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Rep. Souki backs
fixed traffic camsRep. Joe Souki (D, Wailuku-Waihee) is making good on his promise to try to bring back speed enforcement cameras.
Souki, who is the House Transportation Committee chairman, is introducing legislation to allow the counties to use fixed camera systems to fight speeding and red-light running. His proposal does not include bringing back the infamous VanCams, which Souki said were a mistake.
The move was prompted by the recent rash of fatalities on isle roadways.
"I just don't see how we can stand by and let the situation get any worse," he said.
In addition to catching and discouraging speeders and red-light runners, Souki said the cameras will have a calming effect just by being there.
School board feud
Board of Education member Laura Thielen has asked Chairman Breene Harimoto to "provide factual support" for accusations made against her at a meeting Thursday night, which included "twisting the facts" in her campaign for local school boards.Thielen said in a letter to Harimoto that if he refuses to publicly debate with her "and provide factual support for your allegations, then I expect you to formally withdraw your accusations against my character and apologize for your statements."
Harimoto took Thielen to task at a board meeting in Waimanalo for telling a statewide audience on KSSK radio on Wednesday that what needs to change at the Department of Education is "the central administration ... (state schools Superintendent) Pat (Hamamoto) and the number of layers below her."
He also chastised her for spreading misinformation about the department, using her status as a Board of Education member in letters to the editor and to legislators instead of saying she was speaking in her personal capacity, as required by the board's code.
"Because this member has a private agenda, facts are being twisted, and conclusions are being reached that are totally irresponsible," Harimoto said at the meeting.
Thielen disagrees. "The real problem here is that I have taken a different position from the majority of the Board of Education," she said in her letter to Harimoto.
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