So, according to The Garden Island story (Nov. 23, “Kusaka: $7 Fee Not Enough To Rid Island of Junk Cars”), it appears that County Councilman Gary Hooser really goofed. He had the gall and audacity to research and decide that
So, according to The Garden Island story (Nov. 23, “Kusaka: $7 Fee Not Enough To Rid Island of Junk Cars”), it appears that County Councilman Gary Hooser really goofed. He had the gall and audacity to research and decide that the $5 proposed vehicle fee that was voted on just won’t solve our junk-car problem and a better plan needs to be formulated, so he is against the increase.
When it is costing the Big Island about $40 to $60 to dispose of a wrecked car and it is costing Kaua’i taxpayers about $295 per vehicle to dispose of the same, then common sense would say that Hooser is very justified in voting against this $5 registration fee. Yes, it is a step in the right direction, but since it won’t come near solving the problem, let’s do more research.
So who, then, can believe that Mr. Hooser has “goofed” with this rational line of thought? Why, none other than our mayor. You see, Mr. Hooser sent her a letter saying that he couldn’t support the increase unless funds could be moved from real property taxes to cover costs. And she replied, “Hello, this is a user fee, not a tax.” Many moons ago, when this mayor first came into office, she urged everyone (including me) to get involved with the way their government is run. What she really meant was to get involved, but only if you agree with her. Don’t have another point of view or she will find a way to belittle your opinion.
As far as her saying that this is a user fee, not a tax; Well, you know the one about if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck. No matter if you call this a user fee or any other kind of fee, it is a tax and that is a fact.
When you put gasoline in your car, the pump has a sign on it saying the price includes 47 cents tax. Now one could also call this a user fee for those who use the gasoline, but it still says “tax” on the pump and that is what it is.
So Mr. Hooser’s comment that a better plan needs to be found sounds better all the time. Yes, Councilman Billy Swain worked hard at the legislative end to up the beautification fee from $2 to $5, and he is to be complimented for his efforts.
But the problem with this total wrecked-car issue is far deeper than just the $5 registration fee. As staff writer Paul Curtis’ article points out, this administration had to leave their dream world when they sent out an request for proposals for someone to operate the Puhi Metals Recycling Center and found out that the lowest bid was $50,000 per month – and our mayor was envisioning someone paying the county for the right to operate the center. Wow, how far off base can someone be?
Plus, that “center” (or “black hole” as Ray Chuan calls it) doesn’t even have a compactor to crush cars, nor a processing area, so how many more dollars will it cost us in property, weight and gas tax before this black hole is opened? And using the mayor’s logic about user fee, why has everyone’s taxes been used for this facility if the purpose is disposal of junk cars – and many people don’t own or use a car, right? But taxes are taxes no matter what you try to call them.
And, madam mayor, where did you ever dream up the idea that “it is transients, not longtime residents, who are responsible for abandoning cars along roadsides and on private and other public property?” When Lt. Layosa was in charge of wrecked cars, he told about the multitude of vehicles in yards all over the Island waiting to get dumped along our roads and in our fields, and those were not transients.
In staff writer Dennis Wilken’s story (Nov. 25, “Council ito decide junk-car fee”) about junk cars, he delves even further into this problem and interviews John Barretto, who undoubtedly has more expertise in this field than anyone on our island since he was in the business of disposing of junk cars for 2l years. And he authoritatively stated exactly what everyone (except our mayor) already knows: “It’s the local people” abandoning those cars.
Anyway, Mr. Hooser, you keep looking out there for those other municipalities that have solved these same problems and talk to people like John Barretto who has been there and solved this same problem years ago without burying the people under obscene taxes and/or user fees. The people elected you back into office and moved you from sixth in the primary election to fourth in the general election in the vote count, so they certainly approve of the way you delve into the issues. In fact, the entire council seems to be more issue-motivated these days, and with Kaipo Asing once again on board, let’s hope this trend continues.
Glenn Mickens, Kapa’a
