Letters to the Editor: 9-23-2016

Police department failed women

Once again, the arrogance and belligerence of our male dominated Hawaii County Police Department rears its ugly head, and once again women are the victims. Despite repeated attempts by Mariska Hargitay’s organization and the Attorney General, only Kauai turned in to the state the requested information as to the amount of untested rape kits.

Our county police failed to respond. Apparently some of these untested rape kits go back 30 years. Can you imagine being the victim of a rape and then being doubly victimized by those paid to assist you?

When will this climate of female inferiority by the judicial system be put to bed once and for all?

Gwyneth Wrixon

Waikoloa

Council, prosecutor need to show backbone

When the disgusting news about Mayor Kenoi’s criminal abuse of the county’s pCard system was first brought to light in March 2015, Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth was quick to refuse to prosecute him. He recused himself and his office. I can only assume it was because he was Billy’s dear friend. When all the judges on the island also recused themselves, the public found out just how charismatic Uncle Billy really is. All those “I’m too-good-a-friend-of-Billy’s to do my job” friends. Billy may be a crook but he certainly is a good friend!

Now Roth and at least one 3rd Circuit Court judge have a chance to redeem themselves somewhat, to prove to the pubic that they aren’t just cowardly sycophants. John Burnett of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald wrote on Sept. 21 that Kenoi had lied under oath twice, once in 2012 and again in 2014, when he swore under penalty of perjury on his financial disclosure forms. He did not disclose that he made hundreds of thousands of dollars from selling his children’s birthright and college funds. He lied under oath when he swore he was telling the truth. This is a Class C felony, in violation of HRS Sec. 710-1060.

Now, either Roth and the judges — and the County Council — simply don’t give a damn about public integrity in our county government, or Mitch Roth needs to step up and file charges against Kenoi for these two new criminal offenses.

And the County Council needs to listen to Joe Appleton and Carol Buck of Waimea — move quickly to censure and impeach Uncle Billy (yes, it is a bit late in the day!). The council needs to prove to us that they do not lack the same integrity the mayor lacks. Mitch Roth needs to prove it, too — if he is actually the public’s prosecutor and not just Billy’s bosom buddy!

Karen Martinez

Kapaau

Wake up a realize Trump is terrifying

I thank and applaud the writers who’ve recently shined a light on Trump’s disgusting sexual assaults on underage women (including the rape of a 13-year-old girl). Perhaps hush money has quieted Trump’s escapades, but anyone with access to the internet can read the gory details. And anyone with a daughter or sister should read the gory details. I’d add mother to the familial list, but obviously Trump’s partying doesn’t include females of legal age.

Interestingly, Trump describes his buddy Jeffrey Epstein as, “A terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”

Is this the element we want in the White House? Say what you will about Hillary, but the worse she can be accused of is perhaps a case of exercising poor judgment with her emails. And though we all wish our leaders were perfect, they’re human and make mistakes like the rest of us. How the media and voters can compare that to Trump’s long history of lying, cheating, raping, philandering, misogyny, and racism (have I forgotten anything?) baffles me to no end. Wake up people. This isn’t a reality show – this upcoming election is actually happening, and Hillary is by far the better choice.

Yvonne Martin

Kailua-Kona