Frets about rail easy to grasp

I’m not against mass-transit solutions like rail, which have helped other cities deal with urban congestion. Finding a solution that residents will support would be to everybody’s benefit.

Nobody really knows how many passengers will actually use rail or how much we will pay in subsidies to keep rail running.

Nobody actually knows how much rail will reduce traffic congestion, considering the limited route, connections and timetables.

Maybe it requires a leap of faith, but a $5.26 billion leap should cause pause.

We keep hearing about how the rail project is defined, designed and to be implemented. Some feel speculators and developers have cashed in on a financial windfall from early purchases of land required for rail, poor contract language, cronyism, change orders and delay penalties.

What do we have to give up because of lack of money while supporting rail? Is there any question why so many are skeptical?

Greg Schmidt
Hawaii Kai

Selfishness threatens rail

Traveling around the Windward side, I am disturbed by the signs saying "vote no on rail" because it won’t come here.

Once, the Windward side had only the Old Pali Road to get to Honolulu. The Pali and Likelike highways and the H-3 were paid for by all citizens — not just Windwardites.

Taxpayers pay for public schools, the University of Hawaii, the bus, public golf and tennis courts, and district and beach parks. Our taxes support the fire, police and emergency medical services, whether or not we use them ourselves.

Likewise, the former governor in his anti-rail ads stresses that only the corporations and cement companies are profiting. How about the many workers who are being hired by these companies, taken off unemployment rosters and now are able to buy things, which cause local business to hire more workers?

Barbara F. Bonnardel
Kailua

Hannemann led on recycling

Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann is more than entitled to receive credit for curb-side recycling ("Candidate misrepresented," Star-Advertiser, Letters, July 27).

When Hannemann came into office, he had to deal with a number of issues related to bringing the program to full-scale reality, including funding, labor and City Council concerns. Hannemann set the time-table and made sure that the program was implemented in an orderly and customer-acceptable manner. Today, curbside recycling is touted by many as one of the city’s best run programs.

Many involved, including the general public and advocates of the program, deserve a share of the credit for the program’s success. A large slice of the credit is due the mayor because much of the hard work was accomplished by his administration.

Frank J. Doyle
Former chief of refuse, Honolulu Department of Environmental Services

Colt Brennan is one of us

Let us show Colt Brennan the aloha spirit he came back here to find.

He is obviously navigating through storms while searching for a safe place to land. Colt is one of us. We are his family and nobody in any family is perfect.

If I owned a company, I would offer him a job. The only condition would be that he stay out of trouble, come to work every day and show respect.

Welcome home, Colt. I wish you the very best.

Dave Wolz
Kaneohe

Total beach ban unfair to locals

The City Council should not override the mayor’s veto of Bill 11.

A revised bill that regulates commercial activity could still allow locals to learn how to windsurf at a safe location under professional instruction, while addressing the needs of Kailua residents.

I took a high school windsurfing PE class through one of those commercial companies and found the professional instruction helpful and their beginner gear necessary.

I had really looked forward to taking the class again, and I don’t think it’s going to be offered without a safe location at Kailua Beach. It’s disappointing that locals will not have the opportunity to learn windsurfing in a safe environment.

Bryson Wong
Niu Valley

U.S. gymnasts did a great job

Kudos to theU.S. womens gymnastics team, "The Fearless Five." To perform and execute as they did required the confidence and nerves of champions.

Also, kudos to all who prepared these young ladies, who deserve all the accolades that come their way.

Russell Stephen Pang
Kailua