Rail can’t burden taxpayers endlessly
Sunday’s Insight section provides the clearest reasons why rail needs to stop at Middle Street. The editorial, “Rail builders need to detail soaring costs” (Star-Advertiser, Our View, June 26), is absolutely astute in acknowledging that no matter what, “the taxpayer is footing the bill.”
The nonsense that the federal government and tourists are paying for rail was long ago proven false.
It’s Honolulu’s taxpayers, with a higher general excise tax for food, medicine, rent and so on, who are paying for rail.
But the politicians just can’t stop themselves.
House Speaker Joe Souki says, “Find the money; the money is there” — from taxpayers.
City Council Chairman Ernie Martin, says, “There are sources of funding other than raising property taxes” — from taxpayers (“Many sources of funding available to complete rail project as planned,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, June 26).
Certainly with a looming $10 billion rail transit system that does not reduce traffic congestion, the only question should be: Why?
Pam Smith
Ewa Beach
Local control better than federal largesse
In a re-election campaign ad in the June 26 Honolulu Star-Advertiser, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said, “The first obligation I have is to make sure Hawaii gets sufficient federal funds for our priorities.”
Unfortunately, this is the common theme for politicians running for federal positions.
Those with the most seniority get the most for their constituents. As federal lawmakers, their first priority should be the welfare of the United States as a whole, with a perspective toward representing their particular state or district.
It would be better to let state and local governments finance, decide and implement their own priorities. This would result in local control and higher local taxes, but a commensurate lowering of federal taxes.
Robert Karman
Hawaii Kai
Gun safety depends on early education
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono speaks, as do most people with little or no knowledge of guns or the people who own them, about keeping guns from those who shouldn’t have them (“Congress should represent American people, not NRA,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, June 26). I doubt anyone would disagree.
Hirono never hits on the real problem: accidental injuries and deaths. Most, if not all, of these incidents could be resolved if children in particular received training on gun safety.
I got my first gun at age 12 and also extensive instructions on how to use and care for it, including loading and unloading. I was told over and over again about the proper use of a gun. That was more than 65 years ago, and I’ve never shot anyone yet.
The public should realize that the biggest problem with guns is ignorance and fear.
Don Chambers
Mililani
More restrictions on fishery not needed
The Hawaii longline fishery is considered by the international community to be among the best managed and most responsible fisheries in the world.
There is a proposal on the table that would expand the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (PMNM) from 50 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles. However, the fishery has no impacts to the bottom of the sea and is the only activity affected by the proposed expansion.
Before we expand conservation areas and create restrictions to our fishery, we need to fully consider the impacts these expanded areas will have upon our local fishermen and food supply. PMNM already provides near-absolute protection for nearshore habitats.
If the expansion does not provide additional protections beyond those already provided by U.S. law, let’s not make it more difficult for our fishermen who ensure we have a fresh, sustainable supply of local seafood in Hawaii.
Roy Yamaguchi
Chef-founder, Roy’s Restaurant
Wealthy needn’t pay for air conditioning
Regarding air conditioning in schools, the state says it has no money and the public says the wealthy should pay (“Heiress could spend on schools,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 22).
This is inherently unfair; these people earned their money and generously give to many different organizations.
We should not expect them to pay for everything we need. Isn’t that why we pay taxes? We should be emulating them instead of asking for more charity.
Princess Abigail Kawananakoa has been donating money to our annual school supplies fund drives, which have been going on since 2006.
No one asked her — she just started helping out.
Because of the generousity of Princess Kawananakoa, her employees, her friends and our Waimanalo Agricultural Association members, we were able to supply Waimanalo Elementary with, among other things, fans for every classroom.
We know teachers spend their own funds too, so as members of a family-oriented community, we try to provide what we can.
Annette Lee
Waimanalo
Justice demands Low be sentenced
I read a most troubling article in the Star-Advertiser (“‘Fittest CEO’ given time to pay victims,” June 11).
David Low, who pleaded no contest to charges of stealing nearly $1 million from poor, innocent people, was slapped on the hands five times by Judge Colette Garibaldi, who basically said, “Naughty, naughty — go correct your mistakes and don’t do it again!”
One year passed, Low did nothing and Garibaldi said she needs six more months to make a decision on sentencing.
What is there to decide? The man is guilty. Why is he roaming free?
This is very troubling indeed. Grave injustice has been done to the innocent victims.
Cleo Akina
Piikoi
50 responses to “Rail can’t burden taxpayers endlessly”
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IRT Don Chambers: Mazie, like Barrack and the rest of the Democrats, believe Mateen didn’t represent all Muslims, yet somehow, magically he did represent all legal American gun owners. It’s how they roll. Has nothing to do with facts, and everything to do with attacking the second amendment.
Fatality while driving under the influence of alcohol? Blame the driver, not the car or the beer. Stabbing? Blame the assailant, not the knife. Shooting by an ISIS-inspired terrorist? Well obviously it was the guns that were to blame! -Democrats
Bars that serve individuals who are “obviously” intoxicated who then cause injury to others are subject to civil liability. Why shouldn’t we have regulations to mitigate the impacts of selling guns to people who may use them for harm? We also have speed limits which can be violated at the detriment of the public. I see nothing wrong with having a system of checks on the sale and possession of firearms. There are possibly some firearms that create more hazards than others and you would need a special permit to operate those, similar to being required to have a different type of license to operate different types of vehicles. The solution, however, isn’t in banning weapons, but in coming up with effective ways to address situations where people use weapons to harm others illegally. How do you prevent people from acting dangerously?
Yup, good one Peanuts, and they fail to see the failure of the judicial system when some clown with 40 priors kills someone with whatever weapon available. Are they freakin blind to facts or just the greatest shibai artists looking for votes when free publicity comes along?
“Thinking out of the box” will reveal the solutions we need to finish rail as planned. We need to stay positive and if there is a will, there is a way. Average locals living far on the more affordable west side are suffering in horrendous traffic jams in their commute to work downtown. Rail needs to be finished to downtown and Ala Moana to give west side residents the full benefit of a less hassle transportation alternative bypassing the congestion. When people ride the train and leave their car at home, this will also provide traffic relief for people who need to drive. As our population continues to increase and traffic keeps getting worse, rail is absolutely needed for our long range future. Stopping at Middle Street and starting up again later will end up costing more. For full benefit, we need to find the funds now to complete the entire route without stopping. The small half percent general excise tax for rail is the least felt and is the most fair to taxpayers across the board. Tourists also help us pay for rail with the GE tax. Rail is not a burden. Rail transportation is a government service that will benefit our whole community and everyone shares in the cost through taxes.
Ah, good old cut and paste 2-A.
Let Richard Borreca remind you (see his article next to this one) that ever since the route was changed to serve developers and construction interests and run from a new sprawl to luxury mall instead of the promised route from westside communities to UH and Waikiki, this project has been ruined.
I think it is both hilarious and reveling that people like you, who ignored this bait and switch from UH are now suddenly up in arms about the train not going to the luxury mall. Why is that?
Or you could just tell us where you live on the mainland and explain your connection to this rail project, because that will explain your rah-rah taxes and cis-boom-bah nonsensical route for developers just as well.
Yes, I challenge ukuleleblue to answer what is so important about the rail going to Ala Moana?
Lemme help Uku with the answer……..”T”..”O”…”?”
The condo’s of Kakaako didn’t mysteriously appear for nuttin.
No sense responding to your posts as you continue to post the same pastings. In addition, what is terrible is after everything you are told about the failures of this rail project, you continue to say things that are contrary to reason. Either you must find it amusing to upset people or you are delusional. Which one is it?
ukuleleblue is a paid PR hack for the rail and I believe he lives on the mainland, thus the cheery attitude about sucking it up and just happily paying the GE extension and whatever else is raised to pay for the boondoggle called rail.
Here’s my cut’n paste, out of the box ideas:
IMAGINE WHAT ELSE WE CAN BUILD
Building the destructive rail line to Ala Moana would likely bring the total cost to over $10 billion. Extending to UH Manoa… who knows?
Imagine what else can be built with that $$$.
We can have the construction jobs, traffic relief and so much more.
For $1 billion, we can fix UH Manoa’s crumbling campus and make it shine, with expanded, affordable dorm capacity to energize student life and reduce the commuting and parking problems there.
For another $billion, we can do the same for west-side public schools, so parents can avoid the daily commute to private schools and the $20k each year just to give their kids a quality education.
For another $billion, we can afford to beef up Central/West side hospitals, clinics and labs, so folks there have better access to care closer to home, and don’t have to drive to urban Honolulu for advanced treatments, and good jobs.
For another $billion, we can expand our fleet of buses, with highway smart-lanes reserved for them when needed.
For another $billion, we can increase food security and Ag jobs by investing in diversified agriculture on the west side. Maybe move UH Ag College to UH West Oahu, and support Ag tourism – make the fertile central plain flourish again.
We can have all this for HALF the $10 billion cost of rail to Ala Moana. Families can have more income, better healthcare, better public shools, a better university, a stronger farming sector, and less traffic.
And when these traffic mitigation projects are completed, we’ll have $billions left over to fix our roads, bridges, water and sewer lines, and to fix the rest of the public school repair backlog and the teacher shortage.
I don’t disagree with any of these other needs you mentioned. Maybe we should increase the GE tax another half percent. Our local economy is doing well and anybody who works would barely feel it. The GE tax is most fair because everyone pays according to their financial ability to spend. The GE tax never affects our expenditure decision. Our restaurants always seem to be busy with people having to wait in line. A lot of people buying new cars now. People are out spending money now and enjoying life. When our economy is booming, now is the time that we can afford to build needed infrastructure projects such as rail that will improve our quality of life for the future.
I know you are not on the island, but if you gauge our economy by the number of homelessness, it is doing very poor.
ukuleleblue says: “Maybe we should increase the GE tax another half percent. Our local economy is doing well and anybody who works would barely feel it… The GE tax never affects our expenditure decision.”
Of course the GET doesn’t affect your expenditure decision. You don’t live here!
But at the end of 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years, you start wondering why you don’t have enough money to go on that family vacation, send your kid to college, or retire. It’s because your “barely felt GET” has been steadily bleeding the savings of struggling families by taxing food, rent, clothing, and rent.
You are a disgusting individual. Instead of pasting in this debunked claptrap, you should tell us all where you live on the mainland and what your connection is to this mess of rail project. Then we can more accurately assess your out-of-touch and outrageous claims.
uku brain, We knew you were pupuli but now you’ve completely lost it. “Economy booming?” Have you seen the stock market the last 2 days? Do you have a 401k? Is there ever a good time to raise taxes? Politicians looking for some other fund to raid. They are killing us. Get off the train and walk already.
You always should spend on infrastructure, it’s an investment. The problem with rail is does the T.O.D. capitalization justify the $8-10 billion invested in the rail? Better to do infrastructure in the downtimes because it pays off later and keeps the economy moving. Can you imagine construction costs if we were to expand capital improvement projects while rail and the associated T.O.D. is going on? Oh, yes, you can. Just look at the State’s attempt to install AC in the schools.
One problem with your idea. The money you talk about was only authorized for the construction of rail. You will need to go back to the legislature to get that changed. It is not like the city had that money all along and decided to spend it on rail.
What are average locals?
We all know who are local. I also include kamaainas. But “average” is the key adjective. I’m talking about regular families who have one or two people working average jobs and are not rich. Also single people who working to support themselves. Many of these people are just making ends meet and live on the more affordable west side. They are suffering in the horrendous traffic going to and from downtown in their long commute for their livelihood. Rail will improve their transportation and give them a better quality of life.
Environmental impact statement says rail will have no impact on traffic. Start over with your propaganda.
So average local construction worker living in Waianae is gonna leave his truck, tool boxes, heavy equipment and water cooler in the front yard, trudge to the rail station with his buddies, ride the train (more than likely standing) to town so he can go to his job building $5 million dollar condos for Mr Yamamoto, Mr Caldwell and Mr. Wong????
Get real UkuBS…you pathetic D – BAG
Ukuleleblue,
Thank you for responding. People who live in Hawaii don’t call local people “average locals” or even “kamaaina”.
ukuleleblue says: “I’m talking about regular families who have one or two people working average jobs and are not rich. Also single people who working to support themselves. Many of these people are just making ends meet and live on the more affordable west side… Rail will improve their transportation and give them a better quality of life.”
“They” huh? Sounds like you’re not including yourself in that condescending term “average locals” Have you ever even visited Oahu before? And if so, did you leave Waikiki?
You need to tell us all where you live on the mainland and what your connection is to this mess of rail project. Then we can better assess your out-of-touch condescending attitude.
I am only trying to give a simple description of average long time residents who are trying to make a living here an afford the high cost of housing. Rich outsiders and investors are coming in and driving up the cost of homes and rents so that the average folks have to live far in the west side to afford a home. Many locals can’t stand the traffic and move away to Vegas. Then when they want to come back to the best place on earth, they cannot afford housing and are squeezed out. Rail will give them a better commute and quality of life so they can stay here and have a legacy here for their children and grandchildren.
You need to stop using the term “average local” because according to your definition, the average local lives all over the island. From the west side to the east side.
Ukuleleblue says: Many locals can’t stand the traffic and move away to Vegas.
That statement is totally untrue. Many locals move to vegas, or the mainland in general, because of 2 reasons. One being there is more opportunity for getting a higher paying job to support their family then there is in Hawaii. And second, the cost of living is much less up on the mainland then it is in Hawaii. It’s not because of traffic since every major city on the mainland has traffic.
People did not know for years about the surcharge. They couldn’t feel it.
Weewee you talking BS again. Man you are losing it, the great self proclaimed rail kupuna
People who are tired of the BS from the Mayor, HART, City Council, wiliki, ukuleleboo, Nanakuliboo,leoscott and other pro-railers who have lied to many time. Stop the RUSTING RAIL AT THE ALOHA STADIUM AND USE THE GUIDE WAYS just want to keep a touch of their hard earned monies.
AS A REVERSABLE HIGHWAY and the locals — wow lots missing above
Pam Smith and Gary Smith of Ewa are bonified R. You see, the new influx are transplants that never paid local taxes.no skin in. Stop with the traffic thing. Rail is more then that. It’s about growth. Get more cars off this island. The best transport option for an island? Yes mass RAIL.
We’ve been talking about an urban Metropolitan Core on the leeward side of Oahu for 30 years as an alternative to urban sprawl.
Urban sprawl would be disaster for our children and grandchildren and our economy. Let’s move forward with better planning for the future. Rail is needed complete a general plan.
Hey his average local says, you “lose money”.
IRT Don Chambers, thanks for enlightening the general public with the common sense approach of the use and care of guns! Unfortunately, the radical groups of people aren’t interested in safety precautionary measures. They’re focused are more likely to destroy lives than preventing deaths!
IRT “Local control better than federal largesse” Good points but it begs the question if it is decided to move forward with project which governmental agencies will execute it best? … the Feds or the State?
IRT “Gun safety depends on early education” Good points. I would suggest knowing that some small percent of gun owners will be mentally deranged at some point … if there were less guns in circulation less wackos would be able to use these killing machines.
IRT “More restrictions on fishery not needed’ Conservation efforts are not about more money in the fishermens pockets. If fisherman are catching fish in an area there is a lot more going on that what they bring to the dock to sell. There is by catch that is part of the food web that exists in the open ocean. How many sharks get killed along with pelagic endangered turtles, etc. It is wise to have significant set asides where nature can achieve balance without mans harvesting.
p.smith is again perpetuating an anti fraudulent statement. in the eis, it specifically stated that the rail’s purpose was not to relieve traffic congestion but to provide commuters and other riders an alternative to driving in congestion. it is totally irresponsible to cite erroneous information. but as they all are, they like to tell lies because they don’t have any other good reason to oppose rail except their selfishness.
Here is a reason to oppose the rail .. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ surprise $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
One poster had the best response to that statement. I believe it went something like this. How can it be an alternative if we already have an alternative. It’s more like forcing a replacement.
aiea7 says:” in the eis, it specifically stated that the rail’s purpose was not to relieve traffic congestion but to provide commuters and other riders an alternative to driving in congestion. it is totally irresponsible to cite erroneous information. but as they all are, they like to tell lies because they don’t have any other good reason to oppose rail except their selfishness.”
Hey Rick, take it down a notch.
The rail’s state purpose was supposed “to provide high-capacity rapid transit between Kapolei and the University of Hawaii at Manoa.” but that ship has sailed and the mall train is a poor substitute.
There are a lot of good reasons to oppose this mess of a rail project and I challenge you to catch me in a lie.
d. chambers – it is the parents who have guns responsibility to educate their children about gun safety. parents who do not have guns don’t have problems about accidental shooting. hence, when accidental shooting of someone by children with access to guns, the responsible person is the owner of the gun – the parent. apparently, you parents have not done a very good job.
Hey Rick,
I have no idea what you’re trying to say here. Slow down and try to make a little sense.
Kids are the most vulnerable in this sense.
I’ve been told that as a toddler I figured out how to get the family gun from its hiding place and shot a hole in the roof. The gun was never kept in the house again.
Wow not a story I would have told. Your parents were very irresponsible just like you.
Well that’s a lie every child should be educated in gun safety. Because there have been many incidents of neighbor kids playing together and one finds a gun and then gets shot. If you have kids with that attitude then you haven’t done a very good job. Whether you own a gun or not you should educate your children that they should leave the area immediately when a gun is seen and report it to an adult.
People will say that if they can find that much money for rail, why can’t they find it for other needs as well? And doesn’t haste make waste?
Don,thanks for not shooting anyone yet.
Free preschool education for needy kids. Let’s hope the feds recognize that too.
IRT: wiliki, stop already. free preschool has been voted down by our legislature, needy or not. what do you classify as needy and what exactly is just above needy and above that and so on?