Rail system would not add to urban blight

In response to the March 25 letter to the editor by Jay Caragay: "Rail system is fine if done the right way": Caragay's claim that the rail proposal of the early 1990s along Nimitz Highway would have utterly destroyed the cityscape and created an eyesore, cutting Aloha Tower, Kakaako and Ala Moana Beach Park off from the rest of the city, is simply ridiculous. Ever looked mauka or makai from Nimitz Highway or Ala Moana Boulevard? It is pure urban industrial ugly all the way. As for Aloha Tower, the only way to actually see the tower is from the ocean, a high-rise building downtown, or to actually visit the tower itself. Ironically, the only way to get a nice view of the mountains or the sea from Nimitz or Ala Moana would be from an elevated train!

Caragay also suggests that a rail line be built underground. Underground rail is simply impossible on Oahu. The water table is so shallow that the train would quickly need to become a submarine.

The idea of rail on Oahu is not to alleviate traffic congestion but to offer people an alternative to automobile traffic congestion. Now let's build the rail system exactly as it was proposed in the early 1990s. It will be packed with riders every single day, guaranteed, I would bet my life on it. Get it? Got it? Good!

Governor is right to inform citizens

This is regarding the April 3 story "Lingle radio ads challenged," in which Senate President Robert Bunda claims Governor Lingle's public service announcements are clearly political ads: "She is using her office to put these messages, and it is political and campaigning for next year's race." Brickwood Galuteria, head of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, further claims it is obviously partisan and as such abuses the concept of a public service announcement.

I agree with Lingle when she said that it is not political; it gives the chance for the government to reach those who do not have the time to follow everything at the Legislature.

It is an inherent duty of the governor, as any political leader, to inform her constituents on what is going on with their government. In her public service announcements, the governor addresses the general public and not any particular segment of our society. Her intent is to inform, to educate the people of Hawaii to talk to their legislators on different issues and concerns that are affecting their lives. The people of Hawaii have the right to be informed.

A well-informed citizenry contributes to an effective and efficient government.

Speeders disregard everyone else's safety

Speed limit signs have a purpose. They are not placed to beautify our streets or provide a surface for our graffiti artists, nor are they there as a suggestion to motorists. They are provided to keep everyone safer.

Traffic-calming devices such as roundabouts and speed bumps are also placed for the safety of all citizens. Unfortunately, we live in a culture that has a mentality of "it is my right to drive as fast as I want regardless of the posted speed limit." Until the police enforce speed limits and judges hit speeders with heavy fines, motorists will not slow down. The residents of Makakilo Drive who voted against a roundabout on their street now have the memory and conscience of a young boy struck down on their street because they didn't want to slow traffic down (Star-Bulletin, April 5).

It is always good to slow traffic down; everyone wins. As we have heard during the past couple of weeks, we should err on the side of life. I will add we should err on the side of safety as well. Drivers of Hawaii, slow down!

Hawaii's expectations for education too low

Your March 30 editorial on the low ranking of Hawaii's public schools does a disservice to the children of Hawaii. While teachers do their best in the classroom, we should not be making excuses for the Department of Education. The fact of the matter is Hawaii ranks at the bottom of the heap. More important, Hawaii ranks last, despite us having the lowest, yes the lowest, national standards for No Child Left Behind.

Only 10 percent of Hawaii students need pass the math test for a school to be ranked as meeting "adequate yearly progress." That means 90 percent of our kids can be failing math and the school is still rated "OK." The situation isn't much better for reading. Only 29 percent of students need to demonstrate basic reading skills for the school to pass. In other words, 72 percent of the students need not read at grade level and the school is rated "adequate."

We have allowed our expectations to go too low. According to the federal DOE, Hawaii has the lowest standards in the United States. So, we have the lowest standards and we still rank at the bottom of the charts. This begs the question: Why do we continue to make excuses instead of raising expectations?

The good news is that we have nowhere to go but up. But making statements defending lowering standards at the DOE is not going to result in improvements. Only by facing the hard, cold truth, changing the entire Board of Education, and restructuring the Department of Education will our children have any chance to succeed.

Substitute teachers perform valuable work

I work four days a week at the Waikoloa Elementary School and am enrolled in four classes at the local college. I am seeking my bachelor's degree to be able to be an elementary school counselor.

As a substitute teacher, you are only called back if you are performing well. I have been substituting for about six years now and have seen subs come and go. Teachers can be pretty critical, and when you come into their classrooms it can be like you are in their home and watching their own children. The teachers' lunchroom discussions weed out the subs that are lazy or just should not be there. We don't get medical or holidays or sick days and our work is not consistent unless you are one of the top one or two subs on your school's list.

We need to value the educational assistants as well as the teacher and the subs. The product they are handling is much too important not to be valued. The kids' quality of education and genuine quality of the people they experience while they are young may directly determine how well they will treat us when we are retired, and need a voice as a advocate to treat us fairly. If the pay is not fair then how can we work without any benefits and no set days to count on?

Moanalua Valley patrol just a publicity stunt

Rep. Glenn Wakai is up to his usual publicity tricks again. His latest stunt with his "rent a cop" for Moanalua Valley (Star-Bulletin, April 2) is an example of how he grabs the spotlight and credit then dumps the responsibility into the laps of others.

He get lots of publicity for his projects. But once the spotlight fades, Wakai disappears. He abandoned his chicken traps. He ignored the appeals for assistance concerning mud slides. He disregarded attempts to deal with falling rocks. Speeding last got his attention two years ago.

Any attempt to reduce crime and speeding is greatly appreciated. However, these efforts should be well thought out. Wakai was advised by the police and the Moanalua Valley Community Association that a single, two-hour police patrol would not be cost effective or a sufficient deterrent to crime. Furthermore, he is quick to dump the financial responsibilities on the Community Association, especially since he is not a member.

"One-shot-Wakai" is not doing the residents of Moanalua Valley any favors by promoting himself in the media.

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