11-18-2008, 03:00 PM
quote:Yes, but it happened!
Originally posted by james weatherford
Bob, initiative is your idea -- you write it and I will sign it. That will take several months ('Question 1' that was on the ballot took several months and lots of legal wrangling).
They didn’t sit around. They took the ultimate power of the people to the people and they won.
quote:But, if everyone says the Police Commission is a Mayoral appointed board who only rubber stamps what the Mayor and Police Chief wants, your essentially entrusting your issue to the very people you don’t trust.
Originally posted by james weatherford
Meantime, the Police Commission is in the process of selecting a new Police Chief.
My written testimony to them put in the mail today points out the practicality of protection of life and property being highest priority.
Also, the Hawaii State Constitution does not give anyone but the Police Chief the authority on police operations. Neither the Mayor nor Police Commission can violate the Sates Constitution. All they can do is recommend that the police prioritize this or that. Now let’s be real, do you really think catching litterbugs is a higher priority over murder and violent crimes? Fact is, the Police department is woefully understaffed due to budget restraints. How about urging the Hawaii County Council to pass a 3.5% increase in property taxes with it dedicated to a Violent Crime Reduction Fund? The police department can tap that fund through grants so long as it is going directly to hiring more police dedicated to violent crime reduction through patrol, investigation and apprehension. That’s basically the people putting their money where their mouth is.
I know it’s easy to complain and much harder to act, but there are times when the people need to act and stop complaining.