Give Green a chance
I don’t often get to use the word “scurrilous,” but the Dec. 6 front page story (“Former carpenters’ union official is Green’s chief of staff” by the Associated Press) is just that.
I don’t know Lt. Gov. Josh Green, but — as far as I can see — he has been an excellent legislator and promises to be an excellent lieutenant governor.
The large campaign contribution from the carpenters’ union has been amply reported, and it appears the electorate chose him anyway. The article about his choice for chief of staff is full of innuendo and devoid of accusations of wrongdoing. The author’s efforts to find critics who can offer nothing worse than comments on “bad optics” is a disservice to the readers.
I do know Will Espero, and I am disappointed in his sour-grapes comments. He is better than that. Neal Milner, who also was quoted in the article, got it right when he described this issue as almost beneath notice.
To be sure, if Mr. Green shows inappropriate bias toward the carpenters’ union, then I would be the first one to scream, but a banner headline and a disparaging newspaper article helps no one.
We get the government we deserve. Let’s give Mr. Green a chance.
Robert Fox
Hilo
Time to act
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we have about 12 years (maybe less) to get our planet back in shape.
For years, many in the Republican Party have denied the fact that climate change is real. They say it’s a hoax.
It’s not too late to stop the unfolding of a full blown climate catastrophe. But we as individuals cannot do it alone. We need our government — which is our collective voice — to take the possibly drastic actions needed to avoid hitting the tipping point to fight for the future of our children.
I’m making a difference for my children and grandchildren. Will you?
Noreen K. Kaloi
Keaau
A beef about beef
The article about the Department of Education looking for beef for schools (Tribune-Herald, Dec. 9) in Hawaii is a shame. Didn’t we just read two weeks ago how a dairy on the Hilo side is closing because the elites who must live in the agricultural areas of the island feel our great cows are making to much urine?
Shame on us all that we cannot give our children a decent education and meals today, as you and I were given 40 years ago.
We are cheating our children and young adults today by individualism instead of togetherness and showing aloha.
Let farmers live in Hawaii and give us fresh products instead of vendors who fill their pockets with Hawaii’s money!
Coreen Nelson
Naalehu