Pedestrians in danger from right turners
I, too, believe that abolishing "right turn on red" would prevent a lot of accidents (
Letters, Jan. 15). I have witnessed pedestrians getting hit or almost getting hit from a right-turning vehicle. Depending on the intersection, it can be downright dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. You cannot watch every object at one time.
Years ago in Corpus Christi, Texas, I saw a very good example of pedestrian crossing. The light would turn red for all cars in the intersection and pedestrians had so many seconds to reach the side of the street they wanted. Pedestrians had the entire intersection, side to side and corner to corner. Then the light changed to let the cars proceed. They had a similar setup for emergency vehicles. As the emergency vehicles approached the intersection, all cars stopped so the emergency vehicles could proceed without incident.
Jewel Conboy
Kailua
Everything's great now so bring 'em home
As the Bush administration has pointed out, the recent upsurge of terrorist attacks in Iraq is proof that the enemy is getting desperate, and there's plenty of other evidence proving that we've won.
All of the reasons why we've invaded that country have been accomplished. President Bush's father has been avenged, Saddam Hussein has been captured, Iraq is no threat to the free world. It has no weapons of mass destruction, our casualty rate is less than 20,000, and the total cost of the war will almost certainly not be much more than 1 trillion dollars.
We've now installed a freely elected, friendly, peace-loving government in that country and, with our friend Ahmed Chalabi now Iraqi oil minister, Operation Iraqi Liberation is now complete.
Yes, our mission has definitely been accomplished again. It's time to bring our troops home.
John A. Broussard
Kamuela, Hawaii
Dog breeder deserves harsher punishment
The recent court ruling brought conclusion to a clear-cut case of animal cruelty in which animals were bred in deplorable conditions for profit without regard to their needs, health or welfare ("Kahaluu breeder fined for cruelty,"
Star-Bulletin, Jan. 11).
While James Montgomery did plead guilty to 55 counts of animal cruelty, the sentence imposed by Judge Rhonda Nishimura was extremely disappointing in light of the extent of the cruelty involved. The court did not accept the prosecutor's recommendations and the sentence included: a $5,500 fine ($100 for each cruelty count); a year of probation; and that his record will be wiped clean if he does not violate his probation. The most upsetting part of the court's decision is that while Montgomery cannot own dogs, he can reclaim them and facilitate their home placement as long as it's done within 21 days. In other words, Montgomery, who pleaded guilty to charges of cruelty to animals, will be allowed to profit from the sale of the very dogs he was found guilty of treating cruelly and inhumanely.
This sentence is an affront to the animal victims and the volunteer foster families who have cared for these dogs for nearly a year, as well as the humane society's supporters who have been committed to protecting these dogs.
The Hawaiian Humane Society's total cost for care for these 78 animals is $4,890 per count of cruelty -- a total of $269,000. This is in stark contrast to the $100 per count of cruelty that the court fined Montgomery. Because this case was postponed several times at the request of the defendant, the humane society spent a large amount of funds to care for the animals. More important, these dogs lives were in limbo for a year -- only for their future to be placed in the hands of their abuser.
Pamela Burns
President and CEO
Hawaiian Humane Society
HECO committed to renewable energy
Thank you for covering the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum's briefing to the Legislature (
Star-Bulletin, Jan. 20).
Hawaiian Electric Company actively participates in and supports the forum, and everyone concerned about our dependence on imported fossil fuel wants efforts to increase renewable energy from wind, sun, water, biomass and other sources to move faster. However, one statistic needs correction.
The article stated, "Today, Hawaii's renewable energy percentage is only 5 percent." HECO's own estimate of electricity generated by companies on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island puts the renewable figure at close to 7.5 percent.
The state's future goals for renewables are a challenge, especially since Hawaii's overall use of electricity is growing, but HECO is committed to doing all we can to meet those goals.
Peter Rosegg
Senior communications consultant,
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.
Democrats just want to spend all our money
Republican Governor Linda Lingle has proposed
to give back $300 million in surplus funds to the overburdened taxpayers of this state.
Once again the Democrat-controlled Legislature has objected to that idea, suggesting that the money should be spent for public schools and other pet projects.
This state had surpluses in the past under the Lingle administration and could have repaired the schools but instead these Democrats, who my parents once said are for the poor people, instead gave the surplus to the union and their pay raises.
As election time rolls around, don't believe these Democrats' newspaper and television advertisements labeling this party as for the "poor people" or reminding you of your local roots.
This time, vote every Democrat, including the mayor and City Council members, out of office.
Melvin Partido Sr.
Pearl City