They don't use sirens just for the fun of it
In Johnny Miro's sarcastic
letter yesterday about emergency vehicles and sirens, he stated that "Every resident appreciates the fact that emergency services are available." It would seem that the only resident who does not appreciate our emergency responders is Miro.
I am sure that emergency medical services workers have guidelines for when to use the siren. I certainly don't think our EMS professionals are just turning on the siren for the fun of it. Miro is probably the same person who complains when military jets are flying overhead and kids are playing at the park.
Perhaps our EMS personnel will remember to turn off the siren when responding to an emergency call from Miro's home. Or will that be just another criticism from him?
Eric R. Daido
Hickam Air Force Base
Harassment rules shouldn't be changed
It's troubling to see the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission set to change harassment rules to tilt against workers and on the side of employers (
Star-Bulletin, June 19).
On Friday, the commission will vote on new rules to prohibit workers from going directly to their union, federal authorities and even to the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission to seek help from sexual and racial harassment in their workplace.
These rule changes would have direct and immediate impact on the sexual attack and sexual harassment cases involving five women at the Army-owned Hale Koa Hotel (Star-Bulletin, June 9). If the commissioners should vote for these rule changes, women who are harassed must first file their complaints with their employer, who may well be the person harassing the women. This allegedly was the case at the Hale Koa Hotel, where the hotel's Equal Employment Opportunity officer was the accused perpetrator.
As they vote on Friday, I hope the commissioners will show their support of Hawaii's workers and their commitment "to preserve the civil rights of all individuals."
Joy Kobashigawa Lewis
Honolulu
Someone should pay for failed artificial reef
In the June 10 Star-Bulletin (on page A6) you published an Associated Press article with the headline "Cleanup of tire reef begins."
Missing entirely from the article is any mention or notion of genuine accountability for this huge mistake which turned "31 football fields into a dead zone" at the bottom of the ocean off Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. If the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved creation of this reef made of old tires it should pay dearly in real dollars for the mistake.
If the state of Florida approved it, it needs to be nailed, including the politicians who voted OK.
The fact that all had "good intentions" doesn't mean anything. Bad results count and if not acted upon breed more of the same.
Richard O. Rowland
President
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Not everyone pays to attend a fundraiser
The article "Re-election fundraiser draws 3,500" in Tuesday's Star-Bulletin gave strong coverage to the number of people at Mayor Mufi Hannemann's fundraiser last week. The article left the impression the number of people there indicated considerable support for Hannemann.
As I'm sure your paper is aware, a great many tickets to political fundraisers are "comp" or given away simply to ensure the room is full. I have been involved in many campaigns as a volunteer and politicians always (repeat, always) insist the room be packed, especially when the media are there. In a politician's mind, perception is everything and no politician wants to be perceived as not having strong support. A fair question to ask any politician after their fundraiser is how many paid and how many got in free.
It's also telling to see how many people disappear after the food is served and they felt they did their duty by showing up.
Jason Kokaaina
Waipahu
Film festival needs audio enhancement
Ah, the fruits of success! The Maui Film Festival (June 13-17 this year) seems to be growing in both popularity and quality. The Celestial Cinema, in particular, has grown beyond its venue insofar as audio reach.
Instead of getting obnoxiously louder, at some expense, it seems better to distribute the audio to FM radios carried by those attending. The soundtrack could be broadcast on a participating local radio station, or even micro-local right at the event, within a few hundred yards of a very small antenna.
People could then choose the excellence of the sound they want: old-fashioned theater speakers, small handheld radio or fine quality headphones.
Perhaps a Maui Film Festival Channel could be established for the entire week! Congrats to all those who obviously worked very hard to put the big show together. Mahalo.
Everett Peacock
Paia, Maui