacy in choosing a basketball coach.

Other Division 1 basketball teams have already replaced their coaches within a week of the Final Four.

Based on the football scheduling progress, Herman might have a basketball coach by November 2007 at the earliest.

BEACH PARK

MAKAHA ASKING FOR SHOWER TO BE RESTORED

The lack of proper comfort facilities at Makaha Beach Park is greatly inconveniencing our area residents. I would like to make two comments in response to the article published in The Advertiser on April 4.

First, I do not understand why the city would gripe about spending $100,000 on repairing the facility they eventually tore down, when it would have cost nothing to simply leave the former shower, which was structurally sound, as is.

And the proposed solution to install a stoplight and crosswalk that could cost upward of half a million dollars cannot realistically service a broad swath of beach like Makaha. All the community is asking for now is to at least restore the old shower, or install a spigot and hose to the old water meter.

Second, the next Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting of the Wai'anae Neighborhood Board at the Wai'anae Neighborhood Community Center is on Thursday, April 12, at 7 p.m. rather than April 15.

TRAFFIC SAFETY

ALL BICYCLES SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE BELLS

I agree with Kevin Gleed (Letters, April 3) that bicyclists should be able to warn pedestrians when they are passing on the sidewalk.

It is encouraging that we have more people using alternative means — other than automobiles — to get from place to place.

I know we don't want additional laws, but I believe that all bikes should be required to include bells, as most used to.

ROUTE

AIRPORT STOP CRITICAL FOR ANY TRANSIT SYSTEM

I was returning from a first-time trip to Atlanta, staying with friends and attending the Final Four.

As we drove home from the airport, I described to my wife how impressed I was with Atlanta's MARTA user-friendly rail system with its very convenient airport connection. She reminded me that it was looking as though our long-awaited rail system was not going to be routed through the airport.

I just shook my head in disbelief. An airport connection is a virtual no-brainer. Atlanta's trains benefit visitors and residents alike, and are clean, frequent and inexpensive ($1.75 for a basic one-way fare). A number of stations have free and long-term parking. There are also helpful attendants to assist visitors, which is especially nice for airport arrivals.

On O'ahu, ridership through the airport clearly would be higher and more useful for both visitors and residents than a Salt Lake route.

We badly need common sense and not petty politics to prevail in this important decision.

LEGISLATURE

MEANINGFUL TAX RELIEF MUST PASS THIS YEAR

Lawmakers have an opportunity this session to pass meaningful tax relief for Hawai'i's residents, but rather than supporting broad-based tax reduction measures, proponents of the earned income tax credit (EITC) have pitted this narrow form of relief against the standard deduction.

The choice does not have to be "one or the other."

With a budget surplus of nearly $700 million, certainly the Legislature can consider adopting both forms of tax relief.

Increasing the standard deduction would reduce the taxes paid by the majority of Hawai'i's families. Only about 72,000 taxpayers, or approximately 14 percent of Hawai'i's population, would benefit from the EITC. Many young families and retired couples over age 65 would not qualify. Even the disabled are generally ineligible.

Increasing Hawai'i's standard deduction to a reasonable amount, such as $7,500, would help about five times as many taxpayers as the EITC. Roughly 375,000 Hawai'i taxpayers stand to benefit. As for the typical working family earning $40,000, the standard deduction would provide over $200 in tax relief versus $0 for a Hawai'i EITC.

The standard deduction is also much simpler and easier to understand than the EITC. Even tax professionals find the EITC to be complex and confusing. In contrast, the standard deduction requires no extra forms or complicated tests.

Because of the budget surplus this legislative session, lawmakers could pass both the EITC and an increased standard deduction.

If they must choose one or the other, the standard deduction will help more people and is much easier to implement.