Officials need help clearing game traffic
As we were sitting in traffic Saturday trying to get into the Purdue/University of Hawaii football game, I couldn't help but think the personnel who were supposed to be controlling traffic might want to go to Lafayette, Ind., to learn a little about keeping traffic moving in a more effective way.
We go to most of the Purdue games, and we've never had to sit in traffic for two hours. As I understand, the Warriors don't usually have that big of a crowd, but ticket sales should have forewarned officials to be prepared for more traffic.
In West Lafayette and Lafayette, there are police and other traffic control personnel at every intersection before and after the game. Other personnel are situated at other strategic points to keep traffic moving. It takes coordination and planning, but it is well worth the effort. If the traffic personnel need more training, they might try contacting Purdue.
Judy Jones
Chesterton, Ind.
Anti-cig gang stomping on civil liberties
Well, the "cigarette Nazis" are at it again and another law was passed, prohibiting smoking pretty much everywhere.
Some of the worst ones are the "born again" ex-smokers. Hey, good for them that they quit, but others also have rights and should not be imposed upon or denied their constitutional rights or civil liberties.
Yes, the law is supposed to protect employees ... well, but they all smoke! Those who don't should and do work in nonsmoking establishments. It all seems so simple, but then bureaucrats like to complicate things (job security). It seems much simpler for a business owner to decide if his business is smoking or nonsmoking. Then customers and employees have a choice of where to go and where to work. It should always be the owner's choice how to run his business. There are already lots of obstructive rules they have to abide by and enforce.
How about you nicotine fiends do something about the vog, smog, asbestos, weed killers, fertilizers and diesel fumes that really affect people? That black soot that we all have settling in our homes (and our lungs) here in Kailua-Kona? Furthermore, obesity is already considered a bigger hazard than cigarettes, so lose some weight, be happy and nonjudgmental and leave us smokers be!
Your aloha is appreciated -- in case you don't remember, we live in Hawaii.
Christa Wagner
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Law gives nonsmokers their rights back
People who are grumbling about the smoking ban should take a good look at the whole picture.
It took 35 years to get this far with the smoking regulations -- the first partial ban was submitted back in 1970. Nonsmokers were inhaling second-hand smoke and getting seriously ill from others around them. Rights? Where are their rights? The nonsmokers' rights were not just taken away but were trampled and stuffed underground because smokers never gave them a second thought.
Being American means having a choice, so if you choose to smoke then nobody is going to tell you not to. Your doctor, your loved ones and the smoking industry will warn you, ask you, plead with you not to smoke, but that is your choice. At least now, with this new law, you cannot infringe your nasty habit and that killing cloud of smoke onto others. Nonsmokers now have their rights back with a cleaner, smoke-free environment when we go to the restaurants, malls, concerts, stores, bars, fast-food establishments and nightclubs.
Nobody is taking away your choice to smoke, but by the laws set by the U.S. Constitution and the local government, they can pass a law to tell you where you can smoke. This law is to protect the health and well-being for the millions of people who choose not to smoke.
Now ... that is being part of America.
Peter Keawela
Honolulu
Rail is preferable option for seniors
As a retiree, I have concerns that as the traffic congestion gets worse I will not be able to drive to my chosen destination. The increase in both population and automobiles is making driving a challenge, especially for seniors like me, and the rail alternative makes the most sense.
This rail system will not be affected by roadway traffic and would connect to other modes of transportation such as the bus. I would prefer to ride the rail rather than be dependent on my children to drive me around.
Adding more lanes will add to traffic congestion, especially in the downtown area and side streets. The HOT lanes will be the "hurry up and wait" lanes when you get to the exit points. I cannot see myself scheduling my life activities around off-peak hours to be on the road. The rail system will give me the opportunity to get to my destination at any time and improve my quality of life.
This is not the time for political quibbling. We need to move forward in getting this project started. We have been planning for this for 30 years and it is time to step up to the plate and get it done.
Gary Akita
Honolulu
Voters should have kicked Dems out
Now that Hawaii's general election has come and gone, I am still in shock to see that the Democrats are still in power. After many years of the Democratic Party being in power, it all went to their heads. The party was only giving us broken promises and a declining economy.
They promised to fix our schools and did not. They promised to put more money into education, and only made cuts. And since Linda Lingle has been governor of Hawaii, things have been brighter. The Republican Party has kept its promises and Hawaii is a better state because of it. I hope that the Democrats can learn a lesson about keeping a promise that they make. It will be a long time for this Republican to trust the Democrats again.
Alan Kim
Aiea