• Kaua‘i’s problems • Property tax reform • Ohana Kauai • Smoke-free Kaua‘i Kaua‘i’s problems I have been a resident of Kauai since 1972, and I have for the most part, I feel, voted ineffectually. The only time my vote
• Kaua‘i’s problems
• Property tax reform
• Ohana Kauai
• Smoke-free Kaua‘i
Kaua‘i’s problems
I have been a resident of Kauai since 1972, and I have for the most part, I feel, voted ineffectually. The only time my vote has been meaningful is on the referendum which the council opposes. It seems to me that from the early years the government of Kaua‘i was and is operated and controlled on the basis of name recognition. To put it crudely, Kaua‘i government is tribal. If you have the right name you are automatically voted for. There is an exception from time to time.
I have written letters to the editor over the years with no response from any elected individual. I did write to the past mayor about the absence of reflectors on the “tunnel of trees road” and the reflectors were placed promptly. Now because of the condition of the road many reflectors have disappeared and the danger of a serious accident on the wet curved road are more likely. 1, as well as others, have written about the condition of the “Yukuimura” bypass which has the worst surface of any road on Kaua‘i and quite possibly in the Hawaiian Islands. No response, no action.
I took the chairman of the present council for a ride through Po‘ipu and Koloa pointing out the problems of grass overgrowth but no action.
Now that the electorate has awakened, there are two matters that need serious consideration. The first and properly the most important is limiting the term of council members. The second is districting the island into seven districts. This would remove the present localized power which represents no one but the interests of the office holder and would establish responsibility which now does not exist.
Dr. John B. Dillon
Koloa
Property tax reform
Congratulations to the voters of America and Kauai for another peaceful transfer/continuance of political power. Our democracy is alive and well.
Just as defeated Democratic Candidate John Kerry urged his supporters to recognize the fact that the voters have spoken, so to should the mayor and Kaua‘i County Council recognize that on the issue of property tax reform the voters of Kaua‘i have spoken and abandon any legal challenge to the Ohana Kauai Charter Amendment.
Biff Whiting
Kalaheo
Ohana Kauai
No matter if you like the outcome or not, elections express the will of the people.
On Kaua‘i we recently elected members of the County Council to represent the electorate, and legislate on behalf of the citizens of Kaua‘i. As far as I know we elected legislators, not “dictators” who are focused on maintaining political power over the people.
Here’s are some bits of election arithmetic for our elected officials to consider:
The votes cast for the Ohana Kauai amendment exceeded those cast for all council candidates except JoAnn Yukimura.
To put it another way, the no votes cast on the amendment (the action urged by the current council) came to just 8354. If “No” were a county council candidate he would have come in behind Joe Munichicka, who failed to make the cut.
And a final note directed to Brian Baptiste – a thousand more people voted for the Ohana Kauai amendment than voted to put you in the mayor’s office.
Allan Rachap
Koloa
Smoke-free Kaua‘i
The Students in Kauai High’s Peer Education Program are participating in the Great American Smoke-Out on Thursday, November 18. The Great American Smoke-Out is a day for Americans to quit smoking “cold turkey style” for at least a day. If they want to continue to not smoke, the Great American Smoke-Out is the perfect time to stop smoking. The American Cancer Society sponsors the Great American Smoke-Out, and this is the last year it will be held. We hope for the community of Kauai to participate in the Great American Smoke-Out to make a better, smoke-free Kaua‘i.
Peer Education Students
Kaua‘i High School
