Mayor tackling the tough issues
Editor’s note: Mr. LaBedz letter was received before the county council passed bill banning Styrofoam containers.
As an environmentalist, I spend an awful lot of time criticizing elected officials for not doing their jobs.
That’s why it feels good to write this note as a positive shout-out to our Mayor Derek Kawakami.
First and foremost, I thank him for taking a stand against our ocean’s plastic plague. I am hoping that the majority of the council will agree with him and get retail Styrofoam off the island and pass the mayor’s anti-Styrofoam bill.
Second, I commend him for promoting religious tolerance. (All major and minor religions started out as someone else’s “wacky cult.”)
Last, but not least, he has handled the COVID flu epidemic about as good as anyone could, given the constant changing information. I am a medical doctor, fairly knowledgeable about this stuff, and I sure wouldn’t want to make all these decisions.
Thank you Mayor Derek. Hang in there.
Gordon LaBedz, Kekaha
New norm forces his emergency austerity
I caught myself thinking the other day, and before I could stop the new norm hit me right between the eyes, again. Our current behavior has caused a glut of oil, and a reduction of laws, rules and regulations that are enforced. After all, it is an emergency.
I suggest the “new norm” be considered with today’s austerity, from the bottom up. My household is scrutinizing the budget. Every administrative layer is bracing for the expected downsizing. Some of those layers aren’t necessary, and some of the rules and regulations are counterproductive on a personal level.
Vehicle safety checks are an example of waived enforcement. Prior to that, an older car would be “totaled” if the light for the air bag was on. New airbag or no safety check, totaled. This is a result of a written law.
Most will agree that laws, rules and regulations often have unintended consequences. Perhaps this is an opportunity to address each cost from a benefit perspective. County, state and federal rules and regulations sure feel onerous to me.
On other notes: Plastic is toxic. And, why are we promoting petroleum-resource development? It’s an election year.
Aloha.
Mike Curtis, Koloa
COVID-free Kaua‘i should open schools
I believe that schools should be open on Kaua‘i only for our kids and teenagers to go to school, interact with kids their own age, be able to talk with their teachers, etc.
This should happen while we don’t have COVID-19 on our island thanks to the people of Kaua‘i and our mayor.
If teachers need day care for their kids the state should hire baby sitters for their children, as I know their aren’t preschools open, etc.
They should be at the school so the teacher/parent will have access to their kids plus be able to teach our future generation as long as we are COVID-free. I also believe that this should happen before we start getting visitors from anywhere so we can see how it works. It will be good for the parents (home teaching is hard for some) and great for the kids.
Mahalo.
Lori MacDonald, Kapa‘a
