Letters for Friday, November 20, 2009

•Kaua‘i landfill coffee?

• Do your jobs

• Are you kidding?

•Second-class citizens

• Slack key guitar festival

Kaua‘i landfill coffee?

While the environmental impact of putting a landfill in the middle of active coffee fields is surely significant (“Kaua‘i Coffee objects to landfill site,” The Garden Island, Nov. 19), shouldn’t we consider the economic impact as well? 

Some questions for the mayor:

1. Who will want to buy Kaua‘i Coffee, our sole remaining agricultural export, if that coffee is grown right next to 127 acres of garbage?

2. Who will want to come to the Kaua‘i Coffee Visitor Center, currently a popular tourist attraction, if that center is located right next to 127 acres of garbage?

3. If the loss of commercial and tourism revenue eventually harms Kaua‘i Coffee so badly that they can no longer stay in business, how will the county make up for the loss of tax dollars Kaua‘i Coffee generates every year? And what will happen to the 70 or more people currently employed by Kaua‘i Coffee?

4. Given the site selection committee’s inexplicable and blatantly false finding that 127 acres of garbage would have “little to no impact” on Kaua‘i Coffee, shouldn’t we reconsider their conclusions and find another, more suitable site?

Eric Shamblen, Kalaheo

Do your jobs

Isn’t the county attorney’s job to render legal opinions?

If so, why in the world would a personal opinion about the merits of a county charter change be offered — isn’t that what voting and voters are for?

And why in the world hasn’t the CA released an opinion about policy for releasing CA legal opinions, so committees can comply with it?

In short: Since we are all chipping in for a nice fat salary, why doesn’t the CA just do their job?

Jonathan Jay, Kalaheo

Are you kidding?

There were two letters to the forum last week that have sung the praises of the courageous representatives who have passed H.R. 3962 (“Courageous vote,” Nov. 12 and “Right path to reform,” Nov. 13).

And all I can say is “Are you kidding?”

Have you actually read this bill? Do you know that this bill requires you to purchase a government approved plan or face a penalty of 2.5 percent of your income — collectible by the IRS — if you fail to maintain “acceptable health insurance”?

And  here’s the part that should make every American scream from their windows:  Refusal to pay the penalty is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to five years.

And now Harry Reid, senator from Utah, is trying to find ways to pay for this monstrosity of a bill that adds $1.3 trillion to the national debt. He is considering raising payroll taxes to pay for it. That’s right, that cost will now be passed on to every working person.

That’s just what we need — more taxes and fees to pay for the government to exert more control over all of our lives.

Are you singing the praises of our elected representatives?

Katherine Weir, Makaweli

Second-class citizens

The state Department of Transportation has been trimming the albizia trees at Kalihiwai for the past month or so. Traffic is restricted to one lane, so there are waits of anywhere from a few minutes to more than half an hour.

Many visitors are unwilling to wait in traffic while on vacation. North Shore businesses are already reeling from the slow economy, and the effects of three months of restricted traffic from construction.

The tree trimming will continue through December, the busiest month of the year for tourism and retail. Many restaurants, shops and visitor-oriented businesses in Princeville and Hanalei rely on December sales to make it through the rest of the year. If the tree trimming continues through the holidays, look for layoffs and business closures in January and February.

Beyond the devastating effects this tree trimming will have on the local community, it will also reduce state GET revenue at a time when budget shortfalls are making daily headlines. The DOT would never close a major artery on O‘ahu during December; the outcry would be tremendous.

The DOT should pause the tree trimming until after the holiday season and stop treating Kaua‘i businesses and residents like second-class citizens. Out of sight, out of mind?

Michael Mcginnis, Kapa‘a

Slack key guitar festival

I would like to say a big mahalo to Milton Lau for instituting the Kiho‘alu Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar festival 27 years ago, and to the Kauai Hilton Hotel and Hawaiian Airlines for being the sponsors of this year’s event.

Each and every year, this festival presents the best of Hawaiian slack key guitarists and vocalists. Every year it gets better and better. I know that the present economy has adversely affected everyone, but without the sponsors behind this exceptional musical festival, it could not have taken place.

Again, thank you for recognizing the importance of presenting these exceptional musicians. It is money well spent, and everyone who attended will concur. Where else can you go to hear six hours of such exceptional music??

Kris Van Dahm, Kapa‘a