NO CHEAP OIL

ENOUGH, CLIFF SLATER, ABOUT TRANSIT VIEWS

I don't understand why Cliff Slater gets so much space on the op-ed page. He has an ideological, not informed opinion about transit policy.

Yes, Cliff, we've heard you, but where are the facts? What is the cost of gasoline in 10 years?

Let's face it, the "cheap oil" age is over. In the short run, we should develop technologies to better use the oil we've got. In the long run, electricity can be generated with numerous fuels with today's technology, including transit.

I would like The Advertiser's op-ed editors to solicit other opinions about Hawai'i's energy future. In the meantime, I think Cliff should be in the letters section, just like me. By the way, I think it's the most informative section of the paper.

MANOA ROBBERY

SHAUN RODRIGUES CONVICTION A MISTAKE

Shaun Rodrigues says he was at home sleeping when a Manoa home was robbed, but he's going to prison.

A few years ago, a guy who vaguely resembled me was on the front pages of both Honolulu newspapers. As I entered the store section of a car wash to pay, I briefly thought it strange that everyone was scattered throughout the store because usually there's a line. After a while I sat outside and a man came out laughing, stating that people inside thought I was Byran Uyesugi, the Xerox killer.

At the time, I was more offended that they'd mistaken me for someone two inches shorter and 60 pounds heavier, but now I'm glad they weren't my jurors.

Deputy Prosecutor Russell Uehara stated that, "The victims, Dianne and Dawn Sugihara, are both intelligent, educated and honest people. They would not have convicted the wrong person." But if Rodrigues were convicted solely on the testimony of the victims, then the system is flawed.

The FBI reports that 25 percent of the time, the eyewitness identifies the wrong person, and the percentage of error increases with stress.

In recent decades, DNA testing identified 30 to 35 percent of young men convicted of rape as being the wrong people identified by the rape victims. Many of these men were imprisoned for over a decade.

The Sugiharas may honestly believe that Rodrigues robbed them, but people, especially those under severe stress, make mistakes. This fact, combined with Rodrigues' alibi and the mismatched fingerprint, should have been enough to cast reasonable doubt.

GENTLE GIANT

REP. EZRA KANOHO WILL BE SORELY MISSED

There stems a moment of joy to see Rep. Ezra R. Kanoho close another successful chapter in his life and begin anew. Yet for those who know this extremely humble and accommodating individual, we know this moment is bittersweet in that the Legislature will seldom find a person of this stature.

Rep. Kanoho has been a great friend, mentor and legislator to me and my clients, and above all political decisions and rhetoric, his authentic self, his personable and approachable demeanor, will be sorely missed. And while I have tried my best to persuade him to stay another year, I have unfortunately failed, and I am saddened to think of the many Hawaiian youth who will fail to benefit from the opportunity to know such a gentle giant.

I raise my congratulations to you, Representative, and a prayer to make this session the best!

HEALTHCARE

DON'T BLAME NURSES FOR INCREASE IN COSTS

Rich Meiers' comments alluding to nurses salaries as one of the drivers of the increase in the cost of healthcare is ludicrous.

To the contrary, nurses are one of the primary drivers in the quality of care delivered at the hospitals so that patients can get better and safer care, resulting in higher reimbursements for the hospitals since Medicare reimbursements are based on Diagnosis Related Groups or predetermined set payments per diagnosis or procedures.

The faster the recovery, the more the hospitals can accommodate, resulting in increase in revenue from efficiencies in using hospital beds and maximizing reimbursement.

Don't forget that the nurses are the ones looking after you or your loved one at the time that one is most vulnerable to ensure that the care delivered is safe, efficacious and cost-effective.

Part of our task is to prevent misuse, overuse and abuse to hold down the increase in healthcare costs.

If the salaries of the nurses are truly the culprits of the increase in healthcare costs, why is it that there are fewer and fewer nurses? Or is it that they are overworked and under-appreciated?

PROPERTY TAX

HOMEOWNER EXEMPTION SHOULD REFLECT ONE'S AGE

We have lived in our house for the past 45 years. My wife and I are both in the upper 70s and living on a fixed income.

Nine years ago, when we first received our maximum $120,000 homeowner exemption, the assessed value of our house was $345,000, which equates to 35 percent of the assessed value. For 2006, the same $120,000 exemption equates to a mere 15 percent.

I suggest the homeowner exemption should be fixed at a percentage of the assessed value. For example, a 40-year-old homeowner would be entitled to 15 percent and a 70-year-old 35 percent.

In this case, the exemption would be at a fixed rate regardless of the assessed value. If the homeowner sells the home later, he would be penalized to the amount taken retroactive to the enactment of this legislation.

This may not be a perfect solution. I am sure our akamai council members, by putting their heads together, can come up with legislation similar to this suggestion.

The relief we need is now in 2006, not in 2007.