Leeward folks fleeing parks and beaches

Well, well, what do you know ... the west coast will be welcoming the homeless shoved from Ala Moana Beach Park (Star-Bulletin, April 25). You will feel at home with the many homeless and the dumping grounds we already have on this side of the island. You might also enjoy our beautiful second city, Kapolei. Besides, you can always visit Ko Olina beaches. Who needs Hawaii Kai or Kahala beaches?

Anyway, welcome, welcome, and feel free to use our beaches, bathrooms, bus stops, free bus and the like. You won't see me around because some of us have become tourists, going to the North Shore or east coast beaches to enjoy the fruit of our taxes. Just remember to behave civilly and clean up after yourselves. Perhaps the citizens of Kapolei should lay out the red carpet to welcome our new residents. What a jolly good idea, don't you think?

Why let anyone ride in pickup beds?

I read about those people who were killed in the back of the pickup truck on Kunia Road (Star-Bulletin, April 25). I noticed all of them were over l2 years old. Why in the world is it the law written that anyone below the age of l2 is forbidden to ride in the back of a pickup truck? What is the difference whether you're 11 or 80? You are still going to be killed. The Legislature should get wise and change the law so this will never happen again.

Legislation could prevent tragic deaths

During the legislative session of 2004, two teenagers were killed in separate traffic accidents after riding in the back of pickup trucks. The recent tragic accident on Kunia Road, which took the lives of four women, once again highlights the danger of riding in the backs of pickup trucks. I and others have introduced legislation that would ban riding in the backs of pickup trucks. Unfortunately, the Legislature has yet to pass any bills that address this dangerous situation.

I hope the Legislature next year, in all its wisdom, will ban passengers from riding in the backs of pickup trucks.

Med QUEST plan isn't best for patients

The state's new Med QUEST "positive enrollment" is anything but positive for Hawaii. The intentions are good, but the plan will create confusion, chaos and endanger health. It will add layers of bureaucracy, increasing the cost of medical care at our community health center, and for the state as a whole.

Many of our patients are limited-English speakers, move often, are homeless and/or are the families of busy working people with several part-time jobs. Many will assume they are still enrolled in their current plan, and show up in need of health care only to find they have been assigned to another provider and plan. Kalihi-Palama Health Center will, of course, do everything we can to help, but this will greatly increase our costs as staff work to sort this out with thousands of patients.

We urge the state to keep the current "open enrollment" system, which has a proven track record of improving access to health services for Hawaii's most vulnerable citizens.

Statistics prove gas caps needs to be lower

Rep. Kirk Caldwell's argument that any type of gas price cap is unworkable and the sky will fall if we fine-tune the one that is working now is absurd (Star-Bulletin, April 24). The only problem with the gas cap law today is the cap is set too high. The governor's office calculates that residents paid $54 million more than they should have since the gas cap took effect. So let's set the cap $54 million lower.

Who made off with our $54 million? The oil industry, that's who. Caldwell sounds like he works for the White House of Bush and Cheney with statements like "(the cap) will create confusion for the gasoline wholesalers and distributors." Well, boo hoo, maybe they could use our $54 million to be less confused. Caldwell goes on to state, "True, we would end up with wholesale gasoline price lowered by 13 to 17 cents per gallon" if we enact the Senate's plan.

Instead, the wishy-washy House, fearing it will be blamed in the next election for higher gas prices, wants to do away with the cap and let the greedy oil industry bilk the people of Hawaii with a plan that will do nothing. Politicians, stop being such wimps and do what's best for the people of Hawaii, not Chevron.