‘Renaissance’ was no PLDC

Dan Polhemus is mistaken when he says the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Recreational Renaissance is the same as the Public Land Development Corp. (PLDC) ("Laura Thielen calling kettle black," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 29).

PLDC projects are exempt from all land-use and zoning laws. Recreational Renaissance had no exemption from land-use and zoning laws.

PLDC is exempt from laws requiring public auction and bidding, allowing it to make back-room deals on leases and sales of state land. Recreational Renaissance had no such exemption.

PLDC has broad authority to build essentially anything on any of the million acres of state land in Hawaii that comes under its authority. Recreational Renaissance was limited to specific DLNR projects, mainly improvements to parks, harbors and trails, all identified up front.

If anything, the Recreational Renaissance proves that the state can improve our facilities while following land-use and public bidding laws.

Sen. Laura Thielen
District 25 (Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawaii Kai)

Bus and rail will work together

In response to Sandra Saito ("Rail won’t have flexibility of bus," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 23), I would like to clarify two points:

First, Saito says rail will shut down in a disaster. On the contrary, rail may be the best way to evacuate when a disaster is imminent. With roads blocked by traffic, rail can move people quickly on an elevated guideway. Rail is an integral part of disaster plans in many cities.

Second, she says rail is not flexible. Rail is not meant to replace buses; it is part of an overall intermodal design that allows bus and rail to complement each other. Using a "spoke and hub" transportation model, rail will free up buses to better serve other parts of the island.

We are not changing to rail; we are working with TheBus to provide even better service to Oahu transit customers.

Duane Sayers
Director of operations and maintenance, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation

Peaceful protest can achieve a lot

In response to the Hawaii teachers’ "Work to Rule" protests, Gov. Neil Abercrombie has gone on record saying, "I’d much rather prefer that we engage in productive discussion rather than in symbolic demonstrations that really don’t move us forward."

Peaceful demonstrations have created more positive change in this country — from women’s suffrage to racial equality to workers’ rights to ending wars — than any other public action. Maybe it’s time Abercrombie started taking the teachers more seriously.

Doug Robertson
Mililani

Rail art funds will create jobs

In response to "Spending $5 million on rail art is absurd" (Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 29), does the writer not understand that there are people who make their living in the arts, and that this will provide work and income for them?

If the writer feels the arts are superfluous, he should avoid movies, throw away his TV and the iPod and all his books, if he has any.

Jared Wickware
Kalihi

Direct art funds to local talent

Why on Earth would we buy mainland artwork to suggest a sense of place in our rail structures?

Hawaii has huge amounts of really talented artists in all media.

This is our money that is being used; let’s support our local talent.

Marilyn Smith
Kailua