2 projects will void rail gains

Why is traffic gridlocked every day from downtown to Ewa?

Because we have overdeveloped West Oahu.

Why are we spending $5 billion in taxpayer money on a rail project to West Oahu?

Because we are being made to pay for the vast profits of landowners and developers.

Now the state Land Use Commission has approved two enormous new developments in West Oahu that will completely overwhelm any traffic gains provided by rail.Developers will keep getting rich, and we’ll have four-hour commutes.

The solution? No further West Oahu development. We need a sensible redevelopment of property within metro Honolulu. Kaimuki, Kalihi and other older urban areas need to be rezoned and rebuilt as three- to four-story townhouse blocks. We need to stop producing cookie-cutter homes on the best farm land on Oahu and instead increase density in areas already well served by buses and within easy reach of the vast majority of the jobs on the island.

Peter Webb
Honolulu

It’s hard to grow food in concrete

Are the members of the state Land Use Commission going to enjoy concrete with cream and sugar for breakfast?And for dinner, salt and butter on concrete with imported mainland beef?

Our government talks sustainability and then lets someone from Texas, where they are suffering from a lack of rain, cover our agricultural lands with concrete and asphalt.

Mandy Bowers
Manoa

Sustainability goal is just talk

Would you believe the state Land Use Commission has approved the long-disputed Koa Ridge housing project to be developed on fertile farmland and precious open space?

The state talks grandly about land use for a sustainable food supply, but at the same time approves a development that will surely add strain to the existing infrastructure (transportation, utilities, energy, etc.) as well.

The developer says there will be affordable housing on the site. What is affordable housing in a state with an already high cost of living? Is the LUC truly concerned with protecting the aina or the $2.2 billion developer investment?

If this is a precursor of similar decisions about responsible land use management, look for more rows of ticky-tacky houses and commercial development.

Is this the price of paradise?

Tony Locascio
Waikiki

Are new homes for newcomers?

The University of Hawaii has a terrific Department of Urban and Regional Planning, but I wonder if any graduates work in state or county land use.

Given my personal values, it’s easy for me to choose agricultural land over development. But I also know that housing is one of the most critical issues in Hawaii, especially on Oahu.

What kind of planning was behind 16,750 new homes approved last week? For whom are these houses being built? Will they be affordable? Usually that term (affordable) refers to prices beyond the reach of most of the people I know.

Is all this development intended to support our own population in need of housing — or 17,000 incoming residents?

Nancy Aleck
Manoa

Seat belt law violates liberty

I would like to point out the incongruity in the "Click it or ticket" campaign public service announcement.

The police officer riding the motorcycle has a much greater chance of being seriously injured in an accident than the people not wearing seatbelts in the automobile.

As Ron Paul mentioned, government should not mandate the wearing of seat belts while operating a vehicle.

Ted Fukushima
Ewa Beach

Teachers being asked to do a lot

As a teacher for more than 20 years, I want to share my feelings about having May 25 as a Directed Leave Without Pay day — formerly Furlough Fridays.

I know the state Department of Education was trying to give the students as many instructional days as possible when the DLWOP days were decided upon. However, I was shocked when the DOE selected May 24 as the last instructional day and as the last teacher day. Since we can’t come in on a DLWOP day, we were expected to complete all the tasks required for closing the school year on the same day that we had students all day. My husband came to help me pack up, clean and move furniture, cover cubby holes with paper and relocate everything to one side to prepare for Summer Fun. Several of my colleagues returned the following week to close up, but should we be expected to do that?

This has been a very challenging year implementing the Common Core Standards. Instead of being rewarded for working extra hard this school year, it felt like we were being punished.

Patricia Chung
Aiea

Historic homes credit working

We are happy to see that the recently adopted changes to the city’s historic preservation tax exemption are working.

Last year the City Council approved revisions to the preservation ordinance to add clarity, standardizations and enforceable conditions for historic homes to qualify for the tax incentive program. With clear rules and objective enforcement, more than 90 percent of the properties have been able to comply since the rules were adopted in September. The other properties either withdrew voluntarily or were the subject of city enforcement action.

The program works. Honolulu’s historic neighborhoods are better preserved, Hawaii’s history is honored, and the government’s implementation of its preservation program is fair. This is an example of everyone working together for a good outcome, and our communities all benefit.

Kiersten Faulkner
Executive director, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation

Chores can be cheap therapy

I thought I was the only one who knew the secret of turning a chore into therapy, but Ben Cayetano has discovered this, too ("Ironing gives Cayetano peace and spending money," Star-Advertiser, Lee Cataluna, June 3).

I was lucky enough to learn this lesson decades ago from a prominent real estate broker who couldn’t begin his evening unless he hosed off all the leaves and dirt from his driveway to wash away all the stress of his work day.

It makes life easier and a wee bit more enjoyable to draw satisfaction from things like ironing — smoothing out all the wrinkles and complexities of life; doing laundry or taking out the garbage — getting rid of the crud in my life; and doing the dishes — making things super-clean.

Over the years, I have truly benefited from this mindset of turning a chore into therapy.

Frank Mak
Makiki