LUC decisions were correct

The decisions by the state Land Use Commission to approve Koa Ridge and Ho‘opili were informed and correct.

The LUC heard debates both for and against from passionate and sincere people.

The decisions allow families to decide if they want to live in a high-rise or in a community of homes and townhouses.

At Koa Ridge, the Central Oahu community will also benefit from improved medical services.

Castle & Cooke and D.R. Horton Schuler will again have the opportunity to provide another first-class community for the people of Oahu.

Both are great companies to work for, build with and buy from.

Mahalo to the LUC members for their time and judgment in making these very important and difficult decisions.

Leonard Leong
Manoa

Ho‘opili a threat to our future

I am so upset about the decision to develop Ho‘opili.

This willdestroy Oahu’s best farmland, which we will need if there were ever problemswith shipping food from the mainland. We have here only a few weeks’ supply of food to feed us.

Ho‘opili will also be bad for tourism because tourists don’t come hereto see housing developments.They come for the beauty of our oceans, our mountains and our farmlands.

I am worried about our future.

Harmony Bentosino
Makakilo

Rail project is big distraction

The mayor wiselywore a hard hat to the unveiling of the first column of his pet rail project — which will stand as a monument to this folly — while infrastructure like roads and sewers continues to deteriorate, with no relief in sight. Auwe!

Giv Cornfield
Hawaii Kai

Keep students at area schools

Concerning the letter "Use many ways to reduce traffic" (Star Advertiser, Letters, June 8), the writer states that he drives his child from Ewa to town for high school.

Is this the reason traffic is so much better when school is out?

In addition to University of Hawaii students, are there that many people who drive their children to schools out of their district or to private schools?

To alleviate school traffic, direct students from Central and West Oahu to University of Hawaii-West Oahu. Do not allow people to enroll their children in public schools outside of their assigned districts.

Try to get private schools to open satellite schools closer to West Oahu. Government could help with tax incentives and subsidies.

Susumu Kawamoto
Mililani

Present facts on Social Security

Jay Ambrose’s column about how "greedy geezers" are taking our country to ruination with their expectations of Social Security benefits ("‘Greedy geezers’ leading the way to fiscal ruin," Star-Advertiser, June 9) demands a response.

Your paper would render a great public service if it would dig out and print the true condition of the Social Security Trust Fund. What, in fact, is the size of the trust fund? Until when will it be able to pay the expected benefits? Can some minor tweaking (i.e. raising the upper limit of income that is taxed) extend the viability of the fund? If yes, for how long?

Social Security will be a political target during the coming campaign. Voters ought to have the unvarnished truth about this issue.

Ed Sullam
Waialae Iki

Jones Act still ensures security

In response to the letter from Keoni Ronald May, I think it comforts most citizens to know certain safeguards are in place on all vessels covered by the Jones Act ("Time for Jones Act has come and gone," Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 11).

The World Trade Center is a recent testament to the dangerous times we live in. It is an example of what can happen when security of our transportation system becomes an afterthought.

The Jones Act ensures extensive vetting and training of crews on U.S. flag vessels by Homeland Security and the FBI. It also requires vessels carrying dangerous cargoes to be built to standards set by the U.S. government.

The Jones Act provides a safe, secure and reliable supply line of goods to and from Hawaii and all ports in the United States.

Louis Mendez
Makiki