TRAFFIC SAFETY

CROSSWALK LAW NEEDS REVISION IN WORDING

One way to help improve pedestrian safely is for the Legislature to revise the ambiguous and confusing Section 291C-72(a), HRS.

The way the law is written, neither the driver nor the pedestrian nor the police officer knows what to do when the pedestrian reaches the second half of the roadway. My suggested revision is as follows:

1) The driver of a vehicle on a one-way, undivided roadway shall stop and yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk when the pedestrian enters into or is in the marked crosswalk.

2) The driver of a vehicle on a two-way undivided roadway shall stop and yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk when the pedestrian enters into or is in the marked crosswalk, regardless of the direction in which the vehicle is traveling.

3) The driver of a vehicle on a two-way divided roadway shall stop and yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk when the pedestrian enters into or is in the marked crosswalk on the side of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling.

The following section of the current law, which is fine, specifies that a pedestrian is not to suddenly leave a curb in a manner that makes it impossible for a driver to yield.

The Legislature has a responsibility to write laws in a way that everyone — pedestrian, driver, police officer — can understand their intent and will contribute to reducing the shameful toll of pedestrian deaths and injuries we are currently enduring.

CROSSWALK BUFFER ZONE URGED FOR SCHOOL KIDS

State Department of Transportation engineers should design a buffer zone for mid-block crosswalks and crosswalks used by our keiki who walk to and from school.

The buffer zone should be designed so that motorists know they are entering and exiting the zone.

Once motorists enter this zone, they must yield to pedestrians. No parking, standing, loading and unloading will be allowed, and speed limit will be 15 mph. Also, no passing or lane-changing will be allowed.

Changing driving habits is more effective than stiffer fines.

The buffer zone is designed to change motorists' attitudes and driving habits. Eye contact and yielding to pedestrians are difficult when you are traveling 35 mph.

The ultimate goal is for motorists to slow down, check for pedestrians and observe the actions of other vehicles when approaching crosswalks and intersections.

NEWS STORY

NO NEED TO POINT OUT TV'S 'STATESIDE' ERROR

Since moving to Hawai'i, I have more than once made the small mistake of referring to the Mainland as "stateside."

Sorry, slap my hand.

So next time when the Golf Channel or someone makes the same error, please don't rush to make the "Hawai'i statehood message" known in the newspaper (honoluluadvertiser.com, Feb. 17).

We all know it's a state. It is just a simple mistake for people living on the Mainland. And it doesn't call for any type of news reporting.

Save your writing space for something more worthy next time. Like how well the 25th Infantry is doing in Iraq.

POLITICS

ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED TO HEAR FROM PUBLIC

Over the past few years, I've read many outstanding letters from Island residents (and non-residents), all with valid opinions and comments.

We are a diverse group. From Abercrombie to Zipper lanes, there are some great thoughts and potential solutions regarding taxes, housing, smoking (or not smoking), healthcare, rail systems — you name it! You can feel the passion we have for Hawai'i.

What I hope, though, is that we're not just an isolated little forum amongst ourselves.

I would encourage everyone who writes to The Advertiser (and keep them coming) to also take the time to let your elected officials know your position. Whatever the level — City Council, state Legislature or congressional — these are the decision-makers, and they need to hear from us. As my grandfather used to tell me, "Even if you voted the other way, they work for you!"

I have received very prompt and appropriate responses from most officials when writing.

Politics is not easy and can be frustrating. But let's make our voices heard beyond the paper, to keep Hawai'i this very special place to live.

BOTTLE BILL

RECYCLING 'TAX' NEEDS TO BE NEUTRALIZED

Whatever happened to the study the state was supposed to conduct to make it more equitable when weighing recyclables versus the per container rate?

I just turned in 200 aluminum and 90 plastic containers for which the retailers collected a recyclable deposit of $14.50.

The containers were weighed because they totaled more than 50. I got back $9 for the aluminum and $4.15 for the plastics for a grand total ripoff of $1.35.

We need the retailers to have redemption machines so this "recycling" tax can be neutralized.

CREDIT FILES

SECURITY FREEZE LAW MUST BE AMENDED

I was pleased to read in Michelle Singletary's piece in The Advertiser (Feb. 15) that Hawai'i is one of 26 states that permit individuals to place a security freeze on their credit files.

I was not so pleased to discover that Hawai'i is one of only three states that will only allow persons who are already victims of identity theft to do so.

The other states permit anyone to place a freeze on their files with all three major credit agencies for a small fee (those who are already victims can do so without charge).

A security freeze is a valuable tool for anyone who wishes to prevent identity theft. It has much less value after such theft has already occurred.

There is no logical reason for the state to bar anyone from the right to place a freeze on information concerning his personal credit record, if he wishes to do so.

Please contact your representatives in the Legislature and urge them to amend Act 138 to allow not only those who have already been victimized, but anyone, to place a security freeze on his credit files.

PLANNING

MANY PUBLIC FACILITIES ARE OLD, THREADBARE

With all due respect to Ms. Cataluna, "small, old and threadbare" is not an acceptable standard for public facilities in a world-class visitor destination with avowed aspirations of becoming a sustainable city.

I have lived in Honolulu for 15 years, and I still cannot understand why we accept standards of planning, architecture and maintenance for public projects that would not be tolerated in many developing countries.

"Small, old and threadbare" — is an apt description, not only for the Waikiki Aquarium, but also for the University of Hawai'i-Manoa (I am a graduate), our public school buildings (my wife is a teacher), Aloha Stadium, the Waikiki Natatorium (don't get me started on this one), our public parks, our sewer and wastewater treatment system, and our roads. We accept power plants, auto dealers, parking lots and garbage truck garages cluttering our few remaining waterfront acres, while decrying money spent on planning and beautification as wasteful.

Glitzy new high rises may be going up on every street corner, but our public sector seems to be stuck in the plantation era.

We cannot count on private developers to provide leadership in upgrading our public facilities. I applaud House Speaker Calvin Say for having the vision to see that Kaka'ako Makai has the potential to become a new gathering place for residents and visitors alike — the crown jewel of our waterfront — with a new Honolulu Aquarium as its centerpiece.

CRITICAL THINKING

EDUCATION IN ARTS FURTHERS STUDENT SKILLS

I am shocked that the Department of Education teacher liaison to the Honolulu Academy of Arts is to be eliminated. The state position will be replaced with a literacy position for the Honolulu District.

Dorothy Oshiro, the current teacher liaison, has worked for 39 years organizing museum tours and programs for at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Last year, the academy welcomed 22,000 visiting schoolchildren (K-12); 16,000 were from public schools.

Museum visits address every state and federally mandated content performance standard.

As a public school teacher working in Kalihi, I find that a majority of my students have never been to an art museum. When we go to the Honolulu Academy of Arts, they learn about history, literature, math, science and culture through art in ways that cannot be found in books.

National studies show that students exposed to the arts become better critical thinkers and perform higher in all subject areas.

I want to see the arts treated with dignity by administrators who have the power to make a difference in the lives of the poor and disadvantaged.

We need more arts teachers and coordinators, not one less.