Best option for rail is to end at Aala Park

I am a supporter of the rail system.

But because of high and unending cost overruns, saddling future generations with higher taxes to pay for and operate the rail system, I am now in favor of shortening and ending the rail line in Aala Park.

If it were to end there, the extremely more costly section through downtown Honolulu to Ala Moana Center would be avoided. Furthermore, ending the rail line at Aala Park would allow downtown workers to walk to their offices from there.

If the rail line were to end at Middle Street or Aloha Stadium, the vast majority of rail riders would have to catch a bus to get to their destinations, contributing to an already terrible traffic bottleneck in the Middle Street area.

Ending the rail line at Aala Park makes the most sense.

Stephen Kabei

Salt Lake

Homebuyers should lock in at low rates

The struggle is real. With the median price for a single-family home reaching $700,000, more families may never own a home.

As a real estate agent, I see the struggles of those wanting to own a home. My recommendation for anyone looking to own would be to take advantage of the low interest rates today. Once you’re locked in, you end up saving in the long run.

My second recommendation would be to see your property as an investment. Invest in a property that will appreciate in value, instead of a bank where your money gains little or no interest.

My final recommendation would be to stay within your price range, if you plan on living there. Your first house does not have to be your dream house. Start small and save up for your dream house.

Adrian Tam

Kakaako

Housing allowance for military too high

We can thank the Pentagon for pricing our locals out of the rental market (“Pentagon decreasing the subsidy for isle rent,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 11).

Every time it raises the allowance, the landlords simply raise the rent. I know of two or three singles renting a place together and each pocketing more than $1,500 a month.

I was activated with the 442nd in 1967 and I didn’t even get a housing allowance. The present military personnel make more in one month of housing allowance than I made in pay in two years of active duty, and that was with one year of combat pay.

The military needs a real- estate group set up that finds adequate off-base housing so that people are not pocketing money over what they pay for rent.

Carl Bergantz

Kaneohe

Let’s ban fireworks on Oahu completely

How is it OK to sell stacks of fireworks inside retail stores, up and down aisles? Rabid customers clamor to buy the maximum allowed per permit; they just can’t wait to watch their hard-earned money go up in smoke.

All it would take is one undetected deranged individual to flick his Bic at one of those fireworks boxes in the store, and mayhem would ensue.

When City Council member Ann Kobayashi was asked what she thought of the aerials on New Year’s Eve, her response was, “Should we bring back the fountain?”

When a proportion of the citizenry is irresponsible and disrespectful, causing potential harm and danger to others, an outright ban is called for.

The only view on fireworks that I respect is that of Honolulu police and fire departments, who want a complete ban.

Lani Wagner

Aiea

Gun rules burden law-abiding people

President Barack Obama is embarking on another “feel good” campaign to make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to obtain guns.

Yes, law abiding, because criminals do not, as a rule, buy through the system. They steal them or purchase through the black market. Mentally disturbed people obtain weapons from friends and relatives, as was the case in most of the recent mass shootings. All the background checks in the world aren’t going to change this scenario.

If Obama, and those who support his recent proposals, were really serious about reducing deaths by gunshot, why don’t they start with the obvious first? How about taking the weapons away from known criminals and gang-bangers first? The past mayor of New York was doing a pretty good job at it, before the progressive new mayor shut the system down.

As for a data bank on the mentally disturbed: How are we going to get around the privacy rights law between patient and doctor — assuming there’s even a record?

Art Todd

Kaneohe

Republicans end up smearing themselves

This is a response to the letter, “GOP gets smeared without evidence” (Star-Advertiser, Dec. 31): Considering all of the ridiculous, illogical, harmful, untrue statements and actions that Republicans have made and done since President Barack Obama was elected, they smear themselves. Their statements and actions are the “evidence.”

Most of us liberals think that all of the candidates are too out of touch with reality to get elected. They offer no details on how they will fulfill their fantasy promises. What is scary is that so many conservative voters buy their bogus lines.

What kind of future do we and our country have if one of them gets elected? It could happen.

Bert West

Ala Moana

Form a task force to solve OT problem

As a former administrator overseeing a 24/7 youth detention facility, the problem of overtime will always loom as a major issue (“Staff racks up $1M-plus in overtime,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 14).

However, the issue does not warrant finger-pointing but getting everyone involved (employees, administrators and the union) to let go of their personal agendas, and work collectively toward accomplishing the same goal.

I know from experience that this is a major task; however, there is always the hope that if leadership can work together and get creative, they will be able to begin to address the issue at hand.

Janice Yamada

Kaneohe