News Archive
Letter to the Editor: Public workers support community, economy
March 31, 2021
In today's edition of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Unit 13 member Earl Young replies to a Letter to the Editor written earlier this month. The text of Earl's letter appears below.
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Chip Davey, what are you smoking or drinking (“Private businesses will lead economic recovery,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 12)?
Public workers — who are taxpayers just like everyone else — greatly add to the economy, not drain it, and are absolutely essential to Hawaii’s recovery.
Doesn’t he think we go out and buy products and services too, spending at local businesses to help boost the economy? Who does he think provides the many crucial services he and others take for granted, such as public safety, water treatment, road maintenance and food inspection?
These are services that public employees provide and that everyone relies on daily to live, work and play. We help to keep our communities healthy and safe, and we are vital to our state’s economic recovery.
Please keep that in mind the next time you take a drink of water, buy take-out food, drive down a highway or go to the park.