Landfill saga goes on and on

Here we go again, dealing with the never-ending saga of where to put the next landfill on Oahu. My guess is that the Leeward Coast is going to get the short end of the stick once again.

I found it interesting to read that Mufi Hannemann had promised when he was running for mayor that he’d make sure the landfill was relocated from Waimanalo Gulch ("Talking trash," Star-Advertiser, May 20). It’s one thing to continue being the dumping ground for the rest of the island, but it adds insult to injury to see politicians scoring political points based on empty promises.

Amanda Lowther
Kailua

Hirono will be in enough debates

For David Shapiro to say that Mazie Hirono is hiding behind her mother to avoid debates is highly insulting ("It’s time for Hirono to stop hiding behind her mother," Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, May 30).

As many in Hawaii know, families and history are very important to us. They help shape who we are because what happened in the past is very much connected to the present.

There are enough debates scheduled to help voters learn about the candidates in the Senate race. How many more do we need? Unlike some candidates, Mazie has a full-time job in Washington, D.C., as our current congresswoman, so she can’t be here every single day to answer the same questions. I don’t need 20 or 50 debates to make my decision.

Edwina Luke
Nuuanu

Bus changes are tilted to help rail

In regards to the comments by City Councilman Nestor Garcia, I am deeply concerned about how the city can force the taxpaying public into accepting route changes to TheBus, which is causing a lot of grief for our bus riders, as a way to address an $8 million shortfall ("Better funding mechanism should help TheBus provide better service to its users," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, June 6).

Garcia’s commentary is filled with political pontification ("TheBus is a public service that should be supported by users and less through taxes") and hyperbole ("High gas prices will cause workers to abandon their cars"). It clearly shows that the city has ulterior motives to force the public to accept the rail.

Whether I am for or against rail is not the issue. What I’m worried about is the reference to "pay to play," which in my opinion is a poor way to run government.

Howard Lee
Hawaii Kai

Mayoral contest is all about rail

Can we have clarification on how the mayoral race works?

I’m concerned about fairness if the pro-rail vote is split between two candidates while the anti-rail vote is consolidated behind one candidate.

I guess this won’t be such a concern if, as seems likely, none of the three gets a majority in the August primary; presumably, then, we’d have one pro-rail and one anti-rail rail candidate going head to head in November.

But at least for me, the mayoral contest is more about whether rail is going to move forward than anything else. I think voters need to be cautious about voting for a candidate in the primary whose views on rail are different than their own.

Dave Kemble
Kailua

Brewbaker right about tax credits

Economist Paul Brewbaker’s comments are right on the money ("Isle economist lambasts ‘clean energy’ tax policy," Star-Advertiser, On Politics, June 5).

Taking tax dollars from the many to subsidize misguided schemes benefiting the few is the worst use of government authority.

Taxpayer credits for photovoltaics, cited by Brewbaker, are only part of the problem. Who would buy an electric car were it not for massive federal and state subsidies? Even the charging stations are heavily subsidized. This money was confiscated from taxpayers, all of whom surely had better uses for their earnings.

Meanwhile, the smug attitudes of electric and hybrid drivers, bragging of their freedom from high gas prices, reflect their ignorance of just who is paying for their ride.

The internal combustion engine proved its superiority over electric and steam propulsion more than 100 year ago. Despite expensive government subsidies and "green" gimmicks, gasoline can still drive us further, cheaper and, yes, even cleaner than the alternatives.

John M. Corboy
Mililani