The Honolulu City Charter Commission is considering the elimination of our neighborhood boards (“Charter proposal calls for an end to neighborhood boards on Oahu,” Star-Advertiser, May 23).

The boards provide a valuable, physical, face-to-face interaction with our elected officials, our police and our emergency responders.

They also are an important notification mechanism for our residents regarding local water supplies, security, traffic, fire and police activities.

The commission’s oblique comments about “increasing citizen participation” using electronic communication while eliminating the neighborhood board system were disingenuous and misleading to the electorate. We should not be misled by the circumlocution.

Mark R. Hagadone

Kaimuki

Boards easily manipulated

Many neighborhood boards have been reduced to political podiums for small, vocal groups of activists wanting to promote their own agendas rather than their constituents’ interests.

Some board members have served on these boards for years.

It’s not difficult to get elected to a board. A candidate needs about 200 votes, much fewer in some neighborhoods. The election process can be easily controlled by only a few voters.

The neighborhood board concept — flawed from the start — has been ineffective. The recommendation to the City Charter Commission that we consider abolishing neighborhood boards and replace them with something that works and doesn’t waste money is reasonable and correct.

Don Thompson

Maili

Marsh proposal needs vetting

Kailua residents have reason to be concerned about the backhoe clearing of vegetation along Kawainui Marsh (“Neighbors are outraged by hui’s canal project,” Star-Advertiser, June 2).

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ draft master plan for the marsh proposes a Kalaheo Park along Mokapu Boulevard which, if approved, would have a gated parking lot, an educational center, a rest-room, an observation pavilion, a pedestrian bridge over Oneawa canal, and canoe launch, storage and loading areas.

Not mentioned in the article is talk of a bike trail connecting Kawainui Community Park to downtown Kailua using city land fronting residential homes near Kihapai Street and state land bordering Hamakua Drive, with a later extension to city stream banks fronting homes on Auwina Street, Wanaao Road, and Kakahiaka Street that would take bikers past Buzz’s Restaurant to Kailua Beach Park.

DLNR should be more forthright in engaging the community in its efforts to serve the public interest. The Kailua Neighborhood Board would be a good place to begin.

Pauline Mac Neil

Kailua

Humane Society has a pet for you

Thank you for publishing Ginny Tiu’s article on James Montgomery’s subhuman treatment of dogs (“Hawaii needs to strengthen its laws aimed at preventing animal cruelty,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, May 29).

We may think we humans have evolved to a higher state because we have more computing power on our wrist than did the entire U.S. military during the Korean War, but then emerges from the primordial muck another barbarian at the gate.

Montgomery should be stripped of all his assets to pay for court costs, with the remaining funds going to the Hawaiian Humane Society. Hundreds of hours of public service at the Humane Society also should be involved.

To second Tiu’s advocacy for adopting pets from the Humane Society: I adopted a calico who had been there for 90 days and had worn out her welcome. Today, she gives me joy and is the happiest cat in all of Manoa Valley.

Howard C. Wiig

Manoa

Rail bungling recalls old lyrics

How embarrassing it is again for our state politicians, engineers and contractors. I realize that none of them can do the math other than to add cost overruns and lame excuses for not staying within budget.

Your article emphasized this fact clearly when considering the overall cost of the Swiss tunnel just completed (“Swiss finish world’s longest rail tunnel,” Star-Advertiser, June 2). It took the Swiss 17 years to build it, but it came in on time and on budget. How many of us can think back to how long it took to build H-1 and H-3, and the cost overruns involved?

As the song says, “When will we ever learn?”

Tom Ginella

Pupukea