Tobacco act helps save lives

This month marks the one-year anniversary of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act that allows the FDA to regulate tobacco just like any other potentially dangerous consumer product.

This law puts a crimp on Big Tobacco's unrestrained recruitment of new user/addicts, in particular individuals under 21 years of age.

The law prevents labeling these deadly products as mild, flavored and/or ultracool - descriptors that belie the addictive nature of this unhealthy substance.

Thank you, Congress, President Barack Obama and the public health community for helping to save future generations from the deceptive tactics of Big Tobacco.

PSAs for HIOSH were not breach of ethics

This is to respond to Farouk Wang's letter to the editor (”;PSAs for HIOSH promote Ching,”; June 3) and correct his apparent misunderstanding and accusation that the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division safety tie-off campaign that started in April was used for personal gain.

These radio announcements were part of a safety tie-off campaign that indicated that the governor, director of labor (Darwin Ching), HIOSH and its advisory board and the federal OSHA, were all united and behind this safety program.

If we were to follow and accept Mr. Wang's logic, no public official could ever make a statement or appearance in the scope of his office, even though nomination papers had not been filed. That is not the law. The state Ethics Commission was also consulted on June 3 and confirmed there was no ethical breach.

Moreover, I recently announced my resignation from appointed public office as of June 15 to fully commit myself to running for elected public office. There has been no abuse of public office for personal gain.

Oi column had mixed message on visitors

As a 20-plus-year visitor to your islands, and a San Diego native, I sympathize with Cynthia Oi's sentiments about one's home losing its luster over the years, (”;Under the Sun,”; May 23). However, I'm getting a mixed message with her commentary about, “;travelers with deep pockets ... leaving Hawaii to a less-affluent crowd that burdens natural and fiscal resources.”;

Does that mean you would prefer fat-cat mainlanders to members of the unwashed masses who occasionally visit, spread some money throughout the local economy, then return home? Just wondering.