TURTLE BAY

CITY MUST DO ITS PART TO PRESSURE DEVELOPER

The state's willingness to facilitate a purchase of the current property surrounding Turtle Bay Resort for preservation is a good sign, but the city must pressure the developer to listen to his neighbors and keep the country country.

Despite the current investment climate, the recent foreclosure/restructuring of the hotel, a pending lawsuit against the resort developer, a motion before the state Land Use Commission and the overwhelming opposition of a vast majority of residents and visitors alike, the City and County of Honolulu and Mayor Hannemann's Department of Permitting and Planning continue to allow Stanford Carr to push ahead a plan that is more than 20 years old. Five more hotels and 1,000 additional resort condominiums aren't simply untimely for the North Shore, but unsustainable for this entire island.

MAHALO

THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO APPRECIATE HPD

I am deeply saddened to be part of a community that includes some individuals who are so unsupportive of the men and women that put their lives on the line each and every day to protect all of us. I am referring to the members of the Honolulu Police Department. I am an avid Advertiser reader and have read countless editorials that include critiques and slander regarding the actions and policies of HPD. These I have no doubt coming from people who without hesitation would have no problem dialing 911 for police help in the case of an emergency, accident, etc. Let's take a moment to remember that these officers react to the actions of the citizens. Upset over that jaywalking ticket you received? Should have used the crosswalk. Livid over that speeding ticket? Should have went the obviously posted speed limit. Don't want to be arrested, don't break the law. A big mahalo to the Honolulu Police Department. There are still many people who appreciate what you do each and every day to keep our community a safe one!

NOISE VIOLATIONS

CITIZENS, POLICE CAN TOGETHER KEEP PEACE

This is in response to the letter printed Jan. 12, regarding lack of enforcement of noise violations in Honolulu. In prior disturbances where neighbors relied on police intervention, the officers stated that decibel meters were required to determine if there was a violation.

They were not equipped with such meters, and erroneously thought they could not issue citations. When the most recent disturbance occurred in our area the police responded very quickly to the complaint. The corresponding Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (available on the Web) were printed out and submitted to the officers when they arrived on the scene. Once armed with the appropriate law, they took immediate action to rectify the situation. The police can not be expected to be experts in every aspect of every law on the books, but I believe will do whatever is within their means to provide peace, safety and security. Hopefully citizens can find constructive ways to work together with law enforcement to help keep our city a wonderful place in which to live and play.

The following is one of those laws from the following Website: http://www.nonoise.org/lawlib/cities/honolulu.htm

Sec. 41-31.1 Prohibited noise.

(a) It is unlawful for any person or persons to play, use, operate or permit to be played, used or operated, any radio, tape recorder, cassette player or other machine or device for reproducing sound, if it is located in or on any of the following:

(1) Any public property, including any public street, highway, building, sidewalk, park or thoroughfare; or

(2) Any motor vehicle on a public street, highway or public space; and if the sound generated is audible at a distance of 30 feet from the device producing the sound.