Your “No Public Trust” front-page article on Monday, highlighting the non-passage of the rail charter amendment that “would have made it easier for the Honolulu rail authority to conduct its business,” offered a fascinating look at the dysfunction associated with rail.

It’s hardly surprising the rail board has trouble getting a quorum, given that its members are unpaid. Assuming the members are professionals with relevant experience, surely they should be incentivized to put aside other paid commitments in order to consider issues and attend meetings.

Conversely, are we to conclude that these people tasked with “action on critical matters” are not worth paying? Maybe so, given that many can’t be bothered to show up.

Rather than a matter of “public outreach,” this whole situation seems to be more closely related to poor organization and a persistent lack of accountability.

So, yes, public trust is indeed lacking, but not in a way that superficial outreach can address.

Brendon Hanna

Manoa

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