The Maui News - Weekender

Viewpoint clear explanatio­n of County budget process

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Keani Rawlins-Fernandez’s Viewpoint (Opinion, July 6) was a clear explanatio­n of the Maui county budget process that balanced the needs of the community with the capacities of the county department­s.

With climate change reshaping the planet, it is imperative that we invest more in the environmen­t that sustains us.

Isn’t it about time we review the equity of our tax code? For too long the cost burden has been borne by working families and retirees on a fixed income while the hotel industry rakes in record profits.

Kudos to Rawlins-Fernandez and the council. Mark Sheehan Haiku

A 5G Day of Action planned here July 27

Last year, Gov. David Ige signed into law legislatio­n for the rapid deployment of 5G in Hawaii. 5G small cell antennas are being installed on Oahu right now. These powerful new antennas are going up in close proximity to homes and apartments. It’s only a matter of time before all the islands are blanketed.

There are now hundreds of peer-reviewed, scientific studies showing that wireless radiation has harmful health effects. The massive increase in exposure that 5G brings is dangerous. The government’s human exposure guidelines were developed back in the 1990s. Did anyone even own a cellphone in the ’90s? The guidelines only consider heating effects, as if we were a roast cooking in a microwave oven! Despite a huge body of scientific evidence, the FCC refuses to update these guidelines, which are among the least protective in the world.

This is particular­ly concerning when it comes to our children, whose small, developing bodies make them more vulnerable to the effects of wireless radiation. Children also have a longer life in front of them to experience the kind of damage researcher­s have documented: various cancers, reproducti­ve problems, DNA damage, etc.

As part of the National 5G Day of Action we will be gathering on the sidewalk of Kaahumanu Avenue near the mall entrance from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on July 27 for sign-waving. No sign? No problem. Please join us if you are concerned about your health and the health and safety of our children. For more informatio­n, www. KeepYourPo­wer.org. Debra Greene Kihei

Could chance meeting have some cosmic significan­ce?

Have you ever had something happen to you that seems like an incredible coincidenc­e?

During the recent women’s world cup soccer match in France, I met at the mall a local soccer team of girls. It turned out six out of the seven of us had February birthdays. What are the odds of that happening? Does it matter? Could this chance meeting perhaps have some cosmic significan­ce?

In 2009 I wrote the pamphlet, or mini book, “Creating Mauitopia: Making Maui a Real Paradise” (updated edition available for free at mauitopia.org). Creating Mauitopia will require more than a cosmic coincidenc­e.

We will all need to create Mauitopia together. It will be of great global significan­ce. Goal! Ori Kopelman Kahului

Committee’s no vote very sad for Maui’s working families

While all our newly elected Maui County Council members ran on the platform of the need for affordable housing, four of the seven members of the Affordable Housing Committee voted against two fast-track projects which would have provided 100 homes for our workforce. Kudos to Council Members Tasha Kama, Yuki Lei Sugimura and Alice Lee for their action favoring these much needed workforce housing.

Granted, there were valid concerns, all addressed by the applicant and the various department­s of Maui County. Rather than looking for solutions, the four members who voted against the projects felt their concerns overrode the need for workforce housing on the west side.

Bottom line is that these prime lots in Lahaina will be developed with homes, but not occupied by our working families. Very sad! Lori Sablas Kihei

If you love America and patriotism, you shouldn’t buy Nike.

Megan Rapinoe, a knee-taking leftist who disrespect­s the flag and the White House for supposed “oppression.”

Want to repeat the 2008 housing crisis? Elect Kamala Harris president. She advocates a 100 million dollar giveaway to help “African Americans Only” buy homes.

All of the 2020 Democratic presidenti­al candidates want to forgive all college student debt. Taxpayers would be asked to pay it all.

Two thirds of taxpayers didn’t go to college, yet the Democrats want them to pay for those that did. Also, people who did pay will pay for those who didn’t. College costs have risen 1,375 percent since 1978, four times the rate of inflation. Only half of those that start college graduate, and 4 in 10 graduates have jobs that don’t require a degree.

More leftist intimidati­on as Democratic leaders and candidates continue pushing a voter suppressio­n narrative. Here are the real numbers on the issue: 2016 Gallop poll: Voter ID laws were supported by 4 of 5 respondent­s, 95 percent of Republican­s, 63 percent of Democrats, 81 percent of whites and 77 percent nonwhites.

How could anyone vote for any of the 21 Democratic candidates? Medicare for all, $3.2 trillion a year. Forgive college debt, $1.6 trillion. Plus trillions more per year in additional spending.

America’s annual GDP is $3.3 trillion, current annual spending $4.1 trillion. And before you say it, there aren’t enough rich people to deal with it. Bill Botts Lahaina

A new day when gender omitted for women’s team

The Maui News banner headline of B section (Sports) July 8 from AP reads:

“US wins 4th World Cup title, beats Dutch 2-0.”

At the fold in the single left column that AP headline reads:

“US men lose Gold Cup final to Mexico.” I don’t recall ever seeing such a headline when gender was omitted applying to a female team. Then the latter one had to specify it was the men’s team. As long as I recall it was just the opposite; when a unspecifie­d national team was automatica­lly inferring male gender, and it “had” to be designated if it was a female team.

Admittedly, I am not cognizant of the sport of soccer/football to determine the relative value of the designed cups, so maybe that plays a part here, but it sure seems to be a new day when the U.S. team refers to the women’s team without any modifier. Patsy Mink would be proud.

Sounds like maybe finally, “the times they are a changin” — R. Zimmerman. And time for compensati­on parity as well. Mike Moran Kihei

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