Three-ton truck would stop street racing cold

Regarding the problem of those brain-dead racers who have no regard for the safety of others, I have a novel idea on how to curtail their activities.

Let's start doing all freeway construction between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. Not even those boneheads would risk running into the rear of a three-ton gravel truck when the only one standing a chance of getting injured or killed would be them.

An added benefit would be that day-time commuters wouldn't have to sit in traffic as much as they do now.

Jim Fromm
Waipahu

Let's recount the ways city pols have failed us

Let us recount the ways that Honolulu City Council persons are serving their constituents:

>> District 1 - Rene Mansho? Enough said, I suppose.

>> District 2 - Steve Holmes still hasn't answered allegations about his college transcripts to my satisfaction. How about yours?

>> District 3 - John Henry Felix has succeeded so far in his considerable rule-bending on home-based business requirements with his wedding chapel business. As I see it, one occupant per home-based business does not include a vicar, a limo driver, caterers and photographers. Admit it John, it's a business.

>> District 4 - Atta boy, Duke Bainum!

>> District 5 - And what are we to do with Andy Mirikitani? Throw away the key.

>> District 6 - Jon Yoshimura's pants are on fire. I wonder what the Hawaii Bar Association has to say about leaving a crime scene. In the light of questions about how he reported campaign expenses, he's an attorney trained to understand campaign-spending laws, for God's sake.

>> District 7 - Romy Cachola, as a new kid on the block, we welcome you warmly.

>> District 8 - Gary Okino, too.

>> District 9 - Looking good, John DeSoto, but leave the aquarium where it is and build another highway instead. That would really help your district.

Now, as I count it, five of our elected officials are defending questionable legal or ethical positions while four are trying to do the business of their offices. Let's have a vote of confidence on our City Council. The taxpayers of Honolulu should demand it.

Peter Aiello

[Quotables] "It's totally and completely illegal. By law you're entitled to be released when bail is posted." Earle Partington, Honolulu attorney, on a bail policy that requires a court seal and stamp that can be obtained only during regular business hours. The policy results in arrested persons being kept in jail longer, sometimes overnight or over a weekend, until the proper paperwork can be completed. "If the conference fails, it will fail because the extremists are attempting to torpedo the conference." Rep. Tom Lantos, Democrat from California and U.S. delegate to the World Conference Against Racism, on inflammatory language used in conference documents condemning Israel as an "apartheid regime."

Police officers should honor their motto

As I drive around Honolulu I see the Honolulu Police Department's vehicles and on them is the department's motto: Honesty, Integrity and Respect. Lately, I've been wondering about how well HPD follows its own beliefs.

The recent scandal involving top officers in the department shows that changes are needed to improve the force. A change in attitude needs to take place -- that HPD officers are to enforce the laws and not break them. Police officers need to set good examples for others to follow, especially for the children of Honolulu who look up to them.

It seems as if the police are only protecting their own. I sure hope that the truth will be made known and all involved face the consequences of their actions. If HPD wants community support, then it needs to make big changes in its policies, personnel and procedures.

I hope that the HPD will learn from this experience that its members cannot run from the truth and that their sins will always catch up with them. They should not be cowards but own up to what they have done and accept what's coming to them.

It's time for the police to honor their motto.

Alan Kim
Aiea

Teachers' troubles give them strength

The state does not have confidence in the ability of the lawyers in the Attorney General's Office to handle the case against the teachers, so it has to look out of state and use our taxes (including the teachers') to pay for this. The state undervalues public school teachers, too, as it has demonstrated.

What does this mean?

No one here at school is pausing very long to think about that. All I see are people going forward with calm determination, especially given the circumstances. My students seem unusually eager to learn and glad to be at school so far. This is very satisfying for me, and inspiring for my teaching. Perhaps it is that I have improved or am even more enthusiastic about what I do after the events of the year so far.

Parents, do not despair. As long as we are in the classrooms my colleagues and I will focus intently upon teaching your children how to read, write, calculate and stand tall.

Nandarani Evans

Charges against Gabbard were rejected

In his Sept.1 letter, Justin Leach makes the false claim that school board member Carol Gabbard made campaign violations during the fall 2000 campaign. This is an unsubstantiated charge. If he hasn't heard, Americans are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Common sense and intelligence are two reasons why Campaign Spending Commission director Robert Watada doesn't feel that these charges are worth pursuing. It costs taxpayer money for the commission to do these investigations. Obviously, there are more relevant areas where the commission should be focusing its time and resources.

Todd Bishop

Attacks against Gabbard are relentless

Justin Leach's Sept. 1 letter is a hate-filled personal attack on Carol Gabbard. I don't think I have ever seen a group of people more vindictive or zealous than homosexual activists and their supporters. They will stop at nothing to shove their point of view and values down our throats.

Whether they are trying to legalize same-sex marriage, teach homosexuality in schools, or to bash Christianity and the Boy Scouts, the result is always the same. Anyone who questions their agenda is terrorized and threatened relentlessly until they eventually throw in the towel.

Fortunately for Hawaii, we have Gabbard as a school board member. Instead of backing down to their demands, she will do everything in her power to ensure that the health and well-being of our children is assured.

Chris Connoley
Pahoa, Hawaii

---

Letter guidelines The Star-Bulletin welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point on issues of public interest. The Star-Bulletin reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed, must include a mailing address and daytime telephone number. Letter form: Online form, click here E-mail: letters@starbulletin.com Fax: (808) 529-4750 Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813