• Wake up Kaua‘i! •Show a little class • Thrifty is shifty •Seditious Hawaiian quilts Wake up Kaua‘i! You must lobby our County Council to re-visit the TVR bill. It is an intrusive bill, violating property and personal rights. Before
• Wake up Kaua‘i!
•Show a little class
• Thrifty is shifty
•Seditious Hawaiian quilts
Wake up Kaua‘i!
You must lobby our County Council to re-visit the TVR bill. It is an intrusive bill, violating property and personal rights.
Before we know it, we may have Mel Rapozo and Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho arresting and prosecuting people for having chicken coops in their backyards. If you all recollect, the theme of Mel Rapozo and Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho on the council was to “arrest them and prosecute um!”
You know, the ex-cop and ex-prosecutor attitudes. Now their theme has carried over to the prosecuting office (Iseri-Carvalho) and the special investigator (Rapozo). Look out!
People of Kaua‘i, the prosecuting attorney and the special investigator are spending a lot of our taxpayer’s monies going after misdemeanor infractions (instead of making sure they are in court when they are supposed to be). These infractions, for the most part, are caused by a flawed TVR bill.
In all fairness to our County Council and our Planning Department, the TVR bill is “under observation” to see if the bill will require some adjusting. To date, we do know that the bill has forced many TVR businesses underground.
These businesses were once paying taxes and most are willing to pay the appropriate taxes. We are losing millions of dollars in taxes because of the TVR bill. Tax dollars that could be used to take care of our government employees and other needs.
In conclusion, this is not the time to have our prosecution office go after potential violators. Times are tough right now. The County Council and the Planning Department should continue observing the situation and then come up with a solution to the TVR business that will be fair to everyone.
Please, people of Kaua‘i, don’t let this go. Contact our County Council. They will know what to do.
Ron Agor, Lihu‘e
Show a little class
In letters printed in the July 20 edition, Both Mr. Thorpe (“No more County Council delays on transparency”) and Mr. Bieber (“The coming drama”) wonder why their causes currently remain in a minority status when it comes to the workings of the County Council. The answer is the same for both.
The proponents of both causes, and their supporters, have decided to achieve their desired outcome by using the “court of public opinion” to deliver political pressure on the council majority and its chair.
The main tactics in use include embarrassing and denigrating that council majority and its chair. Mr. Bieber’s letter is full of namecalling and petty disrespect. His activist cheerleaders, who already agree, are delighted. The rest of us wish he’d show a little class and learn how grownups influence cooperation in a group they’ve just joined.
At least Mr. Thorpe’s letter contains an argument, a lack of petulance, and contributes to the debate. Mr. Bieber would be advised to attend to this model.
Pete Antonson, Kalaheo
Thrifty is shifty
I rented a car from Thrifty at Lihu‘e in June. I returned it one day before the contract ended. On my arrival back home in Australia, I found myself billed for five extra days.
I have given Thrifty boarding passes demonstrating the date of my flight out of Kaua‘i. Plus hotel bills in Honolulu and boarding pass back to Australia where I was when the company was still trying to charge me for renting the car that day.
The phone doesn’t work at Thrifty’s office. No one answers e-mails. This is an outrageous way to treat tourists. My husband and I come regularly to Hanalei. Thrifty gives Kaua‘i a bad name.
Over-charging people and refusing to reply to e-mails, provide phones that work or to accept the obvious evidence that a mistake has been made is unacceptable.
I will never rent Thrifty again. Someone needs to investigate their business practices.
Suzanne Arnold, New South Wales, Australia
Seditious Hawaiian quilts
Oh, my. I wonder how many other people opened The Garden Island to Page 2 with fresh shock: Nice guy, beautiful quilt his tutu made, extraordinary design, but it wasn’t unique to his tutu only. (“Kaua‘i Museum exhibits statehood quilt,” Aug. 21)
TGI ought to do a little research. It is an interesting story although not easily-digested mainstream palaver about the wonderful events of 1959. There have been great numbers of “ku‘u hae aloha” quilts coming to light in Hawai‘i.
The families of the quilters kept them hidden for long years because they were seditious. “My beloved flag” quilts were created as a subtle, peaceful, artistic, and eloquent message of support for a nation invaded and stolen for profit and power.
Michele Daily Markel, Kilauea
