Blame city for rail cost overruns

On Aug. 24, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the city broke the law by not doing a complete archaelogical survey before starting rail construction.

Your article the next day, citing HART CEO Dan Grabauskas, said that "the city is studying its construction contracts to determine whether they contain language that protects the city from delay claims by contractors if the project is stopped by a lawsuit" ("Rail foes win big," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 25).

This is stunning on two levels: first, that the city would not protect itself in the contracts. The city left itself wide open to delay claims by the contractors, who knew a sweet deal when they saw it. When will the city’s lawyers and their overseers be fired for such recklessness?

Second, that Grabaukas said he didn’t know this. He started nearly five months ago, knowing full well that serious litigation was pending.

Everyone, pro-rail and anti-rail, should be outraged at such mishandling of city finances. Blame the city, not Paulette Kaleikini or the court, for tens of millions in losses.

Alan Burdick
Honolulu

Use Natatorium for volleyball matches

Those individuals who feel building volleyball courts in place of the Waikiki Natatorium pool is disrespectful have it all wrong. We have an opportunity to pay greater respect to our lost veterans from World War I. The actual memorial plaque is approximately 150 feet mauka of the Natatorium arches, and reads: "Dele Et decoreim est Pro Patria." Just below that it reads: "In the Service of the United States." It lists approximately 50 names of American soldiers lost in World War I. And near the bottom is printed: "In the Service of Great Britain" and lists approximately two dozen British soldiers’ names.

It requires a definite restoration as it shows its age, but it clearly is the monument that pays tribute to those World War I soldiers.

This monument can be placed next to the world-class volleyball area that replaces the Natatorium pool. The area should include shaded bleachers for 350-500 spectators, television areas, snack shops, showers and restrooms.

Ron Sorrell
Ala Wai

Bus drivers provide handicap service

The bus drivers help the handicapped people by helping them board the bus by lowering the ramp, informing people to make room in the wheelchair area, securing the seats for the handicapped person, strap the person with safety harnesses when they depart.

They also give directions to people as to how to get to their destination and where to transfer to and from. When the bus has mechanical problems they park on the side and call for assistance and inform people of problems and what to do.

There are other reasons why a bus system is superior to rail, because can the rail do any of the above?

Adriano Eliazar
Honolulu

Don’t let stray rock close Mokuleia trail

In May, climbers died on Mount Everest. But the mountain remains open. In fact, about 200 more climbers are expected to try for the summit this summer. In June, four climbers were killed trying to scale Alaska’s Mount McKinley. But the mountain remains open.

On June 11, one rock fell at Mokuleia and hit one person who was injured. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources immediately closed the trail to the rock-climbing area. Doesn’t this seem like an overreaction?

Further, the DLNR posted this warning:

NOTICE: AREA CLOSED. DO NOT GO BEYOND THIS SIGN.

FINES:

$2,500 — 1st Violation
$5,000 — 2nd Violation
$10,000— 3rd Violation

I object to this unilateral decision. This is the age of consensus and due process. There are supposed to be public hearings, not edicts mandated by one official. I also object to the high cost of each fine.

I’m sorry for that one person, but do not close the trail to all hikers and rock climbers. Let them go there at their own risk.

Steven Poor
Haleiwa

Candidates must be honest with voters

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s selection as Mitt Romney’s running mate made Medicare the centerpiece of the political debate, at least for now ("Ryan takes gloves off in feud over Medicare," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 12). To promote their respective position on this issue, both parties have been running misleading political ads.

The Romney/Ryan team is accusing the president of "stealing" $716 billion from the Medicare program that resulted in reduced beneficiaries’ benefits. This is inaccurate. The cuts were used primarily to retard the growth of program’s expenses by reducing payments to health care providers.

Meanwhile, the president is attacking Ryan’s plan for "ending Medicare as we know it." However, the president did not say that the Ryan plan applies only to 54 years old and younger; 55-year-olds and older are unaffected.

Instead of engaging in deceptive campaign rhetoric, both parties should have an honest and substantive discourse on issues affecting every American’s livelihood so that voters could decide which governing philosophy is consistent with their political and ideological views.

Rod B. Catiggay
Mililani