• Bieber and balance • Me ka pono • The missing priority Bieber and balance Thank you again, Mike Levine, for your hours of hard work and coverage of the long ongoing BOE meetings (“Ethics Board has change of heart,”
• Bieber and balance • Me ka pono • The missing priority
Bieber and balance
Thank you again, Mike Levine, for your hours of hard work and coverage of the long ongoing BOE meetings (“Ethics Board has change of heart,” The Garden Island, March 17).
In my opinion this was a a huge victory for the “Nitpickers” of Kaua‘i and a resounding defeat for the status quo, particularly the county attorney and his deputies who marched in lock step with his decision to try and make it mandatory that County code 3-1.7 be read in conjunction with Charter section 20.02D.
Thanks to so many concerned members of the public who were relentless in their pursuit of proving that 20.02D means exactly what it says and stands along — not needing any section of the code to make it enforceable.
But the real hero in this long fought battle was former BOE member Rolf Bieber. He became a “leper” to some of his Ethics Board colleagues and others in power for blowing the whistle on three violators of section 20.02D.
But undeterred by the establishments distaste for what he did, he stood tall and finally, the board’s decision completely vindicated his action.
Rolf had no dog in this fight nor did he have any gain from the outcome. He simply felt that he took an oath to uphold our Charter when he was appointed and that is what he did.
He won a victory for the people who now feel that they have hope of a fair judgment for any case that they bring before the Ethics Board.
And for this victory Rolf was “rewarded” by our mayor by being denied reappointment to this board that he wanted to further serve on.
And, the mayor’s rationale for not reappointing Rolf was that he, the mayor, needed more “balance” on the board. I am not sure what my friend Mayor Carvalho meant by “balance” but I find nothing in the dictionary under “balance” that pertains to his decision.
Yes, Mr. Mayor, you legally have the right to appoint or not appoint anyone you want to these boards and commissions. But please tell us why Rolf isn’t still on this BOE as he was one of the best appointments you ever made to stand up for the rights of the people.
Glenn Mickens, Kapa‘a
Me ka pono
We want to commend all of the people of Kaua‘i for the leadership demonstrated in the culture and arts programs produced by The Garden Island Arts Council. Kaua‘i sets a great example for all the counties and the state.
On several occasions over the years, we have performed as part of the “E Kanikapila Kakou” concert series, most recently this past Sunday and Monday at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort Hotel. It was, as always, a heart-warming, aloha-filled experience.
Mahalo to the GIAC, the hundreds of Kaua‘i residents and visitors who participated in our workshop and then attended the concert. Thanks to The Garden Island newspaper, the local radio stations, especially Linda Lester of KKCR and Ron Wiley of KONG, who both interviewed us on the air. Mahalo to the hotel, the sponsors that support the GIAC programs, and especially to Carol Yotsuda and her volunteers who put these events together.
Every island should have a Carol Yotsuda, but she’s one of a kind.
Me ka pono.
Keith and Carmen Haugen and Frank Uehara, the Pakini Master, Honolulu
The missing priority
I can agree with a lot of what Ron Holte (former Kaua‘i GOP chairman) said in his guest viewpoint on March 16. But I disagree with several points he makes.
1) While the ultra-conservative faction is the majority of the Republican party, he is wrong stating the extremist liberal faction controls the Democrats. The Democratic leaders are middle-of-the-road wimps and are trying to shut out the liberals.
2) Contrary to what Holte states, the progressives have not taken over our government with the aim to run our lives. Democratic leaders are those middle-of-the-road wimps, who continue to try to work for inclusion and consensus.
3) While Democrats may be deficit spenders, Holte fails to mention that Republicans are the ones who gave us the deficit we are in.
Bottom line: The two-party system is why we have the problems we face today. Because politicians in both parties have the same priorities — personal gain, party control, patronage jobs, and contributor payoffs. The one priority they should have that is missing — the people.
Gary Faraci, Wall Township, N.J.
