TRANSPORTATION

MAYOR'S 3 QUESTIONS EXPLAIN A LOT ABOUT RAIL

Mayor Mufi Hannemann said that when major projects are proposed, he would ask the following: "Do we need it? Can we afford it? And can we maintain it?" Let's apply the mayor's pledge to the proposed rail project.

Do we need it? I don't think so. The mayor's engineers tell us that 80 percent of vehicle commuters will not use the proposed rail project. They also tell us traffic congestion will not be reduced by the proposed rail project, but will get much worse.

Can we afford it? I don't think so. To finance the first segment, the mayor's schedule of financing includes $1 billion from the federal government. Is this reasonable? No city twice our size has ever built a heavy-rail project let alone receive $1 billion for startup. Only cities such as New York can ask for that kind of money.

Can we maintain it? I don't think so. The maintenance for TheBus and rail will be approximately $100 million more than what it is now for TheBus. Where is there $100 million extra in the current budget?

We have been told that there is no federal money until 2010. So we have time to look at alternatives on the Mainland that are designed to reduce traffic congestion.

LOCKED GATES

BUSINESS SHOULD BE IN OPEN ATMOSPHERE

Thanks for an eye-opening article from Eloise Aguiar, "Locked gates dividing residents." Real agriculture and real taxes seem to be at stake on the North Shore. Owning a "fake farm" to just get a tax break seems like an unfair means of gaining a bigger piece of property for one's own personal use.

Business needs to be conducted in an open atmosphere, especially outdoor agriculture. Taking advantage of a tax structure is not the way to go.

The North Shore is a place with a wonderful ambiance. Keep the residents and business safe — but don't lock out the aloha.

UH WARRIORS

THANK THE COACH FOR UH'S FORMIDABLE TEAM

I don't know why everybody is in such a rush to condemn Herman Frazier for UH's inability to secure a 13th game against a quality opponent. The blame obviously lies with June Jones for putting together a terrifying offense capable of amassing 1,000 yards in a single game.

What football coach in his right mind would want to subject his team to the humiliation of a pounding by the Warriors? Any school with any hopes whatsoever of a national championship has nothing to gain and everything to lose by coming to Hawai'i and getting pounded.

And for UH, there's nothing to be gained by risking the health of players in a meaningless game.

BEST OF THE BEST

PHO AND SAIMIN SHOULD BE A SEPARATE CATEGORY

I loved your great 2007 Best of the Best magazine. I think you may want to include the following categories for next year: 1) Vietnamese food (not to be confused with Thai food); 2) Mexican food; 3) Best pho in town; and 4) Best saimin in town.

While the latter two may be included in specific ethnic cuisines, they deserve categories of their own. People will go out of their way to get their favorite pho or saimin.

BARBARA COX ANTHONY

VISION FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN MUST CONTINUE

I never had the honor of actually meeting Barbara Cox Anthony, yet I have been touched by her abiding commitment to women and girls.

Mrs. Anthony's support of the YWCA always came with a vision of a world where women and girls reached their fullest potential as leaders. Her story alone speaks of barriers broken, unprecedented accomplishments, sheer determination and spirit of generosity.

In 1992, the YWCA recognized Barbara Cox Anthony as an extraordinary and exemplary leader at our annual Leader Luncheon along with Connie Lau, Momi Cazimero and Pat Saiki.

Collectively, women's leadership presence and power have been felt throughout Hawai'i in ways they could never have imagined. As we celebrate Mrs. Anthony's legacy, let us each evaluate our own leadership journey and the impact we can choose to make in the world for generations to follow.

I am proud of our association with Mrs. Anthony and pledge to continue nurturing and sustaining women and girls on their leadership journey. In this way we truly honor her many accomplishments and all the progress that has been made by women before us.

JEREMY HARRIS

IS THE PLUG FOR HARRIS SIGN OF THINGS TO COME?

We haven't heard much from Jeremy Harris since he left office after the 2004 elections. He seems to have disappeared from the radar screen. But then, out of the blue, Jerry Burris writes, "Harris sustained his mark," in his June 1 column.

Burris paints the former Honolulu mayor in a favorable light. More of these Harris plugs from Burris in the future could be an indication of things to come. The Hawai'i governor's race isn't until 2010, and if it's true that Hawai'i voters have a short memory, and if Duke Aiona is the Republican nominee, well ...

But perhaps my imagination has run wild here. Maybe it was just a slow news day for Burris.

RECOGNITION OF FORMER MAYOR LONG OVERDUE

Thank you, Jerry Burris, for lots of good information and commentary over the years — and especially thank you for the long-overdue recognition of Mayor Harris and his contribution to Honolulu's "sustainability" in your column of June 1.

Mayor Harris' tremendous effort and achievement for this city have received an almost bizarre lack of acknowledgement and appreciation.

I, for one, welcomed your fair appraisal of his really remarkable work toward bringing our city into the new century and making us proud.

GUN RIGHTS

WAR ON TERROR CHANGES VIEW OF RIGHTS, DEFENSE

Regarding Robert Thurston's letter of June 3, I was wondering if the pro-gun lobby could explain something to me. To wit, if we have some sort of "right to bear arms" that shall not be infringed, how can the Transportation Security Administration disarm us on a regular basis of our toothpaste and penknives when we fly the friendly skies?

Perhaps the war on terror and the 9/11 attacks will change our concepts of defense and rights?

UNION VOTING

SENATE SHOULD SEE THROUGH BILL'S FACADE

In March, both of our Congressional representatives pulled a dirty trick on both union and non-union workers. They passed HR800, cynically titled, "The Employee Free Choice Act of 2007." The bill removes the time-honored secret ballot election as the way to decide on a particular union.

The problem is that HR800 uses "card check" as the basis for certification. We have always had the secret-ballot vote, in which a worker can vote his or her conscience as to whether or not to go union. Card check is anything but a secret ballot vote.

"Card check" means harassment, pressure on the worker as the organizers work on him/her, with everyone standing around, to sign the "authorization" card.

The company allows the organizers to hold all the meetings they want, on company time (captive audience). The organizers get everyone's home address and phone number, for "friendly" evening visits. The company agrees not to hold any meetings, nothing to warn the workers of any possible drawbacks or dangers. In return for all of this, management has the union's assurance of smooth labor sailing.

The Senate has now gotten the companion bill, S1041, with the same wording. Let's hope the senators see this bill as the scam it is. Surely most workers, unionized and non-unionized, want to retain the traditional secret ballot, just as it is now, unimpaired and fully available.

HOMELESS

TIME TO STOP TALKING AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM

After years of talk, Hawai'i still has a severe homelessness problem. Our politicians only talk, they never do anything about these people. To solve this problem would mean our elected would have to actually work. They don't work, they talk.

GRATEFUL TOURISTS

KAMA'AINA KINDNESS WILL BE REMEMBERED

Mahalo to the kama'aina who made our time in O'ahu the best. If you: drove our bus or trolley, greeted us each time we returned to our hotel, helped keep our room homey, prepared our food, shared the music and dance with us and nourished our souls, talked with us anywhere and smiled as we passed on the street, then you made a difference in our lives. You are Hawai'i, and we will miss you.

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS

TAX-EXEMPT STATUS IS NOT UNIQUE TO KSBE

I am responding to the June 1 letter stating that taxpayers are subsidizing Kamehameha Schools because of its 501(C)3 tax-exempt status.

The writer is singling out KSBE because of current events but forgets that there are many other such organizations, some very wealthy, that don't pay taxes, either. I think that includes churches.

Maybe they, too, should be made to give up their tax-exempt status so we don't subsidize them anymore.

HIGH-TECH CENTER

CITY POISED TO SUPPORT A DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY

Thank you for your June 4 editorial, "City Council should pass tech center bill." I certainly agree with the sentiments expressed.

Throughout his years in public service, Mayor Mufi Hannemann has been an ardent and consistent supporter of economic development and diversification.

Yes, the state government plays a role in economic development. But the mayor and we believe that the economy is everyone's business: the state, federal, and county governments; the private sector; trade groups; and any other constituency with a stake in our prosperity.

Even with our modest budget, the Mayor's Office of Economic Development provides value because we work in close partnership with communities to build local economic opportunities and enhance the quality of life for businesses and residents on O'ahu.

The tech center is a case in point. Working with the federal Economic Development Administration, Enterprise Honolulu, and our local dual-use companies, OED has been invited to apply for a highly competitive $150,000 planning grant to develop a plan for a technology research facility.

This is a tremendous opportunity for the city to support an industry that will create the high-paying jobs we want for our kids and a tangible way to help bring home more of our kama'aina who are working elsewhere. We're here, ready and able to take advantage of these county-specific opportunities.