• Don’t let vehicles overrun Kauai • County must learn to manage a budget • Grand plans for Princeville • A society named Sue Don’t let vehicles overrun Kauai My drive from Hanapepe to Hanalei yesterday brings up one main thought: “OK, time to
• Don’t let vehicles overrun Kauai • County must learn to manage a budget • Grand plans for Princeville • A society named Sue
Don’t let vehicles overrun Kauai
My drive from Hanapepe to Hanalei yesterday brings up one main thought: “OK, time to put the election signs away, especially the newbies and off-island folks.”
Now that the dust has settled I would like to propose to the new government folks that they use the word “limitation” as their working theme for the next decade or so. Based on one of the five principles of good island land stewardship: #1. Think and Plan for Seven Generations.
For example, instead of building more and wider roads to accommodate more and more vehicles, consider that Kauai limits the total number of vehicles that can be allowed to be registered on-island. If there are 100,000 vehicles registered this year, in five years that number doesn’t change much or even goes down by not bringing a vehicle on-island before one is shipped off or de-commissioned and recycled.
Driving one’s own car on the roads and obeying the rules of the road is probably the highest form of agreement that we all live with. So we all must be responsible for not modeling after our neighbor island of Oahu, which has let the car dealerships and rental companies run away with the prize — the future of the island.
More later about the five principles of good island land stewardship.
Mark Jeffers
Hanapepe
County must learn to manage a budget
This letter is in regards to the article “County employees could see $9 million in pay hikes next year” (TGI, Nov. 11.) It basically comes down to common sense. If the county is in the black with abundant funds because of good stewardship, then take the raise. If the county is in the red with insufficient funds then obviously it’s a “no.”
I have to say it was a bit disconcerting to get the election over and one week later our elected officials vote themselves a pay raise. I understand five years is a long time to go without a raise. Well, join the club. My husband and I took big financial hit in 2006. We have had to make do with less income. This whole time we have managed to keep our checkbook balanced, paid our bills on time, and did not spend money we didn’t have. I don’t think that is too much to ask of our elected officials. A salary of $100,000 should be ample for anyone to survive on our small island. As they say on the island, if can can, if no can no can.
Linda Bothe
Kalaheo
Grand plans for Princeville
How can the Planning Department or similar agency approve any more housing or commercial development from Kapaa to Hanalei without solving the awful traffic problems that have existed for at least 20 years and only get worse as time marches on?
Solve the Kuhio Highway traffic problems first before further development is permitted!
Wendy Akita
Lihue
A society named Sue
The Garden Island newspaper recently published a story that a local doctor is being sued for wrongful death because his patient overdosed on prescription pain medication patches.
I also know of a person in Florida who was broke and intentionally went into a nationally franchised hardware store, staged a fall and claimed a major back injury and settled out of court for mega-bucks.
There are the people who plant glass in their dinner entree and sue restaurants.
Believe it or not, there are politicians that sue the people that pay their salary.
Why would anyone want to be a doctor? I am glad we still have doctors and business entrepreneurs in this sue-happy society we live in. There is the famous Johnny cash song, “A boy named Sue.” Nowadays it’s more like a society named Sue.
People need to take responsibility. If they spill hot coffee on themselves, it’s their fault, not the restaurant’s fault. Accidents happen all the time, what doctor or business intentionally tries to hurt people? None! We live in a sue-happy society where so many are looking for their big pay day and living happily ever after at the expense of others.
I am glad I am of retirement age. People who start businesses these days have so much stress from the public. Why are Medical professionals being held responsible for their patient’s actions when all they are trying to do is help?
I believe it’s time for medical professionals and businesses to have everyone sign a disclaimer similar to a prenuptial before walking into their store, medical practice or business. It could be as simple as: “I________________ take total responsibility for my actions. I promise to not sue this medical professional or store since I know they are only trying to help me.”
They say a ship in the harbor may be safe, but that’s not what a ship is built for. It’s a sad situation in this day an age since a ship in harbor is exactly what many are now choosing to be.
James “Kimo” Rosen
Kapaa
