Letters for Wednesday, November 4, 2009

•Kudos on a job well done

•A prescription for disaster

• North Shore priorities

• No experience?

Kudos on a job well done

I am happy that Barbara Bennett and members of the Kaua‘i Charter Review Commission will be helping to carry forward the plan to put a county manager proposal for Kaua‘i on the ballot. (“Charter Commission still mulling manager plan,” The Garden Island, Oct. 29)

This idea was first initiated by the hard-working members on the 2004-2006 Charter Commission, who went to great lengths to ensure citizen input on the county manager issue so as to allow ample discussion and understanding of the issues before they voted.

It was carried on by my late husband Walter Briant, who hoped to give the voters of Kaua‘i a chance to vote on the county manager form of government in the next election.

The present commission has made a great selection of panelists chosen to discuss forms of county government. I will not be able to attend the meeting. The first anniversary of my husband’s death is on Nov. 21 and I have had plans for some time to go somewhere off island.

I agree that there are many forms of county manager government in existence in the United States. It is by far the most common form of government. We do need to select a county manger government that will work for our county.

The charter will have to be rewritten to accommodate the changes. I hope that the commission will employ outside legal help to do that. I am sure that the Office of Boards and Commissions will be able to put the final document in the Ramseyer format.

Carol Ann Davis-Briant, Po‘ipu

A prescription for disaster

There has been community concern building over the last couple of years with regard to an adult South Shore surfer, who when his way or the highway isn’t in his favor, he actively will try and confront or scare a youth by using brute force and/or the board cord to hold that youngster under water “to drowning” or call him out to brawl on the beach.

This adult also is actively able to dictate what will and what will not go down, when it comes to other event coordinators with all the proper permits in hand, pulling together pro-am competition, which definitely has promoted negative movement and the monumental efforts these folks take donating their time and money, trying to keep our opio in an actively healthy setting.

For example, the NSSA event last month was garnered with the same unpleasant drama. In this context, there is alo (without) ha (life-giving breath that we are supposed to share) not by drowning.

While we respect the input of other “uncles” in the industry for site changes or adjustments, the concern that one person can continue these activities and potentially risk the lives of those that may not be able to fend for themselves is a prescription for disaster that we would like to avoid.

Kepa Kekaualua, Kapa‘a

North Shore priorities

I live on the North Shore and like so many others have witnessed my friends and family become victims of theft. This individual has been observed snooping around homes and has stolen countless items from north shore residences.

To my astonishment, the parent of this individual seems to be OK with the theft and encourages the minor to store the items at their home. I am amazed at the lack of interest in this. I am frustrated with where are priorities lie and where we seem to dedicate our time.

We have made some much headway regarding illegal vacation rentals, but our progress on fighting crime and solving crimes is laughable.

I am sorry, but if some community members are so concerned with keeping our neighborhoods “neighborhoods,” then why don’t we focus on making them safe first.

Then worry about the rich white guy that doesn’t live here.

Noelle Barnes, Hanalei

No experience?

It’s sad to see my Kaua‘i protected by a prosecutor who really can’t face reality. (“Prosecutor s Office loses 4th deputy in 5 months,” The Garden Island, Oct. 18)

To say that three of her deputies left because they were “inexperienced,” I believe, is rather a reflection of an inability to be a positive leader and build up a team around her through training.

It’s funny how she always seeks to place blame on others rather than take responsibility. Also, if I’m not mistaken, Mauna Kea Trask was the deputy prosecutor who won a guilty verdict in the high-profile Daria Bruce embezzlement case regarding the Catholic church before Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho was even in office.

Surely that takes experience, no? Friends, I believe our prosecutor is suffering from what I believe is termed “The Emperor Has No Clothes” syndrome.

Brad Ing-Torres, Manoa