The recent literal attack on the free press in Montana cannot be ignored. A candidate for the U.S. House, Greg Gianforte, violently assaulted a reporter for asking a question about health care. The reporter was simply doing his job as a journalist.

Assault is never excusable, but physically squashing the free press, an essential pillar of our democracy, is especially egregious. Gianforte, who then won the election, should have declined to take office. He is unfit to serve and he should recognize that himself. Since he has not, it is incumbent on us to demand his resignation.

Violent bullies do not belong in office on the public payroll. They belong in anger management class.

I ask U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono, and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, to call for his resignation in the most strident terms to remind the international audience that this country remains a nation of laws.

Shannon Wianecki

Paia

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Demand answers on Yemen raid

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono is the ranking Democrat on the Seapower Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee. She has the power to set the agenda.

The Constitution says that only Congress has the right to declare war and issue letters of marque and reprisal. That is the Constitution she has sworn to uphold and protect.

It is her responsibility to demand that the Navy SEALS present to her committee their rules of engagement so that she can properly evaluate whether commando raids in Yemen (such as the one in January that caused 25 civilian deaths) are continuing with the proper civilian oversight of Congress as mandated in the Constitution.

Ed Felien

Kihei

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Keep Kaimana quiet for locals

Making the Waikiki Natatorium a sand volleyball site does not save the Natatorium. Those of us who swim love and appreciate the space at Kaimana for long swims and relaxing with family, away from the bustle of Waikiki. Waikiki has already been stolen by tourists. We like to be able to have our own little space along this beautiful coast.

If you want to use a sand volleyball court, use the one at the end of Kapahulu. Make the Natatorium a “great tourist attraction” (“Save Natatorium as sand volleyball site,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 27)? We don’t need any more tourist attractions. We need places for local residents to enjoy our islands. The parking and traffic would be awful as well.

It would be great if they could just shore up the sides of the Natatorium pool, and take down the plywood.

I do not support a volleyball court in this space.

Kathleen Elliott

Kaimuki

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HART leadership needs shakeup

The recent article on Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation officials and the Blood Bank of Hawaii points out just how inept management is within the rail hierarchy (“Rail officials in bind over blood bank,” Star-Advertiser, May 27).

HART Interim Executive Director Krishniah Murthy has been on board for nearly six months and his management team doesn’t deem it necessary to keep him informed on very important matters.

Obtaining necessary rights-of-way has to be top priority for rail management, and notifying Murthy of problem areas should have been done as soon as he came on board, not months later.

At the very least, Murthy should have been personally notified that a lawsuit was going to be filed, not weeks after it was done.

No individual director like Abbey Mayer, HART’s director of planning, permitting and right-of-way, should have such authority; otherwise, why bother having a HART executive director? It seems further house-cleaning is once again necessary within all of HART.

James Robinson

Aiea

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Don’t wait to find money for rail

Now that some time has passed and the rhetoric has somewhat died down, can we address the issue of rail project financing?

Available funding is sufficient for construction to Middle Street, and the Kapolei-to-Aloha Stadium segment could open in late 2020. Can we agree that we are past the point of no return and now turn to the issue of financing the rest of the project? We will just have to trust that the city will be able to control costs and meet deadlines.

Who will step up and take leadership on the financing issue? Gov. David Ige? The Legislature? The financing issue will not take care of itself.

Not addressing it now and letting it fester will result in a nonfunctional rail that does not fulfill the promises that were made for better traffic and more transportation choices for residents and tourists.

Stuart Shimazu

Kaimuki