Scooters can be dangerous 'recreation'

Albert Young, who sells motorized scooters, says that banning these devices from sidewalks is going overboard and that they are no more dangerous than bicycles and skateboards (Star-Bulletin, April 24). But both are also banned from sidewalks in business zones. So are inline and roller skates.

I've heard the argument that these motorized scooters are viable forms of transportation, however recently I almost ran over some kid on Isenberg Street near Date, when he drove his gas-powered scooter right into the road without looking to see if there were any cars around. This kid didn't look like he was going anywhere in particular other than to show off to his friends who were watching him.

Craig Watanabe

Are scooters next to be banned in isles?

If scooters are banned from sidewalks, will the community provide places for everyone to ride them? Also, if scooters are a form of transportation, which I believe they are, does that mean that they now have to ride on the road?

Will they then be banned from roads, too? If that is going to happen, then let's not waste any more time; just ban scooters from the state.

All we are good at in Hawaii is banning things and never providing a real solution to the problem. The best solution is for everyone to learn to respect and share the existing passageways, then we would not need to ban anything.

Lindo Kinney Jr.

ERS suit will teach lawmakers a lesson

Taxpayers shouldn't be concerned that we might have to pay out a legitimate claim against the egregious acts of our legislators ("Pension lawsuit is cause for concern," Star-Bulletin, April 27).

Legislators have, for years, been conducting themselves in rather questionable methods of financing of the state budget, which has included the raiding of special funds (Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund), deferring payments (on the Employee Retirement System) and instituting programs whose sole purpose is to raise money for the general fund (traffic enforcement camera vans).

Since our state attorney general is not elected but appointed by the governor and is not charged with serving the people of the state but with serving the governor, we can expect more lawsuits in the future as it becomes necessary for private attorneys to protect a particular constituency from the Legislature's constant search for more money.

I find it disappointing that Sen. Colleen Hanabusa seems to think that she can change previously agreed-to retirement contracts at her whim.

I will be satisfied if the state has to pay a lawsuit that determines that "no, it cannot change agreements all ready made."

Perhaps that will make legislators think twice before raiding funds such as the highway or hurricane funds or destroying the Employee Retirement System by siphoning off its gains through good investment.

Garry P. Smith
Ewa Beach

Dealing with friends who don't vote

It's another election year and once again I encounter friends and colleagues who seemingly are proud that they don't vote.

There are those who even condescend to me because I have never missed voting in an election, as if their consistent lack of participation proves something.

Although our freedom gives us the right to vote, rather than making it an obligation, I get somewhat upset when I feel my fellow citizens are abusing that right, which is certainly a privilege. At the same time that I must respect their choice, how do I respond to such people who do not plan to vote this November?

Jeffrey Esmond
Kaneohe

Harris's stalling hurts other candidates

Political junkies like myself are anxiously awaiting the state Supreme Court's ruling on when Mayor Harris has to resign. But think how anxious wannabe-mayors Maize Hirono, Mufi Hannemann and Duke Bainum must be. According to the city clerk's office, they can't even pick up nomination papers until there is a vacancy.

Suppose the mayor decides at 4:29 p.m. on July 23, that he isn't going to file to run for governor after all. Our wannabes wouldn't be able to file for any other office since the deadline for filing would have passed. They would be left holding the proverbial bag.

On the other hand, suppose the mayor decides at 4:29 p.m. on July 23 that he is going to file. Fortunately, the law provides that the deadline for filing for a vacancy with no candidates can be extended to 50 days before the election giving the wannabes until Aug. 2 to pick up papers and file.

In either case, it puts the wannabes in a difficult situation, asking themselves how much should they expend in their non-campaigns. No matter what the Supreme Court decides, I think that the mayor should announce his intentions now, thus clearing the air. His "I may or may not be a candidate" strategy is unfair not just to the wannabes but to the entire electoral process.

James V. Hall

How do tax credits serve the public?

I need help understanding the thinking that goes into all these proposals that businesses should get major tax breaks in order to help the economy. Am I just naive, or do we indeed depend on taxes to fund the services that we need from our state and city? And if we do, how does it help to keep proposing that the people who are making the money receive tax forgiveness?

I have been watching the proposed legislation on the Ko Olina development. The original proposal was for a 20 percent tax break yearly for five years. It seems to me that amounts to a 100 percent tax break.

I attended a hearing where I heard the project's developer, Jeff Stone, explain that the aquarium which, as I understand it, taxpayers would finance since the proposal is that the company would receive tax foregiveness.

This aquarium might not realize any profits for 25 years! So we pay for an aquarium that is privately owned and the state gets no money for 25 years? What kind of a deal is that? Or am I missing something?

Judy A. Rantala

HMSA isn't broken, so don't fix it

Hawaii Medical Services Association has been in business for 63 years. In that time, HMSA has always met its obligations in insuring its members, in fairly reimbursing the health-care providers and in supporting the community.

Even with three consecutive years of operating deficits, it gave money back to the employers and helped individuals maintain their insurance after the layoffs following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

So what is the state health insurance commissioner going to do to make this organization "more bettah?"

Excuse me, but the thought of our state government overseeing a company that is doing what it is suppose to do does not leave me with a warm fuzzy feeling. If it is working, don't mess with it by bringing in our "not working so well" state government.

Marvin E. Hanson
Kaneohe

Harano was informed of name change

In an April 15 letter, Dalton Tanonaka says that former Department of Transportation Highways administrator Tetsuo Harano was not informed that the H-3 tunnel would be dedicated to the late Gov. John A. Burns. This isn't true.

An official with the Department of Transportation met with Harano at his home before the tunnel was renamed. Harano did not object to the renaming and said that he understood. After all, there would be no H-3 tunnel today if Governor Burns had not proposed it more than 30 years ago to connect Windward Oahu to urban and Leeward-Central Oahu.

The Burns family also was consulted before the tunnel was renamed. Intermediate Appeals Court Judge James Burns, son and eldest child of the late governor, expressed the family's consent and appreciation.

Now, above the tunnel you'll find The Tetsuo Harano Control Center to recognize the Department of Transportation highways chief during the time the H-3 was constructed.

Arguably no single person had a greater impact on the development of Hawaii in the 20th century than the late Governor Burns, and it was his vision to build the highway. Governor Cayetano has the authority to rename the tunnel to honor John Burns, and naming it after him is a fitting tribute to his many years of unselfish, dedicated public service to the people of Hawaii.

Jadine Urasaki
Deputy director
Department of Transportation

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