• We need action • Further submission • Time for a Kupuna Council to give seniors a voice We need action Bravo, Walter Lewis, for your outstanding expose on the glaring weaknesses of our county government (“Charter Commission fails to
• We need action • Further submission • Time for a Kupuna
Council to give seniors a voice
We need action
Bravo, Walter Lewis, for your outstanding expose on the glaring weaknesses of our county government (“Charter Commission fails to serve broader public interest,” A Better Kaua‘i, Feb. 5).
Your columns continue to show the shortfalls of a government that isn’t “of the people, by the people and for the people” but one that is dedicated to a system that is geared to keeping it locked tight and protecting all those who remain loyal to its workings. Are there some hard working, dedicated people in this system — certainly there are. But overall those who march in lock step with the status quo far outnumber those who try and change the system.
You wisely illustrate one example of charter section 3.07E that needs expansion.
This charter section said (before being amended) “ … With the exception of deliberations relating to confirmation of appointees (this section was removed) or consultation with the county attorney on claims (claims as specified in our charter) all council and council committee meetings shall be open to the public” (emphasis added).
Very clearly our charter was stating that our council could only go behind closed doors (executive sessions) for one reason — claims! Obviously in the wisdom of those who crafted our charter they were saying that there should be as much “sunshine” and openness in our government as possible.
For 15 long months two citizens testified before every council executive session that wasn’t for a claim telling the members that they were violating the charter by entering that session. Though not one of them could give a legal reason for countering what was asserted they continued to enter these executive sessions.
As Mr. Lewis said, “finding no exceptions to what 3.07E stated, our Charter Review Commission (CRC) unilaterally, without any public testimony put a proposal on the agenda of the commission to amend the charter to eliminate the troublesome restriction on executive sessions.
Although opposed by all public testimony, the commission quietly approved the presenting of the proposal to the voters in 2008. With the aid of a misleading description of the purpose of the proposal, it was adopted by the voters.”
Today our council has eight reasons it may go into ES instead of the one formally used under 3.07E. Was this a change that our citizens really wanted or was the confusing language given to them the reason we now have a more closed government?
Keep up your fine “A Better Kaua‘i” columns, Walter, and hopefully enough people will read them and decide to demand that those they elect to office truly represent the people. The rhetoric coming from those elected that they need and want the peoples input and advice helping them run their government is nothing but words — we need action.
Glenn Mickens, Kapa‘a
Further submission
So, Judge Laureta, it appears that our view of government representation of the people as opposed to government control of the people is still, ongoing, in your eyes,
In your letter to the Forum of Feb. 13, you ignore the numerous other illustrations in Mr. Lewis’ column of Feb. 5 and continue to focus on your pet peeve, the county manager issue, where you claim that the Charter Commission is serving the public rather than the county administration interest.
Even there you do not get it straight. You say that the proposal “was unable to garner a majority vote (presumably you mean on the commission) sufficient to submit it to the voters for consideration.”
How does it serve the public interest to prevent their vote on a form of government that is used successfully in about half of our nations comparable communities whereas it does serve the interest of our county officials to prevent such a submission.
And, is not the act of the commission “to postpone the idea indefinitely from further consideration” a further submission to the will of the administration?
Ken Taylor, Kapa‘a
Time for a Kupuna Council to give seniors a voice
Around the beginning of the 1900s, in an expression of freedom, citizens facing the railroads massive explosive growth and corporate mistreatment rallied to unionize.
This action resulted in The Railway Labor Act which set the standard for the transportation industry today. These unions enjoyed the security of a one-mindedness when engaging management of these entities. Companies engaged its employees with an established one-mindedness (corporate vision) approach.
These companies owe their existence to another landmark occurrence in U.S. history, the Emancipation Proclamation Act. Were Americans aware that legislation intended to free the slaves would enable corporations the right to be “alive” and to conduct business as a “person”?
It seems as a miscarriage of intent today as we face the results of numerous attacks and advances toward our way of life here on Kaua‘i, and the imminent problems that our children’s children will remember us by.
Seniority became a major player in unions. This was only right for the company and employees as it gave longevity in the work environment highest priority and a huge voice in the outcome of financially based problems, as well as a vast knowledge base which afforded the expertise needed to bring all the members as well as the corporations the financial successes they would enjoy.
May I suggest that we have a Kupuna Council to give our senior residents a much needed voice. The living entities refer to their parents. Corporation’s parents are the citizens that gave them life. Don’t forget the one who gave you life.
Alan Farley, Kilauea
