• Ohana Kauai • Teenage drinking Ohana Kauai During 2004, the residents of Kaua‘i voted on and passed the proposed Ohana Kauai resident property tax charter amendment. The successful amendment limits county officials power to increase property taxes of Kaua‘i
• Ohana Kauai
• Teenage drinking
Ohana Kauai
During 2004, the residents of Kaua‘i voted on and passed the proposed Ohana Kauai resident property tax charter amendment. The successful amendment limits county officials power to increase property taxes of Kaua‘i homeowners. On Election Day, the voters convincingly adopted the Ohana property tax amendment by a vote of 13,000 to 8,000.
The Charter amendment is now law. The County Charter requires publication of new amendments within thirty days after their adoption. The amendment also provides the County shall provide in writing, notice of the amendmentís terms to all Kaua‘i homeowners within thirty days its adoption. More than two months have passed. County officials have a fiduciary duty to enforce and implement the will of Kauai voters. They have failed to do so. Instead, the County initiated a lawsuit challenging the validity of the Charter amendment! Incredibly, councilmember Yukimura claims it is the Council’s duty to challenge the amendment. The duty of the Council is to uphold and execute the will of the people; it is not its duty to instigate challenges to measures voted on and passed by Kaua‘i residents.
The County lawsuit contends the amendment usurped the government’s power to levy taxes. While the amendment may result in reduced property tax revenue for the County, it does not prevent necessary taxation to meet government costs. As we all know, a property tax is only one form of government taxation.
The amendment is the voice of the people. In a democracy, ultimate power resides and should reside in the people. Although County officials are elected, it is absurd to allow government officials to claim greater powers than the people themselves. Here, local government has filed a lawsuit to protect their interest and not the people’s interest.
Chick Lanphier
Princeville
Teenage drinking
There is a saying that goes like this “it takes a village to raise a child.” Yes indeed, in the Island of Kaua‘i there is allways someone willing to help a child became an alcoholic. How? Outside the grocery store there is a teenanger asking someone with a fake ID or an adult to buy alcohol for them. That is illegal and they should be punished. My good advice is if you like alcohol and drugs please keep it for yourself – let the young and beautiful grew up healthy so we will have the future strong and healthy leaders we will need them and for everybody else. If you see a young kid waiting in her or his car for booze please report it to police.
Goretti Perdue
