• Who is the Governor serving? • Political suicide • The sky is falling still • Differing opinions build strong bridges • We need the treatment facility • Look at what is being done Who is the Governor serving? Yesterday,
• Who is the Governor serving?
• Political suicide
• The sky is falling still
• Differing opinions build strong bridges
• We need the treatment facility
• Look at what is being done
Who is the Governor serving?
Yesterday, there was a story on the front page of The Garden Island newspaper reporting that Gov. Linda Lingle refused to meet with a group of concerned citizens for even a few minutes, while they attempted to deliver a petition signed by more than 6,000 people. This petition requested, simply, that the Hawaiian Superferry do an Environmental Impact Statement. It is of increasing concern to many people that the Governor remains mute about the Superferry issue.
Why is this?
How can the Governor refuse to acknowledge 6,000 signatures … about anything, let alone the Superferry. Who is Gov. Lingle serving, the people? Or some other power?
I hope and trust that the Light of Truth reveals the reasons why a project of such magnitude as the Superferry is able to be approved with virtually no oversight or serious research as to the real impact of the ferry to Kaua’i, as well as the outlying islands.
- Richard (Diamond) Moll
Kapa‘a
Political suicide
I am amazed at our governor, Linda Lingle. Up until now she has been a brilliant politician.
Just look at her political career.
Now she’s acting like she’s not running for re-election. Thousands and thousands of us, statewide, have signed petitions requesting an Environment Impact Statement for the Superferry and her silence is very loud and appalling. Her refusing to receive 6,000 Kaua‘i signatures recently is not astute politics. It could be political suicide. It appears she has learned from Washington. Arrogance does not bode well in politics. I think she’s done a pretty good job as our governor, but if she thinks we 6,000 on Kaua‘i and the thousands and thousands of voters on the other islands demanding an impact statement will vote her back in office, well, do the math. It appears she doesn’t really want to be re-elected. If this ferry is allowed without an EIS, I don’t think she could ever be elected to any office in the state of Hawai‘i. This will follow her forever.
I’m an independent who voted for her in the primary. Without a Superferry EIS I will not vote for her in the general election and I doubt if the thousands of others will. That’s not a threat, it’s a promise.
The sky is falling still
I have never seen so many bad things alleged that will happen if the Superferry finally happens. Supposedly every evil insect, frog, animal, dope dealer, car thief, beach bum, prostitute, and every other undesirable will immediately descend on this island. Seems very doubtful to me but I’m not an expert on any of these things. I understand the coqui frog is already here and some others we probably don’t know about.
It reminds me of Chicken Little, the sky is falling, the sky is falling.
Or maybe a better analogy is the boy who cried wolf. No one can prove or disprove these unpleasant things won’t happen or will happen. I have written before on this matter and would like those opposing the Superferry to fall in line and demand an EIS for each of our commercial airplanes, private planes, every cruise ship that comes into our harbors, every Matson cargo ship, Young Bros. and then every barge that comes into Hanapepe with our groceries weekly.
It’s very likely that the West Nile Virus will be brought in by mosquitos from one of the cruise ships or an airline. The brown tree snake will try to come in from Guam. Then I will be convinced that there is real concern about an EIS and I will be at the beginning of the line supporting it.
Differing opinions build strong bridges
E Kala Mai. The fault is mine.
I am apologizing to Tim Bynum in particular, for the letter I wrote about the signs on what I believed was a forestry demonstration project by the DLNR on public land.
I believed that the land bordering the highway was state land. I have been corrected in that all signs are outside the state highway setback.
Tim Bynum called me up, and in the most pleasant manner, informed me that the sign on the trees was on private property.
In fact the lessee of the land had called and offered him the trees for political signage.
While I was bitterly disappointed that the trees are not protected from the proliferation of signs, as an American I support the idea that my neighbor can have ideas that are totally different from mine, and we can come to understanding and agreement to build communities together.
If anyone is skilled in that type of communication and building bridges between differing points of views, it was demonstrated in the conversation with Tim Bynum.
Kaua‘i, like the rest of the planet, is so challenged by the impacts of globalization, and the addition of 1.6 billion people on the planet since 1975. That’s 1 billion since 1975 and .6 billion since 2000.
Do the math. We need councilmembers with very diverse opinions who can communicate, negotiate and successfully build partnerships for the safety of Kaua‘i’s future.
We need the treatment facility
I stand with the silent majority that wants a substance abuse treatment facility in Hanapepe. I understand the fear and distrust that comes from not knowing what will happen when the center is in operation. I am writing as a private individual, not as a employee of the Kaua‘i Drug Court. All too often, I have seen the devastation drugs cause to a family. I have seen parents unable to afford treatment; I have seen others spend their retirement savings to treat a young adult. To those who can support the greater goal, mahalo. For those who have difficulty and see nothing but problems, I hope that you have no relatives or friends who need help with substance abuse, and that you may find a community that has no problems that need adressing like drugs. Those who blindly refuse to consider options other than “no” would probably refuse to have a police and fire station in the community because it makes too much noise.
Mahalo again to the forces that fight for our children. May we be able to resolve our problems with each other amicably and with respect.
Look at what is being done
Nothing gets done, you say. Same old thing, you say. Well, I say just look around at some of the beautiful improvements to our neighborhood centers and playgrounds. I recently attended a party at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center and little did I realize just how much the neighborhood centers have been improved. I truly enjoyed watching the keiki play on the new playground equipment with the safe landing area. A big mahalo to our Mayor and the many people working for positive change in our community.
