HAWAI'I 2050

PLANS SHOULD ACCOUNT FOR RISING SEAS LEVELS

The Hawai'i 2050 Sustainability Task Force's agenda to "create a plan for a sustainable Hawai'i by 2050" has lofty goals, but is any consideration being given to the issue of global warming, the melting glaciers around the world and the increasing speed of the melting land-based ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland?

Satellite imagery of Earth, Venus and Mars shows an increase in global temperature of all three planets; therefore, it is obvious this is not just a correctable manmade phenomenom.

Shouldn't some consideration and planning be given to the effect of an island shoreline possibly under up to 50 feet of saltwater? Where does this leave the people living in Honolulu, Waikiki, Kane'ohe, Kailua, Makaha, 'Ewa Beach, Kahuku and all points in between?

Already, islands around the world are disappearing into the sea because of the rise in sea level.

It's something to think about, or should we play ostrich?

PSYCHOLOGISTS

PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY WILL EXPAND HEALTHCARE

We must take exception to the letter claiming that passage of a measure to provide prescriptive privileges to psychologists would make mentally ill people second-class citizens. Here are the facts about the bills that would expand what properly trained psychologists can do:

Only psychologists who have completed a rigorous multiyear post-doctoral training program in psychopharmacology would be eligible for the expanded privileges. They will have an educational background comparable to other primary care providers who can prescribe these medications.

Only a limited range of prescription medications will be on the psychologists' formulary. They'll be limited to prescribing drugs for people with anxiety and depression. They will not be prescribing drugs for people with schizophrenia, bi-polar conditions, or other problems that should be properly managed by a psychiatrist.

Only the appropriately trained psychologists who practice at community health centers will have these privileges and only when they are working as a part of team with physicians. Psychology prescriptive practice will be limited to places where there are considerable unmet needs, where quality improvement and evaluation processes are in place, and where systems and practices are established to meet the particular needs of people with neglected health problems.

As Richard Bettini, CEO of the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, noted in recent testimony, "Prescriptive authority for psychologists is what most community health centers want."

CIVIL DEFENSE

SIREN WARNING SYSTEM HIGH PRIORITY FOR CITY

We appreciate last Sunday's story regarding the siren warning system ("!47 new warning sirens needed," Page One).

It raised many issues that residents may not have been aware of, in particular the fact that these important devices are funded entirely by the state.

The sirens cost an average of $86,000 each. O'ahu needs 78 upgraded sirens and another 50 proposed for new locations.

The estimated price tag would exceed $11 million. The city and its Department of Emergency Management want residents to know that maintaining a state-of-the-art siren warning system is one of our highest priorities to ensure public safety and awareness.

While we would like to have all siren-system upgrades in place as soon as possible, the reality is that it may take a number of years for this to happen as the state provides funds to support this program for all counties statewide.

In the meantime, we will continue to work with the state in its continuing efforts to ensure the public is warned of impending emergencies.

TRANSIT

GETTING KIDS TO SCHOOL SHOULD BE MAJOR FACTOR

It is ironic that the public comment period for the mayor's mass-transit plan should come during spring break. The reduced traffic and realistic commute times should give rise to some serious questions.

Do we really need a multi-billion-dollar mass-transit system to reduce traffic congestion? Or do we just need a better way to get students to school and back?

Will the presence of a mass-transit system really motivate people to get out of their cars? Or will they still drive the kids to school and then drive to after-school activities, then drive to shop, then drive to do chores, then drive to recreation activities, then drive to entertainment, then drive home?

If closing schools can dramatically clear our roadways of traffic congestion, reduce the general level of stress and tension, and make life more pleasant on this island, then shouldn't that figure into someone's thinking on this whole we-need-more-tax-money-for-a-fancy-new-train issue?