• Not likely PLDC will build rec centers • Mahalo Myles • Support for JoAnn • The real Mitt • Diversion dysfunction • My dollar on Kollar • ‘Put your money in your bank, not in your tank’ • Do your own fact checking this election season • What constitutes as indigenous?
Not likely PLDC will build rec centers
In response to a letter published Oct. 16: Few would argue with the concern that “High school students lack places where they can study, hang out with their friends, and have fun in safe, drug-free environments.”
Unfortunately, Act 55 states that the PLDC has been formed for the purpose of generating revenue for the state. So why would the PLDC even consider building a facility like that? How would it generate revenue?
To suggest that they “could build recreational centers for Kaua‘i’s youth” is like hoping that Frankenstein will do nice things for the villagers.
John Tenuto
Waimea
Mahalo Myles
I have known Myles Emura since 2004. Our friendship began when I swam daily laps in Waiohai Bay. His love and knowledge of Kaua‘i beaches and ocean, cultures, people, history is limitless as well as his enthusiasm to share. I have relied on his expertise and experience multitudes of times, gaining a more cautious relationship with the sea.
Pattie White
Koloa
Support for JoAnn
In these busy times, it’s so important that we support leaders that can be trusted to stand by their beliefs. JoAnn Yukimura is one of those rare leaders. In her 22 years serving Kaua‘i in elective office, she has always helped families with an eye toward the future. Her teamwork on affordable housing, expansion of county parks, the Kaua‘i Bus, Sunshine Markets and county recycling centers are just a few ways she has made life better on our island. Keeping Kaua‘i, Kaua‘i is not just a slogan to JoAnn, but underlies her vision, commitment and action. Please join me in voting for JoAnn Yukimura so she continue her work for all of us.
Linda Silva
Kalaheo
The real Mitt
The real Mitt Romney showed himself in Tuesday’s debate — a spoiled rich brat who will bully anyone and everyone to get his way. If someone stands up to him, he loses his temper and throws a tantrum.
While there are many, many reasons to not vote for Obama, can you imagine a hot-head like Romney with his finger on the nuclear trigger?
John Zwiebel
Kalaheo
Diversion dysfunction
I’ve watched online or in person some 20 hours of public testimony regarding youth diversion and teen court programs. Oct. 17’s council committee meeting was another expensive lesson in politics. The youth diversion paper and legal trail includes allegations of impropriety in the structure of oversight of grant funds and the legal necessity to end operations until the legal issues are resolved. There are also implied legal issues regarding whether or not shall means may regarding the role of the prosecutor in diverting juveniles to diversion programs.
Wednesday, for five hours, no council member thought to ask of a single testifier what specifically is in need of what specific fixing, and how specifically to accomplish re-starting the diversion programs.
After all the testimony and all the tax payer funded hours of acrimony, the public is left with a bunch of bologna. The idea that any prosecuting attorney’s office could possibly profit politically from shutting down youth diversion programs is insane. The idea that this county would operate for years, or decades, without fulfilling federal or state mandates is old news. Some council members and some of the positions stated by various agencies involved are a model of dysfunction. God help the kids if the recent public displays are the best we can do for them. Twenty hours of acrimony and not one word of solution. Have any of you heard of ho‘oponopono? Try it for the kid’s sake. Imua Kaua‘i.
Lonnie Sykos
Kapa‘a
My dollar on Kollar
The Kaua‘i county primary for prosecutor back in August was clearly won by Justin Kollar, defeating incumbent Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho with 51 percent of the vote (6,883 votes) to Iseri Carvalho’s 49 percent of the vote (6,691 votes).
Justin Kollar was clearly the winner by more than 50 percent plus one!
I am hoping in the future if the Kaua‘i county primary winner on any ballot is decided by more than a 50 percent plus one margin to do what Honolulu and many municipalities do, declare that candidate the winner without requiring them to partake in another expensive, strenuous and stressful election cycle three months later.
Why vote for the exact same thing in the general election? The taxpayers save money with one less ballot and the candidates can concentrate on their jobs in lieu of waiving signs and blocking sidewalks for the next three months.
I’ve got my dollar on Kollar! Kollar, the best candidate for your taxpaying dollar.
James “Kimo” Rosen
Kapa‘a
‘Put your money in your bank, not in your tank’
Does anyone know why Kaua‘i has such a high price for gasoline second in price only to Lana‘i and Moloka‘i? I am amazed how people manage to pay their gas bills each month. Since I commute between Maui and Kaua‘i, I always thought Maui had the highest gas price but Kaua‘i prices are higher. I also notice that the Kaua‘i gas prices are never listed on the news about gas prices throughout the state.
Maybe we should all listen to Tommy Rita, and I quote “Put your money in your bank, not in your tank, ride the bus.”
James Kitamura
Kalaheo
Do your own fact checking this election season
Upon reading yet another letter to the editor (“Romney is the better man,” Oct. 18), with slanted political and ideological commentary, hyperbole, fear mongering and misinformation, I was reminded of what my mother told me; “just because you read it in print doesn’t make it true.” Let’s not lose our capacity as an electorate to think critically.
Yes, these are the exact words I wrote in a letter to the editor just a week ago, and if TGI prints this, I will have written them again.
Hard to believe that we are being fed more misinformation, now from a self anointed “soothsayer” who simply knows how to evaluate a human being’s character. Not only are we to believe that this person knows who is a better person between our presidential candidates, but he is providing us with the facts to prove it.
I can only hope that the average reader is much less a fool than the author. Please don’t believe everything you read. Do your own fact checking. I’ve not been able to find any such data to support the author’s hypothesis that the Obamas have spent more on themselves “than any other president couple in history.” Also, presidents don’t choose their elected office entitlements like Air Force One or Secret Service protection after their term; it comes with the job.
Wow, thanks for the political and financial history lesson, and all of the other mumbo-jumbo that was spewed onto the pages of the Letters of TGI. Let’s hope that those we elect have more sound minds and the capacity to think intelligently.
Jeff Demma
Wailua
What constitutes as indigenous?
I was shocked to read the article in your paper sharing that we will be cutting down Albezia trees to burn for fuel since they are not indigenous to our island home. That borders on heinous! These may be prolific but share the landscape with Royal Poincianas as the most beautiful canopy trees on this island. Just drive the Kukui‘ula bypass toward the highway and look off to the right.
That beautiful sight is mostly Albezia!
So, I wonder, when “indigenous” stops. This was originally a volcanic rock and everything that got here came by wind, wings or water. The Polynesians then brought many species, which we refer to as “Canoe Plants.”
Later, the missionaries bought in, for instance, the Norfolk Pine. So what’s the date after which everything that came was considered non-native and invasive? Will we next chop down the Norfolk’s to satisfy our need for power. We have an endless supply of sun, wind and waves we can convert to power without burning wood chips and further polluting our air.
Jo Steciuk
Kalaheo
