Letters to the Editor

Substantial fines may help curb street racing

Advertising the fact that prosecuting "racing" accidents is difficult just strengthens the resolve of individuals who will continue to participate in this type of behavior.

Some individuals have a total disregard for laws, their own safety or the safety of others. The logical way to curtail this type of activity is to increase the financial consequences.

The fine for racing should be substantial. If an individual has prior speeding citations, a suspension of their license and jail time should be added. The registration fees for "souped" up cars should be twice the amount for an average automobile. Parents of these kids should also be held financially accountable.

Accountability only way to help prevent abuses

Joyce Choy's Dec. 16 Island Voices column, "Give principal chance to excel," perfectly reflects the "Old Beginning" mindset that has hampered Gov. Linda Lingle's laudable attempt to implement meaningful school reform.

Choy advocates that we do not fire school principals even if they turn out to be incompetent and that instead of a three-year contract the principals should be given tenure, a job for life. How can you hold someone accountable if they can't be fired except for the most egregious abuses?

Let's apply Choy's concept to another walk of life — imagine what would happen if we stopped electing legislators for two- or four-year terms and instead gave them lifetime tenure. Many, if not most legislators, would become arrogant and complacent, and would switch to representing a constituency of one (themselves).

Oh, wait, we already do that for our congressional delegation.

June Jones earned his $800K ... yeah, right

Let's see, the University of Hawai'i beat two teams that had winning records (Fresno State and Division II Appalachian State). UH has eight wins over teams that have a combined record of 34 wins and 64 losses. UH lost to two teams that have a 6-6 record.

Yes, this is a record that deserves $800,000-plus a year. If this is the case, all UH coaches should earn $800,000 a year.

Collaboration hailed on waterfront project

Mayor Jeremy Harris is to be commended and given the credit for the initiative to beautify Nimitz Highway, as reported in your Dec. 17 article. The mayor initiated the approach to Department of Transportation Director Rod Haraga and myself with this idea and suggested the city's $400,000 share if the state could match it.

The mayor also took Rod and I on a tour of the section of Ala Moana Boulevard where the city several years ago built the median and planted the trees and shrubs. It was the mayor's vision of a world-class city with tree-lined boulevards that the state is proud to share.

To me the exciting thing is the close collaboration and partnership being formed between the state and city as we all seek to properly steward and develop the downtown waterfront property.

Hopefully tour will get Prince back in groove

Glad to see Prince rockin' the house again ("Prince sizzles for lucky few who attended," Dec. 17). It's well known that the last time Prince was in town he played an underwhelming set list void of many of the hits his fans came to see.

Apparently many people, including myself, thought better than to plop down $60-plus in Christmas cash to see a repeat performance indulging his musical whims. Hopefully this most recent tour will be a springboard for Prince generating new interest and excitement so he can once again make relevant music.

Keep alcohol out of mix when behind the wheel

The holidays are here, with parties, alcohol, driving. There are the TV ads about thinking before drinking, and about MADD.

I was a driver of mostly small dial-a-ride buses for 10 years in California. Often I drove 10-hour shifts and up to 60 hours per week. I observed that there are plenty of problems to get into on the streets and highways while "cold sober." No need to further complicate those problems by sloshing alcohol into the brain.

Whoever has the steering wheel has everybody's life in hand. No one else has the controls. Those hands and feet that are on the accelerator and brake and clutch are at the controls. What drives those hands and feet is the brain.

It is hard enough to drive a big and potentially dangerous thing that a car is without putting alcohol into the mix. What is needed most when on the streets and highways is a clear, alert brain. Even a small amount of alcohol slows the brain and the ability to drive safely. Not only the safety of passengers, people in other cars and pedestrians on the streets, but the life and safety of the driver, are at risk with just a little alcohol dimming the brain.

If not out of concern for the lives of others, a driver must at least consider the safety of his or her own body. Or maybe the bottom line is the smashing up of a beautiful car; who wants to do that?