Turn driving tests over to private sector
Last week when we went to the Pearl City facility to take a road test, there were at least 30 people ahead of us in line at 6:30 in the morning. Some were in sleeping bags. We found out that the first had arrived at 5:30 p.m. the day before to get a spot. At 8:30 a.m., when road tests were to begin, they displayed a sign saying they were full up for the day, turning away most of us.
The same sign was up when we drove over to the Kapolei facility. When we asked a clerk how early we needed to get in line for a road test, he said that people usually start gathering at 4:30 the previous afternoon for a test the next day.
No doubt City and County officials are aware of the atrocious situation -- I've read newspaper articles about it. So what are they doing about it? If they can't get their act together, maybe they should step aside and let a private sector organization come up with a workable system.
David Sohmer
Kailua
TheBus easier to ride if you check schedule
In his
letter of Jan. 1, Ray Graham tells how using
TheBus ruined his movie night. Well, a holiday night is not the best for riding without checking the schedules.
He complained about having to change buses at Ala Moana Center. There are five bus lines (19, 42, 55, 56, 57) running along Ala Moana Boulevard at night. Three of them (55, 56, 57) end at Ala Moana Center, the other two go to Waikiki. As for the wait for the bus, any number of things (traffic, scheduling and vehicle or driver availability) could affect how long he waited before the bus got there.
My sympathies to Mr. Graham, but after riding TheBus for 16 years, I would never go out at night without checking the schedules first.
Dexter Wong
Honolulu
Nobody likes taxes but they serve a purpose
What's up? The mayor took over a city marred in controversy and burdened with debt. The previous administration robbed Peter to pay Paul, and now the taxpayers have to pay the piper.
I don't like higher taxes, but if it's going to offset future debt, so be it.
Kent Kishi
Aiea
Exposing crimes is an act of patriotism
President Bush now has government agencies trying to discover who leaked news of his illegal domestic spying. It seems to me that exposing illegal acts should not be a crime but an act of patriotism.
I would like to be the first to come forward and accept responsibility for exposing Bush's crime. If this be treason then let us hang together for we will surely hang separately.
David Fell
Hilo, Hawaii
Better solution needed for pedestrian safety
It's painfully obvious that our new pedestrian law has done nothing to curb the accidents here on Oahu. All it is doing is causing worse traffic jams since a lot of pedestrians will step off curbs and into crosswalks no matter what the signal is telling them, causing traffic to sit and wait for them to get all the way across. Frequently during rush hour I see only one car turn right due to this.
Here is a really good solution: At busy pedestrian intersections, just make all sides of the traffic light turn red, letting pedestrians get across. Then cycle the lights but have it so that no pedestrians cross while traffic is moving. Sure, it will delay traffic (in theory) but it beats the system we have now. Monday afternoon it took me seven traffic lights to get through at Dole Street and University Avenue and all due to heavy traffic and pedestrians crossing. It just makes sense.
Tracy Clinger
Honolulu
There's nothing good about goose liver
People who care need to join the
call to ban foie gras (pulverized bird liver) in Hawaii. The suffering involved in the production of this food is obscene and it cannot be justified. This is a "gourmet" nonfood for the unhungry, titillation for bored palates. The wretched ducks and geese suffer from violent force-feeding until their livers reach bursting point. They become so obese that they have trouble just walking or breathing. They are sick animals.
If the case for compassion does not move you, how about the health aspect? Why would anyone want to eat organs from a diseased bird?
Contact these people who are on the Agriculture Committee and ask them to co-sponsor Rep. Chris Halford, who wants to ban foie gras in Hawaii: repabinsay@capitol.hawaii.gov or reptsuji@capitol.hawaii.gov
Lois Raynor
Waikiki