• Barreira innocent until proven guilty • The rest of the story • Governor choice Barreira innocent until proven guilty I am writing this to give my personal and unsolicited support to Ernie Barreira who has been accused of sexual harassment. I
• Barreira innocent until proven guilty • The rest of the story • Governor choice
Barreira innocent until proven guilty
I am writing this to give my personal and unsolicited support to Ernie Barreira who has been accused of sexual harassment. I want to make it clear that I write this article without any outside influence from the church or anyone else.
I know Ernie’s family and Ernie for many, many years. These are outstanding people in the community, especially in their parish. Ernie has been a life-time member of the Holy Cross Parish; a chairperson for many of the parish events. Ernie volunteers his time and talent without question and without expectations of reward or recognition. Ernie has also been the chairperson for St. Theresa Catholic School’s annual carnival for numerous years.
In my observation of Ernie, he treats everyone, male and female, young and old, with utmost respect and courtesy. He always extends a friendly greeting to everyone he encounters. Ernie is a very talented and educated person; yet he is humble and not conceited. He has been a tremendous asset to his parish and receives praise from members who sit with him in many of the committees he chairs.
Ernie has regular contact with parishioners and others. I have never known Ernie to have offended anyone by his actions or comments. I have never heard any complaints or accusations like what he is accused of from any of the parishioners. This accusation shocks and saddens me. I was puzzled that the news was on the paper’s front page (April 6) when the charges have not been proven. The timing of the article was also suspect as these charges were filed several months ago; therefore to have it printed on the very week that Ernie was offered employment at the county makes me believe that the timing was purposely planned.
I stand 100 percent behind Ernie; he is innocent until proven guilty.
Carole Nacion, ‘Ele‘ele
The rest of the story
It’s not everyday our County Council and the Mayor’s office can say: “How many times can someone say they received 138 acres of oceanfront property? Free of charge?” Congratulations, council and mayor.
“Free of charge?” The proper question to ask is: Just what did it cost us, the taxpayers, for this sliver of land immediately adjacent to a growing airport accepting more direct flights from the Mainland? An unobstructed view of the shoreline and the Pacific Ocean; noise levels that will perhaps break windows; carbon footprints with every takeoff and landing; security concerns that may lead to a gated community; health issues for some; etc.?
“Free of charge?” It was paid for “by an amendment of the Kaua’i Lagoons zoning ordinance that was approved by the council and signed by the mayor last October. This allowed the developer to move forward with the project.
“Move forward” to what? Toward “added values” of their properties via zoning upgrades like:
— Reclassifying 14.6 open zoned acres to urbanization (Meaning?)
— 19.1 acres from open zoning to resort (10 to 20 units per acre)
— 21.6 acres from open zoning to R-2 (43 house lots/timeshare?)
— 9.2 acres VDA (Vacation Destination Area) expanded. (Meaning?)
“Free of charge?” Just what did the developer’s “generosity” generate for Kaua‘i Development LLC and the Kaua‘i Lagoons team?
After doing some research at the Planning Department, try this on for size:
— 19.1 acres = 190 to 380 timeshares @ $20K each = $190M to $380M yr.
— 21.6 acres = 43 R-2 lots vac. rent @ $150 nite = $ 2,257,500 yr.
— 9.2 acres = R-2 zoning? Possible 36 timeshare = $ 36,000,000 yr.
Potential added value of “Land use Amendments” = $228.2M to $418.2M yr.
That’s almost one-half a billion dollars in “added values” taxpayers paid to the developer for valuable “zoning upgrading approvals” for land the developer had little use for or could not develop.
These figures do not include potential added value dollar amounts for the indefinable first bullet item “Reclassifying 14.6 acres to urbanization,” whatever that means. So much for “Free of Charge.” Oh yes, the county’s tax assessment value of the 138 acres the taxpayers received: $582,200!
At these added value figures developers may be more “generous” next time around. And that’s “the rest of the story” in memory of Paul Harvey.
John Hoff, Lawa‘i
Governor choice
If you work for a living and pay taxes, vote for Duke Aiona. If you are on “extended unemployment” or on welfare, vote for Ackercrumbie because he will make all of us who work for a living pay for those who are too lazy to get on their feet and find a job.
Ed Hayes, Hanalei
