Letters to the Editor
Lower speed limits mean more accidents
In answer to Michael Nomura's rebuttal question to my letter in the Jan. 28 Advertiser on the economic cost of driving slower, let me say that he shares with many people the common misconception that lower speed limits necessarily mean fewer accidents.
Traffic engineers universally agree that lowering speed limits below the 85 percentile will actually lead to more accidents, not fewer. (The 85th percentile speed is the speed that 85 out of 100 cars travel at or below.)
What I demonstrated in my formula is that minutes needlessly lost by thousands and thousands of people day in and day out have tremendous economic value and are not valueless.
Sam Gillie
Great Aloha Run needs more aloha
I would like to commend the Great Aloha Run coordinators and the many volunteers for their tireless efforts in making this year's race a great success despite the many challenges they had to encounter.
It's unfortunate that many participants (especially those who are only concerned about the minutes and seconds it takes for them to complete this "fun" run) overlook the countless hours that these selfless individuals give each year to make this event possible.
People who volunteer from their hearts don't deserve the whining and abuse they received this year from people who can't follow directions. Maybe "living aloha" should be a requirement for participating in next year's race (in addition to paying the entry fee).
As a participant, I would also like to applaud the introduction of the microchip and staggered-start times. I believe they greatly enhanced the safety for all who participated.
To those who made this event possible: Keep up the great work.
Roger Higa
More school boards won't solve problem
Hmmm, the state House wishes to replace one statewide bureaucracy — namely, the Board of Education — with 15 smaller school boards.
Instead of having one gutless school board unwilling to make the tough decisions on school closings, firing the deadwood within the Department of Education, as well as getting tough on accountability, we would have 15 gutless boards to deal with. Instead of having the expense of one board with 13 members, we would have 15 boards with 105 members to finance.
Before we even think of expanding the school board system, we must first determine if we even need a school board in the first place. If we do need one, we must then ask, "What is the purpose of the school board? What powers should it have? How do we avoid mismanagement? Should the school board be elected?"
Let's answer these and other questions before we begin our march to mediocrity.
Roy Kamisato
Mrs. Cayetano part of citizen participation
Hurray for Mrs. Vicky Cayetano exercising her right as a citizen by becoming involved in a pressing issue like long-term care. Why are there now personal attacks on Mrs. Cayetano? Why are these attacks using standardized criticisms? Who are these critics, and what is their purpose?
First ladies have often taken up causes, and I am glad she has chosen this one.
No, she hasn't been elected, but neither have the thousands of residents who are actively, and properly, concerned with legislation. We believe that we need long-term healthcare, no smoking in restaurants, abortion rights or restrictions, gun rights or restrictions, etc. Many of our present laws are a result of citizen participation.
Thank you, Advertiser, for your supportive editorial.
Laura G. Manis
City should acquire condemned property
The City Council should not be using its power of eminent domain to favor one private party over another.
If a public purpose is to be served by condemning Waikiki land, the city should condemn all properties in the parcel (small landowners and Outrigger landowners). It doesn't seem fair for a larger private party to "use" government to take from a private landowner.
By condemning the entire parcel, the city would pay a fair-market value to all landowners. The city could then sell or lease the parcel. It would take away the feeling of paying too little for acquiring a property, and all parties could then bid equally on re-acquiring the land.
Even the small landowners could form a hui to compete with other bidders, thus getting the city the highest return.
The city might even choose to lease the land instead of selling. In that way, say in 50 years, if the city needed the land for a better public purpose, it would not have to condemn it again.
Duke Sturgeon
