I saw you
I am writing to you in desperation and in the fervent hope that you can help me. I am trying to contact a lady I met at the Ironman finishing area on Saturday night between 10-10:30 p.m.
We were spectating from the low wall across from the finishing line. I had to leave unexpectedly so I didn’t get an opportunity to ask her for her name. She was sitting beside the garland seller and I was standing on the wall beside her. She got a garland from the man who slept on the wall there and she kindly gave him some food and some money. She wore a one piece floral trouser outfit and she told me that she lives on the Big Island. I’m from Ireland and was wearing a bright yellow T-shirt and denim shorts. My hair is shaved and I have a light goatee.
I would be so grateful if you would publish this request in your paper and social media channels, and if the lady recognizes herself and wants to contact me, she can get my details from you. I am really hoping to speak with her before I leave on Thursday morning and I’m trying every way possible to try and let her know.
Many many thanks in advance.
Kevin Glancy
Ireland
Proposals not in the public’s best interest
Two things have been mentioned lately and both make me uncomfortable. The first is to create an initiative system to place proposals on the ballot to be voted on. This is used in California. Here’s the danger, it not only allows private citizens to collect signatures to meet the minimum requirements to place an initiative on the ballot it also allows special interest groups to do the same thing.
This actually opens the door for abuse and can result in multiple initiatives that are very similar yet with very different consequences to end up on the same ballot. Some are poorly written and others are written in such a way as to obscure their real intent.
Which brings me to the second concern. The constitutional amendment. Remember also in California an initiative called Proposition 13? Here is a great example of a special interest group using an initiative system to create a proposition that stated its goal was to limit property taxes on elderly fixed income retirees to prevent them from losing their homes.
The real intent was to lower property taxes on multi-family rentals in order to increase profits to big corporations owning large apartment complexes. The result was a huge loss in the tax base that supported police, firefighters, and most importantly, schools.
Be very wary of poorly written, unclear and misleading proposals to change the Constitution. They are written that way for a reason and generally it is not in our best interest. Who will really benefit?
John Pierce
Waikoloa