LET'S NOT FORGET OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT NOW

Why is everybody in a mad rush to memorialize President Obama in Hawai'i when the economy he promised to shape up is still in a tank? Columnist David Shapiro, in his Volcanic Ash column, said it so well.

Why can't our legislators, instead of spending their time and energy lining up his coattails, focus on the economic shortfall that has come our way?

Everyone is hurting. Just read The Honolulu Advertiser and see the bundled trash waiting shipment, the opala piles along the road in Mākaha, homelessness around the island.

The vog is going to overwhelm the lungs of our schoolchildren. Our doctors and private health providers are starting to experience trickle-down payments from the health insurance companies. I know, as I am one of them. And please let us not forget the reduction in forces among our health-care givers.

Only the union leaders seem to be in constant vigilance to protect their turf. Our legislators do not appear in headlines leading the way to assure the common citizenry that all will be well before long.

Let us not forget our priorities, which is how to protect our island from becoming another state fallen from the current statewide economic mess.

LUZVIMINDA PARCO-KENDRICK, LCSW | Ewa Beach

CITY REVENUES

CUT BUS ROUTES; DON'T RAISE FARES

I agree that raising bus fares is not the solution. The suggestion about cutting back on certain bus routes is a good idea. Just sit in front of Starbucks across from the Honolulu Zoo and count all the practically empty city buses that pass by, one after the other.

I also find it ironic how costly metered parking is in front of the unemployment office building, yet you can find more reasonable parking if you don't mind walking a little. A great example of raising rates that isn't working is the Honolulu Zoo parking lot. It used to be at the end of the day after the zoo closed the lot would still be quite full. People parked there to go surf, have dinner, jog and so on. Now at that time the lot is more than half empty. Lose money!

SUSAN ROMERO | Honolulu

CIVIL UNIONS

BILL A GOOD THING FOR ECONOMY, EDUCATION

Gov. Lingle is missing the boat by casting civil unions legislation in opposition to the economy, education and the state budget. Passage of the civil unions bill is projected to contribute to state revenues, therefore being a good thing for our economy, state budget and education.

Having legislators and the governor show courage by adopting equality through civil unions would be a wonderful education in itself with so many positive lessons for our keiki — lessons in democracy, standing up against bullies, equal rights for minorities, sharing, caring for families and community, and being true to the principles on which this government was founded.

The civil unions bill is important to many peoples' lives and their families and should not be disregarded. I have confidence that despite the fear mongers among us, we have courageous representation that will do the right thing.

JO CHANG | Honolulu