Letters for Sunday, April 1, 2007

• Bag ban commendable

• Taxes killing low-income earners

• Views can inspire better planning

• Washington, D.C.?

Bag ban commendable

Congratulations to the city of San Francisco for their recent ban on plastic grocery bags. Citizens of San Francisco can now place their food waste in bags and place them in their curbside yard waste containers. Our yard and kitchen waste should nourish our depleted soil. Sea life, mainly sea turtles, eat plastic bags as well as other floating plastic garbage mistaking them for jelly fish. We can easily stop the constant flowing of this trash into the ocean. Our Hawaiian Island winds are expert at blowing plastic bags into the ocean. We don’t need to wait for our government leaders. We can start immediately by refusing plastic bags and bring our own to the markets. We could become even kinder to our island by refusing and banning styrofoam containers as well. We can all start today to protect our fellow species and lower the toxicity in our landfill.

Foundation

Waimea

Taxes killing low-income earners

I am frankly sick and tired of all state legislators proposing bill after bill to establish a “self-sufficiency standard.” This includes an Earned Income Tax Credit and an Individual Development Account. Why not keep it simple and straight forward — KISS — by eliminating the tax on food, saving $300 per year, the tax on medicine, the 11 cents tax on ethanol — saving $114 per year, and indexing our tax rates to the same as the federal governments.

Our income tax for working poor is the second highest in the nation. A family of four starts paying income tax after they earn $11,500 per year. Anyone who earnes $5.75 per hour, works 40 hours per week, and 50 weeks a year pays state income tax. Isn’t it about time our state legislators realize they are killing low income people with their taxes and repeal the aforementioned taxes.

Kalaheo

Views can inspire better planning

Progress lures controversy on whether development properly supports growth. Letters expressing pros/cons of building a bike/pedestrian right-of-way drew enough response to certify debate. This undertaking prompted various opinions on government’s policies.

Success or failure of this project depends on whether it meets its objectives. There is too little work done for reasonable judgment and validity of favorable or opposing opinions.

While the foregoing statement appears neutral, issues brought to the Forum merit attention. Currently embroiled in discussion is the legality, which authorities permitted structures currently in place.

Successful resolution hastens the process for continuance and viability of this project. Inaction only becomes a deterrent and focus for failure.

This project faces other obstacles. The only forthcoming assurance appears directed at heightened discussion on another topic as the right-of-way extends toward sections currently enjoyed by others.

Although many people prefer slow growth. we also recognize that need where applicable. The following expresses my thoughs on matters important to me and understandably of little or no concern to others. Anticipate no rebuttal on arguments countering my viewpoint.

To planners (of this proposal), the Kealia Beach section to the 9 mile marker on Kuhio Highway is the only stretch of this highway exposing Kapa‘a’s coastline. Fortunately, another section fronting (former) Coco Palms resort portrays Wailua Bay.

On sunny days and moonlit nights, we enjoyed this pristine scenery. To those who heard the phrase, “It made time stand still,” this view captured the moment. We enjoyed natural beauty at its best and forsake this eternal gift to progress.

The placement of pavilions ruined the view’s impact as would a similar act do to the lookout into Kalalau Valley. There are a limited number of places where passersby can enjoy breathless scenery, and I hope these comments provide better planning decisions.

Anahola

Washington, D.C.?

Is Washington, “D.C.” really American, or is it truly “Columbian”?! Columbia is often represented as a women in red, white, and blue. The district of Columbia! Oh, and by the way-where is governor Bust of Florida now-a-days?!

‘Ele‘ele