Waianae needs more traffic cops

A family was mowed down on that lethal stretch of Farrington Highway between Makaha Valley Road and Kili Drive.

Not long ago, another resident was mowed down at Jade Street.

I have witnessed pedestrians and animals nearly and actually struck. I was nearly struck at Water Street, where a vehicle missed me by less than two inches. The driver never stopped. I was able to get his license plate number and call the police department.

Where is the Honolulu Police Department? Cruisers and roadblocks should be stationed along this stretch in the evenings and early mornings. Barriers should be erected on the side of the highway to prevent pedestrian and vehicle contact.

Every fatality results in the installation of a flashing speed sign, but no cruisers. If the police department had the manpower to conduct a ticketing blitz on Leeward drivers recently, what gives?

Anita Diaz
Makaha

Public would have to pay for time off

Government continues its incursion into free enterprise — which is more than capable of treating employees with care — through a pending bill that would require private-sector employers to provide workers with a minimum of five days a year in sick leave and "safe leave," a new category of paid time off to respond to domestic violence ("Bill would require paid sick and safe leave," Star-Advertiser, March 29).

When all the numbers are totaled, private-sector employers could be paying for two weeks non-productive time.

The end payer will be the public, of course, which also pays the benefits of unionized public workers. In no way does this discredit the folks, public and private, who go to work every day. But it does make a point concerning our elected officials.

Phil Broms
Niu Valley

Environmental reviews necessary

A recent article about opposition to Senate Bill 755 ended with, "The reason why they are overreacting is because people are not reading the bill properly" ("Bill to let governor nix review of projects advances in House," Star-Advertiser, March 23).

Gee, one statement in the bill seems clear enough: "Part IV exempts all work involving submerged lands used for state commercial harbor purposes from any permit and site plan review requirements for lands in the conservation district. This part does not sunset."

Previously reported as "temporary measures to streamline permitting," the public is now learning that these bills would provide blanket exemptions for Special Management Area Permits, environment assessments, building and zoning permits and much more.

Blindly exempting projects from review is terrible policy. The key to avoiding costly environmental and project design mistakes is early disclosure and review. Many projects can and should be exempted, but somebody needs to take a look and make that determination. Is that really too much to ask?

Rep. Gil Riviere
House District 46 (North Shore)

City officials should get the boot for rail

In response to David Shapiro’s column ("City’s rush to build rail unrealistic, unnecessary," Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, March 28): Is there an impeachment process for the office of Honolulu mayor and the City Council?

The $15 million and possible $10 million per month more paid Kiewit for delays in the starting date of the rail is the last thing that we need to happen just when the economy is on its way back. As Shapiro mentioned, the city was warned starting back in 2010 that the dates were unrealistic. When is the shibai going to stop?

Lani Johnson
Salt Lake

Health care reform serves the public

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, seniors are getting help paying for prescription drugs, young adults are able to stay on their parents’ health plan until age 26, women can get affordable preventive care and children can no longer be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition.

To take away the Affordable Care Act is to neglect the needs of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

As a college student with three jobs and volunteering to do, I am still unable to obtain health care through my employers. It should be easier to access health care, and no one should feel fear when they are injured or become ill. It is a basic human right to have open access to health care. The more privatized our system becomes, the more exploitation there is of the people.

Doorae Shin
Kaimuki

Insurance mandate not that unusual

The conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court decryPresident Barack Obama’s health care plan on the basis that it mandates that people have health care.

Are we not mandated to pay for car insurance? Wear seatbelts? Are we not mandated to pay income tax,have withholding taken from our paychecks, send our children to school, get immunization shots, drive the speed limit, submit to being searched at airports and public venues (where we can’t even have a water bottle)? Are we really all that free? Is requiring health insurance such a heinous violation of our freedoms?

While our prisons are full of pot smokers and petty thieves, those "too big tofail" banks and Wall Streetcrimes are ignored. Would somebody please tell me what country I’m in, because it sure doesn’t feel like freedom,or liberty and justice for all.

Ramona Maiman
Hauula