Dobelle and regents provide comic drama
The Evan Dobelle/University of Hawaii Board of Regents fiasco is beginning to resemble a plot from an Italian opera buffa, i.e. comic opera. The latest exchange in this mess is each party calling the other liars. It seems like kids in a schoolyard!The integrity and dignity of the regents suffer as the controversy continues with no accountability for their precipitous actions. Who is in charge? It would be "loverly" if Dobelle departed Hawaii and the Board of Regents resigned to be replaced with competent members "who think with their heads and not with their emotions."
It's time to close the issue and concentrate on improving and restoring UH's tarnished reputation.
Honolulu
Crest should convey university's soul
It is no wonder that the University of Hawaii's search for a new logo generated such a low interest. A logo is a rallying point or symbol. It has spirit but no soul.A seal or crest conveys history, goals and an aim for the future.
The regents should go back to high school to learn the differences.
St. Louis, Kamehameha and Iolani have crests to show the history of their institutions and convey their goals. These crests have souls that give meaning to them.
Schools also have logos, such as the Fighting Crusader, the Warrior and the Red Raider. These are logos that give a rallying point. They have spirit but do not necessarily carry the history or soul of the institution.
UH should set guidelines for the new seal to convey the school's history and a vision for its future. The response it gets might be surprising.
Mililani
Farm tax editorial was unfair to growers
The Star-Bulletin's Aug. 6 editorial was outrageous ("Farmers get fooled by Council's tax bill").To blame the backers of Bill 35 of using it as a political tool is not true. If you were in the farmers' shoes, you would understand why this bill is needed. The editorial mentions there are laws that are already on the books to give tax relief as a solution; try it sometime. It is confusing, and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
You owe an apology to the farmers of this island for making them sound like they are clueless and uneducated, the City Council for its efforts to give temporary relief to the farmers until an ill-conceived bill (Bill 10) can be rewritten, and to Mufi Hannemann for smearing his name.
Hauula
Poorly timed lights add to congestion
Everyone will agree that traffic is bad in many places. Traffic lights that are not properly timed add to the problem.The Kapiolani Boulevard/McCully Street left-turn traffic lights should be independently sensored. Many more cars turn left toward Waikiki, yet the lights on Kapiolani in both directions change to green at the same time. A good 10 to 12 seconds are wasted on each light sequence going Ewa toward Ala Moana Center.
A hot line should be set up so people can call in suggestions to improve traffic flow. A few simple adjustments could add up to saving time and reducing frustration for many drivers.
Honolulu
DOT seeks new ways to keep highways tidy
In response to Martin J. Burke's Aug. 3 "Gathering Place" column ("Palm trees, hula dancers and mountains of trash?"), I would like to assure him that the state Department of Transportation is continuing to make maintenance and landscaping of Leeward and Central Oahu highway medians and roadsides a high priority.We've been looking at new ways to deal with continuous problems of debris and overgrown weeds on our highways. In the past a significant part of the problem stemmed from landscaping contractors who would acquire bid contracts and, for various reasons, not complete their assigned jobs.
Breach-of-contract legalities notwithstanding, the result was wasted time and effort, leaving DOT to begin the entire bid process again. This also led to less frequent highway maintenance.
A new DOT policy requires a performance bond from new contracted landscapers. This is the equivalent of a security deposit paid by renters on a house or apartment. If landscapers break their contracts, they forfeit their bonds.
Roadway maintenance and landscaping projects are ongoing throughout Leeward and Central Oahu. In July, new landscaping contractors began work on the H-2 from Pearl City to Mililani, as well as along Nimitz Highway under the H-1 airport viaduct.
At the start of this month, crews began landscaping work on the H-1 in Waiawa and on Fort Weaver Road. In town we are on schedule to complete maintenance by September on the H-1 from Middle Street to Ainakoa Street. We ask for the public's patience while we complete these projects. And, as always, we need everyone's help in preserving the aina by not depositing trash on our roads.
Director, State Department of Transportation
Nasty hurricane blew in favor of Republicans
Hurricane Charley, which devastated coastal cities of Florida, must be Republican.President Bush and his brother Jeb, governor of Florida, received a godsend in Charley. The storm offered an opportunity to showcase how much the brothers feel for Floridians, who are remembered to be the one's costing Al Gore the election in 2000. If they gained strength in their wrists, maybe they can punch the "chads" this time around.
President Bush cannot write a check for $15 billion in FEMA aid fast enough. I just wish the United States had $15 billion for this aid instead of spending it on freeing the Iraqis.
Kihei, Maui
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