Health, Wealth and Happiness

Update:  Today, Sunday the 21st of August the Star-Advertiser FINALLY printed a solid article written by Hawaiian champions who happen to be against the Rail.  The paper had chosen NOT to print my last Letter to the Editor so I stopped writing them.   PLEASE READ the article in the Insight section.  I have been saying many of the things they share in this article for months.

Obviously the authors and guys that are bringing the lawsuit to try to bring Oahu to its senses-to STOP Rail, have more credibility than I do.  Heck, one’s a past Governor, Ben Cayetano.  So, please read that section.  If then you are still FOR Rail, then I would suggest that you live nowhere near where all the devastation, traffic jams, ruining of the view and constant noise will be happening along the route.  Either that, or you are a contractor that is getting money from the project.

Honolulu Magazine has a great, and I feel fair article about the Rail Project here on Oahu. I know the Rail Pushers won’t like it, because it brings things into the light. I understand how they want to fall back on the flawed public opinion vote that showed that 53% favored rail a few years back. If intelligent people of Oahu see even a portion of the whole picture I am confident they will rise up in protest.  Maybe someday, MOST of the backroom dealings, the costs that WILL go up, and the agreements/contracts awarded or promised will come to light.

I disagree with my friend Doug Chin.  Here’s his statement FOR Rail.  “This is going to make our city look great.  This is how the next generation is going to transport themselves.”  (Check that statement against the article I have mentioned…..)

First of all, a man who has children, to me, should have a say in this.  I don’t have kids, but I am deeply concerned about the future this will impact.

Doug, when your children are in their mid-twenties, the Rail MIGHT be done.  If they happen to live near enough to a station and choose to ride it, it will then really depend on a number of factors.  If the stars align and it is convenient for them at that time, yay.  Good for them.  No matter what, they are going to be paying for it.  The cost increases, the maintenance, the delayed construction that always happens here, the lawsuits that are attempting to stop it, even the firms that will be spraypainting over the grafitti that is plastered on the columns.  These plus other issues await.

They will be in a severe minority, or perhaps 2% of Oahu residents who COULD ride regularly.  This is my guess based on the small population ‘out there’ combined with a bunch of factors.  How many live near enough to the proposed stations to make it work.  Will there be parking?  Will it cost every day?  Will those people give up their freedom to complete other errands after work, in town that day?  Will they agree to stand the whole way-a real concern?  When the Rail gets to town, how far is their job/business from that stop?  Will they need a cab?  What if it’s raining when they get there?

How many in Waipahu will have their lives negatively impacted by the squealing of the steel on steel wheels that Heavy Rail uses?  What about the Federal Courthouse.  Rail will go within feet of that structure.

And there’s a reason why the judges have avoided this lawsuit-they are all against the Rail plans to almost bump up against that huge Federal Building as it makes it’s route toaards Ala Moana.  Of course THAT trial will be in San Francisco.  Maybe Hawaiian Air will offer free roundtrips to the attorneys for the trial period.  (NOT)

Doug I respectfully disagree.  I think like in the Bible, we will be the foolish builder and Oahu will be laughed at for this huge folly.  The bill will keep  coming and coming and coming for future generations (the grandkids) as well.

Anyone that would like to see this project being brought more into the light, let’s get the word out.  The propaganda machine that pushed this through on the ballot has done great harm to the island already.

Aloha, Rick Emmerich

NOT brought to you by the Rail Pushers.

1.  Commute times on Oahu will NOT go down based on a common sense example of a person in Kapolei.

2.  Huge 50 foot concrete and steel towers throughout this gorgeous island, from Kapolei to Ala Moana-I mean am I the ONLY one who prefers palm Trees, the view of the ocean, or harbor, and the view of the mountains?

3.  Traffic times for the unfortunate car commuters will multiply as each chunk of the line is built.

4.  How many homes will be displaced and how many will have to suffer a lower quality of life with all the noise as they happend to live ‘too close’ to the steel rails.  (It’s OK, it’s only those people in Waipahu, right?)

5.  How many businesses will be displaced and what happens to all of those who can’t afford to rebuild/reopen?  Forced Retirement?  Welfare?

6.  Can we do without the aging infrastucture needs (water/sewer/roads) that we won’t be able to affford due to incredibly high and rising cost of the Rail debacle?  “Gotta finish Rail beter cut education, services, etc” Right?

7.  What will be done to increase the electricity available to accomodate the exponential increase to run the Rail?  Can you say Brown-out?

8.  The wallets opened to run the Propaganda Machine of the Rail Pushers, while a small, intelligent, hearty, but underfunded opposition did their best.  With no real leaders left, no magical big wallet and perhaps lesser federal funds as Washington comes to it’s senses, what possible solution remaisn but to dump the project?

To get more of the technical side of things and MANY great points from miserable Rail failures throughout the world, see my friend Panos and his blog.  I may take a litle break myself as it seems no one cares.  The Star Bulletin won’t print my recent leter to the editor and I choose to NOT dumb it down.  I want these points out there.    See Panos, (great solar article right now) and check his past articles on Rail.

http://www.fixoahu.blogspot.com