• Come on kids … can’t we get along? • What’s a black woman to do? • Keep power in check Come on kids … can’t we get along? What a circus. And we don’t even have to pay at
• Come on kids … can’t we get along?
• What’s a black woman to do?
• Keep power in check
Come on kids … can’t we get along?
What a circus. And we don’t even have to pay at the door to get in. But it’s costing us our rural character and our quality of life here on Kaua‘i in a very big way. Community intentions to preserve our rural character, as expressed in the now almost ancient update to the Kaua‘i County General Plan, appear to be sinking below the horizon. Auwe.
In recent years my participation in county level issues has really dropped as I felt it was making very little difference and my time was better spent elsewhere. Yesterday I was roused to action when I heard about the “midnight slaughter” of the ag subdivision bill. To me, this bill was the only visible evidence that the intentions expressed in the updated General Plan would be implemented and the effort to kill it by “receiving” it into committee was unacceptable. So I set aside my earlier frustrations and my underlying belief that the county and state governments are a fraud to start with and I showed up to say my piece.
I am still quite amazed by the experience but, in retrospect, less amazed by the outcome. It took me back to the years when both of my sons were in their “terrible twos” at the same time. “He hit me.” “He took my toy.” Then we all cry together. Fortunately, my sons outgrew their behavior and have become responsible adults. I’m not seeing signs of this here on Kaua‘i.
One of the things I learned in raising my sons was to let them work it out themselves- unless someone was likely to get hurt. Now the will of the people is taking a smashing. That’s another reason I showed up but, as before, it didn’t appear to make any difference.
The next day The Garden Island carries the aftermath of finger pointing and blame. “The Administration should have…,” “The Council could have…” So we can cry some more — ad infinitum.
Depending on how you look at it you may be able to see that they are all right — but, to me, only partially right. The administration was sorrowfully ill-prepared to articulate the legal basis for their position. The councilpersons opposing the administration’s bill were apparently much more intent on beating up on the mayor than dealing with the very obvious problem, offering no solutions or alternatives. The county’s attorney was there physically but seemed to be missing in action when it came to explaining the administration’s legal position.
Is this now a dead issue? Certainly not. But what is the issue? The will of the people to preserve our rural character has been expressed in the General Plan. Tim Bynum has put together very graphic evidence of the growth explosion on ag lands since the General Plan was passed but, as far as I know, was unable to present it. Kaipo says the only issue is “density,” Joanne says the issues are “density and use,” Ron says it’s about answering the questions of the Land Use Research Foundation and Mel says it’s “enforcement.” They all make very important points, however, from my seat in the audience. I believe it’s the “3 Cs,” cooperation, competence and commitment.
Come on, kids — can’t we get along?
David Makana Martin
Waipouli
What’s a black woman to do?
I find Harry Boranian’s letter (“A woman for the White House,” Letters, March 4) a little scary.
Telling me, as a woman, that if I don’t vote for Hillary Clinton, I am (paraphrased) “blowing my greatest opportunity to advance my status since we received the right to vote,” is downright ridiculous. As an “older” lifelong Republican, I have had to make some difficult choices this year. Due to the current state of the country, I cannot vote for my party’s candidate this time around, so had to go another direction. Unless something dramatic happens in the next 10 months, we are going to have either a black man or a white woman in the White House next year. By Mr Boranian’s reasoning, as a woman, I would be letting my “sisterhood” down by voting for a man — black or white.
Does this mean all blacks are letting their race down if they don’t vote for Obama? And what’s a black woman to do? One way or another she is letting somebody down. The point of this letter is, voting is not about supporting a certain sex or race, it’s about learning about the candidates and voting your heart on who you feel will best lead the country for the next four years. I know it’s a little naïve to think that race and sex will not play a part in the coming elections, but neither is a stand-alone reason for voting for the next president of the United States.
Susan Straight
Waimea
Keep power in check
Please, please, please … do not vote for approval of HRS 343.
As I understand it, it will reduce the power of oversight on requests for greater power for developers and others whose interest or understanding overrides concern for the fragility of our treasured environment.
The example of the governor, etc., serving as lobbyists for the Superferry was a horrible example of the power of the government.
I personally was appalled at the governor’s being appalled at the people of Kaua‘i being appalled at her being here to tell the people what was going to happen. It was a good sign of how out of touch she is about the concerns of many of the people she’s supposed to be serving. People who have passion but no power, nor financial interest, are trying to save Kaua‘i’s beautiful environment.
Admittedly, there is no excuse for the rudeness and admittedly the crowd at the hearing did not represent all of the people, but to have her totally ignore the chance to learn something, was a rudeness on her part also.
So this time, let’s consider a law, not on the basis of what’s good for the developers and people whose only goal is improving their financial status, but also the people.
Those who claim making prospective businesses follow fairly tough environmental standards will discourage investments, should realize that it could attract people who are also concerned about saving as much of Kaua‘i’s beauty as possible (because once the pavement is poured the land is gone).
Also it will interest people who can count on knowing everyone will be treated equally, fairly, not gain approval based on money or power.
I think this can be accomplished by having a law that uses the mandatory word “will” not “may,” until there has been adequate time to study the law and take everyone’s interests into consideration.
Georgia Mossman
Kapa‘a
