• Just like you and me • Cell phone law makes roads more dangerous • Education first
Just like you and me
I would have been content to let Mr. Mickens have the last word on the demise of the county-manager system, but his closing insistence (“Improving the system,” Letters, Aug. 18) on having “given you and the CRC numerous examples of problems that have existed for years but they have been ignored,” (inferring that these problems would not exist under a manager system) leaves me puzzled for the reason that the “problems” I have been able to glean from proponent contributions to The Garden Island do not fall into the category of problems neccessitating “neccessary or desirable” changes to the Charter as required by section 24.03 of the Charter.
The change they seek in actuality is curable by means of the election process.
My continuing invitation for exposure of the contents of Mr. Mickens’ “pages of problems” revealed the following samples attributable to our present system of government:
1. “Over 10 times more citizens attended council meetings considering the allowance of dogs on the eastside path than were present during the discussion of the nearly $250 million county budget.”
2. “Obviously, the current system is the only one they knew and change was outside their comfort zone.” (reference to county employees at CRC meeting)
3. Failure to re-appoint a commission member who “became a ‘——-’ to some of his … colleagues.”
4. Traffic problems and leadership efforts to solve them.
5. No new landfill found.
6. Vacation rentals proliferating
7. Road maintenanace
8. Wailua golf course and bus system deficits.
9. Council not disapproving appointees.
10. Appointing people who agree with your point of view.
With the elected council making all the important budget and policy decisions, and the county manager being accountable to the council which appointed him, how would the manager do anything different to ameliorate the problems, above,without a wholesale replacement of our present system of government instead of a mere substitution, as proposed, of the mayor, by a manager to perform the exact same duties and responsibilities now exercised by the mayor? The council, remember, may have different opinions or points of view with the manager… just like you and me.
Alfred Laureta, Lihu‘e
Cell phone law makes roads more dangerous
A study was done by NHTSA that shows using a cell phone while driving does not increase the number of accidents. Of course the county council knew this but it was never about safety it was simply another way to tax the people.
These are the same people that decide the best way to prevent accidents on Wailua highway is to put bright flashing signs that say things like drive safely and click it or ticket. I would argue that reading a distracting sign on the most dangerous stretch of highway is far more dangerous than responsibly using a cell phone.
These signs don’t just show one message they show two so you have to wait to read the second part. What a brilliant way to keep the people safe.
The reason the cell phone ban makes the roads more dangerous is because people are now texting while driving and keeping the phone below the steering wheel.
I have also noticed that when people get calls they violently veer off the road in order to take the call.
This was all totally predictable, but once again this law is not about safety but about taxation. I now feel less safe on the road because I know that people are texting and driving and putting their phone on speaker and placing it on there lap. Thanks county council, keep up the good work!
Dan O’Flaherty, Koloa
Education first
This is a letter in response to Howard Tolbe’s Aug. 21 letter on teacher’s professional days.
Mr. Tolbe, maybe you should do some research before you criticize teachers and our professional development days.
FYI, professional development days are used to teach teachers so they can teach better. Waiver days are used for school planning and collaboration. The students are the people who benefit from these days in the long run.
This year, the number of teacher furlough days decreased from 17 to six. The six furlough days take place on PD days to minimize students’ missing school days and instruction.
Further, teachers do get off on those days but since they are furlough days, contrary to your statement that they get paid for being off, teachers do not get paid on those days.
So, Mr. Tolbe, now that you’re educated with the facts about PD and furlough days, don’t you feel foolish for submitting your letter without first being educated on the matter?
Lastly, I extend an invitation to you and any other person who think that teachers have an easy job. Spend a week with me in my classroom and shadow me on the time away from school while I do school-related work. I’m sure at the end of the week, you will have a higher appreciation for all teachers and the work that we do in educating our students, your children.
Al Carbonel, Koloa
