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Letters

An APLE a day

Feb 24, 2010

Regarding Ms. Xian’s letter claiming that I am misinforming the public, the report I quoted was by the Department of Human Services Social Services Division to the Legislature made in May of 2008. If people think they are a less reliable source then Ms. Xian they should visit the Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery (PASS) Web site at [www.traffickjamming.com], evaluate the likelihood that there are hundreds of thousands of child prostitutes and other claims made there and determine for themselves who they feel is credible.

What experience does Ms. Xian have “on the streets of Waikiki or Chinatown,” as she mentioned in the story [“Red light,” 2/10] her letter comments on? Pam Vessels did street outreach for over 10 years and has known about 1,000 prostitutes. I have known about 100 from my activities with the transgendered community. We also work with and support professional organizations that do street outreach and provide other services today. What competence, background, or professional ethics exist at PASS none of us can determine, as they have refused to participate in inter-agency outreach meetings.

Both the State Attorney General’s Office and the Honolulu Police Department testified against Ms. Xian’s anti-trafficking bill (SB2045) this session. Arresting Prostitutes is Legal Exploitation (APLE) recognizes that harms may be, and often are, suffered by illegal immigrants, prostitutes and minors who have run away from home. It’s our opinion that the over-the-top fear and anger approach we see in Kathy Xian is unhelpful in addressing these issues.

Tracy Ryan
Honolulu

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This week

Game Changer

After retiring from public service in 2002, Ben Cayetano seemed to be taking it easy on the political scene–until 2005, that is, when then-Mayor Mufi Hannemann revived the long-lapsed idea of a Honolulu heavy rail project. Needless to say, Cayetano did not concur.

Geo Gold Rush

Last Thursday, the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection had a busy session hearing several controversial bills relating to geothermal energy. Chairman Denny Coffman introduced HB2689, which seeks to exempt slim-hole, or exploratory, geothermal test wells from any sort of environmental review as is currently required under Chapter 343 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Stop Stalling

On Feb. 1, the Hawaii State House Agriculture Committee heard testimony on HB2703, dubbed the Food Self-Sufficiency Bill.

Farm Friends

Mega-developer Castle & Cooke has re-filed an application with the Land Use Commission (LUC) seeking to convert approximately 768 acres of Ag land–currently in cultivation–into a “master-planned community” entitled Koa Ridge. If successful, the project will consist of two parcels–Koa Ridge Makai and Castle & Cooke Waiawa.

Civics

Office of Hawaiian Affairs holds a second round of community meetings to discuss the latest updates on the Kakaako land settlement. Stevenson Middle School, 1202 Prospect St., Wed., 2/8, 6:30pm; Waimanalo Community Center, 41-253 Ilauhole St., Thu., 2/9, 6:30pm City Council committees on Zoning and Planningand Transportation will take public testimony on agenda items.

Kinda Hawaii?

[Feb. 1: “Kinda Kona”] The trade secret argument would fall to the wayside if it would read “10 percent Kona Coffee 90 percent Foreign Coffee,” or something to that effect.

Duplicating Crap

If they are choosing the cheapest coffee from anywhere, then the “trade secret” is that they are adding crap and not a sp

No HART

[Feb. 1: “Rail Boss Wanted”] $300,000?

Future Politician?

[Jan. 4: “Boss GMO] Dean Okimoto is a sell out and a criminal.

Oust Monsanto

Monsanto is a major component of the NWO drive to reduce the world’s population in a global genocide program that includes the poisoning of the water, air and food. This criminal activity must be stopped.

Okimoto VS Small Ag

Lets be real here, Dean Okimoto is not interested in anything other then keeping the status quo of industrial Ag. He is merely a puppet, playing it safe, a small game of following the money and corrupt political trail.

Locals Know Best

[Jan. 25: “Weaving the Future on Molokai”] Good luck to all those who possess the ability to balance long-term vision with short term opportunity.

We’re Being Railroaded

[Dec. 21: “Underground Railroad”] This is, indeed, a “lunatic project,” as pointed out by a professor at the University of Hawaii.

Rail = Ego

This is such a bad idea for the overall architecture of Oahu. I visit here because my family is here and part of the charm is taking the bus or driving.

Plain stupid

I cannot imagine how anyone can think this is a smart idea. I’ve lived in places with rail, but this Honolulu Rail Transit is stupid, plain stupid.