OLYMPICS

GAMES REFLECT CHINA'S NATIONALISTIC GOALS

Is anyone really shocked or surprised that the Chinese Olympic gymnastics team may have used underage athletes to capture gold medals? I think not!

I was surprised that a young Chinese singer with bad teeth was yanked from TV and replaced by a more aesthetic- looking lip-sync artist, and that China faked the opening ceremony by graphically enhancing the fireworks display.

All of this simply points out to the world that China will use every resource to achieve its national and international goals with no regard to morality, ethics or international standards.

With only victory in mind, young children with high potential are removed from their families at an early age to be trained and groomed as the super athletes. In one case, a 3-year-old child who was sent to an elite gymnastics training facility complained to her parents that she missed her family and wanted to return home. Her parents refused and stated that she had to continue her training for the good of the country. If these young superstars do not meet the rigorous standards, they are discarded like any old shoes, and the families' dreams of fame and fortune are dashed.

While every Olympics has had some scandals, the International Olympic Committee must use the power of its good offices to investigate and remedy any infractions. Yes, it is truly sad to see athletes stripped of their medals, but if they violated the rules, so be it. I hope that the OIC will not succumb to Chinese pressures and simply whitewash the facts to keep the Chinese happy.

HOMELESSNESS

MORE UNDERSTANDING AND EMPATHY NEEDED

Are we really more concerned about the comfort and enjoyment of our tourists than the safety of our local residents who have been forced to live in parks? What does this say about our community and the ideals that make Hawai'i such a special place?

As our economy continues to linger amidst a potential depression, homelessness will become an even greater problem for everyone. As a community we need to stop worrying about hiding the ever-mounting problem, and start working together to alleviate the situation.

If we have forced the homeless out of every park they've called home, beginning at Ala Moana Beach Park and ending at Kapi'olani Park, where do we suggest our homeless community go? Perhaps we should be more empathetic to the complexity of their situations. If you were forced out of your home wouldn't you prefer to live in your own private tent on a beach or at a park, than share rooms and rotate beds with perfect strangers?

In a community known for our "aloha spirit" and our strong sense of " 'ohana," I would hope that we could search our hearts and minds to find a way to help our homeless community, instead of beating them when they are already down.

ROAD REPAIRS

CITY STEADFAST IN FIXING AGING ROADS, SEWERS

I would like to respond to Gary Stark's Aug. 25, letter regarding road repairs and other infrastructure improvements.

The city is committed to repairing its infrastructure. What you see on Kapi'olani Boulevard is long-overdue work to repair aging water lines and sewer lines and subsequent repaving of the entire width of Kapi'olani. We understand the public's concern and appreciate its patience.

The suggestion that Mayor Hannemann would not have been aggressive about sewer repairs if not for the 2006 Ala Wai Canal spill defies history. Before he assumed office, Mayor Hannemann made it very clear that road and sewer repairs would be among his top priorities. He proposed, and secured City Council approval for, a long-overdue sewer fee increase to fund repairs well before the Ala Wai spill.

Mayor Hannemann will continue to pursue infrastructure improvements to make this city a better place.

TRANSIT

BUSES OFFER A VIABLE SOLUTION TO TRAFFIC MESS

On Page A16 of The Advertiser (Aug. 24) is an excellent story on renovating the rapid transit system. It was titled "Buses quickest solution to rising transit demand." I saw this article first in The New York Times and it made so much sense that it should have been put closer to the front page.

Washington, D.C., is now buying new hybrid buses that have comfortable seats, more express buses, and even Wi-Fi so that you can use your computer on the way to work or school. The article states that it will cost $17.4 million as opposed to the $2.6 billion for 11.6 miles of the Metrorail, which won't even be completed until 2013.

This parallels our problem here. Why can't Mayor Mufi Hannemann and the powers-that-be look at the wisdom behind this movement? We need solutions now, not in 10 to 15 years. It makes so much sense to alleviate today's problems. I guess that it makes too much sense.

'IOLANI PALACE

EVENTS REFLECTIVE OF SOVEREIGNTY ISSUE

The most recent attempted takeover of 'Iolani Palace should serve as yet another reminder to all that the sovereignty movement is not benign.

BULKY-ITEM PICKUP

CALL HOT LINE TO HELP CATCH ILLEGAL DUMPERS

Phil Sammer would like to establish a main bulky item drop-off area in Waikiki (Letters, Aug. 25). Unfortunately, the congestion and daily activity in Waikiki do not allow this.

The reason the city instituted curbside bulky-item pickup was that most people do not have the means to haul such items to one of our convenience centers or transfer stations. Since Waikiki is the heart of the tourism industry on O'ahu, the city extended its frequency from once-a-month pickup to every Saturday there.

Problems arise when people do not follow the rules by either setting out bulky items curbside well before the pickup date or illegally dumping them at unauthorized locations. This is not just a problem in Waikiki but islandwide.

The challenge is to catch someone in the act of illegal dumping and prosecute them. Violators are subject to fines of up to $500, and property owners where these illegal eyesores are located may also be cited.

The Department of Environmental Services encourages witnesses of illegal dumping to call our hot line at 768-3203 with a description of the person and a license plate number of any vehicle involved.

RAIL

RAIL TRANSIT WOULD ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE

Every time I have enjoyed the beautiful rail systems in other cities, I have returned to Hono-lulu frustrated that we do not offer this service to our residents and tourists. I am more frustrated that there are people who travel outside the bounds of automobile-addicted Hawai'i and California who do not see what a difference rail transit makes in the quality of life in a city.

On my most recent trip I came to a realization. I believe most of those who oppose our rail are not really aware of the systems in other places. When I am on a city train or subway speeding toward my destination, I am congratulating myself that I am not stuck in a cab, gridlocked in traffic. Others are patiently sitting in the struggling cab, congratulating themselves that they do not have to figure out the rail system, nor mingle with the great unwashed. They would no more ride the rail than they would ride the bus at home in Honolulu. (How I love my senior citizen's pass!)

All I ask is that they would reconsider before trying to ruin this project for those who need and understand it.