• Hooser doing his job • Protect our resources • Keep your opinion to yourself • Leave law alone • Study might provide answers • Don’t risk paradise • Be true to ‘service’ dogs Hooser doing his job When 2,000-plus people
• Hooser doing his job • Protect our resources • Keep your opinion to yourself • Leave law alone • Study might provide answers • Don’t risk paradise • Be true to ‘service’ dogs
Hooser doing his job
When 2,000-plus people took to the streets in an unprecedented uprising against the biotech GMO/chemical research and seed production, lots of people turned their heads.
Out of all of our representatives, on every level of government, one politician has taken action to address the community concern. Councilman Gary Hooser did his job.
He started asking questions. He started trying to find out why his community was so concerned and what he could do to help ease this concern. He opened dialogue with both sides of the issue. He asked for the data, the research and the truth.
He was denied it. He was ignored and even deceived. Nearly six months later — after the people took to the streets to march for eviction — we still can’t even get disclosure. Maybe there is something to hide?
Pass Bill 2491, because disclosure and basic community protection is common sense, not science. Let’s do the Environmental Impact Assessment. Kauai has a right to know.
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:32
Fern A Rosenstiel
‘Ohana ‘O Kauai director
Marine biologist and environmental scientist
Protect our resources
I am strongly in favor of Bill 2491. As a repeated visitor I have experienced the unique local organic food and the main reason I love Kauai is for its natural beauty — GMOs destroy the soil, the plants, the animals, and most important, the people — not to mention the landscape. I can already see the negative effects.
If you want protect your natural resources and my future tourist visits, stop GMOs immediately. I’ll be watching closely as one of your biggest fans.
Joan Sears
San Mateo, Calif.
Keep your opinion to yourself
It’s a shame that HCIA bully Alicia Maluafiti is attempting to discredit county process in her letter of complaint about the Aug. 5 hearing in regards to Bill 2491.
As an intern at the Office of Environmental Quality Control under then-director Gary Hooser, I was routinely aware of Gary’s commitment to transparency and ethicality. The HCIA needs to remember that Kauai residents hold Council member Hooser, along with the rest of the council, accountable — without the Alicia Maluafiti’s public relations machination.
Robyn Petterson
Haena
Leave law alone
There are many things I miss about the good old days on Kauai.
But I don’t miss the days when mini-packs of loose dogs would roam our neighborhoods.
And I don’t miss the days when dead animals would remain for days, bloating in the sun, on our roadways.
If Councilman Rapozo wants to repeal the section of the Hawaii Revised Statutes that mandates the county to contract with the Humane Society, what entity is he proposing will provide those services? Whose kuleana will it be? Parks and Recreation? Please be more specific. To just say, “The county will still have an active role in regulating the seizing and impoundment of unlicensed dogs” is hardly reassuring.
Council, please try harder to work together. Find compromises and make amendments to the bills before you. Don’t repeal laws that are serving us well.
Gayla McCarthy
Waimea
Study might provide answers
Can anyone tell me if the County Health Department or any other responsible agency has done a study to determine if respiratory problems in Waimea are more prevalent per capita than in the other parts of the island?
The personal-experience letters from people who wake up gagging in the night or who have children with asthma are disquieting and sad, and if the incidence of such problems in Waimea truly is higher than in Lihue or Kapaa or Princeville, a reasonable person might conclude there is something in the air that’s unique to Waimea. Insecticide spraying, for example. But if in fact such incidence is no higher than in those other locations, well, insecticide spraying on GMO seed crops cannot be the culprit.
Right?
Craig Callaway,
Medford, Ore.
Former Kauaian
Don’t risk paradise
As a part-time Kauai resident and author of eco-friendly books, I write to you today as a representative of my social networks which total over 16,000 eco-conscious citizens from over 45 countries around the world.
I warn our council members and the residents of Kauai to support Bill 2491 or truly risk losing not only our cultural values and the reality of our once pristine and beautiful island, but Kauai’s reputation and appeal to the paradise-seeking visitors who support our local economy.
The masses are becoming aware of Kauai leaders’ cooperation with the biggest chemical agriculture companies as well as their allowance of mass pesticide use. Potential visitors will no doubt begin to choose other, more pristine and ecologically responsible destinations, whose cultural values match their policies.
The long-term effect on the economy will absolutely dwarf any of our leaders’ short-sighted motives to protect these companies, who will eventually mark Kauai’s cultural and environmental defeat.
Ruby Roth
Los Angeles
Be true to ‘service’ dogs
I read with interest Dr. Miller’s letter regarding misrepresentation of service dogs. In California, the penalty for falsely claiming a dog is a “service” dog when not factual is a $1,000 fine and six months in jail. Service dogs are wonderful, and falsely claiming your pet is a service dog is unfair.
Ruthann Jones
Soquel, Calif.
