Mayor’s priorities
Mayor’s priorities
On Monday morning, I (realized) that there is nothing being done to improve the access roads for the thousands of citizens who likely will be cut off in lower Puna within the next couple of weeks when the lava cuts off Highway 130.
There was no paving going on at Railroad Avenue, and the two or three serious drainage problems with the gravel Beach Road are not being addressed.
It appears the biggest financial ripoff in the island’s history, in the form of the mayor’s garbage-burner project, which he is proceeding with at full steam, is more important to him than the people and businesses being affected by the lava.
Jim Johnson
Orchidland
Conflict of interest
With the incorporation of three new members to the County Council, it appears there will be renewed debate about whether to appeal the federal magistrate’s order of Nov. 27 invalidating Hawaii County’s anti-GMO bill, (Tribune-Herald, Dec. 16).
Further into the article, state Sen. Russell Ruderman, chairman of the Senate Agricultural Committee AND owner of Island Naturals food store, opined that he will testify in favor of appealing the (Nov. 27) ruling.
He stated neither of the terms “GMO” nor “genetically modified” are in state law. This missive is not to debate the legality of Hawaii County’s suspended anti-GMO law but to question an apparent conflict of interest by Mr. Ruderman in this matter.
However circuitous it might be, Mr. Ruderman’s commercial interest in attempting to re-establish Bill 113 is problematic.
He is the owner of a food store that will benefit from the reinstatement of anti-GMO Bill 113 at best, and questions his “bona fides” at worst.
A question: What does a statewide Senate committee have to do with internal county matters or politics unless of course a member of said committee might have a financial interest in the outcome of this internal county debate?
Mr. Ruderman can testify as private citizen if he wants, but he should not be able to use the weight of his state Senate chairmanship to unduly influence an outcome that might benefit him financially.
Mr. Ruderman must recuse himself from this debate since his commercial activities, Island Naturals food store on the Big Island, will benefit either directly or indirectly with a successful overturning of the Nov. 27 injunction.
Regarding a question raised by Councilman Onishi, (who is going to pay for the Bill 113 appeal?): Given the county’s finances are spread thin because of the Puna lava situation, perhaps to demonstrate good faith and his aloha for the Big Island, Mr. Ruderman could make a substantial financial contribution to the county’s legal appeal of the Nov. 27 injunction.
Mr. Senator, just think of this donation as an investment in your business. It might even be tax deductible.
Arthur Warren
Keaau