Health, Wealth and Happiness

WITH RAIL, the facts keep changing and the hidden truths eventually come out…………Rick Emmerich

There is NO guarantee that the Federal Government will come through with the funding that many on Oahu have been led to think that they are going to push through.  Even in the best of times, whatever that means, there would not be a guarantee.

But guess what, these are not the best of times.  Every legislator out there would want to be the person that finds 1.5 Billion to cut to save the US money.  Especially those crazy Tea Partiers or Republicans.  Wait, THEY wouldn’t do something to upset the Dems in this annoyingly Dem state.  OR would they?

Senator Inouye was in town and talking to, or as the newsman said, “lecturing” the Rail Board.  I assume the Board just sat back in awe of the dude, who is imposing, even in his advanced age.  Now I mean no disrespect, really (I want to be hangin’ around at that age too),  BUT he clearly did NOT say that the Feds are definitely going to come through with the funds.  What he said was “I believe he (Peter Roga of the FTA) is our friend.”

OK, just in case I am the only one NOT in awe of this guy…..I was paying attention.  The words Inouye said were NOT comforting for people that have been sold the bill of goods that the Rail was going to be built, largely using Federal Funds.  I mean, this thing has been rolling along as if the money was already in one of Oahu’s Banks, just waiting for the builders to finish up.

I think Inouye, who’s ‘in on this” has lied to us in the past, almost guaranteeing the money.  He clearly did NOT say that tonight, and I think he changed his tune.  He continued the Rail Pusher’s Propaganda with the “it will save traffic” statement as well.

Let’s WAKE UP and stop this MADNESS.  This project will Bankrupt Oahu.  It will lower the quality of life for thousands on Oahu in a lot of ways.  It won’t do what we have been led to believe, such as cut down commute times or eliminate traffic.

There is NO WAY the project will get done in a timely manner, big projects just don’t in Hawaii.  It is more likely that I build a snowman on Bethel Street tomorrow than this project comes in any where near the budget.

There is nothing allotted for the maintenance (if it ever gets done.)  Neighborhoods will be destroyed, and homes and businesses will be torn down to make this happen.  AND, now that the old guy has weighed in….

WE AREN’T GOING TO GET THE MONEY WE THOUGHT WE WERE PROMISED.

In the Bible we are the Foolish Builder.

Hi,

I voted for you and have sent you a FaceBook messsage in the past.

Although I don’t spend a lot of time with politics, I have some strong

feelings and do voice them.

The Star-Advertiser did not print my latest letter so I sorta gave up taking

the effort to vent.
I find your letter Rail authority….very intelligent, but I really don’t think

the idea goes far enough.

I believe the thoughts you point out are a symptom of a much bigger

problem.  Rail, which is going to bankrupt this state has just been ac-

cepted by the public.

It seems like HI is incompetent at even keeping streets free of potholes.

The other 49, with all their inclement weather are better.

It seems like education needs intelligent ideas and truly lacks money,

but Rail is going to be a priority.  It seems like the programs that are be-

ing cut-like money for the mentaly ill Need MORE funding, not less, but

soon, Rail is going to cancel those thoughts.

There are many more areas that need attention and usually money,

but again, this Rail Conspiracy is going to take precedence.

Lots of people see that big business, like developers (and their con-

tributions) have a lot to do with Rail going through.  Mufi and now the

current mayor are/were staunchly for this monstrosity and Mufi had

a formidable propaganda machine in place.

What I predict:

1.  Rail will NOT cut commute times from Kapolei.  Do the math.  A person

will still have to get up early.  They may struggle to find a parking place at

the Rail stop.  Will it be free?  Will it be open, and what if it isn’t?  They still

have a walk, or bus, or cab? ride at the end of the trip unless they are one

of the few that end up very close to the stop.

2.  That rider may be standing all he way.  How comfortable is that?  I have

seen the Chicago commuters reading their Tribunes the whole way and

thousands of them live walking distance from their train stops.  That’s dif-

ferent.  It won’t be that way here.

3.  We have the best bus system in the nation, but that too, will suffer,

(see above) as the cuts come in to divert money to Rail.

4.  The sight line issues for hundreds of thousands of residents will lower

quality of life here.  The loss of the water views and even the view of the pub-

lic of the beautiful Harbor Court building and Aloha Tower will be disheart-

ening.

5.  The temporary jobs provided will only encourage those comapnies and

workers to clamor for next huge project to keep them employed.  I strongly

object to the notion that we should just pave over acres and acres of Ag

land out west and allow every new development to be built.  How bout we

face reality and keep Ag land so that we can be even a little more Self

Sustaining as a state.  If shipments for food to HI were delayed by even

4 days there would be massive problems-even panic.  Why not keep some

Ag land and use it.  As for the union workers out of work.  When will they

face reality and learn a new skill, or for that matter move to Vegas where

you can build stuff for the rest of your life.

6.  When and if this project ever gets done, our children and their children

will continue to pay for this thing with higher taxes and less services.

OK, there is more, and I have to work, but I know you are competent and

intelligent.  I feel relieved if someone will have seen my letter.

aloha, Rick Emmerich

Rick’s note.  This is the same letter, although I cleared up some typos.

Sorry Charles, no offense meant.  I obviously should have proofed it

before I sent it to you.