MASS TRANSIT

DON'T DERAIL PLAN WITH EXCISE TAXES CONFLICT

I agree with your June 12 editorial regarding the collection of the rail excise tax. The governor and mayor have a great opportunity to showcase their leadership and resolve the issue of the tax collection.

Transportation problems and traffic congestion are issues that continue to affect the quality of life for thousands of commuters, especially those of us in West O'ahu.

Thus, the time is here to move forward on the proposed plan to build a rail system for present and future generations.

The Legislature took the necessary step to raise the general excise tax to collect local funds for rail. The state administration must now work with the cash-strapped city and do its part to make certain there are no delays in this aspect of the rail process.

The state's coffers are strong thanks to our surging economy. The governor and mayor must act to assure the current rail tax collection dispute does not derail this crucial transportation endeavor. To do less would be a significant failure for these two capable individuals.

ONE EXTRA LINE

A SIMPLE SOLUTION FOR COLLECTING EXCISE TAX

Why all the fuss about collecting the excise tax?

First of all, the members of the Legislature started this mess by not having the guts to pass an increase in the general excise tax in an election year, so they passed the buck to the counties — and Honolulu passed the tax increase for O'ahu.

The dilemma, of course, is that the other counties are still paying 4 percent while O'ahu residents and businesses will be paying 4.5 percent.

The solution is for the state to print one additional line on the forms in the gross excise tax Book for use by O'ahu individuals and businesses for whom the increase applies.

They use that line, all others use the present 4 percent line or the line for the category in which they qualify.

There should be no surcharge of any kind for this by the state.

An electronic transfer should transfer all of the half percent increase to the City and County of Honolulu, perhaps once every two months.

That should not cost a thing in "administrative costs" and the people of Honolulu will have the funds set aside for whatever transit solution is decided upon — without getting screwed again by government.

GET THE PICTURE?

SECURITY CAMS PROVIDE AWFUL ROBBERY PHOTOS

For years I have watched the news and whenever somebody robs a bank, the news shows photos of the robbery. I am a terrible photographer but the pictures I see on the news of the robber seem to be purposely unfocused, with the worst resolution they can find.

We have cameras on satellites that can take a picture of a playing card on earth and identify it from space. Why can't we take a picture of someone in a building and get a clear picture of the person?

Seems like it would be a deterrent and provide good pictures if we had good high-resolution cameras showing folks entering a bank and stored these photos to keep them in a database if something happens.

What I just watched on the news tonight regarding a bank robber is a complete joke!

AFTER AKAKA

LET'S SEIZE THE MOMENT FOR HAWAIIANS' FUTURE

Was the dream of a fruitful future for Native Hawaiians shattered in an ivory tower in Washington, D.C.? Of course not.

Were Native Hawaiians defeated or victorious following the House vote? In my humble opinion, we were neither.

Defeat and victory are often characterized by those of opposing views. Shouldn't Native Hawaiians have the same view — a future of promise and prosperity?

At a time when shared vision and dedicated action are needed so desperately, Hawaiians should seize this moment as a point of regeneration. A point, where solidarity can be planted, nurtured and utilized in the challenges that surely lie ahead.

UNDERAGE DRINKING

A NOT-SO-HOT LINE

Karl Espaldon's article on the "underage drinking hot line" in The Advertiser, taking Lee Cataluna to task for her column on the subject, left me wondering: Where was Ms. Cataluna wrong?

The "hot line" might end up serving a useful purpose, but what is so hot about it if you still have to call 911 to get any sort of quick response to an immediate problem?

GOOD SOLDIER, CITIZEN

LIEUTENANT MADE BRAVE, CORRECT DECISION

The decision 1st Lt. Ehren Watada made was and is a correct one regardless of any contract he went into with our fine military service. He stood up for many other military men and women who could only whisper his thoughts.

It takes courage to stand up and be counted especially in a employment environment that he placed himself in. It wasn't an easy decision, and he already stated that he's willing to take what consequence is given him by the military. I believe he is a good soldier and a citizen to stand up and question for truth rather than sheepishly follow.

When I was in grade school, I got caught for following my fellow student in a bad deed. When caught, my response was, "I did it because Johnny did it."

The teacher quipped back at me with an old adage: "Well, if Johnny jumped in the fire, are you going to jump in the fire?" This was my first hard lesson on cognitive thinking and learning to take responsibility for my actions. 1st Lt. Ehren Watada did think cognitively and is not hiding but is willing to take responsibility for his actions.

JUSTIFY THIS

TAX ALL TO HELP O'AHU?

Listening to our mayor's arguments for getting the state to collect taxes for the mass transit system got me wondering. Are you going to tax the entire state for something that benefits only one island?

Maybe a little clarification as well as a lot more justification is needed, or you could spend more money on education first instead of wasting money in suing the state.

PACIFIC ISLANDERS NEED HELP AN AFFORDABLE UH PROVIDES

I'm writing in regards to a new policy the Board of Regents is considering. It would mean Pacific Island students from jurisdictions that don't have public higher educational institutions granting baccalaureate degrees can't receive a non-resident tuition exemption from the University of Hawai'i.

As a recent high school graduate from the University Laboratory School, I've always seen the University of Hawai'i as a symbol of hope for all Pacific Island students. It brought together students from my home, the Marshall Islands, as well as students from other parts of the Pacific. It provided a home away from home, as well as an educational environment that is unbiased and accepting of our cultures.
This hope, however, is now in jeopardy. The regents are now considering a 50 percent increase in the tuition rate, and this will only cause an immediate dropout for most if not all students from the Pacific.

This proposal does not take into account the fact that most of these students can barely meet the cost as it is. Students who come to UH for their B.A. don't have options that many other non-residents have.

I can confirm, as a Marshallese citizen, that there are no other colleges in the Marshall Islands where Marshallese students can go to receive their bachelor's degree.

Until now, we've always depended on UH, a university rooted firmly in the Pacific that's not too far away from home and that's still within our financial range.
I urge the Board of Regents, as well as the public, not to increase the tuition rate.