It is public’s fault
When Sylvia Dolena created her checklist for the Mary Poppins of new Hawaii Island Humane Society leaders, she got one item very wrong. The perfect person for the job, she writes, should not make excuses nor blame the public for the high kill-rate.
But it is the fault of the public! Let me count the ways; not spaying or neutering their animals, backyard breeding, dumping old or unwanted pets, not recognizing that there is a limited amount of space to handle all of the pets that the public has allowed to become a burden to the rest of us and, lastly, not choosing their next forever pet from the shelter.
Susan Rhymes
Kailua-Kona
Big Brother should focus on hard crimes first
After reading the Tribune-Herald stories this morning about arresting looters and squatters in Leilani Estates, the sweep was not for looting or squatting it was for “cleaning up the neighborhood.” I agree it is about time that something is done, but the story left me with the feeling that Big Brother is right around the corner.
Turn your neighbors in — give the police “information you might not want to give” sounds like big brother alive and kicking, heck if you didn’t like your neighbor you could call the cops and tell them she’s growing weed, where they would proceed to come with 19 officers, Vice, ATF, DEA, DLNR, high-powered rifles, tasers and drug dogs.
But, if there is an actual problem and people “… we’re not allowing the community to just bring us a problem and drop it on our laps.” I know this is scary stuff, that quoted police statement pretty much explains now to me why drug houses, chop-shops, home-invasions and cold cases continue to flourish and how every Toyota Tacoma on the island can be stolen without a clue.
How about ringing in the new year with policy change for 2019, how about focusing on real crimes that have actual victims, and then after all Big Island violent and crimes with victims, all 911 calls for help have been answered, then we would have a lowest-law-enforcement priority of only taking federal funds for traffic compliance and speed traps, including checks for safety, seatbelt, cellphone, registration, proof of insurance and medical cannabis plant tag checks!
Sara Steiner
Pahoa