Letters to the Editor
Councilman's apology does nil for character
What are we to make of City Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura's apology for lying to everyone two years ago about a traffic mishap? Are we to say it's OK that he lied to us? I am just thankful that he hit a parked car and not a person. Would he have stopped had he hit a person?
Why do we keep electing into public office people of such low moral character, politicians who obviously are only in it for themselves but try to deceive us into thinking that they are helping us?
Enough is enough. Get all of these low-lifes out of public office.
Chuck Young
Integrity should apply to chief of police, too
I believe Det. Alex Garcia, head of the O'ahu chapter of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, should be applauded for calling for the resignation of the chief of police and members of his administrative staff involved in "Foodgate." As a retired police officer and former chairman of the O'ahu Chapter of SHOPO, I support Garcia for these reasons:
HPD is a paramilitary organization. As such, general orders and the sanctity of command are the essence of order and discipline. HPD has general orders regarding the consumption of food and the appearance of improprieties. The food was not the sharing of a bag of chips; it was a "buffet breakfast" set out at the Honolulu Police Department headquarters. Since when is it permitted to have a subordinate throw a food bash for higher-ups? It would be expected of a police chief to ask where the food is coming from. If the people entrusted with the enforcement of our laws cannot police themselves, then who will?
I also believe that this may only be the tip of an iceberg. If the foods were delivered to the officer's restaurant, were these foods used for other purposes?
Garcia knows that for an organization like the HPD to maintain its position, it must start with the top. The department's motto of "fairness, respect and integrity" should apply to all, from the officer on the beat to the chief of police.
John F. Souza III
HPD food theft charges are petty, not criminal
I can't believe that at this time, when we are trying to hang onto our finest, there are calls to get rid of our best.
I remember well my interview when I applied to be a cook at the cafeteria at Honolulu Police Department headquarters. I was told that officers are to be treated very specially, with extra-good meals that should be cooked the way they like it and that there should be no problems with the food.
Anyone in food service here knows there are vendors who know how to take care of their "special customers" without incurring extra costs. When it comes to buying food, you try to get the best.
There have been no hungry prisoners. This is all so petty. We should keep feeding everyone what they've been getting. Money was allocated for food, and food was bought. Some have been getting good food, others have been getting great food. So what?
Feeding these people — men and women we depend on when we need them the most — good food is a fine idea.
Michael Akin
Hale'iwa
HECO has nothing to do with community event
This letter is in response to Nancie Caraway's Aug. 23 letter regarding "HECO trying to pit Palolo against Manoa." Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but to use the Palolo Pride event as a negative aspect because you do not agree with HECO is wrong.
If anyone is doing something sneaky, it is you, by using something special and positive as our Palolo Pride Community Celebration to pursue your fight against the power lines on Wa'ahila Ridge.
This annual event, which will be celebrated on Sept. 15, has been a positive force in the Palolo Community and has helped to bring residents and businesses from Palolo and the surrounding communities together for seven years. It has helped our efforts of building a strong and healthy community.
Palolo Pride is coordinated and run by volunteers from the community and is funded solely through donations, grants and fund-raising. Committee members, volunteers and entertainers donate their own time. We do not get paid or wined and dined by anyone. We work hard for nine months putting this event together.
Geneva N. Carden
Chairwoman, Palolo Pride Committee
President hurting health of nation
Does anyone believe President Bush's foolish claim that the sharp drop in the federal surplus is "incredibly positive news"? The Bush tax cut for the very rich also prevents reduction in the enormous Reagan deficits.
His tax cuts and lost surplus will endanger Social Security and Medicare. They will worsen infant mortality, life expectancy and all other health indicators. Part of those ills are a result of America's 40 million-plus population, many of them children, without any health insurance.
The United States is the only modern nation that lacks any national health insurance. And that's because we rank near the bottom of modern countries in taxes. The unfair Bush tax cuts will bring us down to the very bottom in all health and other human needs.
Jerome G. Manis
Community grateful for successful resolution
Our sincerest mahalo to all those involved in bringing the Mililani Mauka antenna issue to a successful resolution. After nearly a year of difficult engagement, a win-win agreement was struck to move the AT&T antenna to a new location.
Thanks to the inspiring efforts of AT&T, Mayor Jeremy Harris and the city, AT&T will move its antenna to the Mililani Mauka District Park site. We are grateful especially to Councilwoman Rene Mansho, who faced angry Mililani Mauka residents and averted a long legal entanglement by bringing all parties together. Thanks to her efforts, the antenna move will be completed within 60 days.
We urge VoiceStream also to be a good neighbor by relocating its antenna now that AT&T has offered to share the use of the new antenna.
Again, mahalo to all.
Ed Uchida
World-class city visited
We just returned from Vancouver, British Columbia, and saw a waterfront redevelopment that was something to behold. Any world-class city should look at what Vancouver has accomplished.
We stayed in a bright, fashionable condo near the waterfront, within walking distance to a vibrant downtown area. It was everything you would hope a modern city would be. We felt safe, comfortable and well-looked after by an attentive, warm and caring staff.
Fortunately, the aloha spirit exists in the hearts and minds of many people all over the world.
Brian D. Hughes
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Street racing
'Modified' vehicles don't belong on roads
It's saddening and frustrating to see that street racing has taken another innocent life.
Maybe legislation should look into restricting these "modified" domestic vehicles to be driven only at a racetrack. After all, you normally don't find Indy 500 cars cruising down the freeways on the Mainland.
These over-powered vehicles should not be allowed on public roadways. Every vehicle is a potential killing machine. In the hands of an inexperienced driver or "speed demon" type of driver, that potential increases exponentially.
Keep the racers where they belong — on the racetrack. That's the reason they're modifying their vehicles. The rest of us just are trying to get from point A to point B safely and soundly in our "normal" performance vehicles.
Brent Catekista
Harsher penalties may be only solution
Once again we find that speed certainly can kill. And the harsh reality is that it could happen to anyone at any time.
How many more lives are we willing to see taken away until something is done to put a cap on this? How many more families must undergo the pain and suffering of losing a loved one? Enough is enough.
We need harsher penalties for caught speeders. And I don't mean imposing a higher minimum of fines.
If you're caught speeding for the first time, your license should be revoked for six months, your car should be impounded or put under house arrest and you should be fined $500. If you're caught a second time, your license should be revoked again and your license plates surrendered. You then would have to take 80 hours of driver-safety courses. Upon the third offense, your driver's license should be revoked for a year and your license plates again removed. You also would be fined $1,000.
If you injure or kill someone while speeding, you should be charged with attempted murder or manslaughter. Perhaps a negligence charge should be thrown in, too, since the driver knowingly broke speed-limit laws.
The Legislature must come up with penalties making it perfectly clear that the people of Hawai'i will no longer stand by and watch as lives are lost because of speeding.
H. Sasano
West O'ahu
Laws should address DUI problems, as well
I am not one who either condones or accepts street racing. In fact, I believe that anyone found guilty of street racing should be prosecuted under the strictest sense of the laws.
However, I have a question for Police Maj. Robert Prasser and city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle — who claims he wants to better protect the public from the "grave potential of killing some innocent, responsible driver or pedestrian," and went on to say, "And if people are accomplices, aiding and abetting or participating in racing, even if they are not the person that caused the death, we'll look at them with the accomplice liability statute and see if it applies."
Why do we not look at doing the same for drivers who drive under the influence of alcohol? Why are we seeking legislation to allow police to take possession of a car when it is involved in road racing or a traffic fatality without also applying this in DUI-related cases? Shouldn't these people also lose their vehicle based upon the above-mentioned criteria?
Drunk drivers kill more people on the roads of Hawai'i than street racers do, yet it seems the police and city prosecutor would rather fight a battle that makes them look righteous.
If their concerns were to protect the public, they would look at curbing crimes that kill and injure the most people and not the incidents that give the most publicity.
Noel Araki
Mililani
Taking car away would send message
Gov. Ben Cayetano's comment in the Aug. 29 Advertiser that he is doubtful that confiscating vehicles would prevent people from speeding or racing is beyond belief.
If you take their car away while they still have to make those car payments, these speeders may have just enough left for a bus pass. That is, unless Mommy and Daddy bail them out financially, again.
Roger A. Hutchings
Cayetano's attitude not helping problem
Kudos to Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Cal Kawamoto and state Rep. Joe Gomes for their plan to allow police to impound street racers' vehicles for up to six months. But bushels of rotten tomatoes to Gov. Ben Cayetano for his "boys will be boys" attitude. Boys who will be boys at 70 mph are dangerous.
At the very least, get them off public roads where people are and onto a racetrack where the only people they can hurt are themselves.
Beth King-Mock
