Your Views for February 25

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Last chance, HELCO

Last chance, HELCO

Is it possible for HELCO to become a real public utility, owned and operated for and by the small people of the Big Island?

HELCO should and could lead the Big Island forward on the path to sustainability. Is the ultimate goal to support Big Island residents and business people and to create a flourishing culture and economy, or to impose economic slavery so there is no growth or reasonable opportunity?

The big bucks are lucrative in selling to outsiders with smart meters, but one would think civic responsibility must be placed in the balance. Otherwise, we will be worshipping mammon instead of aloha.

HELCO, this is your last chance to be Hawaiian.

Leroy W. Boyce

Pahoa

Move on

I agree with Cary Tahara 100 percent (Your Views, Feb. 18).

Margaret Wille’s ban on foam containers does not even scratch the surface. Move on to more important issues.

Jeffrey Pietrzak

Pahoa

‘Gimme a break’

I was at a local big box retailer recently with my puppy. After several employees made comments, subtle suggestions and one outright defensive statement toward store policy about requiring vests, I was very irritated.

I am a former Marine and no, I don’t have a vest for my dog. Yes, I choose not to leave my puppy in the car. No, you don’t get to complain about either.

Think my dog is dirty? I did a test. I sat outside and counted 100 customers grabbing carts. Guess how many wiped down their carts with the provided sanitizer? Twelve.

How many of the 100 put babies or toddlers into said carts, in the cart and childseat area? Thirty-eight.

How many of those 38 wiped down and disinfected the children’s dirty hands, put on clean diapers for the sake of others’ hygiene or clean groceries, forced small ones to walk instead of ride or laid down a towel in the cart so dirty children’s shoes wouldn’t contaminate the cart? You guessed it. ZERO.

Give me a break, people. The average bacteria count of a cart is 184,000 bacterium per square inch. Wash your groceries, and find another cause. Or don’t. I fought for that right for you, too.

Phillip Petty

Mountain View