Will Michael Burns see the "big picture" ("Expert hired to gauge ‘big picture’ of rail," Star-Advertiser, July 30)?

Rail is not $900 million over budget; it is $1 billion over budget. $210 million is supposed to be for the bus, not for rail.

In February, four City Council members committed to saving the $210 million for the bus in February.

Ann Kobayashi said, "If we lose that money for the Bus and Handi-Van, which so many people depend on, we would really be doing a disservice to our taxpayers."

Rail gobbles up all available transit funds and leaves seniors and other bus riders bereft.

Judith Pettibone
Makiki

Graduate students don’t need a union

Gov. David Ige was correct in vetoing the bill that would have forced university graduate assistants to pay mandatory dues to the Hawaii Government Employees Association, particularly since the U.S. Supreme Court will shortly decide whether public workers should be forced to pay union dues, even when workers are not represented fairly and well.

This is tantamount to taxation without representation.

Graduate assistants perform their duties for a short period of time before moving on to a higher career path. Therefore, over the long haul, they would not benefit from union representation.

What HGEA had been seeking is a permanent cash cow in order to enhance union coffers.

Perhaps Ige and the Legislature should seriously consider the example of Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin and dismantle collective bargaining altogether, or at least allow workers to opt out of paying mandatory dues, particularly when the union does not perform well in handling disputes with management.

Edwin S. Uyehara
Kailua

America is bound by the Constitution

I was recently reading about how people can skirt their job responsibilities, or refuse to do certain aspects of them, based on their religious beliefs.

If this becomes the norm, can soldiers stop fighting; police or emergency care personnel just help certain groups; or public transportation system operators pick up only those they choose?

The Constitution has the final say on any issue we face as a nation.

No religion or group of any organized righteous belief should ever have sway on our free nation, lest we become no different than our enemies who try to destroy us.

Scott Andras
Ala Moana

Hard to believe Lau deserves her salary

As President Harry Truman once said, "The buck stops here."

The same should be said for Hawaiian Electric Industries president Constance Lau.

Under Lau, Hawaii has for years faced many problems with outages and other related problems that are cause for concern to everyone’s households and businesses.

Her ridiculous salary and bonuses are another issue that should be looked into, with all of us paying more and more every year for HEI services.

When she goes, her top lieutenants also should be removed. Then, and only then, can HEI serve us the way a public utility should.

As Gov. David Ige said, HEI is a busted business model and not in tune with what is needed for Hawaii.

The message is clear: We need new leadership and change ASAP.

Tom Sugita
Pearl City

Opportunity being thwarted by religion

Folks, do you realize how this looks to the rest of the world?

Hawaii has a rare opportunity to literally lead the world in untold astronomical discoveries.

As described in the Star-Advertiser, "The giant, 18-story next-generation observatory will have a telescope capable of seeing more than 13 billion light-years away" ("Protesters have been warned," Star-Advertiser, July 30).

Instead of embracing this auspicious occasion, some wish to "protect" the mountain from — a telescope.

Yep, we’re left scratching our heads.

I don’t believe that preserving cultural heritage is the issue here. There’s no argument against that. Rather, preserve it in the context of the big picture.

When your method of worship hurts the community — and the world at large — does anyone benefit from that?

Jo Staley
Louisville, Ky.

Buy Alii Place and open it to homeless

Do not let this perfect opportunity go away.

Purchase Alii Place — or is it Alii Palace — and move the Kakaako homeless group right in.

Off the sidewalk, nice digs, great location, bus service — ideal.

Win-win!

Scott Clarke
Kapahulu

Free press comes to Hawaii’s rescue

Thanks for your focus on the crisis of homelessness, and your vision in forming the alliance with Hawaii News Now.

Once again, government proves to be lazy, complacent and hypocritical.

We can only hope that a free press comes to the rescue as society disintegrates.

I am constantly impressed by the relevance of the Star-Advertiser, while supposedly traditional media are "on the ropes." It is exactly the other way.

Please continue the fight until this problem is resolved.

Mark Denzer
Kamehameha Heights