Developers love phased reviews

The reason that federal and state laws have called for complete environmental reviews before projects are built, rather than phased-in ones undertaken during construction, is simple.

A complete review before undertaking a construction project answers the question of how the project will affect the environment, including historic areas. It allows an informed public to have a voice in whether the project should be built at all.

On the other hand, the phased-in review allows construction to start while performing the environmental review in stages somewhat ahead of the construction. This only allows the public a voice in how to mitigate any ill effects the project may have on the environment.

The public is better served by environmental reviews completed before the final decision about whether a project should be built at all. This is especially true concerning Native Hawaiian burial sites.

Government officials, developers and those who believe they know best what is good for the rest of us will prefer the phased-in review.

Cliff Slater
Pacific Heights

Walker wouldn’t be viable here

Sometimes when I read your paper I wonder if I live in a blue state. For instance: "Many in the GOP think Walker has a chance at president" (Star-Advertiser, Byron York, June 6).

If Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is so good, why did Wisconsin go from 11th in job creation to 44th? If Walker was in Hawaii, he would be run out of town for pushing the American Legislative Exchange Council agenda and his union-busting.

I guess the column does reflect what the GOP thinks, but it seems like that is what this paper thinks, too. I have read more progressive newspapers in a red state.

Bob Connolly
Waipahu

Kudos to PUC for HECO stance

A big mahalo to our state Public Utilities Commission for finally trying to put a stop to Hawaiian Electric Co.’s madness ("Commission berates power company for bad service, high rates," Star-Advertiser, June 4).

Short on stockholder dividends? Ask for a rate increase. Unaccountable for inefficiency within the company? Ask for a rate increase. Need more studies regardless of cost or who it benefits? Ask for a rate increase. Generous pay and retirement packages costing too much? Ask for a rate increase.

We have an underground electrical line serving our street that has been temporarily strung from transformer to street light pole, across the street and then back underground at the sidewalk. Could someone ask Constance Lau, CEO of Hawaiian Electric’s parent company, HEI Inc., to donate some of her $5.8 million to beautify our street?

Or would that need PUC approval?

Orson Moon
Aiea

UH volleyball will miss Croson

Thanks so much to Ferd Lewis for his excellent column regarding the loss of Jane Croson from the UH Wahine volleyball team ("Hawaii probably better off without Croson’s drama," Star-Advertiser, May 29). In a short space, he gave us fans more insight into this than head coach Dave Shoji has in the past two years.

Croson is an elite indoor/sand player, a product of those tough California high school, club and beach volleyball programs. I think we will regret her leaving Hawaii more than she will regret doing so.

Best wishes to Jane and thanks for all she did for us Wahine volleyball fans.

Best wishes to Shoji and the team as they move on. Wahine volleyball is an elite program. We are lucky to have this team. However, without Croson on the court, the team will need all the luck it can get.

Dan Smith
Waianae

We need more roundabouts

I’d like to suggestthat towniesGov. Neil Abercrombie and Mayor Kirk Caldwell holoholo to West Oahu, make a U-turn somewhere and then try to reach Sam’s Club, the Pearl City Walmart or any of the many other businesses and homes viaAcacia Road.

After at least two back-to-back red lights, they’ll see all the cars backed up on Kamehameha Highway, up from Home Depot and coming down Acacia.

After getting back to town,they can Google "roundabouts," for websites that will explain this centuries-old traffic solution. Asfar as I know, Oahu has a single example, on Keeaumoku Street at Heulu Street in Makiki.

In the fast-growing Sedona area in Arizona, there are 10 roundabouts along the key highway link to the freeway. Everyone has to slow down, but nobody has to stop and traffic just keeps flowing in each driver’s wanted direction.

Bruce Dunford
Ewa Beach