DEVELOPMENT

CHANGING DENSITY RULES MUST NOT BE ALLOWED

For some 40 years, I was a licensed contractor here building and developing condos, commercial structures, and various government buildings.

I have watched developers over the years try to manipulate building codes, densities and other requirements just to squeeze another dollar out of their pet projects. Probably their first breakthrough came when compact parking stalls were allowed. We all know what happened there: certain parking garages became absolute nightmares for the customer. Then there was the open lanai requirement, which certain architects got around by modifying after their buildings were "completed."

And now, here we are! Developers asking for increased densities without regard to increased traffic, increased population without regard to the impact on the neighborhoods and increased heights without regard to view planes for existing neighbors.

It's got to stop. Our island is sinking. Our traffic is getting worse daily. Our streets are jammed with automobiles.

Our growth is killing us, even within the restraints of given rules. So changing rules to benefit some developers should not be an option.

ECONOMY

FOUR-DAY WORKWEEK WOULD SAVE GAS, MONEY

I was just reading a inspiring article on USA Today's Web site about Utah's move to a mandatory four-day workweek for state employees.

Many local governments across the nation also are altering schedules to save money, energy and resources.

Quickly thinking how that may affect Hawai'i, I immediately thought of our traffic problems. Fewer work days mean fewer people on the roads.

Also, the money saved on electricity, gas and other costly resources would be substantial.

Let's petition our state officials, and follow the other local governments' lead in this progressive move.

RAIL DEBATE

GIVE MAYOR CREDIT FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON RAIL

It's bothersome that the media gives the Stop Rail Now/Hawaii Highway Users Alliance group as much attention as it does.

This same group fought the 1992 light-rail project, the Bus Rapid Transit project and now, the current rail transit project.

Led by Cliff Slater, they called themselves the Committee On Sensible Transit when they fought rail in 1992, then called themselves the Alliance for Traffic Improvements in 2000 to fight bus rapid transit. Now they're calling themselves Stop Rail Now and the Hawaii Highway Users Alliance.

Their name has changed but their objective is the same: to prevent Honolulu from getting the transportation infrastructure it badly needs. They don't seem to care that Leeward residents spend hours stuck in traffic and away from their families. They don't offer any realistic options, they just want to kill rail.

Had rail been built in 1992, we would be planning extensions to Mililani and Hawai'i Kai, not worrying about the high cost of gas.

Credit should go to Mayor Mufi Hannemann and his leadership on the mass-transit issue. We can't afford to have these same individuals stop rail again.

RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM WILL OFFER SITES FOR ARTWORK

After the rail system is completed, there will be lots of beautiful locations for artwork.

It will be one of the few in the world to have local artists.

The big picture is that the rail system will benefit everyone directly and indirectly, and future generations will be able to reap it full benefits.

I hope I live long enough to get a chance to ride it.

PRESIDENTIAL RACE

SEN. MCCAIN BELIEVES ABORTION IS STATE ISSUE

I read Ms. Sophia Chen's June 21 letter ("Party unity imperative to reform crises in U.S.") and thought a clarification should be made.

Her quote from Sen. John McCain's Web site that it "is a flawed decision that must be overturned" is presented unfairly.

Ms. Chen would have you believe that John McCain wishes to enforce his beliefs on abortion on the rest of the country.

Instead, his criticism is more of a constitutional point. He believes that the decision on abortion should be made at the state level, not the national level.

Since essentially the issue is whether or not abortion is a crime, the state level is the proper level for this determination.

McCain isn't trying to take away the ability of women to get abortions, he would just like for the states to have the powers granted by the Constitution.

RECRUITERS

TRUTH SHOULD BE TOLD ABOUT MILITARY SERVICE

I was shocked and dismayed by the allegations raised in the June 17 article, "Teens say recruiter duped them."

I am especially concerned because many young people who are induced into military service are targeted through our public schools.

Our students deserve accurate, complete and comparative information about military service before they sign a contract that could result in them killing another person or being killed.

Accurate and complete information means telling the whole truth. How many troops are killed every year? How many people are discharged with injuries? What are the psychological impacts of going to war?

Military service has provided many young adults with opportunities they would not have had otherwise, including traveling to other countries, engaging with other cultures, and learning and utilizing technical skills. Unfortunately, for too many young adults these opportunities also include premature death, serious bodily injury or long-term psychological distress.

The Department of Education could develop better safeguards to ensure recruiters are not misleading our students when contact is made at our public schools.

In addition, these students could be provided with nonviolent alternatives to serving their country and preparing for their future.

RESOURCES

DROP-IN CENTERS COULD HELP SERVE HOMELESS

In the early '90s, homeless people had drop-in centers to go to during the day. These centers were in Kane'ohe, Pearl City and Waikiki. Homeless people could do their laundry, cook, shower, watch TV and sleep, taking care of their immediate needs.

The centers were open during the day. At night, folks would find their own places to stay. But if homeless slept at the centers, they could stay up at night when it can be dangerous. They could be alert and safe after having some sleep at the centers.

Bringing back these drop-in centers would solve many of the problems we have today with people without homes. They wouldn't have to sleep at bus stops, or near bus stops in the daytime because they would have the centers to go to. People would not have to sleep in doorways and other public places.

Some of the homeless are too sick to care for themselves, but the majority of homeless are like you and me except they have no permanent home. And many may be waiting for affordable housing.

Could drop-in-centers be the partial answer to solving the homeless crisis in our state?

SB 2878

EARLY EDUCATION BILL A STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION

As CEO of the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for Native Hawaiians through community partnerships that provide educational opportunities and promote self-sufficiency, I agree with your June 29 editorial recommending the governor not veto Senate Bill 2878, Keiki First Steps.

This bill secures delivery systems for early childhood education that include family child interaction learning, home visiting, center-based preschools and family childcare programs.

With a system that includes these models, we have the ability to put Hawai'i at the forefront of parent choice, cultural competency, quality and comprehensive services in the nation. In addition, the family child interaction learning model has been highly successful with Native Hawaiian/Polynesian families, gap-group families and in high-poverty communities.

SB 2878 is the necessary first step to creating the quality public-private early learning system that will enable our keiki to succeed in school and in life.

Most other states that have state-funded pre-K programs have a governing cross-departmental council to leverage private/federal funds and institute comprehensive long-term planning for a quality early learning system as the basis for total education reform and better educational/social outcomes.

SB 2878 is a step in the right direction for Hawai'i.