I am outraged that the editorial's message is that credibility of rape and sexual harassment charges depends mainly on timing - that a delay in reporting undermines the credibility of the plaintiff.

Nonsense. The message of the verdict in the Lamb/Gretzinger case is that truth prevailed and that making false allegations is an insult to all women, especially to those who are genuine victims.

The editorial did not mention that:

Michelle Gretzinger's charges against Ramdas Lamb were knocked down one after another;

The jury sat and listened to the witnesses and all the evidence for nearly three weeks and, in its very first balloting, a unanimous vote was made in favor of Lamb;

It took just 3-1/2 hours in total, not the 5-1/2 mentioned in the editorial, to come out with the entire verdict, including damages for each count.

Maude O. Takahashi

What about some sympathy for Michael Lau's widow? Although this woman's husband committed the ultimate crime, we shouldn't forget those who are left behind.

While two children have lost parents and a man has lost his wife, the widow Lau has lost someone, too.

No doubt, her family and friends are there for her. But it would not hurt one bit to show some public compassion and acknowledge that the tragedy is felt on the other side.

Michael Antony

Sadly, the investigating officer told us the fellow had been arrested just two days before. He has an arrest record of at least 50 priors. This criminal is on the streets today, robbing others in our community.

When a criminal has been arrested 50 to 150 times, and remains free, it ought to be obvious that even if we could afford to double the number of police, it would have no discernible effect on the situation. Meanwhile, our police chief works at disarming honest citizens so they cannot protect themselves.

I, for one, am fed up with a police chief who thinks the solution is a bunker mentality, with judges who apparently are rich enough to be able to afford to live in protected areas, and with politicians who dance around the problem.

When crime no longer pays, it won't happen. It is up to our leaders to make crime not pay, rather than to make the honest pay for the crime.

Colin M. Jones

Serving as one of Waikiki's borders, the improvement of the Ala Wai and its banks will help to restore and renew the larger Waikiki area. The City Council realizes the importance of both the Ala Wai and Waikiki to the people of Honolulu and has recently adopted Resolution 96-197, which targets the Ala Wai as an area of priority revitalization.

As Iolani students, we would train by running the entire length of the canal. With every step I took around its banks, I wished that it had never been built. Through the years, however, I have come to appreciate the potential that the canal has as a world-class training and recreational resource.

I recently returned from San Antonio and was impressed with its River Walk. The San Antonio River and its banks are an excellent example of what a city with vision can do with a waterway like the Ala Wai.

Like San Antonio, we can take an underutilized body of water and turn it into something special for residents and visitors alike.

Mufi Hannemann
Honolulu City Councilman