Letters: 2-23-16

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Pets shouldn’t be put down

Pets shouldn’t be put down

To me, after seeing all available information, it is unbelievable that HIHS would fight so hard to euthanize pets when loving homes want them, especially when Hawaii Island Humane Society is the one charged with protecting the animals.

Shame on you, Hawaii Island Humane Society, you bring shame to my culture, to my home. Please refrain from speaking for the community Adam Atwood, everyone I know would choose to take help from the rescues and send pets to loving families rather than euthanize wanted pets for a few dollars. But you and I come from different cultures, you are a guest of mine.

Gene Kailiuli

Kailua-Kona

‘Monsantoman’ Clifton Tsuji does it again!

Shame on State Rep. Clift Tsuji, chair of the House Agricultural committee. For the second year in a row he killed a bill (HB 2564) that would have created buffer zones around schools to protect against pesticide drift.

What kind of a person won’t protect kids from pesticide poisoning? As a former banker, and “biotech legislator of the year,” he appears more concerned about protecting chemical company profits than protecting the common good, including children’s health and safety.

Tsuji brings shame on the entire Hilo district that he claims to represent. Come on Hilo — stand up for the kids. Send Tsuji packing. Let him go back to work for the bank instead of being a tax paid mascot for Monsanto and other special corporate interests.

Jim Albertini, Malu Aina Center For Non-violent Education and Action

Kurtistown

Homelessness, crime may deter visitors

I’ve been coming to Kona now for over 30 years and over the past couple of visits (two to three times a year) I have been very disappointed in the alarming increase in the number of seemingly homeless persons and those who are just vagrants.

While out to dinner to celebrate our last night before flying home someone walked into the house I was staying at and robbed me. They took simple things like cameras and triathlon computers and sunglasses making it obvious this was not a sophisticated criminal but just someone looking to make some quick cash to possibly feed their drug habit. The police have been informed but I don’t expect to have the products returned and, of course, it’s not worth claiming on my insurance.

Over these 30 years I’ve been excited to see a growth in the number of visitors which obviously helps the economy of the county. I have many friends here in Canada who have discovered the Big Island as well and look forward to making it their regular winter getaway. Tourism is the lifeblood of the town and island and if your customers begin to sense a reason to find another location that is better because of the numbers of seedy people prowling the streets day and night, they will.

I own property on the Big Island and want to continue to come back but this last episode really disappoints me. I’m hoping that the mayor’s office and police department will begin to realize the seriousness of this growing problem before it’s too late.

But, my friend did report the theft and had a visit from two officers the next day. He was most impressed with the conduct, concern and attitude of the officers. They were not treating this as some simple small time theft. They realized the severity. I also received a phone call from Officer Tanaka here in Vancouver asking for more details and expressing his concern. I am very impressed with the Kona police.

Chuck Oliver

Vancouver, British Columbia