Illegal fireworks used with impunity

Per the Star-Advertiser, the police seized 2,200 pounds of illegal fireworks Wednesday in the Waipahu area (“Police seize 2,200 pounds of illegal fireworks in Waipahu,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 31).

What about the rest of Oahu? My neighbors on all sides, from Monsarrat and Campbell avenues to Diamond Head Circle and the surrounding Kapahulu neighborhoods, were shooting strands of fireworks along with lots of aerials, to say nothing of the loud, loud music until 1 a.m. How many had permits for the strands? And the illegal fireworks and loud music were deafening.

Why have a law if it isn’t enforced? Weren’t the lovely fireworks off Waikiki Beach sufficient enough for all of us? I thought so.

Margy Behling

Kapahulu

Hawaii Kai sludge makes a big mess

My goodness: First, sludge from the Hawaii Kai Marina is dumped illegally in Waianae and then on the H-1 freeway, tying up traffic for hours.

Now they want to fill in a wildlife habitat in the marina.

Why? Because it is cheaper.

What will they think of next?

Jim Dittmar

Hawaii Kai

Republicans control the national debate

Republican ideology is winning even when GOP candidates lose.

For the past 20 or more years, the Republicans have controlled the national debate. Remember the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid”? The economy, taxes, the debt and national defense — they have been at the heart of our national consciousness and debate for so long, it sometimes seems like these are the only issues that we have ever cared about, or need to care about.

The Democratic Party has lost its soul and many elections, not because it agrees with the Republican agenda, but because it accepted these core Republican concerns as its primary focus as well. Remember when the Democratic Party led the nation in terms of what issues and concerns needed to be addressed in this country — civil rights, the war on poverty, the Peace Corps?

Social change and social justice issues were at the center of our national debate and consciousness at one time. They are no longer.

Roman Leverenz

Salt Lake

Norm Chow TV ad an uplifting treat

I applaud former University of Hawaii football coach Norm Chow, the Altres staffing agency and the creative minds that put together the job-transition commercial shown during the NFL Packers-Vikings game Sunday evening.

It was uplifting, fun, whimsical, clever and witty, showing Chow re-positioning himself by working in a flower shop (and, of course, admonishing super-size players also working there).

In a world of daily bad news, violence, evil and haters, the spot was a definite plus, hopefully for anyone experiencing the loss of a job, family member or station in life.

Chip Davey

Downtown Honolulu

New rail reality deserves a new vote

Now that voters know the rail project means immense personal and business disruption, plus tax increases and cost overruns forever, there are many calls for change.

One option to limit further damage could come from a City Charter amendment that shortens the project before it tears up downtown and the waterfront, with Kakaako speculators the only real beneficiaries.

But no, the Charter Commission has deferred all proposals that would — God forbid — let the people decide issues related to rail (“Charter proposals to halt rail rejected,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 3).

And the two nonsensical reasons given for rejection: By voting once for approval, we have somehow forfeited the right to reconsider; and if we vote to stop the project, we might lose federal funding, and that might stop the project.

We are not practicing democracy if gatekeepers for special interests can prevent a new vote based on knowledge of rail’s reality, rather than the fairy tale sold a few years ago.

Dan Binkley

Makiki

Why can’t we build on time, on budget?

It is interesting to note that on Jan. 5, 1933, construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge (“This Week in History,” Star- Advertiser, Dec. 3).

Work was completed four years later.

How is it that, using labor-intensive methods of construction, workers could build what was at the time the world’s longest suspension bridge in just four years, ahead of schedule and $1.3 million under budget?

In contrast, we are still waiting for the one-lane expansion of H-1 at the Pearl City exit to be completed, with frequent closings of the freeway to repair potholes on this still new lane.

We also await the final cost of the rail transit project and the real date of completion, now two years beyond the original estimate and who knows how much over the always-moving budget.

Lola Arakaki

Ewa Beach