• Organizing democracy • Go solar • Rentals’ appropriate property use Organizing democracy How can we best respond to the decision by four Kaua‘i County Council members to perpetuate a dictatorship and deny so many citizens of Kaua‘i their right
• Organizing democracy
• Go solar
• Rentals’ appropriate property use
Organizing democracy
How can we best respond to the decision by four Kaua‘i County Council members to perpetuate a dictatorship and deny so many citizens of Kaua‘i their right to political representation?
This betrayal of democracy by the gang of four is a betrayal of the spirit of aloha gifted to us by the native culture. In his statehood sermon, Rev. Abraham Akaka said, “Aloha does not exploit a people or keep them in ignorance and subservience. Rather, it shares the sorrows and joys of people; it seeks to promote the true good of others.”
If all the testimony calling for a restoration of democracy on the council by so many caring people fell on deaf ears, then there is only one avenue left to bring needed change — political organizing. Creation of a coalition, a Kaua‘i Citizens for Open, Transparent, Democratic Government (or similar name) must happen.
An organization to channel the anger at the present council leadership, especially in light of all the critical issues that must be faced now — and that are being ignored — if Kaua‘i is going to have a chance at a decent future.
Members of this coalition could take turns speaking out for democracy and sustainability at council meetings. A noncandidate committee would need to be formed to raise funds, and come election time next year: 1) help find and fund the campaigns of candidates who will stand up for open, democratic government and the creation of a sustainable Kaua‘i, and provide the volunteer help to get these new candidates elected; 2) to buy ads (and wave signs) to remind voters which candidates stood up for democracy and which did not, so that people who care about the future of our keiki will not waste any of their votes on men who chose to betray democracy.
Money will also be needed to create a Democracy Defense Fund to file lawsuits to force the council and the county administration to implement, follow and enforce the law. What is the alternative? To let the old-boy network keep on with business as usual and let Kaua‘i become a third-world-level backwater; with a few rich people, and a bunch of people struggling and living on the edge every day?
If the choices before us can be made clear, a critical mass of Kaua‘i’s voters can be moved to create change; to create a better, sustainable Kaua‘i; to elect candidates who will make this happen. We have to try.
David Thorp, Kalaheo
Go solar
Solar power, not windmills, makes a lot of sense.
Earlier this year, I wrote the Board of Directors of KIUC to articulate several benefits of solar. Here are some:
1. The sunny Westside, far from the population centers, has expanses of former canefields and land not used. Much of this is owned by Gay and Robinson, and from my distant perspective, this is an organization that respects and protects the environment. Other parcels of sufficient size and location are likely to be state- owned.
2. A field of photovoltaic panels, and the associated infrastructure such as power storage, power lines out, and other matters best left to solar experts, could be installed on such unused land.
3. The land could be leased for an extended period, or perhaps purchased outright. Perhaps even donated to the county.
4. This is a public capital improvement and probably qualifies for municipal bond financing, and perhaps healthy government grants.
5. The response from KIUC was that they had hired a (Mainland?) expert who advised windmills. We have already read about the downsides of this method.
6. Proposals have been put forth to persist in the solar power answer, and calculations of the land and size do not seem inconsistent with the ability of our island. It is projected that such an installation could power the entire island and relieve us forever from dependency on oil. Perhaps an oil supply and existing oil infrastructure could remain as a backup.
7. As many articulate contributors to The Garden Island Letters have pointed out, windmills dotting the landscape, the remote locations and cost to install and maintain, danger to wildlife, and a visual blight, are compelling reasons for the public (remember, KIUC is a co-op theoretically owned by us all), to actively support solar power, and drop the windmill approach.
Per these points, isn’t it in the interests of the island, people, and government, to open the door to a detailed and equitable analysis of solar power?
For the record, I have no financial interest in any energy company, and submit this is a very concerned private citizen.
Tom Rice, Princeville
Rentals’ appropriate property use
I just read the article on Anini Aloha Properties (“Bankruptcy blamed on county law,” The Garden Island, July 6)and how they were driven out of business because most of their rentals no longer fell under the appropriate designation as they were located on ag or rural property (although the properties and surrounding neighborhoods are all residential).
Yet somehow, Lihu‘e Industrial Park Phase 2 is an appropriate location for low cost housing? Huh? Sure seems like a contradiction to me.
Petrina S. Britt, Princeville
