Passengers at risk with Uber, Lyft

Today the City Council is expected to vote on whether ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft will be subject to only some of the same regulations as taxi companies.

Ride-sharing companies have fought tooth-and-nail against Bill 35.

Why? Is there something about their operations that won’t pass scrutiny?

Uber forcefully opposes fingerprinting to check criminal records. A CNN investigative report revealed that Uber and Lyft approved thousands of drivers who should have been disqualified because of their criminal records, according to state agencies and lawsuits examined by CNN.

Uber also opposes any cap in “surge pricing,” which runs up exorbitant fares, gouging passengers.

The City Council and Mayor Kirk Caldwell should think carefully before they let this genie out of the bottle.

Dale Evans

Charley’s Taxi

Waikiki

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Plant needs to be near volcano

Apparently, Jerry Taylor doesn’t understand how geothermal or nuclear power works (“Why is power plant built on a volcano?” Star- Advertiser, June 4).

The Puna Geothermal Venture is a geothermal power plant. In order to generate electricity, geothermal plants need to be near sources of volcanic activity. Furthermore, Kilauea is a shield volcano, and erupts much less dramatically than stratovolcanoes, which explode (unlike shield volcanoes, which “ooze” from time to time).

Furthermore, Hawaii is not on a subduction zone like the Seattle-Tacoma area; it is on a hot spot like the one under Yellowstone. It is not the same thing.

Also, nuclear power plants use water to cool the reactor. This is why all nuclear plants are near bodies of water (like the coast). To pipe the water in from somewhere else isn’t cost-effective.

Jarrod Lanier Williams

Kalihi Valley

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Don’t cite Pele for Kilauea eruption

As a Native Hawaiian living in the 21st century, I am saddened by Melissa Yee’s view that “the profound wrath of Pele over the battle to build the Thirty Meter Telescope on the other peak, Mauna Kea” is due to “exploitation of the aina for commercial advantage and scientific exploration (“Mother Nature will restore balance,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 20).

She further states that “Mother Nature will restore balance in her own way, and humans will have to adapt or be thwarted as a result of events that we have set in motion.”

Where does she get such garbage? And whom is she trying to convince? What about the other countries situated along the “Ring of Fire,” of which Hawaii is just one part? When “Mother Nature” revs up elsewhere, are those humans at fault, too?

We humans truly are not to blame for geological events. We accept what we can’t control, re-group and move on. We have the ability to reason, create. Never forget that. Leave “Madame Pele” out of it.

Gladys Lucas

Mililani

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Beachboys taught love of the ocean

I first came to Hawaii in 1960 and had my first surfing lesson. The beachboys always had smiles on their faces and patience for all who attempted their first love — surfing.

It led me to a lifelong love of the ocean and activities in the ocean (body surfing, boogie boarding). Don’t take away the smiles on the young and old who get their first taste of ocean sports from the ambassadors of our island lifestyle. Keep the original beachboy service, with board shorts and tanks.

Bill Fuson

Ala Moana

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Use social media responsibly

Roseanne Barr got into huge trouble by tweeting what is considered a racist comparison. She said it was only a joke, though later admitted it was in poor taste.

In society, one of the important ironic paradoxes is that while we largely behave as though we are defined by what we say and do, often we are historically defined by what others say we mean.

Social media has made that more true than ever before. With a simple click, millions instantly know what we said and, with another click, millions know what others say we said, whether true or not.

So tweet sweet. Face in good taste. Text no sex. E elegantly. No mad-dog blog. No slam Instagram.

When we use social media (which actually is often antisocial hate media), we should be thinking that our mom or God will be seeing it.

Leighton Loo

Mililani

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Use pedestrian islands for safety

Even the busiest streets would be dramatically safer for pedestrians to cross if there was a pedestrian island in the center.

You would only have to watch for traffic from one direction, then walk to the island, wait, watch the other direction and cross. Easy to do, not impeding traffic flow, much cheaper than traffic lights and much safer than the common painted crosswalks.

Volker Hildebrandt

Kaneohe