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<br /> y <br /> Hawaii Tribune-Herald, June 16, 1997- .7 <br /> Letters <br /> Special session needed <br /> As the representative of North Kona and South <br /> Kohala on the Big Island, I feel compelled to contin- <br /> tte_my advocacy for a special legislative session to <br /> dt~,with the privatization issue. In the wake of ffie <br /> Feb. 28 Supreme Court decision on the Puuanahulu <br /> ' Landfill, county contrails aze being suspended and the <br /> ~outnty is refusing to pay oa invoices for services con- <br /> , ducted since then. This is resulting in a very signifi- <br /> ~cani economic disruption in our community. <br /> bur community is already trying to cope with a <br /> depressed economy, high unemployment, and heavy <br /> financial stress on our families. Now, because of the <br /> paaratization controversy, many small businesses are <br /> tieing forced to lay off employees and close their <br /> doors. We cannot continue with this economic chaos. <br /> The three (Gov. Ben Cayetano, Senate President Nor- <br /> , -iII~'Mizuguctti and House Spoaker7~eph Souki) of <br /> t~em• must provide the leadership to resolve this issue <br /> ie-r special legislative session. The legislattve has the - <br /> responsibility to respond to this crisis. We must do it <br /> assoon as possible. <br /> In addition to creating an economic crisis, the can- <br /> cellation of county contracts has created situations <br /> that threaten public health and safety. The county is <br /> cuaently in violation of state and federal eavvon- <br /> mental laws because the contracts for monitoring the <br /> sewage treatment plants have been canceled. The <br /> ~ounry can't even bring the sewage sludge to the - <br /> landfill, because it can't pay a private laboratory to <br /> analyze it. The situation has gotten out of hand. <br /> i Please heaz this call for a special session. I am sure - <br /> you aze also receiving the steady flood of calls and , <br /> letters from other citizens around the state that feel ~ <br /> the same way. The neighbor islands may hurt the <br /> most now, but this is definitely a statewide economic <br /> _art¢ political crisis. <br /> ' "yVe must acknowledge the seriousness of the situ- ; <br /> ation and respond to it quickly and effectively. To ` <br /> delay ailion would be a betrayal of our responsbility ' <br /> to-our constituents. Please join me with the commit- <br /> ment to resolve the privatization issue. Surely, as law- <br /> makers, we have the ability to hammer out a compro- <br /> mice that will work. I.et us provide govertunent with <br /> the flexibility to contract out for services if the con- <br /> tract meets certain criteria of performance, price and ' <br /> public benefit. l.et us resolve this issue and prevent <br /> this. crisis from undermining any hope for economic <br /> recovery in this state. <br /> Rep. David Tomas 3~~, <br /> 6th District (N. Kona, S. Kohala~'OiIIDi' ~O' <br /> - t~,,~ rvo. LEG <br /> PresentetY~~r~ <br /> tie(. Tos <br /> xer. nat~~lUN 16 1997 <br /> <br />