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.

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