COUNCIL SHOULD FOCUS ON CITY'S REAL ISSUES

Although it is probably uncomfortable to ride public transportation with someone who stinks, who will become the "Hygiene Police?" How exactly is stinkiness going to be measured? "Their way," as quoted in the article, potentially sounds like the start of cultural and racial discrimination issues to me.

Misters Tam and Garcia need to get a grip and devote their time to issues of impact — the quality of Hawai'i public education, traffic, jobs, health care, and assisting with the economy, to name a few — instead of monitoring people's bathing habits.

Sandi Grundmanis | Kane'ohe

ACTION BY CITY REQUIRED TO ADDRESS PROBLEM

Although I am in agreement with the ACLU most of the time, as a senior bus rider I have experienced many a bus ride from Waikiki to town with homeless persons who apparently receive a bus transfer from Good Samaritans to head back to 'A'ala Park.

Just last weekend I boarded a bus on Kuhio Avenue and got a seat.

At the very next stop a homeless person got on and sat right in front of me.

Needless to say this person reeked of a combination of urine and earth (dirt) smell that became quite noticeable as the bus loaded up to standing room only and with the increase of body heat temperatures.

It came to the point of being unbearable and I had to get off the bus upon reaching Kalakaua and Beretania and catch another bus to town.

I felt empathy for this homeless person, but maybe a quick arrest and a trip to a homeless shelter for a much-needed hot bath and clean clothes would be more humane.

The homelessness in America started its gigantic upsurge in the mid-1980s and continues to worsen.

Dennis Smith | Honolulu

SCHOOL SHAKE-UPS

REMEMBER THE GOAL OF DOE SYSTEM

It is encouraging that Pat Hamamoto is willing to move principals and teachers of schools who are not meeting the No Child Left Behind standards.

It is very discouraging that teachers and principals are more concerned with their union rights than with the welfare of their students. At one point, the teachers must have cared about helping students learn or they would have chosen another career.

Perhaps a change of scene would bring about a different dynamic and a positive result. Let's hope that everyone will remember the goal of our educational system.

Arlene G. Woo | Honolulu

ROAD SAFETY

BICYCLISTS SHOULD MIND LAWS, TOO

The proposed law requiring motorists to stay at least three feet from bicyclists is all well and good but if the ultimate goal is to make our roads safer, then bicyclists must work harder as well.

In the past few months I've seen cyclists speeding down sidewalks, riding against oncoming traffic, talking on cell phones, running stop signs, weaving through cars waiting at stoplights, and cutting across six lanes of traffic in the middle of the block.

Most don't wear protective helmets and some have no blinkers or reflectors to make them visible at night.

Hawai'i's motorists cannot be expected to take all the blame every time an accident occurs; bicyclists should be mindful of the traffic laws which also govern them and behave accordingly.

As the saying goes, safety is everyone's business.

Brandon Leu | Honolulu

WEST O'AHU

UNSUSTAINABLE GROWTH HAS TO STOP

With all due respect to Mr. Whalen, Mr. Clegg and the rest ("Ho'opili project following rational growth blueprint" commentary, Aug. 27) — are you, as former planning directors, really taking credit for the condition we Leeward residents find ourselves in today because of your "plans"?

Are you saying you "planned" for us to sit in this traffic, day to day?

You "planned" to build home after home without parks, trees and the basic infrastructure needed to handle the thousands of people who moved into those homes?

You "planned" it so Makakilo residents are forced to drive through Kapolei to go west on the freeway?

You "planned" to destroy acres of valued farmland?

You "planned" on a West O'ahu campus when we can't even take care of the school in Manoa?

And you "planned" on jobs in the area that pay a decent wage?

Your plans may have looked good on paper at the time, but reality and those pieces of paper couldn't be more different. The unsustainable growth in West O'ahu will detract from our quality of life here, not enhance it. The growth has to stop sometime — now would be good!

Susan Ramie | 'Ewa Beach