Don’t overreact about sprinklers

Your coverage of the Marco Polo fire is beginning to look more like a campaign against owners (and potential sellers) of sprinklerless condos than a real danger signal.

Actually, the condos without sprinklers are as safe today as they were the day before the Marco Polo fire, yet you seem to think hundreds will burst into flames at any moment.

Rob Perez’ story compares buildings with sprinklers to sprinklerless buildings using commercial buildings and offices as well as residential, although the former are empty at night (“No sprinklers, more costly damage,” Star-Advertiser, July 24).

I also note that the only high-rise fatality between 2006 and 2015 involved a building with sprinklers.

Retrofitting is more than sticking a few sprinklers on a condo ceiling; it is invasive, even devastating to the condo interior. Many questions needs to be answered regarding the Marco Polo fire before all sprinklerless condos are consigned to the trash heap and the market loses an entire segment of homes.

Robert R. Paddock

Hawaii Kai

UH should worry about enrollment

Might the declines in University of Hawaii-Manoa enrollment be due to the increases in enrollment at UH-West Oahu (“Increasing losses,” Star-Advertiser, July 23)?

I believe that the numbers are quite similar except one is plus and one is minus. Whatever the cause, UH-Manoa is rightly concerned.

Daniel C. Smith

Pearl City

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EV owners need charging stations

Many of us who drive electric vehicles also have solar panels on our homes, so that most of our driving is courtesy of the sun, not electricity generated by coal or oil (“EV owners don’t need special perks,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, July 25).

When I am out and need a charge, I usually charge at my Nissan dealer, which has a large solar array to power its operation, including customer EVs.

That being said, I do agree with the editorial of the same day (“EVs beyond the need for free parking,” Star-Advertiser, Our View).

It is time for legislation to replace the “carrots” for buying EVs with the necessary infrastructure to support EV use, namely sufficient charging stations. Even when we EV owners charge at home, most EV drivers on longer jaunts need a battery charge without having to hunt for or wait unduly for an open station.

Daniel Benedict

Waialua

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Legislature must stop funding rail project

Kirk Caldwell would not be mayor today if it were not for Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP), a consortium of union and private contractors that were for rail. PRP’s political action committee spent more than $3.7 million to help Caldwell defeat Ben Cayetano, who opposed rail.

This would explain why Caldwell is so adamant on completing the rail. PRP helped him become mayor, and he uses his position to raise billions for the project.

We can’t trust Caldwell when it comes to rail. PRP admitted to wrongdoing during the election, but only after Cayetano was defeated.

The Legislature must speak for the people. Say no to more rail funding. It’s time to put the taxpayer’s money toward other needs.

Clarence Chun

Kalihi

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Bridge over Ala Wai a worthy project

What a great summary from Dr. Karl Kim on the safety, design, connectivity, health and quality-of-life benefits of the new Ala Wai Canal pedestrian-bike bridge (“New Ala Wai Canal bridge could transform Waikiki areas,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, July 18).

His five ideas for harnessing beneficial impacts from the bridge, combined with smart coordination with other projects, truly sets a vision for the future of the Waikiki area.

As a highly respected expert in his field, his opinion on this exciting project adds credibility, validity, forethought and yes, a sense of urgency in seeing this project become a reality sooner than later.

Jeff Merz

Waikiki

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Bulb-outs will help Chinatown shoppers

I am a worker for a restaurant on Maunakea Street and I am in agreement that the experimental curb extension project on Maunakea and Pauahi streets is a viable one (“Bulb-out brouhaha,” Star-Advertiser, July 19).

The curbs are really narrow and leaves little or no room for shoppers with carts and wagons. Maneuvering can be very difficult, especially during the busy hours.

Statements made by the businesses in this zone are true, but the biggest problem is managing the parking situation on the Maunakea Street. Many abuse the loading-zone privilege and use it as a free-parking zone.

A zone should be created for deliveries to businesses, with meters in the rest of the area.

Duane Makalena

Kaimuki

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We care for seals more than homeless

I have been down to Kaimana Beach a couple of times in the past few weeks, and it has been touching and uplifting to see the way our state has responded to this weary family without a place to stay (“Monk seal gives birth in Waikiki, thrilling visitors,” Star-Advertiser, June 30).

We immediately activated government resources, made sure they had ample space to feel safe, and warned people that they are stressed and may react in unexpected ways.

We should all feel proud, and from the crowds, it is obvious that we all do.

It would be equally uplifting if we treated our human homeless population as well as we do our seal visitors, instead of treating them like some kind of infected vermin that need to be frightened off with armed guards (“Sheriff’s deputies to help clear areas along Nimitz and H-1,” Star-Advertiser, July 21).

Matthew Cohen

Makiki