Withdraw Kern’s nomination
Mahalo to Nancy Cook Lauer for her reporting on the concerns about the mayor-elect’s nomination of Zendo Kern for Hawaii County Planning Director. As someone who voted for Roth, I was disappointed in the taint of impropriety: Kern and the developers together contributed at least $10,000 to Roth’s campaign, suggesting “pay-for-play” politics.
The responsibility vested in the position of County Planning Director would put Kern into direct conflict of interests in consideration of applications and approvals for the Royal Vista (previously KV3) development between Lako and Puapuaanui streets in Kailua-Kona. Kern is an advocate and paid spokesperson for the landowners and developers. He has publicly stated that the land there is the “perfect parcel” for such development. In February 2019, Planning Director Yee returned the developer’s application to Kern, requesting significant additional detailed information regarding traffic and connectivity issues, as well as needed infrastructure improvements and the lack of schools to accommodate the increase in students. The contested issues remain, but it seems his mind is already made up about the development. He may have served Puna well in his political career, but he does not have the education and skills for an islandwide kuleana.
In searching for background information about Kern and his qualifications for that position, I find that his credentials and the “platform” he ran on for Windward Planning have been removed from the internet, leaving interested parties with only his biography and personal statement. Kern is an entrepreneur and builder with the term “project manager” added to his resume. He has no apparent interest in cultural preservation aside from his stated passion for surfing. In addition, Kern has not addressed the overwhelming traffic issues that would result from the development in question, suggesting he has no interest and/or no background in the regional, big-picture development of the leeward side of the island.
I urge Roth to withdraw the nomination, or County Council not to confirm Kern’s nomination to the position of County Planning Director.
Kate Kealani H. Winter
Kailua-Kona
Not all in this together
We’re all in this together, huh?
You think your taxes are too high? How about the cost of housing, the cost of living — everything? You can thank the public sector unions who are in bed with the government so they can count on their votes. Teachers, government employees and all public sector unions should have been furloughed long ago just like everyone else. Two days out of every month and they’re squealing like babies.
We are not all in this together. They’ve been getting full pay, all benefits, guaranteed pensions throughout this entire pandemic. But we should wear our masks and just keep quiet. We are all in this together, except for the county Board of Ethics that can wait barely 48 hours from Harry Kim’s departure to conclude 5-0 that he violated the law, giving special dispensation to those illegally blocking the access to Maunakea, thus protecting him from penalties.
We are not all in this together. It’s them against us.
Michelle “Mikie” Kerr
Waikoloa
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