It’s good to monitor pedestrian safety

Thanks to the Star-Advertiser for its decision to monitor the issue of pedestrian safety ("Deadly crossings," Jan. 4).

As the article noted, in the first three days of the new year two more pedestrians were struck by motor vehicles.

I am a new resident living near the Ala Wai Canal and have been nearly struck on several occasions in the past two months by drivers who failed to yield to me in marked crosswalks.

It might be useful for the Star-Advertiser to reproduce that portion of this state’s vehicle code pertaining to pedestrian safety and also to publish interviews with officials charged with interpreting and enforcing the law.

And please include all reported collisions between drivers and pedestrians with location information provided, in order to ensure adequate monitoring by all, regardless of degree of injury.

Michael Kappos
Waikiki

Mariota’s statistics eclipsed Winston’s

The otherwise satisfactory Associated Press article by Ralph Russo, on the Oregon win over Florida State on New Year’s Day, had a blatantly erroneous comparison of the two Heisman Trophy winners, saying, "In the matchup of Heisman Trophy winners, Jameis Winston matched (Marcus) Mariota’s numbers" ("Mariota leads the way in a historic semifinal," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 2).

Totally false. In the game statistics used to evaluate performance by a quarterback, Mariota decisively bettered Winston.

Mariota had a better completion percentage, a better yards-per-throw average, 2-to-1 edge in passing touchdowns, 1-to-0 in running touchdowns, approximately 8 yards per rush com- pared to minus 2 per rush by Winston, two fumbles by Winston compared to zero by Mariota.

The only area of comparability was that each had one interception.

Added to the statistics, Mariota guided his team with poise throughout while Winston floundered.

Good luck, Ducks, against Ohio State.

Bob Meyer
Hawaii Kai

Movie criticism too politically correct

Michael Spiker’s criticism of the movie, "The Interview," was a little too politically correct or apparently not given serious thought ("‘The Interview’ is irresponsible," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 3).

Comparing the movie "The Interview" to one that would have the same idea with leaders of the free world is comparing apples and oranges. Making a film meant to be a hypothetical assassination of any leader in the free world is different than the one in "The Interview."

North Korea is an outlaw nation and, based on its human rights abuses, deserves any criticism it receives, no matter what form it takes.

Case in point: Charlie Chaplin’s "The Great Dictator." Adolf Hitler was alive and well and still carrying out the genocide of any and all Jews, Gypsies and others.

Dick Boyd
Diamond Head

U.S. commits abuses in Cuba as well

No one in the U.S. can criticize Cuba on human rights violations when we have violations right in their country — Guantanamo Bay.

We have sent hundreds of kidnapped, suspected terrorists there and abused, tortured and killed them.

Some are held indefinitely without trial because a trial would expose the fact that we have no evidence against them.

We force-fed prisoners. No rights or justice. We are major hypocrites.

Our sanctions cause poor people to suffer even more. The Castro and Kim families won’t feel it. The Cuban and North Korean people can’t change their governments.

Maybe after Fidel Castro dies, his brother Raul will become a different person who we can work with.

Getting our foot in the door would be a good start.

Bert West
Kakaako

Let’s just finish rail the best way we can

I’m a rail supporter and have been for a long time.

I truly believe that rail will not only help our transportation on Oahu, but accommodate future growth as our population increases in areas like Kakaako and Kapolei.

With rail now under construction, the job is to design the best system at the most affordable cost to the taxpayer without sacrificing quality or efficiency.

As they say, you can’t be half hapai. We are already underway, so let’s finish the job the best way we can.

Harold Slate
Waikiki

It’s obvious rail will go over budget

I am deeply concerned that City Council Chairman Ernie Martin just doesn’t get it when it comes to the broke rail project ("Leaders to further scrutinize rail project," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 3).

When he says that the project should be completed "in a fiscally responsible manner" by 2019, he doesn’t seem to understand all that has been missed already.

It’s impossible for rail to meet the $5.2 billion budget when it already has used so much of the contingency fund at just over the halfway point.

As far as meeting the 2019 deadline, how can that happen when the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation says the Kapolei-to-Aloha Stadium portion will be delayed to 2018, which could push back the route to Ala Moana even more?

It’s OK to be optimistic, but to ignore reality isn’t what Council members are elected to do.

Mary Monohon
Kailua