The rail project was always a boondoggle for private interests to pick the public’s pocket, but that is water under the bridge.Now we are in deep financial trouble and looking for options.

I do wonder how a serious evaluation can be done without budgetary numbers, but we are doing it anyway. The option to build until we run out of money is no plan at all; it’s only a way to milk the public for every penny.

Very likely any option that goes past Middle Street is a budget buster, and switching to Nimitz would just open up a whole can of worms. So of the options on the table, building to Middle Street seems like the obvious choice of a bad lot.

An option I would like to hear more about, though, is whether it is feasible to use the existing structures to support a reversible HOV highway.

Jim King

Hawaii Kai

Tennis players earn based on audience

Perhaps the letter writer bemoaning the disparity in earnings between men’s and women’s professional golf tours does not know that females are free to compete on the men’s tour; it is not a gender-restricted profession (“Pro golf earnings seem gender-based,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 9).

Any female who qualifies may play PGA tournaments; ask Michelle Wie or Annika Sorenstam.

Males (due to their physical advantage, a natural distinction) are far better golfers than women through the spectrum of execution, from distance to shot accuracy to the short-game and even in putting.

Men earn more than women on the PGA golf tour only to the degree that they are far better golfers.

Stop with the agenda. Think market demand.

Women’s golf, like women’s professional basketball, frequently does not pay for itself. Prize money is a function of viewer interest.

It’s called capitalism, and it is the ultimate reason that professional golfers are as good as they are.

Scott G. Gier

Ewa Beach

Martin needed more as Council chairman

City Council Chairman Ernie Martin’s decision not to run for mayor of Honolulu at this time is a good one.

With so many challenges ahead, including rail, homelessness and public safety, we need Martin at the City Council to balance out the executive branch.

His work in these challenging times will help him more in running for the mayoral post four years from now.

He is a good person and many will support him in his endeavors.

Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock

Chinatown

Compassion can be difficult sometimes

I was living in a loft on Union Square in Manhattan when I first encountered a homeless person living on my stoop, blocking the entrance.

The owner of the building was a Jewish refugee who had the tattoo from Auschwitz on his inner wrist. I told him my problem, expecting some compassionate solution. He said, “Throw a cold bucket of water on him; he won’t come back.” It was February and temperatures were below freezing. I couldn’t imagine doing this.

But one day I slipped on the stoop trying to get over this homeless person. I fell and hurt myself. Without a second thought, I tossed a bucket of water on the guy.

He never came back.

Marc Emerson

Hawaii Kai

Isle Democrats need to come together

I’d like to respond to Stan Sano’s letter regarding Bernie Sanders (“Sanders supporters not real Democrats?” Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 31).

If Sano is a Republican, then I say, “Job well done.”

However, if he is a Democrat, I hope he realizes that his assertions do more damage to the unity of the Democratic Party of Hawaii than anything the Republican Party of Hawaii or even the Republican National Committee could ever hope for.

I’m certain Sano can recall that Sanders was Hawaii’s choice for the presidency by an overwhelming 70 percent to 30 percent margin. Sano’s rumor-mongering insults the intelligence and integrity of all those delegates who selected Sanders as the Democratic Party’s choice. The negative innuendo interspersed throughout his letter promotes conflict and divisiveness among the rank-and-file Democrats of Hawaii.

Our chosen Democratic delegates have spoken. It’s now time to unite the Democratic Party of Hawaii rather than fracture it.

Wendell Kimura

Kapolei

Boards are ignored by elected officials

As a former member of the Kailua Neighborhood Board, my opinion on what is wrong with neighborhood boards may surprise you.

Some good things: The Honolulu Police Department addresses home invasions, traffic safety and unlicensed vacation rentals.

Some on the Kailua Neighborhood Board have established a fiefdom for years. Is this natural? It is, if the public does not care enough to change it.

The real problem as I see it are our elected officials who visit, listen, indicate understanding and, in my opinion, go on to do whatever they want to do for perhaps their own political gain and not the public’s. I witness their agreement and see no action.

So, whether we keep the boards or not, the result, I fear, will be the same — that is, no one is listening.

Mike Gallagher

Kailua

Homeless sweeps promote safety

As I drive and walk around Honolulu, I am amazed at how close some of these “sidewalk dwellers” are to our busy roadways.

I urge our city and state officials to work together to clean and clear our sidewalks. It’s just a matter of time before an accident occurs and someone is killed as a result of a traffic accident or someone running off the road.

The American Civil Liberties Union will cry that this is targeting the homeless. I beg to differ. We are clearing the sidewalks for their safety.

Matt Hee

Kakaako