• Share in the pain • Consumer caution • Keep things locally affordable • Treatment center solution Share in the pain Washington is crying budgets cuts, the state is crying budget cuts, the county is crying budget cuts. Politicians from
• Share in the pain •
Consumer caution • Keep things locally
affordable • Treatment center
solution
Share in the pain
Washington is crying budgets cuts, the state is crying budget cuts, the county is crying budget cuts.
Politicians from Washington down to the state, to your local city and county councils need to feel the pain, need to know what’s happening in the “real world.”
May I propose that every single politician from the president down to local council look in the mirror and realize that one must lead by example and what better example than giving every politician a pay cut!
Let them feel the pain of no health insurance, feeling hungry, not being able to go out to dinner or work out in a fancy gym, fly first class or do the things they once took for granted.
Politicians need to feel the agony of budget cuts in their own lives before any real solutions can be tried for the worst recession in U.S. history.
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
Consumer caution
Kaua‘i residents please beware, there is another group of salesmen wearing bright orange shirts going door to door selling home alarm systems.
Do not sign the contract until you read what the Better Business Bureau has to say. I believe they changed their name because of the current lawsuit.
They target middle income and elderly. They are so quick that the moment you sign the contract they have a technician down the street (even at night) ready to install the system. Once installed, your three days to change your mind is null in void.
If they truly care about your safety they would allow you to research. They try to rush you by telling you that you will get it nearly free because you are the test house, according to the comments online that’s what they tell every house.
Tamara Inman, Lihu‘e
Keep things locally affordable
I absolutely love golf. And I absolutely love Kaua‘i. What I don’t love is the new management at Princeville’s Makai and Woods golf courses. The rates have gone sky high, the maintenance spending has practically disappeared and the new manager seems to think that local support isn’t as important as the sparce high dollar support coming from the overpriced St. Regis Hotel. His new plan aims to force out the locals and make way for the clientele that doesn’t exist in this economy. I got news for you: This ain’t Pebble Beach!
It seems that this attitude is prevalent within our “North Shore elite” and it’s biting them in the butt as I write. Raising rents sky high and chasing out all the local tenants and businesses is not the answer, evidently, as the Princeville Center is bankrupt and now in reciever-ship. This is where the Princeville golf courses are headed, I fear. Also, I hear complaints from overcharged hotel customers all the time. Despite what the “manual” says, charging $120 for breakfast is not the way to attract more customers.
We, as North Shore small business people and “peons,” have made our opinions clear as to the presence of franchises and conglomerate enterprises and corporate thinking. Our rich competitors seem to think that inviting high-dollar “super-chic” boutiques like Armani and Versaci will attract more ultra riche’ clientele, therefore plumping up their already bloated bank accounts. This kind of thinking will only serve to cut their own throats. Most of the local golfers, like me, are forced to play Wailua Golf Links. It’s a bit of a drive, but, way cheaper and a lot more local friendly. And, frankly, since the staff isn’t afraid to spend money on course maintenance — it’s a nicer course!
The way things are going now, with rents spiraling so high, the cost of living going up and corporate owners not willing to pay decent wages, our working class is being forced to move off island.
So, let me ask you this, Mr. CEO: If we all move off island, who is going to work on your cars, clean your mansions and cook and grow your food? Who is going to balance your books and keep your overpriced stores open? Who is going to polish your private jets and Bruno Molly shoes? Who is going to answer the phone when someone breaks into your house or when it catches on fire? If we get hit with another hurricane, I guess you’ll just have to clean up your own mess, huh? I suggest you take some grounding classes and come back down to earth. There is way more to life than the bottom line and it starts by not gouging the locals.
Don T. Heitkotter, Hanalei
Treatment center solution
The treatment center is something to mull over with the mayor, prosecutors office and the police.
As I am sure you aware of the “seed and weed” program the C&C of Honolulu has used to clean up neighborhoods, my input to this “NIMBY” reaction would be to develop a drug-free zone in the proposed neighborhood, similar to the laws surrounding schools.
With stiff penalties for violating this neighborhoods drug and crime free zone such a proposal would actually make this neighborhood safer than it is now.
If such a proposal was enacted would it make a difference in the reaction of the public? I think it would.
Thomas McCall, Anahola
