Traffic-calming devices work with speeders

The purpose of installing traffic-calming devices is for those times when our minds go on autopilot while driving along familiar, wide, flat roads. Those traffic elements force us to slow down and drive the speed limit.

And we slow down every time with those things — not just those times when we remember on our own, or see citizens with "GO SLOW" signs or police officers with speed guns.

I bet Mr. Borton (Letters, July 10) has gone over the speed limit on Wana'ao Road at least once.

I have lived in a house located off Kihapai Street for almost 20 years, and I know that the Kihapai Street traffic-calming project works. It is not a "failed project," as Mr. Borton stated, and only one traffic element was removed, with no other plans for removal of anything there.

In the year before installing the traffic-calming devices, there were 18 traffic accidents on Kihapai Street. The following year, there was only one accident, and that person was driving while intoxicated. Before the traffic calming, I would regularly see dangerous traffic situations along Kihapai Street — mostly speeding and cutting in front of cars from side roads. Now I don't see any of that.

Mr. Borton, and those opposed to the Wana'ao Road traffic calming, you will love the traffic calming once it's in. Be proud to live in a community for which our Department of Transportation is looking for and finding good solutions to traffic issues — finding preventive solutions. Kudos to Cheryl Soon and her staff.

Infrastructure woes eclipse 'improvements'

In a July 5 letter, a writer praised the mayor and his staff for the "phenomenal and unprecedented" improvements in Leeward and Central O'ahu during the past 10 years. This caused me to wonder which "improvements" he was referring to.

Was it the steadily increasing volume of rush-hour traffic brought about by rapid development without adequate increase in traffic infrastructure capacity to support the development approved by the administration?

Was it an increasing number of overcrowded schools due to inadequate plans to construct new schools to support the growing population of the new developments approved by the administration? Was it the introduction of multi-track to help alleviate the inadequate number of schools built or proposed by developers in the plans approved by the administration?

No, I don't think any of these are the improvements that the writer was referring to. We did get a nice new park in Central O'ahu that, if our current track record is any indicator, may eventually fall into disrepair. Maybe if the administration had required and would require developers to ensure the presence of adequate infrastructure prior to rubber-stamping development plans, it would be easier to determine just what exactly these improvements are.

Solve the problem by altering the benches

After reading James Gonser's July 9 article about the homeless who are sleeping on the few benches that Fort Street Mall residents and merchants rely on, I thought about the situation and how maybe we could address it.

The article revolves around the fact that the homeless have nowhere to sleep. The issue is how to deter them from sleeping on the benches. I frequent the area on business and see most of the people there are elderly and need somewhere to relax.

I don't know if this is a solution to the problem, but, why not take those benches and get a bid from a contractor to install armrests about 2 1/2 feet apart so no one can sleep on them? From my knowledge of construction, it would require drilling holes for the rebar and some plywood form work to accomplish this. Unless you carry a piece of ply board with you to straddle the armrest, it would be quite difficult. The form may be reused, and the cost of 2 feet of rebar is far less than it is to try to figure out what to do with benches that don't work.

I think that the merchants and the elderly shoppers deserve that we look into this possible solution.

Terrorists should also be condemned

I was dismayed when I read The Advertiser's July 12 editorial suggesting that sanctions be imposed on Israel for erecting a security fence.

In response to the Hague's ruling that the fence is illegal, I agree with Sen. Hillary Clinton, who said, "It makes no sense for the United Nations to vehemently oppose a fence which is a non-violent response to terrorism rather than opposing terrorism itself."

The same day that Sen. Clinton made this comment, Colin Powell said, "Israel has proved that since the separation fence was built, it has managed to reduce infiltration by terrorists."

I keep hoping that The Advertiser will broaden its understanding (and balance its reporting) of the complexities of the challenges in the Middle East and at the very least stop blaming Israel, the victim of terrorism, and instead add its voice to those who condemn the use of terrorism as a means of achieving any political objective.

Drivers' show of aloha a pleasant surprise

On Friday, around 4:30 p.m., my grown son and I were attempting to cross the dangerous crossing line on Nimitz Highway fronting Flora-Dec, where cars came at such speed around a curve that both of us were forced to backpedal, my son falling down with his bicycle at one point.

Amazingly, the cars all stopped, all four lanes of them, and they not only stopped until we were safely back on the curve by the ocean where we started, but were obviously waiting for us to try it again! I waved them on, but both my son and I were impressed at their obvious gallantry and aloha spirit. There were no honking, catcalls or hand signs, even from the cars in the back, and there must have been a score of cars all together.

Eventually, we backtracked to a safer spot and crossed even without a crossing line, but both my son and I take off our hats to those wonderful drivers.

Shipboard kumu are getting really good deal

Lee Cataluna's July 11 column laments the fact that kumu would have to pay $50 per day to work as lecturers on local cruise ships. This sounds like basic board and room.

In fact, in Wanda Adams' accompanying Pride of Aloha article, we learn that a cruise on this ship costs "$1,700 and up per person." So a kumu paying $50 per day would effectively receive a $1,350 value, plus $1,700 for their "free guest," or a $3,050 value in exchange for about three hours' work.

A thousand dollars an hour, tax free, sounds like mighty good work, if you don't mind buying your own meals. Where do we sign up?

With economy going great, why all the cuts?

Does the Lingle administration read the same local newspapers as the rest of us do?

Housing prices are up 25 percent. The military, thanks to Sen. Inouye, is commencing on a multi-year, multimillion-dollar construction project. Employment is up. State revenues will be tens of millions of dollars more than projected last fiscal year, and the current state budget is balanced.

However, based on some formula known only to the Lingle administration, there is a projected state budget deficit in the next few years that can only be balanced by restricting 1 percent of state departments' discretionary funds and cutting funding to nonprofit health and social organizations.

Why were these organizations targeted when the state continues to give a technology tax credit? The answer is simple: The Lingle administration is demonstrating core Republican values. These values support businesses at the expense of the economically and socially disadvantaged. After all, who funds the political campaigns and votes on a regular basis?