• Common sense • Legalize marijuana • Cellular talents • What’s going on upstream?
Common sense
Now that the Charter Review Commission has been provided with the ad hoc committee’s proposal for amendment of the Kaua‘i County Charter to provide for a county manager system authored and submitted by Mr. Glenn Mickens, I believe it incumbent upon him to provide the electorate of Kaua‘i and the CRM, an explanation as to how and what specific provisions of the proposal will resolve the alleged “flaws, inequities and inefficiencies” and “pages of problems” credited to Mr. Mickens who experienced these occurrences during his many years of observing the operations of the various agencies of our government including the offices of the mayor and the council.
The proposal takes the 71 pages of the Charter and deletes the word “mayor” wherever it appears and substitutes the word “manager” in lieu thereof. The exception is found in the provision relating to the election of the mayor where the mayor keeps the title of “mayor” but serves as chairman of the council and performs no executive functions.
The proposal then creates a new provision entitled “county manager” to which is transferred to the manager the exact, same, identical provisions of Section 705 A through M: “Powers, duties and functions “ of the mayor. Nothing new is added but it does delete Section 705-J (along with Section 4.03) both of which deal with the subject of “veto” thereby leaving no one in the amended Charter to exercise the power of veto, if necessary. Perhaps, Mr. Mickens can explain this anomaly?
The proposal goes on to define the qualifications of the manager who “shall have a minimum master’s degree … with a concentration in public administration, public affairs or public policy and two years of experience in an appointed managerial or administrative position in local government … or … a bachelor’s degree and five years of such experience, etc.”
An acquaintance of mine, when hearing of these qualifications, reacted with this comment: “When I look for a good mayor, I look for one with common sense.”
I pondered over the “depth” of his comment. It does make a lot of sense. It is very true that a master’s degree does not necessarily guarantee that very important ingredient needed for competent leadership — common sense.
But, back to the issue at hand. How will the same powers, duties, and functions of the mayor being given or transferred to the manager (who may be a non-resident of Kaua‘i or possibly the state of Hawai‘i) be able to resolve, and I repeat, the “flaws, inequities and inefficiencies” and your “pages of problems” without any new tools to work with or given to him under your proposal?
Is it your expectation that the qualification of your county manager will serve as an automatic resolution to, e.g. your alleged “pages of problems” as compared to a mayor, past or present, with education and experience in real life situations, living with the people he/she hopes to lead as mayor of the county and elected by a majority of the voters who are acquainted with him/her personally or by his/her activities within the community and has a reputation which merits the number of votes he/she receives when the votes are counted?
Alfred Laureta, Lihu‘e
Legalize marijuana
I can’t believe you actually got 200 whole plants and $510; that barely is worth the hundreds of dollars of our tax money to go in helicopters and spend all that time and energy for such a huge bust of pot plants.
When are we going to get smart and do what over half our United States population did and legalize this and let’s all make some money? What’s wrong with this state?
Let’s get out of debt (so) we can pay our teachers and get roads fixed. Really, this is the Garden Island. Let’s get akamai people!
Tina Bartlett, Princeville
Cellular talents
Just wondering Kaua‘i; are you all ready for the “No Cell Phone Use While Driving” law that takes effect on May 23?
I often wondered how people text while driving and was finally able to witness it firsthand the other day while I was sitting in the “Kapa‘a Crawl.”
As a motorist in one of those monster trucks, with the extra wide tires, and no fender flares drove by; there she was. Phone in hand on top of the steering wheel, typing away; while driving I must add. I have to say, very talented.
Francine Grace, Lihu‘e
What’s going on upstream?
I have been returning to your lovely island for 25 years. This last week I noticed that the reef outside of the Hanalei River is in far worse condition than anytime that I can recall.
What used to be pristine and alive is cloudy, almost murky, and devoid of fish. Even after rains that close the bridge, I have never seen this sort of deterioration. I had to apologize to guests for bringing them there to swim. What is going on upstream?
Paul Saporito, Boulder, Colo.
