Rail venture fraught with unwise choices
Mayor Kirk Caldwell, or someone, owes us a serious, logical, believable explanation of why an operations executive — Dan Grabauskas — was hired to run the construction phase of the rail transit project.
At the same time, explain why Ansaldo, with all of its known problems at the time, was awarded the contract for the driverless rail cars.
Companies with financial problems will cut corners on materials, workmanship and safety.
Are the cars equipped with rope ladders so passengers can get off when they stall?
Bert West
Kalihi
Trump not only one to treat Putin well
Columnist Trudy Rubin opines that when visiting her like-minded pals in Ireland, they joked and called Donald Trump “Putin’s poodle” because of Trump’s overtures toward the former KGB Bolshevik (“‘Putin’s poodle’ could undermine U.S.,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 18).
May I remind Rubin and her friends with selective memories of the comment by George W. Bush: “I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy.” How about Barack Obama’s audible whisper about Russia: “After my election I have more flexibility.”
Trump is no neophyte. He is world-savvy, a very successful businessman and the ultimate capitalist. So why shouldn’t Trump be cut a little slack?
Isn’t it possible that there is a method to his madness: Using a carrot at the end of that stick instead of hot peppers?
Art Todd
Kaneohe
Caldwell’s 9/11 ads don’t do issue justice
I’m getting pretty fed up with all of the dishonest TV ads that are flying around this election cycle from both political parties.
A perfect example is the one about Honolulu mayoral candidate Charles Djou not voting to give the 9/11 first responders more money.
New York firefighters have life insurance up to $500,000. Their surviving spouses receive an additional $100,000, plus each child under 21 receives $4,000.
Along with their fully paid health, dental and vision insurance, that should be enough to keep any family going for a long time.
In January 2011 the Zadroga Act was signed into law, adding $2.775 billion to their health care.
The big problem with any type of medical insurance is proving that cancer came from a specific act, like the dust from the 9/11 collapse of the World Trade Center.
Enough from both parties, please.
Please believe that we are all smart enough to form our own opinions. Just us give straight information.
Tom Hermanson
Kaneohe
Solar panel savings haven’t added up
Once upon a time, a hard- working family struggling to pay a huge mortgage tried to find a way to decrease its skyrocketing electric bill.
The family thought it would get some relief with solar panels, and for the first six months after the purchase, the electric bill plummeted to about half of what it had been paying.
Soon, however, the electric company’s rascal meter started climbing higher and higher, so that the family paid as much or more than they did before.
Adding salt to their bleeding wounds were the monthly payments on these solar panels.
Hawaiian Electric Co. has been preaching about sustainable energy and lower costs for consumers for years, yet it makes it more difficult for people to make their own energy.
This monopoly has all the power.
And its excuses do not add up.
Someone is getting very, very wealthy on our misery.
Kelela and Steven Lombard
Laie
Kudos for article on fetal development
Thank you so much for the article citing “Scientific American” magazine on fetal development (“Fetuses have physical sensations early on in development,” Star-Advertiser, Strange But True, Sept. 4).
The article said that “the fetus uses its budding brain and senses to learn about itself and the outside world well before birth.”
It also said that “as early as seven weeks after fertilization, fetuses start to move, swinging their umbilical cords, climbing the walls of the amniotic sac and sticking their limbs in their mouths. Their coordination improves as they grow.”
I understand the fetal heart beat starts at about 18 days.
Thank you again for printing this column. These scientific facts are not well known.
Kay Williamson
Hawaii Kai
Student exam scores eagerly awaited
As noted in your recent article, more of Hawaii’s students are taking Advanced Placement exams than ever before (“Number of Hawaii students taking college-prep tests increases,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 27).
The state Department of Education should be commended for expanding access to the exams, namely by obtaining federal grants to subsidize test fees for low-income students.
However, we should be just as interested in our students’ actual scores as we are in the number of students taking the exam. In 2015, Hawaii’s mean score was a 2.75, whereas the national mean score was a 2.82. A passing score is a 3.0. Hopefully, the complete 2016 data, which should be released soon, will reveal an improvement in Hawaii’s mean score.
It is important to celebrate success stories. The DOE has increased the number of students taking the AP exam. Let’s see if there has been any improvement in our students’ actual scores.
Andrew Michaels
Waikiki
30 responses to “Rail venture fraught with unwise choices”
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IRT Bert West: Bert, rail has never been about relieving traffic. It’s always been about stealing money. That was the plan from the beginning, and it’s working quite well. With costs exploding past any measure of accountability, the public still does nothing.
Yes, rail was sold and built on lies and deception. The snake oil salesman, (moofi) has skipped town. The new snake oil salesman (kirk) needs to be shown the door so we can either salvage what’s left of rail or at least build it responsibly going forward.
Keolu, “Moofi” to the best of my knowledge has not skipped town – we could only hope. His profile on LinkedIn is: President & CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association.
I agree Kirk has to be shown the door!!!
Baloney… rail is absolutely needed for huge traffic congestion on the west side.
Republican don’t believe in rail and in investing in the future. They oppose any and all spending for rail and what would rather have the island become over developmed with urban sprawl.
Urban sprawl would harm our economy and the futures of our children and grandchildren.
WILIKI Is full of BS, we need rail like a hole in the head and it may fall down before it ever gets used anyways. The odds that more problems will appear over the next five or so years before the trains actually run ( if ever) is great. the plastic pieces failed in the first month can you imagine in 5 years. Plus they have welds breaking and steel tension bars snapping and concrete columns sinking–
no train has ever touched it. WAIT UNTIL THE VIBRATIONS BEGIN & MANY THOUSANDS OF TONS SHAKE THE EARTH
AND THE BUILDINGS AROUND IT. London Bridge is falling down & so is the RUSTING RAIL
More problems show that cost savings from new unproven technology is risky… lot like meglev – slow systems are still being tested. Here’s a link…
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120504-the-floating-future-of-trains
IRT Tom Hermanson: Unless you lived in NY at the time and actually saw the towers fall and lived through the aftermath (which I did), you really don’t have a grasp on what happened. First responders did not only include NYPD and FDNY, it also included members of volunteer services throughout the New York tri-state area. These people were not told what they were being exposed to, but bravely went about the business of trying to rescue survivors, put out fires and clean up the aftermath. The Zadroga act is to make sure all of them were covered for treatment from the health affects of working in or near ground-zero, because many insurances did not and some still do not cover acts of terrorism.
The First Responders needed help with the extra expenses of a debilitating illness.
Actually the EPA gave incorrect information at the fallen tower area, saying it was safe to breath. In the end they admitted they didn’t have a clue.
First responders, anyone working at the site should have worn protective respirators costing under $25.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/03/nyregion/public-misled-on-air-quality-after-911-attack-judge-says.html?_r=0
Unfortunately, govt fail to give the correct information to responders.
In contrast, at the Pentagon site, first responders without gas masks were escorted off site by security.
IRT: Art Todd–I agree with you–and remember the presidential debate when asked what country held the biggest threat and Romney said RUSSIA and Obama said—Mitt, the cold war is over they are our friends. I am afraid with Clinton and all the pay to play millions from Russia, we’ll have another spineless President!!
Despite the Donald’s claims of being “a fantastic businessman,” not having paid federal income taxes because of an incredible $900M loss when his casino brain burp went south wasn’t “smart.” Rather it’s a clear rebuttal to his claims of business acumen. Enough with his mendacity, hypocrisy, racist slurs, disrespect to veterans and contempt for women. Any questions?
I guess “the proof is in the pudding”, yeah? He’s accumulated more money than you could in a hundred lifetimes, maybe in a thousand lifetimes, for that matter. And if you could, you’d pay zero taxes too. Whether or not he’d make a good president, though, is pretty much up for debate, lol.
Are we okay with Shillary getting money from people connected to terrorists?
You progressives are all good with Hillary using her the office of Secretary of State to promote herself and collect millions. You’re okay with Barrack using the AG’s office to hand-out immunity deals to Clintons top aids to shield her, and himself, but when it comes to following the law, your pants get twisted……You need to find a 12-step, and quick. Your parents health-care plan isn’t going to help you much longer, and word is O.D. and Boots have cornered the Kool-Aid market.
Are we going to be seeing a discount on our online subscription to the SA since the articles are recycled day after day?
The HART board must investigate Dan Grabauskas and his conduct while at HART. Altering invoices to deny information to board members and the public is a flat out rail crime against the people. Hold the below average mainlander accountable for his actions.
@Tom Hermanson: KROOKWELL doesn’t have a leg to stand on with all his mismanagement, acceptance of the Territorial PAYOLA, and RAIL FAIL. THIS is why he needs to try smoke and mirrors by doing an end around about all the 9-11 hoopla.
Since the shims are cracking without any trains running on them I would imagine more will crack when the trains start running. Is it okay to run the trains on cracked shims or will they have to be replaced? Seems like an ongoing major maintenance problem. Our trains have arrived but it will be years before they start to run. More maintenance problems?
Trains and passengers add a little more weight.
But it doesn’t look very good if they’re already starting to crack. My guess is that HART will decide to change design and replace the shims.
A little more weight? Compared to the weight on them now I would say a lot more weight.
For anybody that still doesnt know rail ended up with outdated technology & Ansaldo, it goes back to the conception with Mufi, Krookwell and influence peddler number one, Don Horner.
Baloney… plastic shims are one of those new wazoo ideas untested in Hawaii. Now we know better.
What does your poor shim idea have to do with the rail criminals?
He’s just a dementia addled re + Tar * D
Nothing retarded about new technology. Son son says it’s outdated. Not true.
Nothing re*ta*rd*e*d about new technology. Son son says it’s outdated. Not true.
Free preschool for needy kids.
Why one? Preschool pays for itself.
Kay Williamson, mahalo for your letter. A nice reminder that science continues to support “Life” for our children, born and unborn.