Letters for July 27, 2016

Letters for July 27, 2016

Let’s make The Cosmic Garden Island great again 

I believe Arryl Kaneshiro is the only county council member who got it right on Bill 2629 which prohibits smoking in cars with children under the age of 13. The vote was 6-1 with councilman Kaneshiro the dissenting vote. Mr. Kaneshiro on this move alone has earned my respect and vote for re-election. 

I thought this was a joke when I first read it. When I was a kid my dad smoked big cigars and my mom smoked cigarettes in their cars. When the smoke bothered us kids they rolled the windows down. 

I have never smoked as an adult. However when I was a kid of 11, 12 and 13 I smoked. What happens if a 12-year-old is caught smoking in a car? 

This law is insanely ridiculous. Where does government stop? I believe this law is unconstitutional. I am not a lawyer but how can you prohibit an adult from smoking tobacco in their own automobile? If I were a smoker and had young kids I would challenge this bill. Public places like restaurants, bars, movie theaters are different. 

A few years back, the council voted against banning outdoor fires and barbarcues that sent smoke into neighboring yards making it hard for many with respiratory problems. How is this car thing any different and why should government be monitoring what we do in our cars as long as it’s legal? 

What’s next, getting a ticket for breaking wind with rolled up windows in your car because someone could die of the stench? This may sound ridiculous, so is Bill 2629. 

Council needs to concentrate their efforts on important things like more roads, affordable housing and homelessness. I could care less whose smoking a cigarette in their car. If it bothers someone, roll down the window! 

Maybe the council could bring to the floor for first reading a bill that would ban Monster pickup trucks with tinted windows from tailgating while those inside the truck are not only smoking cigarettes but smoking pot, drinking beer, talking on their cell phones, eating fast food, all while nobody is able to look in. Maybe this would be a bill worthy of making into law? (LOL) 

There are many new people running for county council. Change is obviously needed from an incompetent county council as seen from Bill 2629. Please consider the new voices and study their bios that will appear in the coming weeks in TGI. Vote for the issues, vote for a better Kauai! I will be voting all new newbies and for two incumbents that will hopefully “trump” (sic) all others currently serving. 

“Let’s make The Cosmic Garden Island great again!” 

James “Kimo” Rosen 

Kapaa