Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Musings: Tooty Fruity


Though a lot of folks complain about the chickens, and I've got two fighting rooster farms within earshot, it's remarkable how the joyful warbling of the shama thrushes drowns them right out. Perched in trees on all sides of the house, their intricate melodies offer dawn-to-dusk entertainment, a constant reminder to stop, look, listen, appreciate, slow down, enjoy.

Lately I've been enjoying longan, golfball-sized lychee, lilikoi, papaya, mango and purple cainito, which the neighbor who supplies me calls cream apples. It seems to be a bumper year for fruit.

And fruity ideas. Like the proposed bill that would allow the Kauai Humane Society to seize any dog without a license and take it to the shelter — even if you are right there with it, and even in your own yard, if it's unfenced.

That seems like a pretty heavy-handed approach. Presumably they're already picking up dogs that are cruising without humans. So why try to nab people's pets when they could just sell them a license on the spot? If you want us to pay more for licenses, that's one thing, but don't be grabbing more power in the process.

KHS, which has long had a strained relationship with hunters, also appears ready to burn those bridges completely with its new license fee schedule, which would hit hunters with packs the hardest. Sure, some of them are irresponsible, but not all, so it feels unfair to ding them as a group. I understand KHS is trying to encourage people to get their pets fixed, which is great, but how are people supposed to prove their female is spayed if they've lost the paper from the vet?

Meanwhile, cats get a totally free ride and are allowed to roam with impunity, even though feral cat control is a significant cost for the shelter, one that dog owners are now being asked to subsidize. If dog owners must buy a license, shouldn't cat owners be held to a similar requirement?

Another fruity proposal has already been adopted by the county, and that's an administrative rule change that expands upon the definition of a “kitchen.” Now you can be busted for a zoning violation if you have a microwave, hot plate, toaster oven, mini-fridge, electric griddle, deep-fryer and yes, even a rice cooker, in any room other than a kitchen. Like, say, the carport or family room. But get this — only if it's plugged in. Or if you don't pay a suitable bribe to the inspector.

And finally, the state Agribusiness Development Corp. has been operating under the fruity notion that its lessees don't have to pay property taxes. As in the three chemical/seed companies leasing some 6,000 acres on Kauai — most of it so-called “ceded” lands. Not so, says Councilman Gary Hooser, who notes that private users of public lands must pay property taxes. As a result of his inquiries, the county has sent out notices to the three affected companies assessing them for two years of taxes, with penalties and interest kicking in if they don't pay within 30 days. The back taxes total about $140,000 — enough to help fund Gary's pesticide disclosure/GMO moratorium bill.

State law also requires those who lease public lands to comply with all environmental laws, including Chapter 343. As Gary notes, there are just three ways to comply with 343: an exemption, an environmental assessment or an EIS. The ADC has required none of the above from the seed companies. Though it's too late to go after them now, any new leases will be scrutinized to ensure compliance.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Joan - it would be great if you could push for answers on the Polihale mob / gang robbery / beating. I have about zero confidence in the west side cops.

Anonymous said...

Roosters, that would be pure heaven.... compare to the BEEP BEEP BEEPING starting at 4:30 am almost everyday at the Kapaa Transfer Station. Residential areas should not have to endure this constant noise pollution! Some days the workers drive around the building practicing and filling hours I am certain, BEEP BEEP BEEPING for hours!!! Its maddening.
Not to mention the ball park lights that go on at 4 in the afternoon and stay blaring till after 10:00pm every night, even when there is no function. The public should not have a free for all to these lights, such a waste of energy and tax $$$ Can't wait till winter when the lights have to be off to save the shearwaters! Which, seem to be flying into the lights in the summer too on occassion.... the poor planning is endless..Yawn

Anonymous said...

Major"dittos" to the last comment,LOL.

Kauai cops are employees of a new state and county "Dept.of Harrassment, Intimidation. And Revenue Generatation". Actual police work? Sadly, not so much.

The Judicial is pretty much the same way. These depts are fully sanctioned by a worldwide body of mafioso cartels.

The victims aren't family or haven't paid their adjucated "Protection Fees".
Apparently the perpatraters did because there was 2-3 hour response time?

PATHETIC!!!!

Anonymous said...

I can almost guarantee that the west side cops know exactly who did this. But, without pressure from Perry / Media / Mayor (sigh) nothing will happen.

Hey, Sue Kanoho, how does this look to our potential visitor base? Are you mad that it happened or mad that it made the headlines?

Elaine Albertson said...

I've lived on the Westside for 13 years, and have heard many times about the gang "Westside United", and none of it has been good. They rationalize themselves with a "locals should rule" mentality, which holds about as much water as a small sieve. They're the guys that stole your lunch money at school, and now guzzle beer and pontificate about the faults of civilization while they rely on intimidation to get what they want. Sad thing is, that it works (except with me...wonder why that is ;-) ...many folks out here know who they are, but won't speak out from fear. KPD? It took them how long to get out to Polihale from Waimea?

Anonymous said...

Joan: so you want everyone to follow certain laws (the TVR laws for instance, etc.) but not leash laws.

Leash laws are very important and are meant to keep people, pets and the leashed dogs themselves safe.

What gives?

Anonymous said...

You mean to say it took councilman Hooser to make inquiries re: lessees and tax requirements to get our government to get things right?!!? kUDOS AGAIN to Hooser----he gets my vote for any office he runs for. You sure it's only two years they owe for? The have been here for over ten years! Oh well, what do i know!

Anonymous said...

Well 10:44 am, i don't think anyone has the right to come into my yard and take anything of mine! Even my dog without a leash and without a dog tag! Who do they think they are?!! the NSA?!!

Joan Conrow said...

10:44 -- My post had nothing to do with leash laws.

Anonymous said...

It's my house, my private domain, I'll plug in anything I want in any room I want and they can go fuck themselves

Elaine Albertson said...

Leave it to the Humane Society to overstep their mission...when they have the opportunity to get adequate funding, they instead try to tack on draconian rulings and completely ridiculous enforcement provisions. It's like a "poison pen" provision in Congress...except it's their own proposal. Sounds like someone at KHS has severe control issues. Maybe they should sign up for KPD.

Anonymous said...

If your unlicensed dog is next to a rice cooker then you're really screwed

Anonymous said...

@ Anonymous 12:38 PM

You may be safe if your unleashed/unlicensed dog is next to a plugged-in rice cooker in an enclosed patio on the ground floor of a TVR built in a flood zone. No one inspects such buildings.

Elaine Albertson said...

1:40 PM...

Very well said.

Anonymous said...

Hunters will not claim their lost dogs if they think they will be fined, only their very best dogs, making even more unwanted dogs at shelter. STUPID

Anonymous said...

"The ADC has required none of the above from the seed companies."

How did this come to be?

Anonymous said...

And if a hunter wants to license his hunting dog, I believe they are forced to spay or neuter the animal rendering the dog useless for hunting in most cases.

Anonymous said...

Even if you took acid, smoked crack and took ten hits from a 4 foot bong, you couldn't dream this shit up. This has to be the most backwards-ass thinking with the exception that dude born in Kenya sitting in the WH.

Elaine Albertson said...

4:16 - No, they're not forced to spay or neuter. It just costs more to license if they're not.

Anonymous said...

Right On!

Anonymous said...

wow, didnt know about those kitchen rules, im totally out of compliance cuz my garage has a wok and a reefer and a gas cooktop. i better hide my rice cooker too, ill get around to it someday, probably after the next family get together, or maybe the one after that, im not sure

Anonymous said...

I would like to know how much of KHS higher costs are due to it being a no-kill shelter now. It is a wonderful concept but very expensive and not realistic for a small island where people are already maxed out with pets.

Anonymous said...

The new director of the Kauai Human Society knows the political ropes and tight-lined responses.

This was clear in her statement in TGI, to the Pit Bull mauling incident. Sounded like a lifeless campaign promise.

Former director of KHS got herself into hot water for being so opinionated. This is the replacement.

KHS typically will issue tags on the spot for pets without tags. What is the objective now? Get more dogs and cats destroyed, and this is the avenue?

Terrible this Polihale mob; my family has camped there for years. And, right, WestSideGang.

Received an email that in Judgipedia, it is written that District Court Judge Trudy Senda's term has ended as of May 4, 2013.

Why is she still presiding? Isn't there a formal procedure to others interested in this judgeship?

Who knows.

BTW, this comment is sent with a press of the Anonymous button.

Anonymous said...

Did anyone read about the new bill KHS is introducing to council?


I think we have another SHAYME (tyrannical leader) in KHS on our hands.


WTF is in the water on Kauai? Is everyone on Kauai smoking dope/meth?


Wild Wild West of the Pacific is getting a little INSANE!

Anonymous said...

since when is khs no kill?

Anonymous said...

so different rules for TVR's then local residents? Why is that?
all of those residents that live in a flood zone or elsewhere with enclosed ohana units with rice cookers and microwaves etc and the owners are probably not reporting rent received and paying taxes-be it long term or visitors staying there-what's the difference? why is that such a problem? Kauai property owners are just trying to keep their homes and live peacefully-think people before you act out!

Anonymous said...

Mark my words. Jay and Ross are going to have the debate and vote deferred a few months. Guarans, today its all gonna be a debate about delay. Because the pesticide companies know this bill has the people's support. They gotta delay it. With delay, big AG can run a misleading PR campaign like they did on the mainland. By October, after the OPR campaign is done, the sheeple will be chanting the mantra that we all need GMO and pesticides to survive.

Joan Conrow said...

6:50 PM and 8:28 PM -- It's not a no-kill shelter.

Anonymous said...

The Kauai Humane Society needs to be audited.