Regarding “Rail ridership likely to be mostly sparse” (Star-Advertiser, Letters, Aug. 6): Over the past 25 years, our downtown Honolulu has become a bustling little metropolis full of not only commerce but cafes, art galleries, restaurants, retail shops and pubs.

The frequent pub- hopping, especially after hours and the taking in of libations, will make riding the rail a great choice for making the roads safer and more economical.

There even is a Walmart downtown now, where the old Macy’s used to be.

And let’s not forget the expanded Ala Moana Center and Chinatown.

Tourists from Ko Olina would be more than happy to jump aboard and ride the rail into town.

Remember how some said the H-3 freeway would not be used enough to make it worth the money spent on its construction? Wrong.

Mayor Frank Fasi was right back in the day. Rail was needed then, and I say better late that never.

Mavis Ruest

Manoa Valley

Assess businesses near rail stations

When the city makes improvements to roads, sidewalks, curbs, gutters and sewers that benefit property owners, they pay assessments to cover the costs.

Similarly, the business property owners adjacent to the planned rail stations, who will see more customers due to their proximity to the stations, should pay to help cover the cost of rail.

Businesses near the proposed rail stations — especially Ala Moana Center, with its high-end stores and million-dollar condos — should pay their fair share and provide enough assessments so the rest of the taxpayers are not giving them a free ride.

Ed Burns

Mililani

We can’t afford to not afford rail

I applaud your Sunday editorial (“Rail system’s ‘recovery plan’ must account for hard truths,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, July 31). Well done.

Now that the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board members have gained access to the Project Management Oversight Contractor (PMOC), its records and review process, the HART board finally has knowledge and historical details of this project.

Combined with the city auditor’s 2016 report, the cat is out of the bag.

But all of this aside, we have the vertebrae of a minimum operational system to build: 20 miles, 21 stations.

The Federal Transit Administration has signaled that it is interested in eviscerating a number of stations, if the project’s guideway is to extend beyond Middle Street. Bad idea.

The recovery plan must be a genuine plan for recovery and not a proposal for a slash-and-burn operation. And it should be subject to close and extensive public review.

The claim that we cannot afford this project is nonsense. The truth is we cannot afford to not afford it.

Jim Anthony

Kaaawa

Drowning death was tragic loss

Recently we witnessed the tragic loss of a snorkeler at Waikiki.

We feel so very sorry for his wife, who spoke not a word of English, and his very young child.

We have three thoughts about what might have prevented the loss of his life and mitigated his family’s intense suffering:

>> Extend the hours of lifeguards, who alert people to danger, spot people in trouble and save near- drownings every week.

>> Put up signs indicating lifeguards are off duty after 5:30 p.m., so swimmers know they are at greater risk, and the public understands when lifeguards can’t be found.

>> Encourage responders to use the free GoogleTranslate phone app to communicate with foreign victims in their times of great need.

With every tragedy comes the chance to evaluate and consider improvements. I hope people in Hawaii will consider these suggestions.

Carolyn Sluis

Carpinteria, Calif.

Gabbard needs to look her best

Being on the public stage and in the limelight, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard does need to look the best she can. If the makeup costs are the costs as you say, then so be it (“Gabbard’s looks cost campaign thousands,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 8). We should not make such a big deal about it.

Gabbard is honest, upfront and all-around a great person. She should not be criticized about something like this.

Boman Tokioka

Kaimuki

Don’t criminalize the mentally ill

I have some criticism of some people in the community regarding the mentally ill. But first I want to thank the federal government, the state of Hawaii and the Honolulu Police Department for accommodations spanning nearly three decades through the Americans with Disabilities Act.

It seems that every time there is a violent act in the community — locally, nationally or internationally — people blame it on the mentally ill. I believe this is fear-mongering and using people as scapegoats.

The overwhelming fact is that most people with mental illness are not violent in any way, and are victims of crimes and abuse.

I ask that people don’t criminalize the mentally ill. It’s just plain wrong to target people who are more vulnerable than others. We shouldn’t blame the mentally challenged for the woes of the world.

Richard C. Jackson

Liliha

Primary election should be open

Voting in the primary election is a big farce.

We, the people of Hawaii, don’t have the freedom to choose whomever we want to represent us in our state government.

It’s a one-party system. You are forced to choose only one party. No mixed voting. I call it voter discrimination. That’s why many good people never get elected.

If we did away with the primary, it would save us taxpayers a lot of money.

Let the general election be the time for the people to choose whom they want to represent them. For all the years Hawaii has been a Democratic state, it has been expensive to live here.

Our lands have been desecrated with high-rise buildings, we have a rail going nowhere, rental apartments and food are expensive, and there’s not enough money for school air-conditioning or to deal with homelessness.

I vote for the person, not any party.

Frank Atienza

Waipahu

Teacher turnover a major problem

The Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) leaders should join with the state Department of Education in its effort to raise student success in learning by finding a solution to the high rate of teacher turnover in disadvantaged area schools.

The effect of the turnover rate puts an unwarranted burden on tenured teachers in meeting lesson objectives with students who were products of inexperienced (probationary) and substitute teachers in previous years.

HSTA needs to ease this burden on their teachers by reassessing the provision that allows tenured teachers the privilege of applying for teacher vacancies.

Bill Punini Prescott

Nanakuli