Letters: Rail support gone as costs inexplicably climb; Red Hill a clear danger; Russian fleet less so; Alm wrong to charge police in Sykap shooting

I couldn’t believe Dennis Callan’s letter (“China builds 250 miles of rail for $5.6 billion,” Star-Advertiser, July 2), featuring 47 tunnels and 121 bridges at 9,000-foot elevation — while we will spend $12 billion and haven’t completed 20 miles. So like Callan, I’m asking: Where did our $12 billion go? What’s wrong with this picture?

I’ve been a longtime supporter of rail, going way back when Frank Fasi was mayor. Even when others wrote letters condemning the cost of rail, and suggesting shutting it all down, I kept saying to myself, it’s too late to do that.

Not anymore. I’m asking where all our money is going. If no one can answer my question, then something is drastically wrong because I don’t see anyone going to jail. Let’s just shut down the whole shebang.

Art Frank

Makaha

Help needed to help others with depression

I have been asked for help by a friend who has symptoms of depression. My response was not the best, due to the lack of knowledge of mental health and how others think.

Being there for them since preschool, I would like to know how to help them and others, too, possibly in the future. Our state government should offer mini-lessons on how we can help each other due to the rise of depression, anxiety and other mental- health issues.

Millicent Nouchi

Kapahulu

Red Hill a clear danger; Russian fleet less so

Recently the U.S. Air Force scrambled two F-22 Raptor fighter planes out of Hickam in response to the activities of a Russian fleet operating some hundreds of miles from Hawaii. While it is unlikely that the Russians were planning to invade Oahu, it’s still nice to know that our military stands ready to defend the people of this state from any and all threats. But defense has its costs: The U.S. spent $26 billion to develop the F-22, before a single plane was built.

In contrast to the debatable Russian threat, the danger to Oahu’s precious drinking water posed by the millions of gallons of fuel stored in the leaking tanks of the Navy’s Red Hill facility is clear and present.

Wake up, people of Oahu, to this threat to our drinking water, to our very lives.

Take to the streets, stand up to the Navy. We’ve done it before, we can do it again. They will spend billions when they feel like it. Make them feel like it, now. Before it’s too late.

Kevin O’Leary

Kalihi Valley

Defunding the police will make us victims

Defund the police! This has been the outcry from Democrat-led cities across the country. Now crimes are on the rise at an alarming rate in cities like Chicago, Baltimore and New York City.

People are living in fear of murders, rapes, home burglaries and violent assaults.

Be careful what you ask for when you reduce the size of a police force.

If you are involved in a life-threatening home burglary and call 911, don’t expect quick police action. There may not be enough officers to respond to your dilemma.

Americans are facing this scary scenario all over the mainland. Hopefully, we in Hawaii won’t need to worry just yet.

Robert Hatakeyama

Salt Lake

Alm wrong to charge police in Sykap shooting

I am a retired Honolulu Police Department lieutenant, having retired in October 2019 after more than 32 years of service.

I supported and voted for Steve Alm in his bid for prosecutor, as I believed his experience as a deputy prosecutor, U.S. attorney and state judge would guide him to fairly seek justice for residents and visitors to Honolulu.

I am embarrassed and, I’m ashamed to say, was deplorably wrong in my judgment. After failing to obtain a true bill from an Oahu grand jury (where only the prosecutor presents evidence) accusing three Honolulu police officers of wrongdoing, Alm initiated and filed a criminal complaint against the three officers. Alm obviously reinterpreted facts to substantiate his fantasy of criminal acts by the officers.

Alm is not a pubic defender or defense attorney; he is the Honolulu prosecutor. In the interest of justice and public safety, Alm should immediately resign to prevent any further deterioration of public confidence in his judgment.

Alexander Garcia

Makiki

Citizens need answers on police use of force

It was shocking to hear that a grand jury didn’t return an indictment in the shooting of Iremamber Sykap. We’ve been told for weeks that footage couldn’t be released because the investigation wasn’t completed. Leaked footage showed the vehicle was stopped when the shooting happened and the shots were from behind. The grand jury decided based on the evidence they saw. What was that evidence?

I fear that my Compact of Free Association migrant, other Pacific Islander and African American friends in Honolulu are in undue danger of police use of force. As tolerant citizens of Honolulu, we need to know what our police force is acting upon — especially in cases like these.

Amanda Allison

Liliha

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