• Thanks for keeping your promise, governor! •
Vote for the entire island • Thinly veiled
comparison • Try voting
Thanks for keeping your promise, governor!
Pothole promise kept: One of Governor Abercrombie’s early promises when elected was to get the last three miles of roads in Koke‘e State Park repaved, from the Koke‘e Lodge to the Kalalau Lookout.
The potholes had gotten so bad in places that people were actually driving on the wrong side of the road to avoid the bone-jarring holes. It was not only dangerous, but obviously we don’t want the few miles of roads in Koke‘e that lead to the famous and popular Kalalau Lookout to be what tourists remember most vividly about their trip to Koke’e State Park.
Well, the paving job actually got done. It looks great, and locals’ as well visitors’ experience of Koke‘e is far better for it.
Erik Coopersmith, Waimea
Vote for the entire island
The Garden Island did a fine job of covering the two-hour committee meeting on the 11th regarding the county’s giving the Kaua‘i Marathon $150,000 for this year’s race as well as approving $120,000 in subsidies for the 2012 Marathon — appropriately headlined “A run for tax payers’ money” (The Garden Island, May 13).
Both Mel Rapozo and KipuKai Kuali‘i passionately argued — and in my opinion right on target — that we are in fact basically funding this event for two years, 2011 and 2012, by approving the $120,000 and the $150,000 in this year.
What rational person could possibly argue with KipuKai’s analysis that “It’s two events that we’re funding to the tune of $270,000. The council should just fund one race for now, and see how much the organization can raise from state agencies and private sectors for the following race, and then ask the council for funding for the 2012 Marathon.”
Yes, 3 of the 4 committee members did somehow take exception with this evaluation of the event but, for me, they were completely wrong since the council did fund two events on back to back days!
And, as Mel so wisely said, what if Mr. Sachini (the race’s primary sponsor) again loses money in this year’s race and calls it quits as he has stated. He already has $120,000 of our tax dollars guaranteed so why should we depend on his honesty to return that money if there is no race in 2012? As KipuKai said, why not just let him come in and ask the council for a $120,000 money bill in 2012 if a race is to be run?
This Kaua‘i Marathon is a fine event and I am totally in support of any activity that helps our sagging economy. I applaud OED Director George Costa and Bob Craver for all their time, effort and hard work that they put into bringing this race to Kaua‘i.
But, the taxpayers should not in any way be made to subsidize this event. If it brings people to Kaua‘i that adds money to our hotels, restaurants, gift shops, and recreational activities, then let them donate to the negative balance that might be on their books.
Hopefully the full council will reconsider the committee’s decision next Wednesday and vote for what is best for the entire Island.
Glenn Mickens, Kapa‘a
Thinly veiled comparison
You know what scares me? Concerned citizens like Mike Lyman (“Full face veils are not a right,” Letters, May 13), who are so worried for their safety because a woman might be wearing a burqa with a full-face veil in public.
Is that what really bothers you, Mike, or could it be that your prejudices are showing? I do wonder — especially after your not-so-thinly-veiled (sorry) comparison of a woman with a full-face veil and a robber in a ski mask.
As you stated, one “… may not even be able to identify the sex of the person,” if he/she was involved in a crime. Mike, to my knowledge, men don’t wear burqas, so I think we can safely assume that if someone did hold up, say, a jewelry store wearing one, chances are that person would be a woman. (Funny, but I wasn’t aware there had been a rash of crimes committed by women wearing burqas.)
Honestly, I’m a little more concerned with the proliferation of guns in our society, gang violence and American citizens walking around our cities and college campuses carrying concealed weapons than I am with a Muslim woman wearing a burqa.
Steven McMacken, Lihu‘e
Try voting
In response to the Sunday editorial “End apathy: get engaged in county budget process,” I have written several letters regarding the County’s “celebrations” of surplus tax funds and that they should be returned to those who overpaid them.
It went in one deaf ear and right out the other obviously. As I respect the call to end apathy with regard to the County Council decisions on the budget process we must all start at the voting booth.
For all of those who choose not to vote, you deserve to pay $7,500 for 75 chairs, instead of a pack of 32 at Costco for $1050. For all of the “yes, we can” blah, blah, blahs at campaigning time and the poor no common sense decisions our council makes, you non-voters who complain also deserve what you get.
It won’t be until people wake up and realize that if you don’t vote we will never make a difference. Here on Kaua‘i our elected officials win their seat on the council the same way “American Idol” wins. It’s all about family and the fan base of who you know. Apathy will never end until we vote for qualified people who will make the right decisions to move us forward.
Steve Martin, Kapa‘a
