Letters for Friday — October 29, 2004

• Council ad

• AARP forum

• Political signs

• Paying taxes

Council ad

The Kaua‘i County Council was unanimous in their “Paid Political Advertisement” (10/20/04 T.G.I.) urging voters to vote against the Real Property Tax Charter Amendment. That amendment will help protect local homeowners who live in their homes from being taxed out of their property because of the insane increases in the prices of homes and properties that causes big increases in property taxes and assessments. Is the council against citizen initiatives or tax reform?

This unanimous vote reminds us of two other recent unanimous votes by the Council:

1. Giving A & B Development “carte blanche” approval for 1,000 acres of million-dollar homes without making any requirements for A & B to provide funding to:

Help fix or improve Kaumuali‘i Highway, Maluhia Road, Po‘ipu Road, Lawai Road (all roads to/from their development);

Enlarge or improve public parks on Kaua‘i’s “Gold Coast” (where the A & B development is located);

Help ensure open mauka/makai accesses for the public and for native Hawaiian traditional fishing, gathering, and religious rights; and

Help provide reasonable and affordable housing for local people who may work for A & B or living in the south shore area. A & B must be more than just a “good neighbor.”

2. Giving approval of big pay raises for up to 30 already well-paid County officials which, through the workings of County government and the salary commission (appointed by the mayor, approved by the Council), ends up giving big pay raises for the Council ! The results of this will be more and bigger taxes for us, our children and etc. From now on!

And these folks are asking for our vote?

Chuck Trembath

Lihu‘e

AARP forum

The AARP Hawai‘i 2004 election project, what a farce! What a joke! What rubbish! I have been an AARP dues-paying member for over 10 years. Today, I am paying more for my kid’s education and welfare; more at gas pumps, more on deductibles; more at the grocery; more on everything — with no relief in sight. So, how is it justified that on three issues, 1) Drug marketing disclosure, 2) PBM transparency/accountability and 30 social security offset, AARP clearly is partisan and endorses political candidates, not to mention the funding thereof: Who pays for these expensive voter guides? My dues?

The spin stopped with my vote. It is not fair and balanced. Mamo Cummings was not given proper treatment and no other candidate was invited. Just these two candidates running for State House District 14.

To my recollection Mina Morita is against:

Reducing crime & drugs : Source (House Bill 2004), (Senate Bill 2447 SDI HDI);

Improving education: Source (Senate Bill 3238), (House Bill 32);

Strengthening our economy: Voted to increase taxes six times in 2004 and six times in 203 on things like gas, cars, cell phones, bottles, and long term care. Source: (SB 1611; HB 2956; SD-2), (SB 2690, HD-2; SB 2883 HD 2-SD2 CDI; SB 1088);

Reducing traffic: Voted to raid the highway fund: (HB 2743, HD2, SDI, CDI).

Moreover, there is a rumor Mina Morita will attempt to ban recreational fishing in Hanalei Bay to appease her well-heeled friends on the North Shore. My name is Kimo Evans and I approve of this message.

Kimo Evans

Kilauea

Political signs

Recently, I overheard a conversation where some folks were discussing a report of vandalism on some political signs on Kaua‘i.

I think I’ve solved the mystery – it was probably some poor guy trying to find his house.

Pat Smith

Kapa‘a

Paying taxes

General Exercise Taxes are for the “privilege” of doing business in the State of Hawai‘i, or so we’ve been told! When businesses don’t pay their GET they are stealing from you, “the people of Kaua‘i and the State of Hawai‘i”. As Randy Wier so appropriately put it the other day in The Garden Island, if the Government doesn’t get their money one way, they will certainly get it another. They certainly can’t do with any less. So, if a large number of businesses would be stopped paying their GET the government have to raise your taxes – so those businesses would be stealing from you.

Gary Hooser had the audacity to vote many times to raise your taxes! There are a number of businesses, those “well connected” and those that are not regulated (businesses that do not have licenses to operate) – that can get away with not paying GET for years and still stay in business. They then seem to be able to negotiate with the State and get a substantially lower payment on both the taxes owed an of course the penalties. We’ve read about it many times in The Garden Island. On the other hand, those businesses regulated and controlled by the State usually have to survive under very different rules. Having been in business for 20 years on Kaua‘i, through the good and the bad (2 hurricanes) we always paid our taxes, because if we didn’t we would be out of business. The State would put a tax lien in the business immediately. We would no longer be able to get backing from the bankers and the bonds necessary to remain in business, not withstanding the fact that the State would then pull our dealers license, salesmen licenses and repair faculty license.

Tom Leighton

Kapa‘a