Let’s copy Oregon on recycling
With the pollution of plastics becoming an ever-increasing problem, especially living in the islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, why is it so difficult to pass sensible laws requiring recycling and making it easier for the average Joe to do their part in keeping the planet unpolluted?
Money. Lobbyists. Convenience.
Maybe we should look to the state of Oregon for an example. One thing that Oregon did is pass legislation that puts a large burden of recycling on the source of most of the waste. Point of sale.
In other words, if you sell containers that are covered under the recycling laws, you must provide a point of return for such containers and make a refund at the point of sale. Seems like a good idea.
Why can’t it work here as well?
John Pierce
Waikoloa
Time shares not all vacation bliss
Every month there seems to be hundreds of time share foreclosures posted in the classified section of the WHT. I suppose there is nothing illegal about this practice but it looks immoral to me.
Apparently unwitting tourists are romanced into buying something they really don’t want. How many times have these things been resold? Has this ever been investigated? I believe it is time!
James Gordon
Kealakekua
Thoughts on Alii condo project
It will be nice to get rid of that concrete eyesore near the village, if the new project owners are allowed to proceed. Frankly, the project should be abandoned, and the old fashioned garden golf course which stood there for many years should be restored.
But then that’s not “progresss,” but it sure would be nice. Gosh, even the tourists might like it.
Kurt Engelstad
Kailua-Kona
Shopping for real solutions
When you go to the store, do you give the cashier your money and let them give you whatever they feel like? This is what the County Council is doing.
The mayor says he needs more money without naming the projects. The State was not fooled by this approach for disaster relief; they asked for a complete list and plan to track the expenditures.
The fuel tax in Hawaii is the fourth-highest in the nation. It was just raised in this mayor’s term. Is this money being used for roads?
Do the council members really represent the public? Many members of the government including the mayor just got huge salary increases (the percentages stated left out the benefits increases that go with the salary increases).
Now it says 75 percent of the budget is for salaries and benefits. Besides the GET increase, the County Council voted for the sewer fee increases. None of the council members feel it is unfair to the Lona Kona Sewer property owners that they need to pay for the installation plus new expenses. Villegas, who represents this district, did not even bring it up as a concern.
The proposed four-year term for a County Council member is way too long.
Isn’t it time for the government to address the real problems instead of always increasing the cost of living? Start reducing the cost of government.
Michael Wilson
Captain Cook