Push for rail started long ago
Mathew Johnson identified “personal gain” as the main impetus to pushing through rail in Honolulu (“Rail all about money, not transportation,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Sept. 24).
If that’s true, there were many culprits, dating back to 1966 when Mayor Neal Blaisdell first proposed fixed-rail mass transit as a solution to Honolulu’s traffic congestion. Frank Fasi and Tom Gill also promoted rail in the 1960s because they saw that cities with centralized employment centers, like Honolulu, benefited the most from a rail system.
Had their proposed 23-mile rail line from Pearl City to Hawaii Kai been built then, today we’d have far fewer cars on the road and be completing a more affordable 12-mile extension to Kapolei.
Despite the challenges our rail system presents, let’s not wait another 50 years to implement it.
Bob Robello
Kailua
Somebody pays for ‘free’ tuition
Hillary Clinton believes that no family or student should have to borrow money to pay tuition at a public college or university.
Her proposal would help millions of students pay for college and reduce interest rates for graduates paying off student loans.
Wow! You could attend the University of Hawaii or one of the seven community colleges and graduate without any debt.
The online magazine Politico calculates this plan would cost the federal taxpayer approximately $350 billion over 10 years. Also, each state would be required to match the amount that the federal government pays to provide debt-free college for the states’ students. That means we taxpayers would pay for it.
Clinton believes that the wealthy could pay for her plan. However, as Margaret Thatcher would say, the problem with giveaway programs like Clinton’s is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.
Stote Farnham
Kalani Valley
Trump faces ethical conflict
Donald Trump is often labeled as “a successful businessman.”
Trump is a real estate developer. And, as anyone living in Hawaii knows, the primary objective of a developer is to make money.
Trump has paid millions from his campaign funds to various Trump enterprises, including his private jet, Trump Tower offices, Palm Beach resort and other Trump hotels and venues. He has managed to turn running for president into a profit- making venture.
If he were to be elected president, his children would continue to run the Trump enterprises. What a setup for a massive conflict of interest.
Kay Kibby
Makiki
This election like a throwback
The problem with this presidential election is that we have two candidates from the first wave of baby boomers trying to lead us into the future. They’re dinosaurs, unable to escape the tired ideas of yesteryear. That’s why the conversation seems uncannily like a throwback to the civil rights era.
We’re not going back to the future; we’re going backwards. Period.
Lloyd Lim
Makiki
Feral pigs here getting bad rap
Research by scientists from Texas A&M and other universities provides convincing evidence about the origins of Hawaii’s so-called “feral” pigs, concluding that “genetic proof now exists that the ancestry of feral hogs in Hawaii today can be traced back to Polynesians,” according to West Hawaii Today.
These results are so striking that they should literally change the history of attempts to understand and alter the biodi- versity of our islands.
At the very least, these results should end the devious efforts of organizations such as the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Hawaii Invasive Species Council that routinely call for the elimination of “invasive species” such as homeless pigs.
As it turns out, and ironically so, these intelligent, social, sensitive animals are a true native species of Hawaii nei, while the settlers who wish to slaughter them are the real invasive species.
Joel Fischer
Waialae
Health care CEO omitted a detail
There’s a little more to the story about hospital readmissions in which CEO George Greene of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii lauds Hawaii hospitals (“Hawaii hospitals among the best,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Sept. 21).
The Affordable Care Act’s Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program essentially will reduce federal money for hospitals with too many readmissions, effective for discharges beginning Oct. 1, 2012.
Debbie Aldrich
Haleiwa
47 responses to “Push for rail started long ago”
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IRT Kay Kibby: Nice try Kay. Pray tell how Hillary working as secretary of state, all the while banking millions from foreign countries for her Global Initiative Fund was in any way an up and up operation. You libs never cease to amaze.
Shillary accomplished zero as a state senator, unless you consider losing jobs an accomplishment. And Shillary did zero as secretary of state, unless you consider getting people killed in Benghazi an accomplishment.
Yes HRC was wobbly @ the site on 9-11-2016…but was there for those who responded on 9-11-2001, when she pulled together her fellow Senators from across the isle (she got it done)…having experience with personal security, I’ve always had the question ~ why was the Ambassador @ that location with one security person; one security person ~ is it because he depended on his knowledge of the area/people…backup came from personnel who were already there….using a quote from DT “I saw the movie”.
Bob from Kailua I agree with you. If we have built the rail back then, most of the funding would have been born from the federal government meaning tax payerse from the other 49 states would have helped foot most of the bills. Because of foot draging, short-sighted politicians and the nay sayers we are now ended up footing most of the bills. I have read many of the nay sayers citing “aesthetic” as their primary reason for their opposition to the current rail; I say to them if we have built it back then, we could have built one below grade and most of the funding would have come from the federal goverment. Now we are stuck with what we already built. As far as aesthetic, look at the concrete jungle sprouting in Kakaako intermingled are pop up tents erected by homeless people who can’t afford the price of paradise…..
One of of the reasons why rail wasn’t built back then was the leaders thought we couldn’t afford it, and they were right. When I say afford, I’m not only talking about building it, but maintaining it also.
Look at our roads and highways, the Feds give up to 80% in funds to pay for new roads, along with more funds to maintain those roads, and look at the condition our roads are.
Nope… we’re pretty conservative in Hawaii. Trainz just seemed like too Mainland a concept.
wiliki – Conservative? Try backwards, incompetent, other similar words. Exactly why it has earned the title of least intelligent state in the world.
Ref: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/30553486/hawaii-called-least-intelligent-state-in-analysis
D*u*m*b analysis… IQ and academics are not as good a measure of success as EQ. Emotional quotient.
What does being conservative have to do with not being able to afford it. What part of can’t afford this train or rail in the past don’t you understand.
Shoulda woulda coulda. We didn’t and building one now, and having to retrofit
heavy elevated pillars is insanity.
well said, keolu!!!!
So what if the push for rail started long ago? When I was in college, I wanted a Porsche but to this day I haven’t bought one, even though I have enough money to do so, because it’s not worth the price tag plus the cost of maintaining one.
Way too logical Keolu. With that attitude you’ll never become a paid “poster” in support of rail.
hoooya, keolu!
ukuleleblue is a lying paid rail shill and wiliki is a kool aid drinking lying unpaid rail shill.
And what are you? What is your conflict of interest? You obviously benefit from gridlock. are you a Car salesman? rental Car owner? You obviously don’t live out west and have to commute everyday into town.
I’m against government boondoggles. We were told Kapolei to UH for 2.7 billion. ONCE UH MANOA WAS OFF THE TABLE, I HAD NO SUPPORT FOR RAIL. AND NO, MY CAPS LOCK IS NOT STUCK.
It’s ridiculous how every couple of weeks, the delays get longer and the price gets higher. An island with only about a million residents and about 400,000 tax payers has no business building a 10+ billion dollar rail with 12+ million dollar annual operation and maintenance fees.
That’s 12+ million dollar MONTHLY operation and maintenance fees.
Rail’s estimated monthly O&M is between $20-50 million a month, increasing every year. Rail fares are estimated to cover, if lucky, 30% of these costs.
Be ready for a massive property tax increase, other ways to subsidize rail.
Keolu is a pathological liar. Just like Donald. We kupunas are learning new words.
“”And what are you?””
Thank you for agreeing with my assessment of the rail shills.
Benefit from gridlock ? WTFARK are you talking about. This is about COMMON SENSE and people living within their means. We can NOT afford 10 billion for a train to a mall. WAKE UP
Liar… there are no credible projections for 10 billion.
Hey Boots, How are you? Actually, with rail more taxis will be needed for people to get from the rail station to their work.
“If he were to be elected president, his children would continue to run the Trump enterprises. What a setup for a massive conflict of interest.”>>> But you have no problem with Goldman Sachs paying Hillary 250k for a speaking engagement. Nope, no conflict there :/
Great point. You’ll hear crickets in response to your post.
Re pigs in Hawaii. Defining terms has value in the attempt to seek better understanding. Native plants are plants indigenous to a given area in geologic time. If Polynesians introduced pigs to the Hawaiian islands by most peoples definition that does not make it a native species. It needs to arrive by one of the three “M/W’s; Makane/wind, Moana/waves, Manu/wing
If a vales survey were to be taken many would rather have a rich tapestry of endemic species rather than feral pigs that destroy so much leaving a muddy mess that adversely affects our water quality and opens up the area for more vigorous invasive plants. I feel that pigs should not be considered a natural resource due to the damage that they have cause. What do you think about the degradation caused due to the two legged invasive species?
Trump conflict of interest really wow, he is NOT an elected leader. Clinton Foundation is a complete conflict of interest, Do some research .
The media won’t tell the truth… They are told what to “tell you”!
Good morning everyone!!! Here’s some info ya may not know…
1) ABC News executive producer Ian Cameron is married to Susan Rice, Obama’s National Security Adviser.
2) CBS President David Rhodes is the brother of Ben Rhodes, Obama’s Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications.
3) ABC News correspondent Claire Shipman is married to former Obama Whitehouse Press Secretary Jay Carney.
4) ABC News and Univision reporter Matthew Jaffe is married to Katie Hogan, Obama’s Deputy Press Secretary.
5) ABC President Ben Sherwood is the brother of Obama’s Special Adviser Elizabeth Sherwood.
6) CNN President Virginia Moseley is married to former Hillary Clinton’s Deputy Secretary Tom Nides.
Etc… etc… Get the picture yet!?
Here is a truth about Trump: In no way does he reflect the teachings of a humble man named Jesus. He co-opts Christianity, yet has no resemblance to the Jesus I learned about as a child. I challenge any of you to repudiate this, without mentioning HRC.
Here is a truth about Hillary: In no way does she reflect the teachings of a humble man named Jesus. She co-opts Christianity, yet has no resemblance to the Jesus I learned about as a child. I challenge any of you to repudiate this, without mentioning Trump.
I KNEW YOU COULDN’T DO IT
I knew you couldn’t do it either.
God helps those that help themselves.
He should co-opt it because it is being attacked by his opponent.
He is pro-life. Tell me Jesus would not like that
There are only 3 reasons for any business to be in business: 1. To Make Money. 2. To Make Money. 3. To Make Money.
The BS continues with Downhill=free tuition for college. Lie= 380B over 10y. Well here’s a little math for you. AND we’ll just use California as an example. The average # of students is ~3M. Avg tuition for all colleges there, ~21K/yr. Estimates for just Cal=36B$ /yr. Over 10 years that would be 360B…Just for Cal. For the whole nation it would be over 1T$/yr.!!
But what can expect from the politburau media and Lady who should be jail for treason, fraud national security violations etc.
I’m not a proponent of having the government pay for college, but in this case I do need to point out that the proposal seems to be aimed only at paying tuition costs (not room and board) for public colleges (e.g., state university systems). That’s why the total put out by those favoring the plan seems low–it’s only part of the cost for some of the students.
Clinton and their Foundation have many more conflicts than Trump. The Foundation is just a way to funnel foreign and other illegal contributions to the Clintons personally, not just as campaign funds.
Yes, Lloyd let’s elect a 20 year old as President so we can have new blood and new ideas. Send oldsters to the gas chambers.
Free preschool for needy kids.
wiliki – Not a problem as we will send you the bill. No reason to subsidize parents for their few seconds of pleasure in the bedroom, now a massive yearly cost. Their problem, their responsibility to pay for.
Nope… a real problem.
Studies show that kids starting kindergarten without adequate preschool or an adequate educational environment at home fall further and further behind.
These are the kids that wind up pregnant at an early age, unemployed, on welfare, or in jail.
Maybe parents should take more responsibility in their children’s education instead of only relying on a school. Education begins way before a child is able to attend preschool.
Many people did not go to preschool and yet they got college degrees and are successful in the working world. They also did NOT “wind up pregnant at an early age, unemployed, on welfare, or in jail.”.
They didn’t even have preschool in past generations and the country has done nicely, right?
IRT Kay Kibby: At least Trump runs a legitimate business. If Hillary is your alternative, they run a “pay for play” enterprise. You might ask, why are the donors to the Clinton Foundation a secret? Do you have a problem with Hillary destroying her emails AFTER Congress asked for them? That’s a crime. Do you believe maybe the fix is in when her top aid, and those who deleted her emails were given immunity from prosecution? This is not how our system is suppose to work. And how does one justify a $65k payday to Chelsea for a 10 minute speech? Doesn’t that seem a little “fishy” to you? I wonder what she said. Nobody knows, except those attending, and they apparently aren’t talking. And remember, Hillary said they left the White House broke. I’m in the wrong business. My next venture will be a Foundation. It will be located in Martha’s Vineyard. And I expect your vote if I run for office.