A CHANCE TO CORRECT ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

The Superferry can be salvaged by a simple legislative solution.

Last year, the Hawai'i Supreme Court interpreted Hawai'i's environmental impact laws as requiring consideration of "indirect" impacts — a significant change not previously required. Instead of enacting a law stating the Supreme Court was wrong, the Legislature adopted special legislation exempting the Superferry pending completion of an environmental impact statement. The Supreme Court's recent decision correctly struck down that exemption as violating the Hawai'i constitutional prohibition against legislative special treatment for special interests.

The governor and Legislature have now been handed a second opportunity to change our environmental laws by eliminating consideration of "indirect" impacts. By doing so, the law will state what everyone always believed it meant and the Superferry will continue to provide essential transportation to Hawai'i's citizens and competition to interisland airlines. Failure to change the law now will guarantee successful environmental challenges against future government projects, including rail.

AIG

EXECUTIVE BONUSES SIMPLY OUTRAGEOUS

It is simply outrageous and ludicrous that AIG is "legally contracted" to give bonuses of any kind to any of their employees. We should be able to invoice them for a like amount. What Uncle Sam giveth, can't Uncle Sam taketh away?

BONUSES OFFER PICTURE OF WHAT WE STAND FOR

The AIG bonuses really are appalling, but they also tell us something about who we are as Americans, and it isn't pretty. We have permitted corporate greed to go on for so long that it has become an entitlement, and has spread into the very fabric of our society. Because "we want it all," a sense of community has been sacrificed.

Maybe we should look at the bonuses from a different perspective. They aren't being paid out because the executives ran the company into the ground, but because they were smart enough to obtain billions in bailout money from their slow-witted uncle.

When the head of AIG says failure to pay off the smart guys would result in losing them, and would abrogate their contractual agreements, I wouldn't be surprised if that is what he is talking about. A little perspective: The $165 million in bonuses, which no doubt is chicken feed to AIG, would produce $8,250,000 a year at 5 percent, and would allow Adult Friends for Youth to virtually wipe out youth gangs in eight cities within six years.

Sort of makes you wonder where our values are, doesn't it?

PRESIDENT NEEDS TO STOP LIES FROM THE OLD GUARD

Regarding the AIG situation and the bonuses: I propose a retroactive 100 percent Obama tax on all AIG bonuses before the tax dollars used to fund this scam become a different kind of AIG — America's Income Gone.

The Republicans who promoted the failed policies of George W. Bush that brought us two failed wars and the stunning current financial crisis are now attempting to blame Obama for this mess and are condemning Obama's plans to correct the situation.

The president needs to stop the lies coming from the old Bush guard that continue using public airwaves to distort the facts in attempts to scuttle any chance at success that President Obama has. Millions of Americans think they are getting the truth when listening or viewing only one broadcast source. The return of the "Fairness Doctrine" eliminated during the Reagan years to promote Republican propaganda will actually provide citizens the opportunity to hear both opposing and supporting sides of major issues and allow them to make informed decisions to improve America.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

DOCUMENTING PIECES OF OUR PAST IN PHOTOS VITAL

Last year our government had the foresight to pass Act 288 requiring historic structures that are applying for substantial modification permits or demolition permits to submit photographic documentation to our State Historic Preservation Division.

Hawai'i holds some of the most historically significant edifices in our nation — yes we are only 50 years old as a state but we have buildings more than 150 years old that speak of our rich heritage. In a competitive economy, those designations that retain their uniqueness and charm will win over the traveler against other destinations.

Unfortunately, many of these structures are demolished daily without anyone aware of their disappearance. No photos, no documentation of any kind. Neighborhoods like Kaimuki are constantly changing; many of those quaint little cottages built in 1920 are gone. Manoa, with its great old houses on rock pedestals, is losing some of its original fabric.

Now there is Bill 520 in the House to repeal Act 288; the Senate is proposing Bill 1672 that significantly lessens the strength of Act 288. That should not happen. Act 288 is good, it just needs clarification and less stringent requirements.

Documenting the history of our society is important. Repealing Act 288 is a rash response. It does not foster confidence in the legislative process. It needs fixing, not repeal.

Demolition is hard to swallow for this die-hard preservationist but even more difficult to accept is its loss without even a picture to remind us of what was once important to us as a people.

Lorraine Minatoishi Palumbo, Ph.D., AIA