2009-2010 SEASON

CITY, SYMPHONY HAVE FINALIZED CONCERT DATES

There has been concern and, at times, confusion regarding the quality and productivity of the business relationship between the city and the Honolulu Symphony in recent months.

I would like to qualify the symphony's position and sentiments on the matter.

The City and County of Hono-lulu has been a dedicated supporter of the Honolulu Symphony and its programs for many years. We are in discussions regarding the funding of several grants in support of the Honolulu Symphony's education and outreach programs, which include a new yearlong music education program at Nanakuli Elementary School.

On behalf of the Honolulu Symphony, we are pleased to announce that we have now received the majority of our dates at the Blaisdell Concert Hall for the 2009-2010 season. The Mayor's Office and the Department of Enterprise Services have worked with us in finalizing these dates, and we would like to thank them for their cooperation. We look forward to continuing our long relationship with the Mayor's Office and the Department of Enterprise Services in ensuring the Honolulu Symphony's continual presence at the Blaisdell for decades to come.

We are grateful to Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Director Sidney Quintal and the entire Department of Enterprise services for their support and look forward to working closely with them as our season progresses.

MAINLAND PRISON

ASSAULTED INMATE WAS DENIED HER BASIC RIGHTS

To treat the sexual assault of a Hawai'i female inmate at Otter Creek Correctional Center by a male corrections officer as a misdemeanor exemplifies the mentality of those who run that private prison: those imprisoned are worthless and should be denied the basic human rights afforded them by the U.S. Constitution.

Instead of psychological counseling after the assault, the inmate was put in confinement where she had no one to console or counsel her; no one to listen to her stories of the nightmares she suffered. She did not tell her family for months. Her calls were heavily monitored and often disconnected.

The inmate would have had to be brain dead to refuse a transfer back to Hawai'i; she is not. However, the Department of Public Safety appeared never to think of the mental and physical health of the inmate, who is apparently just a number.

Perhaps in these rough economic times we should be seriously considering how much $50 million circulating in the state really means. The construction industry certainly could use the boost that building a prison in Hawai'i would create.

NEW MEDICAID PLANS

QEXA CANNOT POSSIBLY DELIVER BETTER CARE

I am a physician working in private practice and at Queen Emma Clinic. I see many of the Medicaid patients soon to be pushed into the state's QExA program under one of two for-profit Mainland managed-care plans. I can't see how the program can possibly deliver better care. The plans must pay the same fees as current Hawai'i Medicaid, but will also expect to make a profit.

This can only mean denial of care or avoidance of paying claims to doctors and hospitals.

The Medicaid population is currently underserved, not over-treated.

If the QExA plans actually try to deliver better care, they will lose money. For-profit plans won't tolerate that.

Hawai'i physicians have experienced severe claims processing problems and burdensome prior authorization requirements from for-profit Mainland managed-care companies. Unlike local plans, if there is a problem with a Mainland plan Hawai'i doctors often can't reach anyone who will resolve it. My Medicaid patients tell me they are being told their other doctors don't plan to participate with either QExA plan.

In my private practice, I would rather see my current Medicaid patients for free (and will refuse any new ones) than sign up with these plans.

RAIL

HOMEOWNERS SHOULD VOTE 'NO' ON RAIL TRANSIT

Our mayor and City Council are endorsing the construction of a 20-mile, $3.7- billion rail system from Kapolei to Ala Moana. Yet, upon completion, this newly acquired transit system will not alleviate our traffic problem.

The city subsizes and operates a very efficient, heavily used bus system and should not procure another public transportation system. Drivers realize that whenever the University of Hawai'i and schools are in session traffic is horrendous.

Since the federal government pays for almost the entire cost of federally approved highway construction, instead of rail transit I recommend a concrete causeway from Pearl City to the university for TheBus.

With convenient on-ramp/off-ramp access provided near the university, many university students, city/state employees, Waikiki hotel workers and others working along or near the expressway may decide to leave their cars at home and catch TheBus to avoid being stuck in traffic.

Homeowners subsidize about 50 percent of the city budget. Another public transportation system will severely tax all homeowners. I advise homeowners to contact their councilperson to voice their objection to rail transit and vote "no" for rail in the general election.

IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE TO CONTINUE WITH SYSTEM

Several interesting revelations came out of your lead story on Sunday, Oct. 5: