Taxpayers deserve better Animal Control program
Animal Control services in 91直播 County have been broken since 2020. For more than five years, our community has experienced reduced and inconsistent services while taxpayers are spending more than ever.
Public safety and animal welfare should not suffer under increased budgets.
I dedicated over 16 years of my life to building and operating Animal Control islandwide. I helped create standard operating procedures grounded in county law, developed animal evacuation plans for emergency shelters, trained staff, handled cruelty investigations, and worked directly with residents to resolve complex and dangerous situations.
My commitment was never about a title, it was about serving this community effectively and lawfully.
When the county assumed control of Animal Control in 2023, I sought to return and help stabilize the program. I was terminated after seven weeks without clear explanation. Since then, the administrator responsible has been reassigned.
Recently, I applied for the open Animal Control administrator position, but was not selected.
I sincerely hope the selected candidate succeeds. 91直播 Island deserves competent leadership and restored services. However, it is reasonable to ask why local experience, institutional knowledge, and proven dedication were not given greater consideration.
Animal Control is not simply about picking up stray dogs. It involves public safety, enforcement of state and county laws, disaster response planning, fiscal responsibility and community trust. These responsibilities require leadership that understands our island鈥檚 geography, culture and legal framework.
Our taxpayers deserve transparency, accountability and results. Most importantly, our community deserves an Animal Control program that works.
Starr K. Yamada
Keaau
Military needs to clean up its mess in 91直播
Mahalo to Kevin Knodell for his important Feb. 17 article, 鈥�91直播 could be key hub for Pacific arms manufacturing.鈥�
91直播 has the greatest percentage of land controlled by the U.S. military of any state in the country, and is one of the most militarized places in the world.
And now this? What a disgrace!
Together, let鈥檚 make aloha, not militarism and weapons of war, 91直播鈥檚 beacon of peace for the world.
The U.S. military needs to clean up its widespread toxic mess, including Pohakuloa, and return the stolen lands to the Kanaka Maoli.
De-militarize and de-occupy 91直播 now!
Jim Albertini
Kurtistown