I realize that this great need to finish is important to someone. But consideration should be given to those of us who live in the immediate area. How about not working on Saturdays? The noise level is not as loud as the pile driving, but it is still loud. At least the pile drivers let us have weekends off. If the person in charge could please let us have more than one day a week off without being disturbed it would be appreciated.
CARLOS ROLDAN
Why are legislators who earn their living from auto insurance litigation allowed to speak out for, and vote on, legislation that will create a feeding trough for lawyers? Isn't this a conflict of interest?
In all hearings on auto insurance, lawmakers who either enjoy a direct financial benefit from personal injury cases involving auto insurance claims or whose firms benefit from such cases should recuse themselves.
Sadly, the exact opposite occurs. Those with the biggest conflicts are the loudest advocates of pure tort and the most strident opponents of pure no-fault. This seems to be a situation where the proverbial fox is guarding the hen house.
GIANNA CROSETTI BICKSON
For the period of Nov. 24, 1995 to Jan. 25, 1996, I was charged for a total of 28,000 gallons of water consumed by the four units and was billed $53.96 for this two-month period. This is followed by the Department of Wastewater Management (the sewer department) fees for sewer service based on the water consumed by the four units for the same period. It comes to $164.60 - almost three times the water bill.
I am now afraid the Board of Water Supply will up its rates to match.
ELLEN HEE
The situation at Makua is a tough one for everyone involved - the occupants, the state and the Waianae Coast community. It is a situation that can no longer be ignored.
The laws of the state dedicate the Makua Beach area as a public park, rather than as a residential neighborhood. The state Legislature gave DLNR the responsibility to manage our state parks and lands, ensure access to these areas for everyone, and uphold laws which prohibit residency on public park lands. This is a public trust responsibility to future as well as present generations of Hawaiians.
We also have a responsibility to respond to the Waianae community whose members have asked us to take action at Makua. We have received an increasing number of complaints regarding the degradation of the beach and limited access by the public to the area. This degradation includes unacceptable use of the beach and surrounding areas for human waste disposal by more than 200 people.
On March 5, the Waianae Neighborhood Board No. 24 was asked by occupants at Makua to support a five-year moratorium on evictions in the area. The motion failed by a vote of 12 to 1.
While we share the concern that has been expressed for those at Makua, we cannot agree with public land being used for a select few. While the need for public assistance is real for some at Makua, this is not the case for everyone. The state will do everything it can to help those who are truly in need.
MICHAEL D. WILSON
Chairman, Board of Land
and Natural Resources