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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Campaign signs should be removed
Question: Now that the election is over, who is responsible for removing those ugly political signs that are polluting the beauty of our island? I look at them as political graffiti.
Answer: Whoever posted the signs should remove them, but there is no law requiring the removal of campaign signs on private property.
The Outdoor Circle has aggressively pursued tough laws regulating the posting of such signs, but was unable to convince lawmakers this year to crack down on the ubiquitous campaign practice.
In its guidelines for this election, the organization called for all campaign signs to be removed no later than 10 days after the general election. Tomorrow will be the 10th day.
"The day after the (Nov. 7) election, we urged candidates to take steps to immediately remove their campaign signs from the Hawaii landscape," said Bob Loy, director of environmental programs for the Outdoor Circle.
"We are pleased to report that most candidates have been very responsive to that request."
The Outdoor Circle's 13 statewide branches reported that "the signs have been quickly disappearing in most communities," he said.
The organization is urging that any remaining signs be removed by tomorrow.
Next year, Loy said, it plans to continue pushing the Legislature to place limits on the use of campaign signs.
"The proposal will be based on laws that already have been upheld in the courts elsewhere in the United States," Loy said. "If they are passed by our lawmakers, candidates will still be allowed to post signs in future elections, but the practice of 'wallpapering' neighborhoods with extremely large signs or excessive numbers of signs would be prohibited."
Q: I have General Mills coupons that I printed over the Internet. I am having problems with the Pali Safeway in redeeming them. Every time I go there, they say I am not able to use the coupons, whereas other merchants will accept them. Can you help?
A: Try again.
The store is accepting Internet coupons, said Jennifer Webber, director of public affairs for Safeway's Northern California Division.
"The only instances when they were refused has been when the coupons had no bar code or (customers) have more than are allowed to redeem during one shopping trip," she said. If it's the latter case, coupons can be redeemed during future trips.
Speak to the store manager if you have problems.
Webber also advises making sure, when printing online coupons, to make sure the print quality is good enough to be easily read.
Mahalo
To the nice young man who helped me picked up some plastic containers in front of Longs Drug at Kahala Mall. He also helped to carry them to my car. I am so happy to know there are still caring and considerate people in Hawaii. God bless you. -- Aileen of Kahala
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CORRECTION
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Kahala, not Kahawai
"Aileen from Kahawai" said she meant to say "Aileen from Kahala" in her "mahalo" to a good Samaritan ("Kokua Line," Nov. 16).
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kokualine@starbulletin.com.
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