Traffic fatalities have declined, despite increased cellphone use
Some days you can’t pick up the paper without seeing something that needs a comment.
Legislators almost never admit a mistake, but the anti-cellphone law has largely backfired. Some cell users are dangerous, some are not. But, the new law has just encouraged many to text instead. It really is dangerous and harder to enforce. Although talkers can be clearly annoying, traffic fatalities have gone down 25 percent since the advent of cellphones (according to the Department of Transportation) so it’s hard to see them as causing more accidents. Now what?
Ken Obenski
Kaohe South Kona
Styrofoam not the material for food containers
I think the ban on styrofoam use is a good one as I have noticed that when styrofoam is used for hot foods, the container starts to break down. I always change it out to a proper glass container with a lid as soon as I get the food home. Maybe it’s just me, but I prefer to be safe than sorry. These restaurants could switch to paper containers instead like the Chinese take-away boxes. Paper containers may even be more economical than the styrofoam or about the same.
Colleen Miyose-Wallis
Kailua-Kona
History facts needed to be checked
In Dennis Gregory’s May 5 column, he said King Kalakaua drank brandy with Robert Louis Stevenson and Jack London at Hulihee Palace. The second meeting is not possible because King Kalakaua died in 1891, 16 years before Jack London sailed to Hawaii in the Snark in 1907. The column would be more enjoyable if we could trust that the events actually happened.
S. Gayle Byrnes
Honaunau
Homeless people have resident looking over her shoulders
First of all, kudos to Mattson Davis for being concerned about the homeless in the Old Kona Airport Park area. I do feel sorry for anyone who does not have a roof over their head because of financial means. We are all two paychecks away from being homeless is such a true statement.
However, most of the homeless are aggressive, have drug problems, and it’s only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt. After I read Ms. Graffe at BMW was having issues with homeless in their area, I did attended one of their art shows that they promote to us BMW owners. I was excited to attend. I was leaving around 7 p.m., and I was alone walking to my car when I was accosted by a deranged homeless person who approached me, obviously on drugs. I jumped into my car a sped away. It was right in their parking lot!
I didn’t get mugged or hurt, but just the shock of knowing these homeless people are potentially dangerous, and that I could have been mugged right at the BMW dealership was alarming. It’s a shame, but I would never attend an event at the BMW dealership again. This happens to the tourists downtown, too. I have seen it. However, at least our county is trying to dedicate 32 units for the homeless. Something needs to be done. It’s scary having to look over your shoulders in Kona, which should be one of the safest places to live.
Jeannie Thomas
Holualoa