HEROES

MEMBERS OF HFD DESERVE RECOGNITION

The Honolulu Fire Department is the best. We've watched them in action too many times in Makaha due to brushfires, and they never give up. The latest fire came dangerously close to many apartments, but thanks to the firemen, no one was hurt. They are true heroes and have our sincere thanks.

AVIATION

FUEL TAXES BEST WAY TO FUND AIR TRAFFIC SYSTEM

No one in aviation disputes the need to modernize the nation's air traffic control system.

But while new technology is essential and may, over the next two decades, increase airspace capacity, it is no quick fix for the current delay problem.

The NextGen air traffic control system will increase capacity, but only incremental changes can be expected until 2020, when it is fully implemented. It is certainly not a cure-all for this summer's problems.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a strong financial framework to finance both day-to-day FAA operations and air traffic control modernization. It is based on today's highly efficient pay-at-the-pump aviation fuel taxes, not the expensive-to-administer user fees the Senate bill contemplates.

Both the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Transportation's Inspector General's Office say the fuel tax system will raise more than enough money to accomplish both goals. The Senate Finance Committee has also endorsed fuel taxes as the means to support NextGen.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's 413,000 members support modernizing a government-run air traffic control system funded with a fuel tax increase.

They are not willing to switch to user fees that cut airlines' taxes and saddles general aviation with the difference.

EDUCATION

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS SHOULD FORM A UNION

The solution is simple — instead of having another group (Hawai'i State Teachers Association, the Legislature) "negotiate" on their behalf, substitute teachers need to form their own union.

Don't let the Department of Education, HSTA and the Legislature continue to treat you like second-class citizens by giving you the scraps.

If you're not getting what you want, need or deserve, band together and do something about it.

They need you more than you need them. You'd probably earn more somewhere else and get benefits to boot.

MASS TRANSIT

LIGHT RAIL SUPPORTER DOESN'T SPEAK FOR ALL

I disagree with Ms. Dubey (Letters, Oct. 24) that light rail is good for our entire island. It may be good for her part of the island. It doesn't go where the majority of the people want it to go. I suggest she petition for signatures from those in her area to see just how many will give up their cars to take a shuttle to the light-rail pickup point. That would be a start of some kind of commitment.

We're all paying increased GE tax for it. And it's all run on electricity, you know. Hopefully there won't be anymore earthquakes — then what will we do?

And Ms. Dubey, make sure your mayor has done all the required EIS studies according to the law of our state.

CONTRARY TO BELIEF, RAIL WON'T EASE CONGESTION

I share Antoinette Dubey's (from 'Ewa Beach) frustration with the increasing traffic congestion in 'Ewa Beach with no relief in sight, "Rail Transit Is What Is Best For Entire Island" (Letters, Oct. 24).

Unfortunately, even the $10 million analysis of rail and its impact said that it would not relieve congestion.

Additionally, Ms. Dubey must know that she will have to drive five miles through congested traffic to get to the nearest rail station in Kapolei or Waipahu. Most rational people assume 'Ewa Beach must be getting a station since the entire system is being built to relieve our congestion. Unfortunately, our Leeward Councilman Todd Apo sold out our station to Councilman Romy Cachola so he could get the entire system rerouted and have two stations in Salt Lake.

Sorry to break the bad news to you, Ms. Dubey, but there will be no traffic relief to be had by the $5 billion rail system, the only relief being $450 from your pocket per year for a family of four in increased GET taxes for us and our grandchildren forever.

SEX EDUCATION

BUSH APPOINTEE A STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION

George Bush continues his assault on women, replacing science with ideology, in his key healthcare appointments. The president appointed anti-birth control, anti-sex education, hardliner Susan Orr, Ph.D., as the new Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs.

Susan Orr opposes contraception and medically accurate sex education, yet is appointed by the president to the federal program that provides contraception, pap smears, breast exams, STI testing/treatment, and comprehensive sex education. Shouldn't we have an individual who supports scientifically accurate policies, birth control, and medically accurate sexuality education in this position?

Orr has a long history of advocating policies that cut women off from reproductive healthcare services and is a proponent of abstinence-only sex education programs that deny teenagers medically accurate information about birth control or sexually transmitted infections. This is the same program that tells our youth that sex before marriage will cause psychological and physical harm.

Our teens need honest, accurate information about abstinence and contraception to help them postpone sexual activity and protect themselves if they become sexually active. It is irresponsible to withhold information that can protect teens from unintended pregnancy or disease.