A LESS-THAN-WARM WELCOME GOING OUT

For the very few opponents that are out there, this has become a fixed idea from which they will not budge. All visitors to the neighborhood are bad. They must be stopped in their tracks! Never allowed on the streets, on the lanes, going down to "our" beaches, beaches where you will hardly find 10 people within a hundred yards, even on a Saturday.

This has gotten so bad with some of these people that they were actually stopping visitors on the street in Kailua. The conversation goes like this: "Oh, I see you are a visitor! Welcome to Kailua. Where are you staying? Oh, a bed and breakfast? Oh, over on Ulupa? (They jot down the address.) Well, I don't know, are you staying in one of the legal bed-and-breakfasts?

"Oh, yes, most of them are illegal. It's a violation of the law if people rent to you. Sure hope your place doesn't get in trouble. Have they said what they would do if a city inspector showed up? Would you get your money back? You know, there are fines for these illegal operations. But hey — welcome to Kailua. Have a nice stay!"

Sandy Arterburn | Hawaii Kai

REGULATIONS OF RENTALS ARE LACKING

Much has been said about B&Bs in Kailua. At one point or another, we have to come to a solution. Yes, it will change the neighborhood; but with the tax and strict regulations in running the B&B, it should not pose a big problem.

I also wonder about boarding homes in our neighborhood. Many of the renters pay in cash. The only time you notice that certain neighborhoods have these boarders is by looking at the street parking. You could hardly park on the streets. How are these boarding houses regulated?

Rosita Sipirok-siregar | Makakilo

UNIONS

FIGHT FOR PROVISION TO AVOID DOUBLE CUT

The HGEA and UPW members and leaders should take heed: Help yourselves now while you can! The governor's office said my employer and union could have addressed the fact that some of us had both spouses in the family working for the state. This means double the pay cut when it all rolls out.

Now is the time to fight for a provision to avoid "double" shared responsibility for yourselves.

For my husband and me it would be approximately $1,000 a month reduction in pay!

It is worth your time and effort to make a provision.

Leilani nautu | Läie

UNIVERSITY

PROFESSORS SHOULD TAKE THEIR DUE CUT

Years ago I heard the term that town and gown will never meet. I guess that is certainly evident right now.

Shame on the UH professors who profess that the current economic problems should not be theirs and feel that general excise taxes on all Hawaii citizens should be raised. All this while every segment of our community is hurting with layoffs, foreclosures and more homelessness; they are stating "not in my back pocket."

In the last year they received 11 percent in pay raises and 31 percent in the last six years. For shame!

Jack sullivan | Honolulu

MAJ. GEN. CZERW

VISITING DIGNITARY A MOST WORTHY LEADER

As a docent at the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor, I was recently called upon to show Maj. Gen. Russel Czerw and his family around the museum. Gen. Czerw was visiting as the chief of the U. S. Army Dental Corps. He's the top of the top in his area, representing the Army to the American Dental Association Convention.

A Bronze Star recipient, he came with his wife and two terrific high-school-age children. I have never met a humbler, but incredibly competent person, in my life. If there is a man who embodies the "American ideal" more than General Czerw, I haven't met him. He reflected respect for everyone, informed patriotism, and a professional demeanor.

While at the museum, he caught, out of the corner of his eye, military personnel setting up a display for an event that evening (paralegal staff).

He went well out of his way to say hello to them, thank them for their service, talk to them about their lives, and assure them that they were appreciated at the highest level of military rank.

As an American, I'm happy to know that men like Maj. Gen. Czerw are leading our military.

Mahalo!

Greg O'donnell | Honolulu

FURLOUGHS

TEACHERS, KIDS NOT ONLY ONES AFFECTED

I am writing because, frankly, I am tired of the misleading press that "poor teachers" receive. "Personal sacrifices" are a choice. When budget cuts are made, the reduction of funding is not restricted to the classroom. Also, personal expenses incurred in support of school fundraisers are not limited to teachers.

The perception that teachers and students are suffering the most is incorrect. Loss of funding affects everyone.

Where is the concern for clerical, custodial and food service staff and their contributions and sacrifices? Without their support, there would be a dramatic change in (if not total shutdown of) operations.

With regard to labor contracts, teachers have agreed to furlough days with no change in their medical premium. Media reports at this time say clerical staff (members of HGEA) are asked to consider furlough days in addition to an already increased medical premium.

Is that a "fair" share?

Lynn Wong | Aiea

SCHOOL REDUCTION IS UNACCEPTABLE

Two teachers wrote in letters Oct. 6 implying lack of support from the governor, community and the home as the reason they ratified the furlough contract. One even felt coerced by them as her reason. This doesn't explain why taking it out on children who need them is the solution.

There is no justification for furlough days. Our kids already are denied a half day of school on Wednesdays (so that teachers can catch up on their paperwork). Reducing 17 school weeks to 3[0xbd] days each is just unacceptable. The end result of their action will mean more student failures and more dropouts.

Bill Prescott | Nanakuli