Anti-rail rants unproductive

The irony of many people’s anti-rail position took on comic proportions after the ZipMobile fiasco where the community’s pleas for the state to do something were juxtaposed against more anti-rail rants.

The city is taking action to avoid having the Third-World traffic (and reputation) of Jakarta or Beijing. It’s taking action it should have taken back in the ’90s when the project would have been cheaper.

It’s finally carrying through with the plan (approved in a referendum) but is having to do this against a steady current of criticism and lawsuits, further contributing to additional costs and delays.

Having lived and relied upon a rail in several others cities, I don’t see rail as "a joke," as one letter writer quipped.

Please give the anti-rail rant a rest and let the city finish the job. The rail is one possible solution to alleviating future gridlock.

Jacquelyn Chappel
Kaimuki

Kenoi should resign as mayor

Billy Kenoi appears to be well-liked as mayor of Hawaii Island. But Kenoi, a lawyer, just doesn’t get it.

If he used his pCard only once for personal use and quickly paid it back after realizing his error, all would be forgiven.

However, Kenoi repeatedly disregarded the rules for pCard for years, and was reminded of this countless times by his staff. Abuse of public money is the one thing above all else that rankles voters the most.

Since Kenoi appears incapable of following simple rules, what other rules and laws has he disobeyed as mayor? It appears that Kenoi sees himself above the law.

If Kenoi had true concern for the people of Hawaii island, and not only for himself, he would resign immediately from office.

Kevin Roddy
St. Louis Heights

Homeless are living at school

I am a teacher. I am proud of my job, and of the campus where I teach.

Lately, it has become tougher and tougher to do my job with any sense of safety or pride. Time after time I have arrived early to school, and find that I wake up sleeping homeless people who have been using my classroom area for their bedroom, their bathroom — yes, No. 1 and No. 2 — and their personal dumping ground. One morning, I even got jumped by a pit bull who was guarding the bushes the owners were sleeping in. Talk about a heart attack!

Have I gone to my administration? Of course.

Have the police been notified? Yes.

Do the parents who drop their kids off in the dark know about this? I don’t know.

What can I do? What rights do I have to ensure that not only I, but my students, have a safe and clean environment to come to every day?

MaryAnn Johnson
Waipahu Intermediate School

How could such thefts happen?

Laura Pitolo, former program director, and Sophia Placencia, former executive director, have been charged with stealing funds from their organization, Waianae Community Outreach ("Former official at shelter pleads not guilty to theft," Star-Advertiser, March 28).

Who hired them? What were their qualifications? Were their backgrounds checked? To whom did they report? Were they bonded or are the alleged stolen funds a total loss?

It is unthinkable that people could not only think they would get away with such actions, but that until now, they allegedly did get away with using the organization’s funds as their personal bank accounts. I’m absolutely dumbfounded.

Gwen Char Heliker
Makiki

Kudos for story on foster kids

I just loved Dave Reardon’s heartwarming story about Francesca Weems and her brother, Marcus ("Hunger for life," Star-Advertiser, April 5). What a remarkable journey.

Their homeless life and the system failed them. Thank God both had caring people enter their lives: Neil Everett (who eventually mentored Francesca) and foster parents for both children on Hawaii island.

People saw potential in these kids and took an interest in them. It wasn’t easy, as the article points out. With encouragement from teachers and their foster parents (and their dedication to sports and study), they succeeded.

It’s sad that struggling adults and children in similar circumstances may not have an opportunity to read this article of hope.

Change doesn’t happen overnight. It’s about love, compassion and commitment for everyone involved.

Thank you for this upbeat and positive story when so much of the news is negative and disheartening.

Linda Iverson
Moiliili