An answer to irresponsible travelers
As we all know by now, the State and County has no jurisdiction to stop interstate or international tourists from coming to our Island. That’s solely a Federal jurisdictional power and Trump doesn’t seem like he will make that order. So what we can do is to forcibly quarantine visitors in one location and guard them to make sure they don’t break quarantine.
Put them in a hotel near the airport and provide guards to make sure they don’t leave. Charge them for the cost of the room and meals, and the cost of the security. If states can do this with passengers on cruise ships, we can legally do it here on Kauai.
Since we now know all know cases are travel related, we can then start to lift some of the restrictions on residents and start to return to normal, knowing we won’t get infected by visitors breaking quarantine. Isn’t this the logical solution to irresponsible tourists continuing to come to Kauai?
Jay Kamali, Kalaheo
Social distancing rules make no sense
Don’t get me wrong, I think the mayor is doing a great job of encouraging the social distancing…but…golf is allowed, where folks (who are not earring a living) gather in close proximity on tees and greens, and yet, a solo person (earning a living) can’t mow my lawn, with no other people in sight? Makes no sense. Golf is more essential than maintaining our property?
Jerry Teel, Koloa
Unemployment filers face waiting and waiting
The numbers are staggering, 60,000, 80,000, maybe more filers for Unemployment Insurance. The process, start, stop, try again. I’ve created an account and completed and submitted an application of determination, but no response. It’s been 10 days on this one way street and no light at the end of it.
Will it take a month? Are there other filers that have an answer? I’ve sent 3 emails to the Kauai office. The phone is always busy. I’ve emailed the Governor, asking him to talk with the director of UI on a timeline for this. The Governor’s newsletter says there’s more staff at UI, then please respond.
Tens of thousands are waiting. If anyone knows anything, please get the information out to us.
Mark Perry, Lihue
Thank you for your service
Mahalo to all the grocery store employees. We appreciate you and your service to the community.
At this time we hurry in and hurry out without stopping to tell you how grateful we are. Again thank you for being present to help us at this difficult time.
Holly Harris, Lihue
Actually, everyone doesn’t seem to understand that state and local governments don’t have the authority to limit interstate travel, because we keep seeing people ask the state and County governments to limit interstate travel! Even after it has been said over and over and over again, people still come to these comment sections as well as write letters stating that the state and county government should be limiting interstate travel. Just watch how many times it is suggested in the comments here.
People are being WILLFULLY IGNORANT about this situation. The people who are asking for interstate travel to be curtailed are the very same ones who seem to insist upon giving the Executive Branch of the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT–which actually has some authority in this regard–a pass in terms of their response to this debacle.
yes, keep tourists off island…BUT continue with SOCIAL DISTANCING as well!!! You are not immune or special.
Completely agree with Mr. Teel. I’m fine with people playing golf, and just about any other recreation and exercise, as long as social distancing can be practiced. But I agree that landscaping and yard maintenance is a very essential business, and is easily performed within the parameters of social distancing rules. In fact, most of it is done by one person who doesn’t have to interact with anyone else at all. Hopefully, these sorts of rules, which are well-intentioned to begin with, can be quickly modified as needed to accommodate those who are simply (and safely) trying to make a living and survive in these difficult times.
Jerry, I’m sorry but you are missunderstanding the mayors rules. You are allowed to cut your OWN lawn. The stay at home order is just that, stay at home. This does not mean you are locked in your house. You may go out and mow your lawn or do other things on your property. They are concidering lawn mowing businesses as non-essencial, so don’t go mow your neighbors lawn and charge them for it. Pretty simple concept.
Now as for me (an essencial worker) I’m going to work then on the way home going to stop and play some golf! Maybe you should too…??
You may be an essential worker now, but someday you may be unable to mow your own lawn because you are old, or disabled. If Jerry **can’t** mow his own lawn, perhaps you could volunteer to mask up and do it for him instead of a round of golf every other week or so?
With KI’s newest coronavirus case as of today NOT being travel-related, the virus is IN our community & no longer ONLY an outside threat. Now is not the time to let down our guard.
Re the golf question: Close the golf courses for gosh sakes!
A better idea on where to house tourists: Make them stay in a place not unlike our public shelters during hurricanes. This is a major disaster & tho’ invisible, needs to be treated as such. House visitors at the shuttered K-mart building, provide cots for 14 days & feed them something our President serves to his visitors: McDonalds hamburgers!
Kauai relies on tourism & people will still come here when all this is over. No amount of harsh treatment will stop that. Travelers need to stay home now just like the rest of us! Shame on anyone (airline industry for one) for providing cheap incentives to travel right now while we are still stuck at home!
To kauaicsence- you completely misunderstood Mr. Teel’s letter. He’s talking about someone else mowing his lawn because they do that for their livelihood.
Amen to Holly Harris’ letter thanking the grocery workers. Our thanks also to the post office workers, other delivery persons, gas station employees, pharmacy workers, first responders and other government workers, the health care workers of course, and the folks taking care of all their children. You have made our sheltering in place possible.