Kakaako development will add to traffic mess

Regarding the proposed Kakaako development (Star-Bulletin, Sept. 15): Last Wednesday I sat through three traffic-light changes to turn mauka on Ward Street from Ala Moana Boulevard at 12:45 p.m. Not even rush hour.

That's what is known as a failed intersection. At present the adjacent proposed development site is essentially vacant. The addition of almost 1,000 dwelling units and 250,000 square feet of retail commercial traffic will add tens of thousands of vehicle trips daily to Ala Moana Boulevard.

Wouldn't it be wise to understand the significant environmental and infrastructure impacts associated with the proposed land use change prior to deciding on a design? Shouldn't public improvements be guaranteed that meet minimum standards of traffic circulation before we support additional impacts?

Once again I am seeing short-term gain at the expense of the general public down the road. Maybe we should change the name of the street to Ala Pau?

Legislators bungled big with gas cap law

So, one of the architects of the gas cap law, Sen. Ron Menor, is now pointing the finger for today's sky-high gas prices at the Public Utilities Commission (Star-Bulletin, Sept. 13). I'm grateful that Menor does not represent my district, but unhappy that he was able to inflict this kind of stupidity on the rest of us.

Menor and his cohorts in the Legislature had two years to comprehend that good intentions do not equal good laws, and now we are all paying through the nose for his folly.

Why is it that we never learn from others' mistakes? The state of California tried price controls a few years ago when it stupidly regulated electricity, and what was the result? Yep, high prices, gouging, rolling blackouts. It was predicted that under Hawaii's gas cap law prices would rise and, yet Menor and company kept saying otherwise.

Instead of whining about the PUC, Menor should now devote his brainpower to advocating a no-brainer: cut the gasoline taxes. This is a direct, no-BS way of cutting the price of gas. But I guess that would be too easy.

Oil companies gouged isle drivers for years

The oil companies have been sticking it to all of us for a very long time. The last time the state was able to pry open the books of Chevron, we found Chevron made 22 percent of its entire nationwide profit from selling gasoline here in Hawaii, while selling us only 3.1 percent of the gas (Star-Bulletin, March 31, 2002).

This brand of profiteering should be a crime. Sen. Ron Menor and all the legislators who finally stuck up for the people of Hawaii instead of the multi-national oil companies should be congratulated.

This week Hawaii will experience a seminal event when gas drops 50 cents a gallon and finally reflects a fair market price. The governor is right when she says the people just want to know they are not being gouged at the pump.

Roberts is unqualified to be chief justice

Your Sept. 6 editorial was strange. President Bush's choice of John Roberts for chief justice is pure hardball politics. Roberts in no way is the most qualified person for this extremely important position. He has only been a judge for two years. Bush chose him for his youth and politics so that he might push Bush's agenda for decades to come.

The extremely questionable elections of 2000 and 2004 have proved to be disasters for our nation that will live far into the future. The saying "I love my country, but I fear my government" has never been more true.

Evacuees should be able to take their pets

One aspect of Hurricane Katrina's devastation that is finally gaining attention is the plight of the animals. It is heart-wrenching to see people who have lost everything break into tears when they are finally reunited with their pets. The front-page picture of Phil Fricano embracing his dog after she was rescued by an airboat crew and returned to him in New Orleans says it all (Star-Bulletin, Sept. 10).

Many were told to evacuate but were not allowed to bring their animals. Where is the compassion of government when it tells people to leave their pets? If the home is not safe for a human being, it is not safe for a pet. I, like many on the Gulf Coast, would not evacuate if I were told to leave my pets (who I consider family members) behind.

As Hawaii evaluates its hurricane preparedness plans, it needs to make provisions for the animals. Animals that are restrained should be evacuated with their owners and allowed in shelters. The only shelter that allows pets is on Kauai. That's disgraceful.

Kudos should be given to the Humane Society, Noah's Wish and other animal rescue groups on the Gulf Coast. Their job would have been easier if people had been able to take their pets with them.

Vacation rentals ruin neighborhood peace

Anyone who owns a home or condo should be concerned about the number of vacation and bed-and-breakfast rentals in our neighborhoods. Many of the homes are being purchased by investors.

We live on a lovely residential street in Hawaii Kai. Last year a house on our block was purchased. As future neighbors, we tolerated seven months of noise from hell. They worked seven days a week, 9-10 hours a day. We had as many as 10 pickup trucks parked on our street.

Again, we wanted to be neighborly and not complain. However, the truth is, the property was purchased by a buyer in California, who has a Web site and advertises the home at $800 a day. That's quite a profit!

We have young children and have had to experience many strangers in the neighborhood, extra cars, traffic and horns blowing. The city administration must enforce the laws and protect our neighborhoods.

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