Readers rage about speed limits

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Harris is being unfairly targeted

Mayor Jeremy Harris has been unfairly picked on.

Yes, I know Robert Watada, director of the Campaign Spending Commission, is trying to do his job. However, there are elected officials who are not being investigated. The public wants to know their status, too, even if they are all right.

As far as the "resign to run" law goes, there are many elected officials who are candidates for other offices who did not resign after filing organizational reports.

There are many false accusations. One is that Harris is using taxpayer money for his campaign and he is campaigning while serving as mayor. It's not true.

It is the mayor's official duty to attend groundbreakings and dedications of the city's property.

All the people who criticize Harris should come up with some good solutions or even be a candidate for mayor themselves.

Harris has done a great job with the city and he continues to do so. He is considered one of best mayors that we have had and deserves to lead the state of Hawaii in 2003.

Joseph W.C. Young

Hawaii is overdue to enact bottle bill

After spending too much time picking up trash this weekend at Ala Moana Beach Park, my conscience was again sparked by how very helpful an incentive-driven plastics reclamation bill would be for our beaches, parks and islands. Our citizens may not be ready for that comprehensive an approach, but we surely should be ready for the benefits of the bottle bill.

This bill will resolve the worst of our plastics problem. It works everywhere else it has been tried, and our bill is a distinct win-win for everybody. Let's do it!

Dick Morris

Special-ed story has two sides

I recently read an article in the newspaper about a mother who disagreed with the placement of her child in an alternative school ("Special-ed parents perceive threats," Star-Bulletin, April 15). The article seem to place all blame on the school, special education and the system itself. Nowhere in the article did it state anything about as to why the child was placed there.

Before a child is placed in an alternative setting, the school system tries everything and every way it can to teach that child in the home school. It is only when all else fails that the child is placed elsewhere. I didn't read anything about the child's behavior in the regular school. Did this child's behavior impede the learning of others? Was the student disruptive, disobedient, or just plain bad?

Teachers try their best to work with all kinds of students. Some students just won't allow you to work with them or to work at all when they are present. Please, tell both sides of the story before you blame the system.

Rebecca Brown
Mililani

Richard Port needs a permanent 'home'

Richard Port has been at the center of so many prospective monopoly fights lately ("Senators, citizens united against merger," Letters, Star-Bulletin, April 17). Each time, he represents yet another newly created "Citizens against ..." organization. This letter is not to impugn Port's efforts. Rather, I applaud him. But I do have one suggestion: He needs to create a new organization called "Citizens Against Hawaii Monopolies." That ought to about cover it!

Thanks, Mr. Port.

Blaine Fergerstrom

Education is a low priority for lawmakers

All of our politicians claim education to be a top priority in our state, yet they continue not to fully fund our education system. They say they are committed, but their actions don't prove it. My question to every one of them is: How can you have a $3.6 billion budget and not make our schools better?

Worst yet, House Speaker Calvin Say wants to sacrifice our children by increasing class sizes to balance the budget. Auwe!

Michael Englar
Pearl City

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Readers rage about
speed-limit proposal

Governor shifts blame for van-cam fiasco

Governor Cayetano is excellent at spreading blame to everyone but himself. He points to the Legislature and the Judiciary for the problems and downfall of the traffic-camera program ("65 mph limit might return," Star-Bulletin, April 13). Perhaps Cayetano didn't study political science in college. Legislatures pass bills. It is the responsibility of the Executive branch to implement and oversee legislation.

For two years, the Department of Transportation negotiated the contract and the process. The DOT chose not to take advice from Affiliated Computer Services to start a public relations campaign. DOT is under the control of your office, Governor. When the vans were finally on the streets, the DOT stonewalled the public and the Legislature when asked simple questions. Who does the DOT answer to? You, Governor. DOT spokeswoman Marilyn Kali and Director Brian Minaai showed incredible incompetence during the trial run. Didn't you appoint them to their positions?

By the way, who was governor when the camera bill was signed into law? Forgive me, I wouldn't want to place blame where it doesn't belong.

Dan Morin
Aiea

Let DOT pay for its own incompetence

I hope our legislators and the Department of Transportation have learned a lesson or two from the Talivan debacle. Maybe, finally, the Legislature will learn that new laws aren't the solution to every problem that (apparently) afflicts us.

I would hope the people at the DOT learned that you just can't foist something on the people and expect it simply to be accepted, warts and all. I also hope the DOT has learned that the speed limits are indeed too low, proof being the 10,000 or so drivers ticketed despite knowledge of the vans' presence.

I doubt that ACS is due $5 million to $8 million from the termination of the program. However, if it is due compensation, I suggest it come out of the paychecks of the DOT's Brian Minaai, Marilyn Kali and the deputy attorney general who signed off on that contract. Obviously deluded by self-serving claims of "safety," DOT agreed to a contract when it was clear that profit motive was the driving force. And it is truly insane to write a contract without including an escape clause.

The taxpayers of this state should not be punished for the incompetence of the DOT.

James Ko

Raising speed limits is a terrible idea

I am appalled by the governor's intention to raise the speed limit along sections of H-1 and H-3. This does not address the issue that the van cameras set out to accomplish; that is, to make our roads safer by monitoring and ensuring that cars operate at safe and reasonable speeds. Yes, the van-camera system had some flaws, but while it was around it made drivers observe the speed limit.

We need to continue to enforce our speed limits, not increase them. The scariest incident I witnessed was when nine souped-up cars (mainly Honda Civics) were weaving in and out of traffic on H-1, going at least 70 to 85 mph, with not a van camera or patrol car in the area.

Maybe having a telephone number similar to 911 that citizens could call when they observe cars driving at excessive speeds is a good idea. Police then could intercept the speeding vehicle, and if they observe the same infraction they could issue a citation.

Governor Cayetano, please think of better ideas to make our roads safe. Raising the speed limits would increase the fatality rate on our roads and prove that speed does indeed kill.

Worcester Bong

All these rules are cramping our style

OK, now that we've gotten rid of those pesky van cams, we need to re-examine our whole outlook on traffic rules and regulations. Our speed limits are way too low. Fifty mph in a school zone is as slow as we should have to go. There needn't be any limits on H-3 and the other freeways because we are all such well-trained and courteous drivers, and the modern cars can handle it. Besides, speed never hurt anybody -- it's just the sudden stop.

Why not allow running red lights, too? The race now is limited to the next red light and one block is way too short. Tailgating is lots of fun, too. So is ducking in and out of traffic on the freeway. If it weren't for the slow old futs that get in the way, racing on the freeway would be a lot more enjoyable.

Responsibility is an idea from the past, it's no fun and I don't get to enjoy myself as much if people keep making all these rules I have to follow, so we should get rid of the rules. I need the time I would gain by not having to pay attention to the other cars for fear of getting a ticket. Time is money and these darn laws just slow me down. All in all, traffic laws are just put there to be a pain and infringe on my individual rights so they need to be gotten rid of. So there.

Grant Merritt

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