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Magic Island walkway
will be restored

Question: With all the hopeful talk about fixing the potholes, I wonder why nothing has been done for months about the collapsed walkway along the lagoon at Magic Island. It was damaged by the sea wall being destroyed and had been repaired after a long time, then was allowed to be destroyed again! Are there any plans to reconstruct the wall and repair the walkway?

Answer: Repairs to the walkway should begin next week, according to Craig Mayeda, chief of the city Department of Parks and Recreation's Maintenance and Recreation Services Division.

He estimated it will take about two weeks "for the in-house crew of heavy-equipment operators, masons and laborers to complete" the job.

"Although unsightly, the collapsed area of the walkway, which was cordoned off, did not pose a major obstruction or a safety concern," Mayeda said.

He also said the sea wall is "actually intact."

However, it was undermined by the ocean, which caused the sand under the walkway to wash out and thus led to the collapse of the walkway, he said. "If the budget allows, we would like to hire a consultant to evaluate the sea walls in the area."

Q: Is there a proper way to dispose of old license plates? By simply throwing it out with the trash, it could get into the wrong hands and be used illegally.

A: The license plates are made of aluminum, covered by sheeting, so they can be easily bent and "recognizably disfigured," said Dennis Kamimura, administrator of the city Motor Vehicle and Licensing Division.

"I recommend that the plates be bent and then disposed," he said.

Instead of just tossing them into the trash, however, you can recycle the plates.

"Following the same instructions from DMV, you could bend the plate and then deposit (it) in the recycling bin" -- either one of the community recycling bins or the blue cart issued to most households once the city begins its curbside recycling program this year (see April 7 "Kokua Line").

Q: Is there an address or phone number to stop junk mail, especially from credit card companies?

A: Send a letter or postcard with your name, home address and signature to Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512.

You can also register online with the service, but that will cost you $5. See www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist for information.

You can also contact the major credit reporting companies and ask to be removed from their marketing lists.

The companies are Equifax Inc., Options, P.O. Box 740123, Atlanta, GA 30374-0123; Experian, Consumer Opt-Out, 701 Experian Parkway, Allen, TX 75013; and Trans Union Name Removal Option, P.O. Box 97328, Jackson, MS 39288-7328.

Or you can call 888-5-OPTOUT (888-567-8688) toll-free to "opt out" of all pre-approved credit offers.

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