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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0273.001 1998-2000 ©0~ Hawaii Carpenters Union United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Loca1745 r-:ay 4, Is» " RECEIVED Hcnorable James Arakaki, chairman 11me..-.. Y-~~ and Members of the Hawaii County Council pate-.-,-.-.-.._ S! qq-•--- 25 Aupuni Street County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 RE: RESOLUTION 30-99 CANCELLATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONDITIONS Dear Chairman Arakaki and Council Members, My name is Warren Chong. I speak on behalf of the Big Island Carpenter Union, Local 745 membership. We are asking you to deny Resolution 80-99 which authorizes the mayor to cancel previous agreements regarding Affordable Housing Conditions pursuant to Ordinance 98-1. This action is premature and has not been adequately researched. Today we are faced with a tight County Budget, as well as extensive funding cutbacks to many worthwhile non-profit agencies in our county. In addition, there are proposals to raise property taxes and initiate user fees to fund simple things such as access to our county pools. It is poor judgement to cancel the commitments and requirements that were promised to our community through the rezoning process, while our community and non-profit agencies continue to suffer our own budget shortfalls. I ask you to vote NO on Resolution 80-99. Sincerely, WARREN CHONG Sr. Field Representative Comm. No. ~ 7 3 • O a F51e No. NSG Ref. TP resented Co JN pU I._ STATE HEADQUARTERS & BUSINESS OFFICES pp~~ lIAY rJ ~99J OAIIU: till Houkhl. Ih n,S St, Hon uLJu, Ha.cnfi 4fiH17 Ph (BU8J A37-5751 Fax fRUHI S41-0311D"'f~ I)Ste KAUAI OPFIC E: Kulno Mrdiral Ctr. nld g., 43°_e5 Kuhin I hcc. Suite 2111, Lihua, Kauai 96:66 Ph. (HON) 245-f151 I I~ax (NON) 235-n513 MAUI OPPIC b: 13U Hooka hi $L, Wni Wku, Maw Y6793 Ph (HUN) 242-5H91 h.x (NON) 232893 H ILO OPPICE: F2F Kila uca Avc., Hiiu, I la ~r aii '16720 Ph (NUS) 933N>75 Fax BUS) 93~-N576 KONA OPPIC E: 75-I 2G I unnP ulc Runt, Kad ua-Kona, I la lvali 96730 Ph. BUST 329-7355 Pax B08) 326-9376 ® v lcvv~vui~ Lf/~~> ygwAi/ : aoAy ?uES. Ta.?. i,7, /9%9 Begin with integrity = = By WARREN CHONG Over the years, commitments or Kailua-Kona agreements between island folks, The "Christmas wishes' shared have often been formalized in a by the editor of West Hawaii Today variety of different ways; hand- on Christmas Day give us an shakes, verbal, written, or implied. opportunity to begin thinking about 'T'hey all hold merit. New Yeaz's Resolutions. One wish In construction we often heaz, focused on ethics and values "we'll start you at so much per becoming cornerstones in our daily hour and give you a [aise in two lives and business. Ethics and val- months:' Then there is an excuse ues begin with integrity. So, a good two months later why they are starting point for a New Yeaz's unable [o do so. Or, there are com- Resolution is to begin with integri- mitments to use a contractor, then ry, not everyone else's, but our own the owner shops the lowest bid, to personal integrity. bleed more out of the working One corporate yearly report 1 man. Or, developers agree to con- recently read, said: "Ponder the ditions being attached to their pro- essence of integrity: It is as simple ject, and agree to working relation- (and as complex) as doing what ships within our community while you say you'll do. It is a place to soliciting support for their projects. stand in relation to the world that Then, they somehow get a case of proves reliable in any circum- amnesia when it becomes their turn ~1i tioinDm naac?C_L[twcarT stance. Integrity is a choice; a to perform. choice for reliability and depth of AB commitments, no matter how Setting goals. purpose. Integrity is achieved executed, no matter the scope, or through a commitment to be and do the dollar value, are serious under- • y~ ~~m what one says." takings. The overriding principle is Kids must find then o r Y 11 Integrity can be simply paying that integrity and commitments your bills or being somewhere must stand. Once these commit- At the urging of a friend, I when you said you'd be there. menu are given, those promises recently took up women's instruc- Whether it be at a meeting, or at a should not be mitigated by the tional soccer. wedding reception (especially value or trend of the stock market, I crawled home from the first TaC(~llP~~Il yours), or at your child's special value of the yen, etc. It is unfair practice and, sort of as a last wish, event, it means keeping your word that people allow their credibility asked to see my two younger sons. MrtChard and honor. to be influenced or challenged by "Remember all those times I went It is simple, yet often times so financial influences. to your games and sat on the side- difficult, to hold ourselvesaccount- Commitments are serious lines and called, 'Go to the ball!'?" able for our actions or lack of deposits to your integrity bank I asked them. derived benefits from it in the past.. actions. account. They reflect on your bal- "Yes," they replied. But our parental eagerness does- Personal integrity is displayed by ante sheet. when you don't keep "Well, I want to ask your for- n't guarantee a junior Ken Griffey following through on commitments your word, you've made awith- giveness for that," I said. or Brett Hull. Children's passions given by yourself. drawal on your credibility. I think of myself as a fairly fit are evanescent, and true prodigies Business' and/or organization's We should applaud those indi- torrysomething, but becoming a raze. And sometimes that causes n< integrity represents actions, words, viduals, businesses, and organi7a- soccer player nearly did me in. I end of grief. or promises given by those repre- bons who have consistently dis- didn't quit. After all, the game is I've heard plenty of fathers urg renting them. Thus, integrity in played, in word and deed, true fun. But I was humbled when I ing their children to give "thc business, is reflected in actions by integrity. Their track records have doing something that looks so game" just one more season. I'vt individuals who are charged to earned [hem a reliable reputation second-nature when my children heazd about cash paid for goal cazry out company policy. One and the, well deserved, respect of do i[ -it's hazdly the sissy version scored, book reports fudged by par cannot isolate oneself from the our community. of "real football," the way some ents when games went too late larger picture and just say, "it was- However, we all need to be con- folks used to say. And much, much verbal warfare n't me." cemed when commitments are not I' m glad my kids play it. But among coaches and players, coach Our island and state are special upheld. When businesses, develop- next season, after years of soccer, es and parents, parents and parent: because of our culture and isolated err, o anizations, or the individu- most of their teammates will move about who makes the "A" squad c eo rah Hawaii boasts man ~ up to the "elite" squad -traveling the "B" squad. g g p y Y als who represent them, shirk or competition instead of the recre- Now, I'm not going to smile bi families whose roots often span skin their responsibility to others, ational version. Here's the int, generations. In our island culture, then we, as a communit have a p° here and say sweetly, isn't this ju: Y apparently, where the sheep are all for fun? Because having playe you ron the risk of "shaming" and responsibility [o hold them respon- separated from the goats. a little soccer and run a lot of milt dishonoring the ohana if you don't Bible and accountable for their Both my sons could probably and lifted a fair number of weight behave responsibly. They under- actions. For it is these actions and make their teams, partly because of I know there can sometimes t stand the seriousness and energy personal integrity which, in turn, the affection [he coaches feel for nothing more unfun than pushir required to do right. It goes beyond shape and influence our communi- their amiable natures. But neither is your body to do something. If ] t what is right, even to the point of ty and its future. a budding Pele; neither has, I think, it to get something out of myself obliga[ign or duty. This is what Integrity. It is as simple as doing a future in the big leagues. And the a mild hobby way, and feel a gre makes our island culture unique. what Vou said you would do. super squad schedule would be at surge of joy when I do. ]can on