Something’s amiss?
Something’s amiss?
Lately, during the day, the sun is so bright I can’t even look toward it anymore. This year, at night even, the temperature is so chilly that I can’t even remember the sweltering humidity we used to have.
What a beautiful county this remains, despite what’s happening at Fukushima Daiichi (nuclear power plant in Japan).
Where’s the radiation?
Alvina Kawaihae
Hilo
Vote in the primary
The local election season will be interesting (“Big Island candidates,” Tribune-Herald, June 6). What’s exciting is we will have a majority of new council members and maybe a new mayor. There will be a new prosecutor. But for the cannabis community, the question is how these changes in office-holders and their agendas will benefit or continue to punish local residents.
One candidate for county prosecutor, local attorney Paul Dolan, however, has affirmed he will not prosecute petty misdemeanor marijuana cases for less than an ounce (375 cases last year). He also supports cannabis for medicinal use.
These are affirmative positions, because making cannabis the lowest enforcement priority is already law. Other U.S. cities and counties defying the feds have adopted similar laws that have been implemented and are working well there.
Home rule can exist here, too. When a citizenry becomes engaged, and when we persuade candidates and elect those who stand with us, we will succeed.
Besides, another convincing reason not to prosecute is the inordinately high cost of prosecuting petty misdemeanor cases, court costs and time spent writing police arrest reports and in investigations. Estimate these county costs, and the figure rises quickly into the millions.
It is sensible governmental planning and budgeting to put precious taxes to productive uses … (such as making) advance payments to county retiree health care.
For the above and other reasons, it is important to register and vote in both the August primary and the November election for candidates who will do what the people have willed.
Some of the key offices, including prosecutor, could be decided in the August primary. Don’t pass up the primary, as it could be too late to vote for your preferred candidate.
Changes will happen only if we exercise our voting rights.
Andrea Tischler
Hilo