No contractors to finish rail project

Cleverly buried under the headline, “Consultant to explore partnerships for rail’s final stretch” (Star-Advertiser, Dec. 9), and obscured by tortuous language is the news that no construction company could be found to build rail in the city center — after two years of trying.

The second sentence in the fourth paragraph of the Page B2 story reads: “HART in August canceled procurement for the construction of that stretch, dubbed the ‘City Center’ section, after the solicitation sat idle for nearly two years.”

So the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation will spend $325,000 to try to get a private company to help build rail from Middle Street. Why not stop rail at Middle Street?

Pearl Johnson

Kaneohe

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Trump follows spirit of Antiquities Act

Your editorial based on the Antiquities Act of 1906 concluded that shrinking national monuments was based on a “wrongheaded aim” (“Protect marine life in Pacific monuments,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, Dec. 11).

For a fair dialogue, it should be noted that the Antiquities Act was based on concerns about protecting mostly prehistoric Native American ruins and artifacts (collectively termed “antiquities”) on federal lands in the American West. The Act also states that “the limits of which in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected.”

The national monuments designated since Jan. 1, 1996, were scrutinized by President Donald Trump. He will make his (hopefully unbiased) decisions based on the smallest “compatible” area in the spirit of the law and the best interests of the United States, not for any particular area or special interest.

The Pacific monuments will have an impact in our ecosystems and should be protected by legislative actions, not presidential discretions.

Ed Ige

Kaneohe

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Local Dems unhurt by Obama deficits

Richard Borreca’s column, “Congressional Republicans’ tax-cut reforms will end up slashing Hawaii GOP further” (Star-Advertiser, On Politics, Dec. 10), contends the GOP tax bill would create deficits so deep Congress will be forced for decades to make budget cuts, and would increase the deficit by $1 trillion over 10 years (hurting the national economy and weakening America’s foreign trading position).

To cure this, “the GOP will have to work on the deficit they just created,” and that “defending the scheme will be how the Hawaii GOP goes from five to none.”

Borreca bypasses both basic math and recent history. A $1 trillion deficit would increase the current $20 trillion national debt by 5 percent.

During the Obama presidency, deficits doubled our national debt, from $9 trillion to $19 trillion. Yet Republicans lost seats in the Legislature and held no seats in Congress. In this case at least, Borreca’s facts do not align with his conclusions.

David L Mulliken

Waikiki

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GOP tax plan won’t hurt local party

Richard Borecca’s recent column opined that the national Republican legislative tax package would hurt the Hawaii Republican Party because that bill helps the rich and takes away from the poor.

He is wrong on every count.

>> All politics is local. Hawaii’s Democrats have screwed up in so many ways the Republicans have several good chances to make gains.

>> The rich pay most of the taxes. You can’t lower taxes without charging “the rich” less.

>> Taking less money from “the rich” doesn’t really take anything from “the poor.” The bureaucracy soaks up much of what is supposedly spent on “the poor” and that does need to be squeezed. And don’t forget, many people cycle in and out of “the rich” and “the poor” over their careers.

A rising tide lifts all boats.

Boyd Ready

Haleiwa

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Keep stream water out of Kailua Bay

The city’s Department of Facilities and Maintenance dredged Kaelepulu Stream, makai of Kawailoa Bridge, from Oct. 30 to Nov. 17. Three days before Thanksgiving, the department removed the sand berm at the stream mouth and released thousands of gallons of putrid stagnant water into Kailua Bay, posting two small signs on the beach with the words, ”contaminated area.”

How did the department know the area was contaminated when the Clean Water Branch of the state Department of Health did not test the water before it was released? Was the department listening to paddlers’ reports of infections contracted from the stream? Turbulent murky water gushed into the bay for two more days after warning signs were removed. Should we expect a stream opening on Dec. 22, just in time for Christmas beachgoers?

The department needs to stop the irresponsible release of polluted and untreated water into Kailua Bay.

Leonard Lepine

Kailua

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Fish belong in ocean, not with tree display

I encourage everyone to check out the Christmas decorations along King Street. They are so uniquely Hawaii. Don’t forget to stop in at Honolulu Hale and tour the decorated Christmas tree displays. Many of the trees have an animal theme and one can see the amount of time and energy that went into the displays.

However, I was saddened by the Department of Environmental Services tree display. Right next to the poster with the headline, “Protect Our Ocean,” was a small aquarium with a clown fish and another reef fish, swimming back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

Their rightful home is in the ocean, not in a tiny fish tank. And, to make matters worse, this tree display was judged to be “Best in Show.” With all due respect, I would give them the “Hypocrite Award.” I sincerely hope the two fish are released into the ocean after their ordeal.

Anne Wheelock

Nuuanu