• Article needed clearer facts • Superferry a boondoggle • Superferry not good • Hooray to rebuttal Article needed clearer facts Editor’s note: The “inaccuracies” cited in this letter are more arguments over semantics, than corrections of inaccurate information. The
• Article needed clearer facts
• Superferry a boondoggle
• Superferry not good
• Hooray to rebuttal
Article needed clearer facts
Editor’s note: The “inaccuracies” cited in this letter are more arguments over semantics, than corrections of inaccurate information. The first point is valid and a clarification appears on page 2 of today’s newspaper, where it is the policy of The Garden Island to run corrections and clarifications.
After reading the article written by Lester Chang regarding the search for a new police chief in the June 7 edition of The Garden Island, I felt compelled to respond. I was at the same meeting as Lester and other reporters when the mayor was queried on this subject, and it is apparent that there are a number of inaccuracies in the article that need to be addressed.
No. 1: “With Kaua‘i Police Chief K.C. Lum planning to retire today, Mayor Bryan Baptiste said yesterday he will recommend county police commissioners not install an interim chief. By doing so, the commission can avoid public perception that the process for the next chief could be tainted, Baptiste told reporters in his office at the Lihu‘e Civic Center.”
The mayor did not say he will recommend that the Police Commission not install an interim chief.
What he said was he would again recommend that the Police Commission not install an interim chief who is also a candidate for the permanent position of police chief.
No. 2: “Baptiste outlined several options for the police commission in finding a new police chief, either by swearing in Venneman, promoting an assistant chief from within the force or selecting someone from outside the department.”
The mayor did not outline options for the selection of a new police chief. He identified some of the options that the Police Commission could consider for selecting an interim chief.
No. 3: “Baptiste emphasized that the county is seeking Lum’s removal on ‘two issues that are distinctly different.’ Baptiste said he called for Lum to step down months ago because Lum had not properly led the department or raised morale of its officers. In the second effort to remove Lum, county officials have cited a tainted selection process that led to Lum becoming the police chief, Baptiste said.”
The mayor was discussing two very different processes. One that was initiated by the mayor asking the Police Commission to consider the removal of the chief based on non-performance in certain areas.
The second process that was taking place addresses a tainted selection process as determined by a Board of Ethics finding and subsequent recommendation by that body to terminate the contract. This had nothing to do with the chief’s performance or an effort to remove him. It had to do with the procurement (selection) process and the cancellation of a contract based solely on issues with that process.
In closing, I would like to add that I have known Lester for many years and I admire and respect his journalistic skills and selfless nature. He has always been fair in his articles and presents stories of great interest to our island community.
- Mary Daubert Public Information Officer
County of Kaua‘i
Superferry a boondoggle
Of all the horrific blunders that have befallen this beautiful island, the onset of the Superferry takes the proverbial cake. With still unchecked rampant development, worsening traffic problems, rising taxes, and cruise ship traffic, along with an ascending drug/ice problem, somehow, the Superferry developers have procured the right to land upon these once sacred shores, without so much as an environmental impact statement.
What in the world is going on in the “back room behind closed doors” where these kinds of decisions are made? Today The Garden Island reported that Terry O’Halloran, Director of Public Affairs for the Hawaii Superferry, said “investors would have pulled away from the project if a lengthy environmental impact study been required.”
Hello! So what if investors pull away?
Isn’t the beauty and integrity of this island worth it? Everyone knows that any environmental impact statement, if done well, would have condemned the Superferry to wilt forever in dry-dock where it belongs. If living conditions for Kauaians are becoming more challenging now, this Superferry assault will deliver the knockout blow. Don’t enough people get it! The island is sinking under the weight of its own waste. Wouldn’t it be more constructive to examine how to make life more livable and wholesome for generations to come rather than to needlessly slaughter the magnificent goose that has laid the golden egg?
It is sad that the pursuit of big money has eclipsed, and hijacked, intelligent and worthy assessment of the impending damage that a Superferry will impose on this island. Whatever happened to … reverence?
Superferry not good
Say what.
$70 million to promote tourism on Kauai. I’d like to see the spread sheet on this budget. I know a million is not what it used to be, but 70 million? As a taxpayer where can I see the figures? In another article? Where was I when the project for the Superferry was pushed through without an environmental impact study. Superferry officials say they have done their own, how convenient. Of course I would like to see affordable travel for those who cannot afford the high price of airline tickets. With the Superferry will come animal invasion, all the drug dealers, thieves, door-to-door salespeople, traffic congestion, people without housing that will park on our beaches. We will no longer be a beautiful island but an extension of all the troubles Honolulu has. It seems that the project is already underway, how can it be stopped? And where can I see the minutes on the proposal.
Hooray to rebuttal
Hip Hip Hooray to Kay Oblong and her rebuttal to Laurel Kenny and the issue on bed and breakfast businesses in residential areas.
Thank you for speaking out for the quiet locals who know what is going on but choose not to write to the papers. If you haven’t already noticed, it’s all the Mainland transplants that are whining and writing and trying to make the island just like where they came from on the Mainland.
Hey, if you like it that way so much, then go back there. We were fine all these years living the plantation and local ways. We haven’t had so much litigation, bickering, condos, bed and breakfast issues until all you Mainlanders came here trying to change our ways.
Granted there are many, many that came here because they liked the lifestyle that they saw. They came, they blended in and they are full of aloha.
Advice?
Blend in and keep Kaua‘i Kaua‘i. If not, go back to the airport because that plane also flies people out of here too.
- Melody (Lazaro) Stine
Kekaha
