GOVERNMENT

CONCON SHOULD LOOK AT INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM

I applaud Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona's efforts to educate voters on the need for a Constitutional Convention.

For a young voter like me, this is a first chance to support review of the state Constitution. The last time there was a Constitutional Convention was before I was born.

Our Constitution is a work in progress that should reflect our lasting values yet align with the times, and anyone can see we are overdue for a reassessment.

I would like to see a Constitutional Convention address initiative and referendum. Having this in place would allow Hawai'i residents to vote directly on initiatives the people feel are important rather than relying on the Legislature.

In a small state like ours, these changes could give the people a stronger voice and make us more active in the political process.

WARRANTS BACKLOG

'CLICK IT' CAMPAIGN A WASTE OF RESOURCES

On a recent Sunday morning on my way home from church, I was stopped at a police checkpoint manned by three HPD officers.

Although my children were safely seat-belted, I was cited for having an improper booster seat because my daughter is two months shy of her eighth birthday. At the other end of Waikiki, I saw four other HPD officers manning a similar checkpoint.

On the front page of the June 8 Advertiser ("Arrest warrants backlog cost lives"), I read that two accused killers with violent criminal histories were freely walking the streets because the suspects had not been picked up on their outstanding warrants. We further learn that the state continues to fall behind on unserved warrants — with more than 74,000 remaining because of "lack of police resources."

Shame on HPD for having such backward priorities. Instead of harassing honest citizens on minor technicalities, go out and get the bad guys.

How many more convicted felons will roam the streets on unserved warrants and probation violations while more police resources are wasted on insidious Click It or Ticket checkpoints to nitpick on honest motorists over the size of their booster seats?

ECONOMY

NO SIGN WASHINGTON FOCUSING ON PROBLEMS

Our economy is in dire straits and all we can do is complain about rising gas prices, rising food prices, etc.

We the common citizen can't fix the situation. We elected our representatives to Congress and the president who are capable (I hope) of doing something about our problems. I haven't heard anything from Washington, D.C., to indicate something is being done to remedy our sad economic situation.

EIGHT YEARS OF BUSH HAVE LED US TO DISASTER

A June 11 letter stated that Barack Obama's policies will surely lead this country into economic disaster.

After eight years of the Bush administration, we are fighting an endless, costly war. We are unable to pay our mortgages. We are unable to fill our gas tanks and unable to fly. Companies are being forced to close their doors, downsize and are laying off employees to an alarming degree.

It seems to me we've already been led into an economic disaster.

GRANTS-IN-AID

HAWAI'I NEEDS STRONG AND VIBRANT SAFETY NET

We all recognize the critical role health and human service agencies play in providing a safety net of services in tough economic times. So it is disappointing that the governor has chosen not to release state-appropriated funds to these agencies in 2007. If the governor does not act by June 30, essential community programs may have to close or drastically cut back on services.

Because many health and human service programs are interconnected, the elimination or reduction of one service will have a ripple effect on other services and lead to severely dismantling the safety net.

The governor says she is being cautious not to overspend state funds and is carefully scrutinizing grant-in-aid requests. However these agencies have long track records of securing matching federal funds and private donations and have had to be creative in their fund-raising efforts to keep offering critical services.

These programs exist to keep our communities healthy and safe. There is no reason to withhold support for these agencies at this crucial time when our citizens are losing their jobs and homes, and face rising food and gas prices.

We believe health and human services are a priority. Hawai'i needs a strong and vibrant safety net.

SOCIAL SERVICES

TANF FUNDING SHOULD BE RESTORED QUICKLY

Legislature, please weigh the benefits of restoring the TANF cuts as soon as possible to enable service providers to continue our collective war on poverty.

While we have just two programs funded by TANF, the potential elimination of our Housing Placement Program and Employment Support for Low-income Persons will directly AND indirectly impact our programs. The first program assists working families who are not yet homeless but need a new rental. By providing assistance with money for a security deposit or first month's rent, we are preventing a family from taking a step closer to homelessness as well as supporting a family's transition out of our shelter. The employment program breathes new hope into homeless individuals who may have given up on ever working again.

TANF funding has targeted some of the major causes of homelessness for families. Even if we might be facing tough economic times ahead that might limit future federal funding to Hawai'i, wouldn't it make sense to take advantage of TANF funds available now to try to equip people to be in the workforce in the future?

The state's partnership with service providers through TANF funding, (many of whom are non-profits) has contributed to a reduction of the number of welfare recipients, from more than 16,000 in 1999 to just over 6,000 in 2007. That is a 62.5 percent reduction in eight years.

TANF funds used wisely work to promote self-sufficiency. Restoration of the TANF cuts could very well be a win for all of us in Hawai'i, now and later.