RAIL

MAYOR SHOULD TONE DOWN TRANSIT RHETORIC

The mayor is running pro-rail ads (June 22, Page A37) full of mischaracterizations and antagonism.

The sad fact now is that rather than respond to the factual criticisms and concerns raised by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and many others, Mayor Mufi Hannemann has demeaned our organization and new president, Jamie Story. I would encourage the mayor and his staff to tone down the rhetoric and rancor.

I find it interesting that a few straightforward questions about the most expensive construction project in the state's history has our mayor lashing out defensively.

What does that say about those who support the rush to rail? It's also troubling that the mayor hauled out the same old tired "local against newcomer" mentality. Last I heard, a tax-paying resident of this state is entitled to voice an opinion and get involved in the community discussion.

Grassroot Institute is a private, independent, research and information source on important public policy issues.

We're nonpartisan and 90 percent of our funding and members are from Hawai'i.

We simply believe that all of the rail alternatives have not been fully explored, and with so much at stake the people should be allowed to vote on a project that will fundamentally change O'ahu forever.

Why is that so threatening to some people?

MAYOR MUST WELCOME PEOPLE'S COMMENTS

The people are being told that we have had ample opportunity to express our concerns regarding fixed-rail transit and the issue does not need to be placed on the ballot.

In my experience, however, opportunities were limited or nonexistent. A presentation at McKinley High School was hosted by system planners and engineers, and provided no forum for citizen comments to representatives with decision-making powers, who were not present anyway.

During a community meeting at the University of Hawai'i- Manoa, Mayor Mufi Hannemann first spoke at length, including a promise to students that the system would include the university. Then he allowed about 20 minutes for public input.

There was time for one comment in favor, one against, and one suggesting changes needed to be made to the existing plan.

The mayor then called for a show of hands in favor of rail transit. He did not ask those opposed to raise their hands, and when I challenged him to do so, he ignored me. So much for citizen feedback.

If Mayor Hannemann truly believes the people are solidly behind him, he should welcome a chance to confirm that he is right. If he is, then all of the opposition will have to sit down and shut up.

LET ELECTED OFFICIALS DO JOBS, OR VOTE THEM OUT

I guess people who want rail to be put on the ballot don't have much confidence in their elected officials.

We elect our representatives because we have confidence in their representation and decision-making. We should trust that they know what is best for the community.

Good politicians listen to the people they represent and make decisions based on the information presented before them.

Voting to go forward with the rail system was a decision that benefits the greater population of the City and County of Honolulu.

If the Stop Rail Now group doesn't trust the elected officials who represent them, they can vote to replace the incumbents.

The people's voice should be heard in the election process and to vote on issues of governing, such as the Constitutional Convention.

We should let our elected officials do their jobs to decide on laws and other infrastructure issues, such as mass transit.

A few decades ago, our elected officials failed to fulfill the needs of the people with their short-sightedness by voting down mass transit.

Now, several billion dollars later, they finally agree mass transit is needed. Let our politicians do their jobs, or vote them out come election time.

MEDICAID PAYMENTS

STATE REIMBURSEMENTS ARE IN PUBLIC INTEREST

We are writing in response to your June 25 editorial, "Lingle should release Medicaid payments."

As an interfaith organization, we thank and appreciate your acknowledgment that it is in the public interest to provide quality care to those in Hawai'i who cannot afford it.

Our governor, in her own 2007 State of the State address, said, "High costs and low reimbursements are driving hospitals out of business and physicians out of the practice of medicine." Her words have consistently been, "Increasing physician reimbursement rates to help cover their out-of-pocket expenses is essential to keeping medical services providers in Hawai'i."

And in May 2008 she said to Big Island Mayor Harry Kim, "Fair and appropriate reimbursements to the medical community remain one of my highest priorities."

We at FACE cannot accept the reality that the governor is now refusing to release millions of dollars to reimburse physicians who cared for thousands of elderly, poor, blind or disabled citizens during the past year.

The state received these services, and the governor promised to pay for these past services with $8 million in state funding and more than $10 million in additional federal matching funds.

Failure to do so is incomprehensible.

Why are we throwing away $10 million in federal matching funds?

This investment is in the public interest, and keeps our physicians and hospitals in the practice of medicine for our most vulnerable.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MANY GOOD REASONS TO EXTEND SUMMER BREAK

I heartily approve of the proposal to extend public schools' summer break by another two weeks or more.

Aside from the issues of summer school for students and teachers, high school students need to have the opportunity to get summer employment for work experience and to earn money for the next school year. At present, the schedule doesn't allow enough time for these things, not to mention a family vacation wedged in between everything else.

Another huge factor that doesn't seem to get much attention is that students should be on vacation in August, the hottest month of the year.

Air-conditioning classrooms should be avoided because of the cost (upgrade of facilities and electricity) and the environmental impact. Conserving energy is even more important now in light of rising oil prices.

The state should be an example to the rest of us in the way it does business.

New, green buildings should be built using old-fashioned methods of cooling buildings — orientation of building and windows to take advantage of trade winds and natural ventilation, shade trees, fans, etc.

Not having students in the buildings at the hottest time of the year should also be a major factor, because you cannot learn when you are hot and sleepy.

If the Board of Education does extend summer vacation, for all of the reasons above, school should go into June and start in September.

FOR TRUE REFORM, NEED TO LOOK FOR SUBSTANCE

It seems that school calendars are going to be further modified from the "modified" year-round calendar.

Of all of the curricular frame factors under the control of the school, the most tinkered with are calendars and bell schedules.

These are almost always changed for adult convenience, and have the least impact on student achievement.

What is under the control of the school and what does have impact upon student achievement (according to a number of studies viewable on us.ed.gov) is what happens in the classroom itself.

Bell schedules and school calendars; traditional, block scheduling, etc., have essentially no impact on achievement.

What has impact is a motivated teacher meeting a motivated student in a classroom that is welcoming and has the tools available for success.

But, I suppose, it's harder to provide those preconditions, so our schools, across the U.S., will continue to mess around with the hours and minutes that provide the appearance of educational reform without the substance.

LITTER

NORTH SHORE CLEANUP NETTED LOTS OF TRASH

On our third year of Keep Hawai'i Beautiful Clean Up, from March to May, we had our biggest North Shore success ever.

We had schools and tourists out in masses, cleaning our roads, beaches and ocean.

We had 103 volunteers who did 1,632 hours of work. We picked up an estimated 905 pounds of litter. We cleaned eight miles of beaches, and hauled in 96 pounds of fishing line and lead weights plus plastic from the ocean.

We picked up 4,000 cigarette butts and 340 plastic-bottle caps.

We estimate that more than 80 30-gallon trash bags were filled in this three-month period.

We are sure this is just a drop in the bucket compared with the Wai'anae Coast's cleanup.

People of Hawai'i, please show respect for our island 'aina and join us.

We have a monthly cleanup on the last Saturday of the month at noon.

TO CURB LITTER, PUT DEPOSIT FEE ON SMOKES

Reading William Bryant's letter on June 26 regarding cigarette butt litter, I couldn't agree more.

He asked "What can we do to put an end to this?" Easy. Just as the Legislature put a 5-cent deposit on each container (HI-5¢), we should put a 25-cent deposit (yes, 25 cents) on each cigarette bought (HI-25¢).

The only cost to a smoker would be the initial purchase of cigarettes, assuming that the butts are returned. If smokers continue to litter with butts, I am sure there are a lot of people who would be more than willing to pick up the butts for a tidy profit. I know I would.