Drawbridges for Kailua?

Dear Editor, June 12, 2014:

Please tell me and other readers that there is no truth to the rumor that the Kailua Neighborhood Board is considering the request to the city and state to investigate the construction and use of drawbridges in Kailua to control the flow of those vile, evil tourists who are polluting the sidewalks, beaches, parks and businesses of their fair residential community.

Access control points at Kailua Road, Oneawa Street, N. Kalaheo and Hamakua Drive where they go over the drainage canals would be studied for feasibility of drawbridges where only the local residents and commercial trucks would be permitted into the fiefdom of Kailua.

Rick Scudder

Kailua, Oahu

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Money talks.  People vote.

Dear Editor,   June 11, 2014

Is anyone else offended by the repeated solicitations that assert if you do not donate money your vote won't count?  Does it bother you that election victories give winners the right to ignore your needs?

Be careful what you pay for.  Representatives who ask you to pay to vote, may sell their votes if elected.

In place of a viable electoral process where accountable choices are made by discussion, analysis, and evaluation with others in your precinct, the media, money, and the vested interests act to buy your vote.  Don't be bought.  Give it some thought!

Vote only if you've discussed whether your plural needs have been addressed well.  Share your conclusions with others.  Vote as a bloc.  People vote.  Money merely talks.

Robert Tellander

Honolulu, Oahu

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High-rises set stage for Hong Kong-ization of Honolulu

Dear Editor,     June 8, 2014

I don't like the ugly HART rail or the Hong Kong-ization of Honolulu.  (I didn't invent the expression, see Google.)

But since they appear to be unstoppable ... I wonder how much money our State and City are getting from them?

How much tax revenue (e.g., income tax, excise tax, property tax) is generated by the Honolulu Rail Project & Transit Oriented Development in Kakaako? 

Think about it: Income tax paid by 1000 workers building the Waiea luxury high-rise residential towers in Kakaako; Property tax on $609 million for 70% of units sold as of May 1, 2014.

Where are the tax dollars going? Do we really want these "first-rate, first-class products" that Mayor Caldwell said will make us a "true capital city"? 

James Arcate

Manoa, Oahu