• Anonymous attacks bad editorial policy? • Get ready for the lawsuit • Don’t have kids if you can’t afford them • Citizens deserve answers Anonymous attacks bad editorial policy Editor’s note: Though Craig De Costa points out there was
• Anonymous attacks bad editorial policy?
• Get ready for the lawsuit
• Don’t have kids if you can’t afford them
• Citizens deserve answers
Anonymous attacks bad editorial policy
Editor’s note: Though Craig De Costa points out there was “an e-mail response to (the reporter’s) inquiry about these cases dated Oct. 3,” the same day the article (“Protester charges not filed in time,” A1, Oct. 3) appeared in the newspaper, he neglects to mention several calls to the prosecutor’s office seeking comment the day the story was written, Oct. 2, were never returned. The letter was written in response to the article wherein the prosecutor’s office chose not to comment. It is the policy of The Garden Island to run an anonymous letter if it meets a set of criteria. The author of the letter had reasons to stay anonymous that met the criteria when questioned.
I am shocked that The Garden Island would print an anonymous letter that questions my integrity (“Shocked at no charges,” Letters, Oct. 4). The author of the letter is obviously completely ignorant of who I am, what I stand for, and who raised me.
Apparently so is The Garden Island. Not only is it bad editorial policy to print anonymous libelous attacks, this is especially unfair given that before the letter was printed, your reporter was informed as to the reasons no charges were filed. In an e-mail response to an inquiry about these cases dated Oct. 3, it was documented that four of the reports were never submitted to our office by KPD; one was reviewed and prosecution was declined at the request of the Coast Guard’s legal counsel; two other reports were apparently submitted to our office but due to a work flow problem was never logged in and forwarded to an attorney for review. It is unethical to file a charge without sufficient information which is why a review of the police reports by an attorney is essential.
Your readers should also be assured that since the August incidents, coordination between the Coast Guard, Police, Sheriffs, the Attorney General and our office has been continuous. This effort is to prevent the delay in any future reports being generated and reviewed immediately. The coordinated plan includes same-day filing of all Superferry-related charges. This plan has been established and improved upon since Sept. 15. Although we cannot go back in time and change what has already occurred, we, your law enforcement agencies, can and are taking proactive steps to protect the public and keep our harbors secure.
Craig De Costa
Lihu‘e
Get ready for the lawsuit
Let’s see, two days and the County of Kaua‘i is dishing out monies to settle two lawsuits (“Developer claims county balked at project,” A1, Oct. 5, and “Case alleging bribery settles in federal court,” A1, Oct. 4).
It all makes sense now. The reason why we are having all these multi-million dollar developments going on is so the County of Kaua‘i can collect as much taxes as possible so they have enough in their coffers to payout on settling lawsuits.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see how much the state will end up shelling out to settle the lawsuit, that I’m sure the Hawaii Superferry will be filing soon. You know just stuff like, breach of contract and having to recover their costs. You’ve probably seen and heard the news reports; how the Superferry is still paying their employees, paid for stranded cars on Young Bros. to be returned to their respective islands, hotel costs and meals for stranded passengers. Did you just think they were doing it out of the goodness of their heart.
I think not. The Superferry officials will be recovering all monies spent and more.
Guess who’s going to be paying for it all? You better start digging deep, Mr. and Ms. Taxpayer.
As an added tip, maybe all those voters that keep voting the same people in to represent us should stop voting with their hearts, out of loyalty to their friends and families and vote for who will represent us with our best interests in mind instead. I’m thinking if they didn’t do such a good job in their first term why vote them in for another term to make an even bigger mess of things? As my 4-year-old son likes to say, “Duh.”
Francine M. Grace
Kalaheo
Don’t have kids if you can’t afford them
In response to “Commit to children’s health,” Letters, Oct. 5). I understand that we need to take care of our children. But it needs to start with the people who have these children. Does everyone have to have children? If you can’t afford to make ends meet, why would you bring a child into this world? As a person who does not have (and never wanted) children, why should I, as a taxpayer, have to pay for everyone else’s children? When a girl has a child at 13 years old, what do you expect? Of course they’re going to have to live off the “system.” But it isn’t fair.
The rest of us shouldn’t have to pay for your “mistake” or stupidity of not having protected sex. And there are options — adoption and abortion. You might be opposed to abortion, but how could it possibly be worse than living life in poverty and living on welfare? Just because you can have a child, doesn’t mean you have to. People need to start being more responsible and think before bringing more children into this world and expecting everyone else to take care of them.
One thing I don’t understand is why people with children get tax breaks? As a person without children, I use fewer government services, less natural resources, produce less garbage, and have more time to volunteer than people with children, yet they’re the ones who get the break. Seems kind of backwards to me.
Rusty Baker
Lihu‘e
Citizens deserve answers
As a former “Koloa Boy” I have been hiking, bodysurfing and snorkeling Kaua‘i since 1941 and, thankfully, have yet to require assistance from its public servants. Even falling out of Koloa’s mammoth tamarind tree as a kid I escaped with only bruises.
But not a month passes now without a visitor or unwary local requiring rescue from land or sea.
It is right and proper to do everything possible to save lives and rescue injured. At the same time, in my annual trips back to Kaua‘i, I often hear residents quietly ask: “Are these ‘victims’ — many of whom do careless things — required to reimburse our county for the great costs often involved? Even partially?”
Nobody seems to know.
But people ask, whether politically correct or not, whether taxpayers do, or should, bear the (entire) burden.
Your citizens deserve answers.
Ray Smith
Wheaton, IL
