Carlisle’s first act is a rail junket?

When I heard on the news that the first item on Mayor Peter Carlisle’s agenda is supporting the city’s rail project, I just had to wonder if any of the politicians in this state really ever listen to the voters.

During the same newscast, it was brought up that a recent poll showed the vast majority of residents rated the city’s poor road conditions and ailing infrastructure like water mains and sewers (greater than 40 percent for each issue) as their No. 1 concern. Only 9 percent ranked rail as their primary concern.

So what does our newly elected mayor say he needs to do first? Why, go on a boondoggle trip to Washington, D.C., with an entourage to discuss rail, of course!

It sure sounds like the politicians are continuing to do what they always do — talk about change to get elected, then revert to the same old "I’ll do what I want to do, or what the unions demand, and ignore what the rest of the constituency wants to do." 

Return land to original owner

I find overtones of life "under Chairman Mao," as Chinese writers have synthesized them, in your recent stories on Haleiwa:

» The city condemned and seized parcels in 1970 from a not-for-profit trust. It applied its power of eminent domain, then stated, "We will use the land for the common good." (That is, expand a beach park.)

» Nothing good resulted; the parcel has been in limbo for decades.

» Now, a philosophical change evolves: Free enterprise surfaces and city officials offer to sell the land it appropriated.

» The original owners may have a chance to buy back its kidnapped land for a ransom.

I hope the city of Honolulu will allow the Haleiwa land to be purchased by Kamehameha Schools, its original owner. This is an in-perpetuity land-oriented trust with a mission to educate children of the aina.

Kamehameha Schools has a wonderful master plan for the Haleiwa area. This plan’s outlook is progressive. It is in contrast to usual developers’ regressive outlooks. It will help keep the country comfy.

Hotel will further clog Haleiwa

Andy Anderson is misleading the public. His portrayal of the only people against his Haleiwa Hotel development as the rich from Sunset Beach or owners of bed-and-breakfasts is mistaken.

I was born and raised in the Haleiwa/Waialua area. I’ve seen what Haleiwa town has turned into. Growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, my friends and I could walk all over Haleiwa. We could walk from Mrs. Aoki’s sewing class (now Aoki Shave Ice) to the old Pizza Bob’s (now Kainoa’s) without fear of being hit by a car.

Today, I refuse to drive into Haleiwa to go grocery shopping because of traffic and tourists walking all over the road. Instead of driving two miles, I drive 10 miles up the hill to Wahiawa to buy groceries to avoid the traffic.

Previously, business in Haleiwa would pick up only in the winter months with the surfers and big wave sightseers. Now, Haleiwa has become a mini Lahaina/Kailua-Kona year-round. We do not need, or want, a hotel in Haleiwa. 

Haleiwa hotel would be great

My wife and I think Andy Anderson’s concept for a hotel at Haleiwa is great.

It would give us a chance to get out of town, away from Waikiki and truly relax.

Anti-gay policy is hypocritical

It strikes me as sadly ironic that in 19 days in America there have been four suicides by youngsters who were outed as being gay, yet in spite of that, the military still maintains a "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy.

How can grown-ups claim that it is OK to be gay and that it is nothing to be ashamed of, and yet say that it is not OK to be gay and in the military? Is this not the ultimate in hypocrisy? 

Fallen troops’ kin embrace support

To anybody who has lost a loved one in defense of our freedom as Americans, I offer my greatest condolences and my most sincere gratitude to your hero. I lost my nephew, a Marine, four years ago and have never attended a more sad gathering.

On the day of his funeral, Fred Phelps and his followers were to be in attendance. Thankfully they never showed, or at least never revealed themselves. There were, however, many Patriot Guard Riders there who formed a perimeter around the church. You know what they said? Things like, "We’re sorry for your loss" and "It’s an honor to be here."

Perhaps we should recruit these servants to keep idiots like Phelps and his congregation away from our mournful moments for our loved ones. 

Homeless are victims of economy

Ann Kobayashi’s proposed city ordinance banning homeless citizens from living on our sidewalks and public facilities’ parking lots is an abomination.

The city under the past mayor had already kicked the homeless out of the parks and beaches. The state has closed down living facilities for developmentally disabled and other persons and sent many out into a community that lacks adequate living arrangements.

A good number of these persons have ended up homeless. Many of the new homeless are unemployed or only partly employed due to the lousy economy. They cannot afford the high costs of housing. Many more are just one paycheck or one layoff away from being homeless.

Is there no aloha for these citizens? Where else can these people go? The jobless and homeless poor are proliferating in these unjust times — while the rich get richer. It’s time to turn things around and push for a more just, equitable and caring society by halting the persecution of victims and providing enough jobs and decent, affordable housing for all.