Bus ads are not a money issue

Michael Formby, director of the city’s Department of Transportation Services, is trying to defend the Caldwell administration’s proposed Bill 69, which wouldpermit billboard-like advertising onthe outside ofall city buses ("Bus advertising revenue deserves a public discussion," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Jan. 8).

The bus transportation fund is about $210 million. Bus advertising is estimated to bring in $4 million to $8 million, to be used as a bus subsidy.

Hawaii has been billboard-free for 100 years. Its scenic beauty is what we celebrate.No one will be able to guarantee that these ads will not grow on rail cars,shipping containersand condo walls to defray escalating expenses.

This is not a money issue. It is a moral issue. It is not worth the time and energy to even explore the topic. If Formby and Mayor Kirk Caldwell value the privilege of not seeing these billboards 200 times every day in the future, theyshould withdraw Bill 69.

Jeremy Lam
Manoa

Caldwell being disingenuous

It’sdisingenuous for Michael Formby to say The Outdoor Circle and Star-Advertiser have "prejudged this issue before the facts are in."

The Outdoor Circle, with media support, has spent the last 87 years addressing this issue, whereby Hawaii now has the best signage statutes in the nation, and everyone enjoys our scenic viewplanes and urban areas without unsightly outdoor advertising.

It’s also disingenuous for Mayor Kirk Caldwell to say he "strongly opposes" billboards, yet is willing to put a fleet of them rolling down our highways and byways 20-plus hours a day.

In regard to the mayor’s "obligation," the "tough question" is where to get additional bus revenue. Rolling billboards would destroy decades of hard-fought anti-sign victories and open up potential litigation on free-speech issues.

The informed decision would be to examine other revenue sources, such as minor fare increases, or collecting fines for current sign-law violators.

Diane Harding
Kailua

If Army bombs, it must clean up

In the previous century, the military focused on conquering enemies and let others deal with the consequences.

In Hawaii, we used an island as a live-fire training site and made it uninhabitable.

If the Army returns Makua Valley to a live-fire training site, then after each assault, another team should follow up and remove all unexploded ordnance and debris as part of its man-made and natural disaster-relief training.

This would create a much more efficient military, raise morale to demonstrate that the Army also rescues the environment, and resolve collateral damage.

Consequently, it would put real meaning into training for our stated peace-keeping missions.

Robert Tellander
Waikiki

Firework permit useless to buy

Since my kids are growing up way too fast, I wanted to make some memories and shoot off real fireworks this New Year’s, as we haven’t done it since the firework permits went into effect a few years back.

I purchased my permit for $25 the first day they went on sale.My friend told me he can get whatever I need on the black market, but I told him no thanks, I already had a permit.When I went out Saturday morning, we were shut out trying to find any fireworks on sale.

Guess where I’ll get my fireworks from here on out?

With hundreds, if not thousands like me, our meddlesome municipal government just drove the illegal fireworks market through the roof for the foreseeable future.

Pat Kelly
Kaimuki

Development seems endless

As we enter 2014, I would like everybody to consider what the powers that be are doing to our state.

These state and county agencies include the Legislature, the City Council, the state Land Use Commission, the city Department of Planning and Permitting, the Hawaii Community Development Authority, the state Department of Transportation, the state Department of Agriculture — the list goes on.

We are getting a 650-foot tower in Kakaako; more rich people’s condos in Kakaako with no parks or schools; million-dollar-plus condos lining the ocean side of Ala Moana Center; Horton/Schuler homes in Hoopili and Castle & Cooke homes in Koa Ridge.

Where does it end?

Our representatives should be looking out for us and not developers, before it is too late.

Jack Arnest
Maunalani Heights