The article, “HCDA rail plan cuts parking,” envisions people being less dependent on cars because of the rail (Star-Advertiser, May 12).

As someone who recently moved back to the North Shore after living for more than 35 years in town, I can tell you that that’s easier said than done. Weaning people away from cars is like Darwin’s theory of evolution: It’s not going to happen overnight.

I see it in my old-new neighborhood, where most people are tied to their cars and trucks by an umbilical cord. In turn, they probably see me as that weird old guy who’s always waiting at some bus stop. After living in the city for so long, I don’t feel that need to climb into a car to go down to the store.

Cutting parking spaces for future condos will only result in residents fighting for on-street parking, as in Salt Lake and Makiki.

Royle Kaneshige

Waialua

TSA presumes all of us are terrorists

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reportedly wants passengers to use the TSA Pre-Check security process.

Having grown up in the 1950s and 1960s, I have seen how the general public is constantly encouraged to surrender its constitutional rights. The Bill of Rights is rapidly eroding.

With the TSA Pre-Check, the general public pays the federal government annually, surrenders more constitutional rights and supplies very personal information without the confidence that this information will not be hacked.

Everyone forgets that TSA was created to combat terrorists. All passengers are presumed to be terrorists until they are cleared by the TSA.

Keoni Ronald May

McCully-Moiliili

Sanders should support Clinton

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has a big heart and is fighting for both economic and social justice.

However, his refusal to abandon a now-hopeless campaign and throw his full support to Hillary Clinton threatens to make him the Ralph Nader of 2016. As Nader contributed to the defeat of Al Gore by siphoning votes from the Democratic ticket, so Sanders does a similar disservice to the Democratic nominee.

To the extent that those who “feel the Bern” say they won’t vote for Clinton, it opens the door for the dangerous, narcissistic and ignorant Donald Trump, which should send shivers down the spine of anyone with a brain.

David Weiss

Wilhelmina Rise

N. Korea just wants to keep U.S. at bay

Your article today, “North Korean missile plan fuels growing concerns” (Star-Advertiser, May 11), mentioned the possibility that North Korea “has already achieved the ability to mount a nuclear weapon on one of its missiles.”

The article also said that Pyongyang “is working on a missile that could reach more than 3,400 miles — enough to strike Alaska.”

Such a missile, when tipped with a nuclear warhead, theoretically would enable Pyongyang to mount an unprovoked nuclear attack on U.S. territory.

But the article rightly dismisses any probability “that North Korea would launch a suicidal nuclear attack” on the U.S. — suicidal because the U.S. predictably would retaliate by totally destroying the North Korean regime.

Not wishing to commit suicide, North Korea clearly intends to use its nuclear capability only in retaliation against a prior U.S. attack, and to force Washington to shrink from launching it.

Oliver Lee

Makiki

UH Cancer Center has many benefits

I’m saddened and dismayed by the failure of the 2016 Legislature to support the lifesaving work of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center.

Let’s consider what might happen if the Cancer Center closes.

>> Will our neighbors, friends and family need to go to the mainland to receive medical treatment in the form of clinical trials?

>> Who will study the specific cancers that occur here in Hawaii due to our unique ethnic population?

>> How will our economy be affected by the loss of millions of dollars generated annually by the center’s salaries, research activities and related spending?

>> Will UH be able to pay the salaries of its unemployed faculty, many of whom are tenured?

Without adequate financial support, our prestigious National Cancer Institute designation (awarded to an elite 69 of the 1,500 cancer centers in the nation) could be lost.

We cannot afford to let this happen.

Diane Ono

Manoa

Solar incentives put us on right path

I am very disappointed that the state is ending solar incentive programs for Hawaii residents.

In addition to eliminating jobs, this decision results in further dependence on imported fossil fuels. We are supposed to be moving the other direction — that is, growing the renewable energy market to become a self-sustaining island, which would in turn create more jobs.

Hawaii could achieve this with the help of a revenue-neutral carbon tax, which would not only make renewable energy (like solar) competitive with fossil fuels, but also inject money into the local economy.

Alison Crabb

Manoa

Water should not be corporately owned

Public water belongs to the public, not to a private corporation.

The suffocating domination of Maui waters by corporate greed has already gone on too long. Maui waters do not belong to Alexander & Baldwin. A&B does not have a right to divert water for its own selfish ends.

The state government would violate the public trust if it pandered to this corporation.

We need the taro that Maui farmers provide to enhance sustainability for people and the aina. Their rights to the water must be protected, guaranteed.

Legislators should champion the ordinary citizens’ rights over the arrogant demands of A&B.

Eileen Cain

Moiliili