Private schools welcome in Student CrimeStoppers

Question: Can they do that anti-crime program at private schools?

Answer: Yes. Student CrimeStoppers, a program affiliated with CrimeStoppers Honolulu which is designed to reduce crime on school campuses and in nearby neighborhoods, is available to every public and private middle and high school on Oahu. Student CrimeStoppers pays rewards of up to $250 for information about illegal activity on campus and teaches about school safety. If you’d like your school to take part, email coordinator@honolulucrimestoppers.org. Currently, more public schools than private schools participate.

Q: I heard the train is going to be standing-room-only. Is that true?

A: No. There will be 188 seats in each four-car train, said Bill Brennan, a spokesman for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.

Q: When will it be running?

A: There’s a 65 percent chance that Oahu’s rail-transit system will be fully operational by September 2026, according to a recent “risk refresh report” done for the Federal Transit Administration. The estimated cost of building the East Kapolei- to-Ala Moana system has risen to $8.3 billion.

Bulky pickup

Friday’s item about the city’s bulky pickup crews running behind schedule in East Oahu prompted numerous calls and emails from readers. Here’s a sampling of the feedback:

I empathize with the complainer about city crews being late picking up bulky items. I live in Kahaluu and called Laie’s yard after five days with no pickup. I wanted to make sure they didn’t inadvertently miss our road’s bulk pickup. The gentleman explained that a truck was broken so they’re delayed. He said that I could leave my number and he could update me on the progress. I waited. The truck came about nine days after the original pickup date, but it was OK, as I knew they were coming as soon as they could. With all the environmental, social and economic issues in our world today, we need to understand that this wasn’t life-threatening or intentional. Let’s give them a break. — Mahalo, Patti L.

I continue to resent the use of city resources to remove bulky items. This is as bad as keeping the homeless off public sidewalks. If the refuse will not fit gray bins, there are several private haulers available to remove unwanted items. — A reader

Thanks for letting us know to leave the stuff out, even this long after the pickup date. I was ready to give up, but they did come and get it Friday morning. — Nat

It’s time to fix this program or end it. The good intention is there, but when the city can’t get junk off the curb in a timely fashion every month, nice neighborhoods start looking like dumps. And I don’t live in East Oahu. It’s not the only place affected. — D.R.

I appreciate this service, even when it is late. Please don’t discourage the city crews. I am elderly. I can’t take things to the dump myself, and I don’t have the money to pay someone to do it for me, either. As it is now, my neighbors check each month to see if I have anything to bring to the curb and do it for me. It works for me. — Audrey

Auwe

Auwe! The police should monitor all the cars pulled over on the mauka side of Wilder Avenue from about 5:10 to 5:30 p.m. These drivers park their cars and turn on their flashers (meant for emergency use) to look like they’ve pulled over for an emergency, but in actuality they’re just waiting until 5:30 p.m. so they can leave their cars when the parking restriction ends. This occurs every day from Punahou Street all the way west until Pensacola Street and causes westbound afternoon traffic to weave in and out of the right lane. This is not only an inconvenience to drivers and bicyclists, but could cause accidents. — Irritated Driver

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.