Someone should talk to those noisemakers
Tony Roberts (
Letters, June 25) hit it right on the head. These loud noises are invading our homes and there is nothing we can do. If we do not like a TV or radio program, we can change stations, but there is no way we can turn off or diminish the noise from those who play their loud radios and drive with their loud exhausts. They are indeed insecure and arrogant.
Our quality of life is being degraded by all of them and there is nothing we can do. We cannot depend on the police or politicians but must confront these people and explain to them how they are affecting our lives and destroying the neighborhood. Hopefully we will find in them respect for their neighbors.
Anthony Tepedino
Ewa Beach
Bush cares about land unless it has oil
President Bush has signed into law the creation of an isle sanctuary in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (
Star-Bulletin, June 15). This is the same President Bush who has pushed nearly every single environmental protection law in our country directly back into the Stone Age!
It seems that Mr. Bush would do anything to win the hearts and minds of the great people who inhabit this island chain that we call Hawaii. I think we all know for certain that there would be completely different types of documents and declarations being made for the NWHI had Bush and his corporate pals found vast oil reserves there. Remember a place called the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
Michael Lauck
Honolulu
Smoking bill unfair to businesses, customers
If Senate Bill 3262 becomes law, I can sell cigarettes in my establishment to my customers, the state will get the tax it so desperately wants and needs for its cancer research center, but my customer can't enjoy a cigarette with his cocktail. What's up with that? I'm all for a no-smoking policy, but the way the law is written, it takes away the business owner's right of choice.
The bill should be amended so that businesses that serve alcohol should have the choice as to allow smoking in their establishments or not. Not only would it be the business owner's choice, but the customer's choice as well. Please re-think and re-word this bill so that it is fair and equitable for the smokers as well as the nonsmokers.
Fred Remington
Vice president, E & J Lounge Operating Co., Inc.
Honolulu
Don't build cabins in Hawaii Kai
Hawaii Kai is maxed out on development. Allowing the proposed Mauuwai and Queen's Rise resort would be highly irresponsible. East Honolulu sewer lines have deteriorated and do not have the capacity to keep up with the rapidly growing population. Traffic going in and out of Hawaii Kai already crawls during peak hours, and should a natural disaster occur, evacuation would be extremely difficult. There is regularly no parking at Hawaii Kai grocery stores, and the medical facilities are often backed up and unable to tend to urgent needs.
The proposed resort is to be erected on the undeveloped Kaiwi Coastline. There is no way that the area will continue to look pristine and breathtaking with the planned 180 cabins. Hundreds of residents spoke and voted against the projects at Tuesday's community board meeting. Not one resident voiced support for the development. Keep the resort and anything of the sort out of Hawaii Kai.
Hillary Cramer
Honolulu
No amount of money can make up for dump
It was with great dismay that I witnessed our mayor announcing the Leeward side compensation package for hosting the dump (
Star-Bulletin, June 27). Let's set the record straight. No amount of pork slathered on the Leeward side by the city administration can possibly atone for this mismanaged quagmire. The stench from the dump continues to this day. The litter on both sides of Farrington Highway caused by uncovered truck loads entering and exiting the dump continues as well. Not to mention the heavy usage by these large trucks as they beat Farrington highway into a pothole hell. So far during the last two months, two garbage trucks have turned over on Farrington, spewing garbage all over the road and blocking traffic for hours.
The red patina of dust blown from the dump covers the buildings in our complex and causes concern as to its makeup. Is it laced with asbestos that the city and Waste Management have conveniently "lost" in the bowels of the dump?
Not to be the ungracious host, Mr. Mayor, but I suggest you best hang onto your pork largess and save it for the impending lawsuit which will surely follow on the heels of the largest environmental fine ever imposed on a dump operation.
John S. Fletcher
Kapolei