Not in it together
The recent number of unemployment claims on our island was eye-opening.
The impact of COVID-19 on private businesses is like a nuclear bomb detonated.
Hotels are shuttered and people let go. Restaurants are closed. Stores are reducing employees. Many small businesses are closed permanently and seeking bankruptcy protection.
Fortunately, the federal government is lending small businesses money and is poised to send out stimulus checks.
But state and county politicians will not help small businesses. State and county excise taxes, payroll taxes, workers compensation, unemployment, real property taxes, water, sewer and vehicle registration fees are still required to be paid on time and to the penny.
For small businesses, our mortgages, leases, rent, utilities, insurance premiums, loan and credit card payments still need to be paid on time and to the penny.
But due to state and county policies, there is no revenue to balance out these payments.
Politicians in the media talk about how “we’re all in this together.” But they aren’t talking about reducing the tax burden for small businesses.
They aren’t talking about reducing costs, pay cuts, laying people off or closing offices.
The Kauai mayor even filmed himself making homemade ice cream. He must have missed the part where people here are struggling just to find rice in local stores.
For those of us who are suffering because of the policies of state and county politicians, we need to ask who they really work for. Because at this point, it certainly looks and feels like, “We’re all in this for us, not you.”
Ted H.S. Hong
Hilo
Time to cut spending
It seems like the only people not terribly hurting right now are county, state and federal workers.
I haven’t read about any furloughs or layoffs for them.
That is great, but what happens when tax revenue from hotels (TAT), road fees, general excise (GET), even property taxes, etc., dries up? And dry up it will, since everything is locked down. It’s already happening.
Wouldn’t it be smart for our various governments to start reducing spending NOW, like the rest of us, rather than waiting until it’s too late?
I’m not advocating for anyone to lose their jobs (four of my neighbors already have), but I just don’t see how we can keep paying for all this.
Where’s the shared sacrifice?
Jan Spinoza
Hawaiian Paradise Park
Disease prevention
It would be helpful if our county groundskeepers would spray the public restrooms and county offices (external) with alcohol, rather than cutting grass, during this pandemic.
I am sure that the county housing units would appreciate this prophylactic effort, also.
David W. Harrington
Hilo
