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Investigate suspected corruption in rail project
Hopefully, an investigation requested by state Sen. Kurt Fevella will expose the long-suspected collusion of elected officials to control the spending of rail money for their own benefit and personal gains through wrongful and illegal means.
The concern always has been that political corruption would eventually undermine the goodness of the project. A Wall Street Journal article reported that a 2016 city audit of the rail showed hundreds of millions unaccounted for. It seems that outsiders know more about our rail than we do.
The taxpayers deserve an investigation of the rail. We have been lied to and cheated by those in charge of the project from the very beginning. We just want the truth.
Clarence Chun
Kalihi
San Jose punishes gun owners with tax
In a unanimous vote June 29, San Jose’s City Council approved a national first that will see gun owners forced to compensate taxpayers for the spiraling costs of gun violence.
The gun owners in California’s third-largest city will be required to take out liability insurance for their firearms and pay an annual tax that will help fund emergency responses to gun-related calls. The move is expected to face legal challenges from gun-rights groups.
Ya think? This will not stop a single act of gun violence.
What it does do is financially punish people who don’t commit illegal acts. A tax for exercising your Second Amendment rights.
Didn’t we fight a war over taxation?
James Pritchett
Moiliili
Parking permit, shuttles for Hana Highway
A solution to the Hana Highway traffic problem:
>> Require parking by permit only, with visible warnings and strong enforcement.
>> Issue parking permits by bid to interested tour companies, who must abide by rules to minimize traffic disruption.
>> Run a regularly scheduled tour bus service offering short stops and hop on/off privilege. This service would have the necessary parking permits.
>> Educate the tourism sector and public of the strict enforcement of parking by permit only and availability of the tour bus service.
This carrot-and-stick method would provide visitors access to this enchanting highway while minimizing traffic.
Grant Kim
Mililani
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