People switching from bus to cars

David Shapiro’s column regarding the city’s proposed rail operating costs is quite enlightening ("Rail’s operating cost must be on table, not under it," Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, Oct. 10).

Shapiro reports that historically 10 percent of our city budget is for our current transit operating costs. If rail is operational, it will add 9 percentage points to the taxpayer’s burden for city operations.

Our bus system no longer receives national awards as it did years ago. Bus routes and times have significantly declined, supposedly due to budget constraints.

Such declines have forced people to increase their driving on some of the world’s most poorly maintained roadways. Potholes and irregular surfaces abound everywhere you drive in Honolulu. Our vehicle’s suspension systems and our patience are paying the price every day.

Ample bus service is vital to a quality international city. We are rapidly becoming a Third World city. Fix it now, not someday.

Jon and Nelly von Kessel
Waikiki

Teachers want fair treatment

Please hear me when I say, "Hawaii teachers do not want to strike; we want to teach!"

We — and, again, I know I am speaking for the majority — just want to teach.

We love our "kids." We go above and beyond for our kids, but please understand, we have families at home, too.

Our kids at home need doctors and dentists, supplies and clothes. We’re not asking to be paid like some political figures are; we’re asking to be respected as professionals who put in way above a 40-hour week.

Our negotiators did not walk out in a teenage fit of angst; we have been lied to. From the Hawaii State Teachers Association convention in 2010 or 2011 to today, you are not hearing the voices of the teachers. Please listen to us, please hear us.

Please help us settle this fairly for all.

Mary Ann Johnson
Mililani

Get slow drivers off the freeways

I recently conducted an unscientific poll of drivers to define the speed limits on Oahu. Surprisingly, of the 110 people asked, only four could tell me what the "minimum" speed limit was on H-1.

While rail seems to be the buzz of the day, the real issue isn’t traffic volume, but drivers interpreting "drive with aloha" to mean cruise like you don’t have a care in the world.

For the last two years, I’ve made the commute from Ewa to Pearl Harbor and each morning I’m met by the dozens of folks who are clearly driving a blistering 37 mph where the minimum posted limit is 45. Don’t believe me? Just spend a morning observing the Zip lane.

If you’re unable to drive 45 mph, take a surface road and leave the freeway to those driving 45 to 55 where posted by law.

Michael Richards
Ewa Beach

Learn about Down syndrome

October is Down Syndrome Education Awareness Month in Hawaii.

At a park recently, a boy asked me about my son, whom he remembered from his basketball team this past spring. He wondered why my son was a year older than he was but was in a lower grade at school. I said my son was born with Down syndrome. He learns a little slower than others, but he learns what others do. I shared how he won the silver medal in swimming the 25-yard freestyle at his first State Special Olympics this summer.

Children of all ages want to know about our kids who were born with Down syndrome, and we need to know how to answer them.

My son’s kindergarten teacher published a short letter from me in her weekly class newsletter to share a little about my son with students and parents who may have questions.

I hope that all parents might feel free to share about their children born with Down syndrome.

Linda Elento
Kaneohe

Big Bird doesn’t need a bailout

President Barack Obama has repeatedly stated that Mitt Romney wants to give handouts to millionaires and billionaires.

Now we see ads from Obama saying that Romney wants to fire Big Bird.

Isn’t Big Bird from a company worth hundreds of millions of dollars?

Who’s giving the handouts to millionaires now? Big Bird could buy PBS: Let him.

John Waring
Kailua