NOT ART

TAXPAYERS DON'T WANT GRAFFITI ON PUBLIC WALLS

I am writing in response to Cheryl Abellanida's opinion (Letter, Nov. 4). She chose to address the graffiti on our freeway overpasses and other locations as art.

Art? You call that art? There is no "artistic treasure" (as you saw fit to call it) in painting over what I and several hundreds of thousands of law-abiding, taxpaying residents of paradise consider to be "our" collective belongings.

Yes, Ms. Abellanida, we pay for and own this stuff collectively. You want to change the rules, fine. Let's put it to a democratic vote and let the majority decide.

2006 WARRIORS

FANS WILL SEE EXCITING FOOTBALL AT UH GAMES

Whether or not you blame June Jones for the lack of support (Letter, Oct. 31) at UH games this season, you are missing out if you haven't been coming to 'Aiea to watch one of the most exciting teams we've had here in some time.

I may not agree with all of the changes but I'm there to support the athletes. Go 'Bows!

MEDICARE

DRUG PLAN IS FLAWED BUT THERE ARE SAVINGS

Rep. Jim McDermott has some valid criticisms of the Medicare drug plan, but it's too bad he brought politics into it.

Where was the drug plan during the many years the Democrats were in power and did nothing?

The current plan, though flawed, has saved my wife and me hundreds of dollars in drug costs for a mere $6.75 a month each. Not bad.

MASS TRANSIT

THE TRANSIT PICTURE — IN THE FORM OF VERSE

Mass transit haiku:

City likes the train

Pretends to explore choices

It's a big shibai

EXTEND TRANSIT LINE TO WAIKIKI TO FIX PARKING

Regarding your article, "Waikiki's new stores spur hunt for parking" (Oct. 30), I have a suggestion that would make it easy for local people to get in and out of Waikiki for shopping, dining and other events — build the rail system with stations in Waikiki.

I frequently go to Oakland and always take BART whenever I need to get to San Francisco. The city is just a quick 20-minute train ride away. No need to hassle with traffic or struggle to find a parking space. And the ride is pleasant, the train and the stations are clean and safe, and it only costs a few dollars, depending on the destination.

A modern rail system will serve Honolulu well and make it easier to get around without the parking and traffic hassles.

CITY CAN'T PROPERLY MANAGE INFRASTRUCTURE

Our roadways are full of holes and bumps, sewage spills happen regularly, we don't even treat our sewage to the level that almost all other American cities do and our landfill problem is looming.

I don't want to complain, but as we get ready to start a new, biggest-ever project, I just wish the city would show it can properly manage and maintain our current infrastructure.

USE HEFTY CAR FEES TO SUPPORT USE OF THEBUS

My yearly car registration was due and the new cost jumped up at me. My little Altima now costs me $166 to register.

I asked others, and found that a Ford Ranger's registration fee runs about $220.

I was standing in line at the Kalihi Satelite City Hall when my own mass transit epiphany struck. Why don't we, as O'ahu residents who want to keep driving our cars, support mass transit for those who either need or want to ride mass transit? Take our registration fees and pay it to TheBus, paying for upgrading, supporting and improving current lines. The big bonus is everyone rides free, especially the seniors. We can help all the students, too. Avoid the August back-to-school gridlock. Besides, car registration fees keep going up and people like me just keep paying.

TRAFFIC

WORK PROJECTS, EVENTS CLOGGED BERETANIA

The Honolulu Traffic Management Center. Now there's an oxymoron if I ever heard one!

How else could the fiasco that ensued on South Beretania on Saturday, Nov. 4, be explained? Let's examine the variables that led to gridlock that day.

The mauka lane between Alapa'i and Punchbowl was closed and under construction. The mauka lane between Victoria and Ward was closed for tree trimming. Two makai lanes fronting the police garage were closed for tree trimming. A major event (No Vote No Grumble) was being held at 'Iolani Palace requiring parking at the municipal garage at Alapa'i and Beretania.

Does the Honolulu Traffic Management Center only operate Monday through Friday? Or does the staff not know how to coordinate work projects and special events so they don't coincide with each other? Either explanation is unacceptable.

DESTINATION AREA

MAHALO TO THOSE WHO WANT TO KEEP IT KAILUA

Many, many cheers to the young people who stood on Kailua Road on Oct. 27 and objected to Kailua becoming a tourist destination area, a Windward Waikiki.

This is a positive indication that Kailuans of all ages want to keep it Kailua!

Kailuans, please continue to express your feelings.

U.S. ARMED FORCES

PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY

The induction and memorialization ceremony for the late Capt. Humbert R. Versace at the U.S. Army Museum of Hawai'i on Oct. 27 was a fitting tribute to an American with deep spiritual faith.

Captain Versace was born at Schofield Barracks, O'ahu. He was executed while in captivity as a prisoner of war in Vietnam on Sept. 29, 1965. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously by President Bush in 2002.

It was obvious that his classmates from the class of 1959 at West Point honor and revere their fallen classmate. I was impressed by the number of classmates who attended the ceremony. There were 50 or more and many spouses. Presentations were outstanding. Kudos to all those who made the event a most memorable one.

Veterans Day is coming up. Let's all pay tribute to those who have served and are serving our great country in the armed forces of the United States of America.

STRYKER

LAWSUIT COULD RESULT IN INADEQUATE TRAINING

Earthjustice attorney David Henkin's gloating comments (Advertiser, Nov. 2) regarding the temporary injunction that halted Stryker training not only shows a callous disregard for the concerns of military commanders possibly having to deploy solders to Iraq untrained, but also could cost the Army $15 million to $49 million. Henkin goes on to say that sum is a "manini" amount for the Army. Henkin's attitude is clear evidence of impaired judgment by failing to appreciate that money comes out of the American taxpayers' pockets.

He brags that the lawsuit requires the Army to accomplish a supplementary environmental analysis and will result in a suspension of all associated work on Stryker contracts. However, the Army must continue to pay Hawai'i's contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and workers until they find other jobs. With the possibility of losing hundreds of millions of dollars in construction contracts, I fail to see job losses as a anything to boast about for Hawai'i construction workers.

Native Hawaiian environmental groups have presented the Army with a real predicament, but the merits of this lawsuit pale in comparison to the nightmare an inadequately trained military would face in the Iraq war.