Retailers should take back containers

Diana Caldwell's Jan. 19 letter, "Redemption centers are too inconvenient," is typical of letters I've been reading the past two weeks. One of the reasons she had to wait so long at the redemption center is that there are a limited number of centers. Hawaii is the only state of the 11 with "Bottle Bills" that does not mandate retailers to be redemption centers. The only exception that I'm aware of is Daiei, for a one-month trial period.

If retailers took back the beverage containers that they sold, there would be enough redemption centers so that no one would have to wait in line a long time or be forced to find a center a great distance away from home. If the bottle bill is to be "fixed," the retailers should be good corporate citizens and redeem containers.

HECO charges too much in hidden fees

With Hawaiian Electric Company's rate increase request and hearings in the news, I just want to bring attention to the excessive fixed "customer charge" of $7 per month HECO charges all of its residential customers for meter reading and billing. For many, this is more than 10 percent of the total bill and is overlooked because it's buried in the itemized charges.

The consumer advocates and the public should fight to have this reduced or repealed. No matter how inefficient operations, I cannot imagine how HECO justifies $7 per month to read meters (which they don't do every month anyway), distribute bills and process payments.

Memminger taps into the local pulse

It was nice to see Charles Memminger on the front page of last Sunday's paper. The more I read his "Honolulu Lite" column, the more I like it. His recent article on the recycling fiasco and the ridiculous 5-cent redemption debacle was right on the money. I especially enjoyed his column Tuesday about Rep. Joe Souki's ill-advised plan to bring back the traffic cams. His witty reality checks speak for a lot of us.

Keep up the good work, Charley!

Souki should try his traffic ideas on Maui

How does Rep. Joe Souki continue to get elected ("Traffic speeds on to agenda," Star-Bulletin, Jan. 17)? He wants to punish people for owning multiple cars and bring back traffic cameras? How does someone from Maui know what's the best traffic solution for people on Oahu? I say try your ideas on your own constituents first before you do anything else, and see if you get re-elected!

Ala Wai still has room for improvement

Regarding the recent Ala Wai Boulevard improvement, I am disturbed by the following observations:

» Every bench from Kapahulu Avenue to Ohua Street has arms broken off. (Previous benches had metal arms.)

» There is not a single trash can to be found and there is lots of trash, especially around the benches and in the Ala Wai Canal.

» A new plaque posted in stone.

» The bike route consists of a solid painted line that stretches from Ainakea Way to Keoniana Street and then resumes on the McCully Bridge.

In my opinion, this does not constitute an improvement. The benches are not as sturdy, and the amount of trash has increased. No trash bins but a new plaque. And as for the bike route, the only difference is that the line has been made solid for a portion and there have been signs posted. Is this a joke?