Monday, November 9, 2009
 

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TODAY'S EDITORIALS

Partnerships, not agency, can yield homes

The problem — mounting homelessness amid a worsening shortage of affordable housing — nobody denies. More »

PREVIOUS EDITORIALS

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Meeting sites

As president of Honolulu Prayer, I thank the City Council and especially Mayor Hannemann for his strong support in signing Bill 61 into law. More »

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The Editorial Blog

BLOGS » The Editorial Blog
The Editorial Blog

Offering daily observations and opinions. More »

David Shapiro

BLOGS » David Shapiro
Volcanic Ash

A totally independent view of people and events in Hawai'i. More »

EDITORIAL CARTOON

TODAY'S COLUMNS AND COMMENTARIES

Brian Schatz

Brian Schatz

Obama's made solid start on agenda

Can an event simultaneously be improbable and inevitable? With the advantage of hindsight, that is how many would describe the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States one year ago. More »

Time to reign in Wall Street power players

Wall Street is doing to America what private equity firms did to Simmons Bedding and many other productive companies. Taking control with borrowed money, stripping assets, slashing jobs and cashing out. More »

Leonard Pitts Jr.

Leonard Pitts Jr.

A culture clash

We don't know why Faleh Hassan Almaleki came to this country in the mid-'90s, and it's unlikely he'll be able to tell us anytime soon. More »

Jeanne Mariani-Belding

BLOGS » Jeanne Mariani-Belding
The Hot Seat

From politicians to newsmakers: you ask the questions. More »

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CIVIC CORNER


Property Taxes

The debate over Honolulu's property tax structure continues , as the City Council begins eyeing possible expansions of the "circuit breaker" tax breaks for owner-occupants. The council's Budget Committee is considering alternative proposals — Bills 09-75 and 09-09. The first would cap property taxes at 3 percent of household income for those earning $50,000 or less and at 4 percent for all those above that income level. The second would retain the $50,000 total income limit eligibility but also lower the cap to 3 percent — the current limit is 4 percent. It also would lower the cap further, to 2 percent, for seniors. Council members disagree on whether this additional tax relief is excessive, given that a separate tax category now has been created for owner-occupants. What do you think?

GET INVOLVED
Contact your public officials to make your views known:

Todd Apo: City Councilman Apo chairs the Honolulu City Council.

Reach him at: tapo@honolulu.gov or 768-5001.



Nestor Garcia: City Councilman Garcia chairs the council's Budget Committee, which has these bills under consideration.

Reach him at: ngarcia@honolulu.gov or 768-5009.



Mufi Hannemann: The mayor of Honolulu implements the tax policy and has the option to sign or veto tax proposals.

Reach him at: mayor@honolulu.gov or 768-4141.

More »

MORE OPINION FORUMS

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SPECIAL REPORTS

Public HousingPublic Housing

The residents of Kuhio Park Terrace and Kuhio Homes live in public housing projects crumbling from neglect. It's time to change that.

Beyond oil

A three-day series on the challenges and opportunities facing Hawai'i as we move away from fossil fuels. More »

THE ADVERTISER'S EDITORIAL STAFF

JEANNE MARIANI-BELDING

Editorial and Opinion Editor

STEPHEN J. DOWNES

Deputy Editorial and Opinion Editor

VICKI VIOTTI

Editorial Writer

STACY BERRY

Editorial Page Assistant

THE COMMUNITY EDITORIAL BOARD

Members of the public who offer their insights into the issues of the day.

THE TEEN EDITORIAL BOARD

Voices from selected high school students in Hawai'i.

Extras

Our TurnOurTurn

Hawaii's high school students share their opinions and editorials from their high school newspapers.

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THIS WEEK'S COLUMNS

Dispute continues over body of water (November 6, 2009)

Mark Platte

We're stuck with McMackin's million (November 3, 2009)

David Shapiro

THIS WEEK'S COMMENTARIES

Hawaii erred in cutting education(October 25, 2009)

Arne Duncan

Helping to move UH forward in tight times (November 7, 2009)

M.r.c. Greenwood

Heading east (November 6, 2009)

Charles E. Morrison

Reading too much into political tea leaves (November 6, 2009)

Jules Witcover

Sometimes life isn't fair, but that's OK (November 6, 2009)

Garrison Keillor

Taiwan Strait peace not permanent (November 6, 2009)

Denny Roy

U.S. must not abandon half of Afghan people (November 5, 2009)

Ellen Goodman

Elections debunk realignment myth (November 5, 2009)

Charles Krauthammer

Include hospice care in health care reform (November 4, 2009)

Dr. Wen-yu Lee

U.S. can succeed in Afghanistan (November 4, 2009)

Victor Davis Hanson

Cheney dodges in CIA leak probe (November 3, 2009)

Jules Witcover

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