FURLOUGHS A BETTER IDEA THAN LAYOFFS

Gov. Lingle's offer of the three-day-a-month furlough for the various state employee departments sounds like the better deal to accept than the layoffs to reduce the budget shortfall for this fiscal year.

Layoffs will protect the old-timers and union leaders, since the layoffs will cut the majority of the new employees.

Three days off a month is better than being unemployed.

TOSHIO CHINEN | Pearl City

UNIONS

GOVERNOR NEEDS TO SHOW GIVE AND TAKE

Not sure where anyone is reading about union grandstanding but the only grandstanding I see is coming from the governor.

The union made an effort to help the situation by offering a 5 percent pay cut. For the unions to budge shows a willingness to help solve this financial situation. Have you ever seen the unions offer to take a pay cut?

The Lingle-Aiona administration's response? A counteroffer that was similar to her original offer.

The unions said they were willing to help with this budget crisis but the governor's response was that she wants the public employees to take most of the hit. Negotiating requires some give and take. While the unions have given a little, the governor hasn't moved an inch.

In order for this to be settled, she needs to help the situation by finding funds from other areas instead of totally relying on the public employees to make up her "deficit."

With that attitude, there is no sense in negotiating as it is only one-sided. May as well let the arbitrators handle it already.

Stan Sano | Honolulu

PROFESSOR'S ARREST

OBAMA COULD HAVE HELD HIS TONGUE

I recently viewed President Obama's speech regarding the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. by the Cambridge Police Department and was shocked to hear the president, a Punahou alum, describe the police as "acting stupidly."

He further states that the U.S. has a long history of discrimination against African-Americans and Latinos. What about the other minority groups? Asians, gays, lesbians, disabled, aged etc.? It was a situation that made big news, but it was definitely someplace the president could have stayed away from.

Kevin Kobayashi | Mililani

TRUCK-BED RIDING

DEATHS WILL CONTINUE WITHOUT A LEGAL BAN

Gail Simao's July 23 letter about truck-bed riding is right on the money. How can our lawmakers allow these deaths to happen over and over? What is their reason to make a Click It or Ticket law for vehicles and not for pickups?

There is a law for trucks hauling cargo to tie it down for safety on the roads. Is cargo more precious than humans? It seems that way to these lawmakers. There will be more deaths if this insanity on our streets continues to be allowed. To you lawmakers, if you can't ban riding in pickup beds and save lives, get out of office and do the people a favor.

The reason pickups don't have seat belts is they were made to carry cargo, not humans. Understand?

EUGENE CORDERO | Pearl City

HOMELESS

RIVER STREET HOUSING PROJECT WELCOME

The city's proposed River Street Residences project is very much needed in Chinatown, where so many of O'ahu's homeless and disabled citizens live. This critical situation has been overlooked for so many years; these are desperately needed low-cost rentals that can help to reduce the number of those who are homeless and living in Chinatown.

The project follows the Housing First model, proven to be so successful in Philadelphia, San Francisco and Dallas. As a result, there have been significant reductions in both emergency room costs and repeated shelter stays in these cities. Housing First has also considerably reduced the number of chronically homeless.

Once people are housed, they are more likely to access the help they need. Housing First can make all of this happen.

These members of our community need our care, and $4.6 million for this project could unfortunately be lost because of the sentiments being voiced by those trying to block it.

The proposed River Street Residences project is a "win-win" initiative that will benefit those who are chronically homeless, and also help to revitalize Downtown and Chinatown.

We are all responsible for providing housing and services for our neighbors in need. Everyone wins!

PAMELA MENTER | Waimanalo

WIENERMOBILE

KILLJOYS NEED TO LET US HAVE A LITTLE FUN

Once again PANE (People Against Nearly Everything) have decided to stop a fun thing, the Wienermobile.

Even though the Wienermobile is primarily advertising, it is fun. The kids love it, I thought it was fun, as did most of the adults that I talked to.

The Outdoor Circle seems to be against fun things. Back off on this and let the rest of us enjoy the Wienermobile for the short time it is here.

Otto Cleveland | Pearl City

PROPERTY TAX CREDIT

HELP MAKE A GOOD IDEA BETTER; SPEAK UP

Recently there have been some letters from resident homeowners concerned about the impact of the city's increased property tax rate. These individuals should be made aware of the real property tax credit for those earning less than $50,000 per year.

This is an intelligent and appropriate response to cap the soaring property tax burden on residents whose incomes have not kept pace with the mostly illusory wealth of their non-speculative, primary homeownership.

There is, however, a glaring problem with the credit as written. Income from qualified retirement plans is counted twice — first in the year it is contributed, and then again in the year it is distributed. For those working individuals age 60 and over, this double taxation can occur in the same year for which the credit is claimed. Others may not notice until they begin to withdraw their earlier savings, at which time they might recall that they had already reported this income.

Councilmen Djou, Okino and Apo have all expressed an awareness of this issue, but they need to hear from other O'ahu residents. Please help them make an excellent idea even better. Contact your councilman — he needs to hear from you.

BERNARD J. WILSON | La'ie