• Charge for park entrance • Clarifying my testimony • Politicians: Fight for American people • What’s next trash move? Charge for park entrance As an annual visitor to your island for the last 15 years, I was dismayed to
• Charge for park entrance • Clarifying my testimony • Politicians: Fight for American people • What’s next trash move?
Charge for park entrance
As an annual visitor to your island for the last 15 years, I was dismayed to read about the effects of cutbacks in DLNR on your beautiful state parks (“DLNR cutbacks present challenges,” The Garden Island, March 23).
These parks are the reason we come here; they are state, national, and international treasures. As we’ve done in Alaska, you might consider instituting and raising park fees charged to us tourists as a way of raising revenue to protect and maintain these parks.
I’d be willing to pay to park at Ke‘e, Koke‘e, and Waimea, or to pay more for a Na Pali camping permit, to help protect the forests, wildlife, and beaches of your lovely island.
Marybeth Holleman, Anchorage, Alaska
Clarifying my testimony
My testimony at last Wednesday’s council meeting was a little more than “county workers should not be punished by having to clean up dog waste and that giving those workers more responsibilities while implementing two furlough days per month was not fair.” (“Path debate renews as doggie deadline looms,” The Garden Island, March 24) My testimony addressed two important points.
First, the current ordinance requires an 18-month trial period, followed by a report to the council by the administration. The 18-month trial period has not lapsed yet.
The administration’s report has not been sent to the council yet. There was a purpose for the trial period. This new bill is premature and defeats the purpose of the existing ordinance. It attempts to circumvent the existing ordinance.
Secondly, the recent newspaper article regarding the current state of the parks (“County has no timeline, plan for repair of dangerous fence,” The Garden Island, March 19) says it all.
The problem with the lack of maintenance at our parks is not due to the economy. The conditions of our parks were no better when the economy was good. The problem is manpower. We simply don’t have enough caretakers for all the parks on this island.
There are approximately 45 employees assigned to parks and beautification for the entire island. With the furloughs likely to start in July, we are looking at 90 less workdays, per month, for this department.
In other words, the conditions of the parks will only get worse. Any additional workload to this department is not very smart. It’s a numbers game, and we don’t have the numbers.
I have always owned a dog, and in fact currently own a 5-year-old chihuahua/fox terrier. I am quite anxious to see the report by the administration after the trial period ends.
I have often been labeled “anti-bikepath” because of my strict oversight of the project. I firmly believe that all laws need to be followed, especially by the county. Over the life of this project, I have asked my questions. Many questions have not been answered.
I support the path, however I do not support the county’s intentional circumvention of local, state and federal laws to get it done. That was the oath I took as a council member, and I will continue to seek compliance of all laws for all projects taken on by this county.
I hope this clarifies my testimony at the last council meeting.
Mel Rapozo, Lihu‘e
Politicians: Fight for American people
Before we all start seeing Russia from our back door…
The passage of the recent health care bill has Republicans going mad. It was also the Republicans who initially voted against Social Security and Medicaid, and how ironic many Republicans and their family members are beneficiaries of both.
America has enough problems. It’s time our elected officials stopped fighting with each other and start fighting for the American people.
The politicians opposed to health care are the same hypocrites who are insured with our taxpayer dollars.
It’s time the Republicans stopped listening to Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Sara Palin, before we all start seeing “Russia from our back door.”
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
What’s next trash move?
Most of us here on Kaua‘i work one or two jobs and our spouse work at least one job just to make ends meet. We pay high utility bills, sewer and water, high mortgage, property tax and high insurance (on both our property and vehicles), our medical insurance is costly, and so on and so on.
Now our Mayor Carvalho has signed a bill to have automated trash pick up in the Lihu‘e and the Puhi area. Soon to have it island-wide. Gee whiz, mayor! Let alone what is mentioned above, you created another hardship. Not to mention, “How many more people will be losing their jobs to this automated system?”
Mayor Carvalho, first you wanted to take prime agriculture land (coffee field) and build a rubbish dump. Now, an automated rubbish system. What’s next?
Howard Tolbe, ‘Ele‘ele
