Let us go back to normal
I think it is time for our government to step away from the COVID-19 regulations.
If you have been vaccinated, great it’s the best thing. If you have not been vaccinated you should be responsible for your own risk of getting sick. You have the option to get vaccinated or wear a mask. When you’ve been vaccinated the chance of catching the virus is less then 1%. Let us go about our normal lives. I’m tired of wearing a mask and worrying about who has a mask on and who doesn’t. We need the government to let us go back to normal.
Jim Mezzasalma
Kailua-Kona
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Not the way
In a Monday letter to the editor, John Powell suggested the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply “cut costs by using new technology” aka, introduce water smart meters in addition to/partnering with HECO’s “advanced (smart) meters.”
This opinion fails to address several key issues that are timely to consider:
• Smart meters are a fire hazard, and such devices have been responsible for thousands of fires, explosions, and other serious safety problems. Smart meters have caused documented health problems. The WHO categorizes RF radiation as a Class 2B carcinogen. There is evidence the smart meters unpredictable blasts of RF make them more toxic than cell phones or Wi-Fi, which are toxic themselves but emit more steady signals. It’s the difference between white noise versus erratic loud blasts. The FCC is a captured agency, primarily interested in cheerleading for the wireless industry, not human health. There are zero biomedical professionals in the FCC, they are engineers.
• Smart meters typically overcharge and inaccurately represent usage, when compared with reliable, accurate analog meters. “Smart meters” and the “smart grid” risk national security and reliability of the electricity supply by opening a new portal to hackers and others who wish to disrupt these services. This is a major cyber-security problem. Smart meters are surveillance devices and violate our Fourth Amendment right to privacy in our homes.
Most grid-tied solar homes have a smart meter, and also have the option of a safer, wired connection. HECO is currently petitioning the PUC to roll out smart meters on the Big Island on an “opt-out,” rather than “opt-in” basis, which may cost ratepayers greatly. You can submit comments to the PUC via email at puc@hawaii.gov. Stay updated on the status of smart meters in Hawaii at www.keepyourpower.org.
Naomi Melamed
Kapaau
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Inaba got it right
This is in response to Carol Miles’ Tuesday letter to the editor, “Get it right for a change,” that criticized North Kona Councilman Holeka Inaba’s idea on budget spending. I, along with my kamaaina friends and family, think he did get it right. Inaba is not against tourism, only unnecessary spending to get them here. Have you seen the 40-plus people sitting on surfboards for lessons in Kahaluu? It’s not a trickle, it’s a visitor firehose. We believe, as suggested, that the money will be better spent on our fire stations, dilapidated county parks, and contingency accounts. Thanks to council members Maile David and Matt Kaneali’i-Kleinfelder for agreeing.
Leslie Crawford
Captain Cook
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Letters policy
Letters to the editor should be 300 words or less and will be edited for style and grammar. Longer viewpoint guest columns may not exceed 800 words. Submit online at www.westhawaiitoday.com/?p=118321, via email to letters@westhawaiitoday.com or address them to:
Editor
West Hawaii Today
PO Box 789
Kailua-Kona, HI 96745