No protection for the ‘riff raff’
How many people have complained about the way they were treated going down to Papaikou Mill Beach? People have been arrested. Cars of the very people who live on Mill road have been ticketed. There are hundreds and hundreds of ugly stories of how the couple who say they own the beach path harass and shut out the locals.
Over 5,000 people signed a petition to stop this. Add to that that, I heard two different people report at the public hearings that the owner said, “We just want to keep the ‘riff raff’ off the beach.”
Who are the “riff raff?” It’s us. And it looks like riff raff don’t get the government’s protection – even when we have the law on our side. We won Papaikou access. Why is this couple still harassing and keeping us off the beach? Does our county government think we are “riff raff” too?
Jennifer Ruggles
Mountain View
Choose parks, not pounds
In my on-going effort to improve the lives of dogs and their people all over Hawaii, I have started a new group called “Parks, Not Pounds.” The goal of this group is to use a provision in the county code which allows part of a Hawaii County park to be set aside as a dog park to create dog parks all over the island.
The group would provide the funds for fencing and other supplies, and the labor to construct the dog parks. I would personally provide the training needed to improve the social play skills of dogs who are not yet ready for off-leash play with strangers, and could provide additional training classes and social events, as needed by each community.
Dogs need lots of exercise, and much of this should be in the form of running, active play, or swimming. Sadly, most of our dogs’ human parents do not have the ability to swim with their dogs locally or allow them to run off-leash because of lack of fencing and facilities. The lack of proper exercise has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to be the No. 1 cause of dogs’ behavioral problems, and is a leading cause of other quality of life and health problems.
We need more dog parks, and we need lots of them, all over the island. Better that our dogs go to parks instead of to dog pounds!
Luckily, the county code has provided for the creation of dog parks on county land since 2009, but sadly, none have yet been created. In response to this need and this option, I have decided to devote myself to creating dog parks all over the county, by tapping into the interest and resources of the thousands of dog lovers in each area would share this dream.
If you would like to join or learn more about the group, emal easthawaiidogpsychologycenter@yahoo.com.
Dr. Carl F. Oguss
Hilo
Homeless out of place
In regards to letters published by Mr. Domingo and Mr. Douglas, my husband brought up a good point the other day while we were driving around Kona. We saw a few people, I’m not sure if they homeless or not, but they were holding signs at various places — Costco, Walmart, etc. — stating “will work for food, anything helps,” you get the point.
But what he noticed is these people that state they will work for food or money, they were no where near places that they should be to actually be hired to work, such as Home Depot or Lowes. I am sad to say I really believe they just want a hand out and if you ask them if they want to work, they will scoff at this and just ask for money.
I hate that tourists come to our island and have to see what I’m sure they have at home. I truly wish we could do something about the panhandling on our beautiful island.
Lynn Neering
Waikoloa