Neighbors should compromise
Living in the neighborhood, I would suggest that the Ryans compromise by placing their proposed wall more makai and in line with the existing walls on either side of their property and not constructing it in the manner of the Great Wall of China.
This would allow for more space on the road side for traffic, bikers and walkers. At the same time, we should all be reminded that Alii Drive is not “per se” a highway.
Alice Cannon
Kailua-Kona
Pitch forks over profits
This is from the May HELCO bill, titled Decoupling revenue adjustment filed: Here is a verbatim excerpt from their extraneous paper work that accompanies the bill. After reading the second half of the last line, ask yourself who else gets to do this and get away with it? This defines chutzpah. If you are an electrical customer of theirs, it may be time to break out the pitch forks and torch lights:
“Traditionally, electric utilities’ revenues have been based on the amount of electricity their customers use. But that formula doesn’t support our state’s vision of a clean energy future, which calls for reducing the use of imported oil. Decoupling breaks the link between electricity usage and our revenues, but it doesn’t provide a guaranteed amount of profit.”
You read that right.
Dave Kisor
Pahoa
County right in homeless help
It’s commendable to see the county finally doing something for the local homeless, even if the 32-capacity housing project is just a start. In so many parts of the country, elected officials endlessly talk about addressing homelessness but never do anything that actually helps.
How disingenuous the detractors are claiming a lack of sidewalks and lights in the so-called industrial area; much, if not most, of residential Kailua-Kona lacks sidewalks and street lighting. One can only wonder why the local business community doesn’t step in and build some public bathrooms or, at the very least, provide some porta-potties if they are genuinely concerned to help.
Access to sanitary facilities and water is vitally important for homeless citizens. A central location is important to help them get back on their feet, making the industrial area a reasonable site. This could be a much-needed start to provide more mixed-use in this core part of town, as well.
Michael Routery
Kailua-Kona
Provide essentials for homeless
We are all concerned about the homeless and what to do to help the problem (a problem that under present conditions will never be eliminated) and we seem to think that money is the answer.
Money never helped anyone who did not earn it. Many of these homeless souls do not have the gumption to escape from themselves. That does not mean that we abandon them. But there has to be a limit as to how much we want to do for them and how much we wish to spend on them. One keeps hearing about spending a vast amount of money on housing and other amenities that are very expensive to the public. I suggest that we try by setting up zones that have the bare necessities like running water and toilets (portable).
Most importantly, I again suggest that on these “homeless zones” there be large open air tents (as in circus tents that are most importantly cost efficient and readily moved to other zones) pitched where these people can find shelter from the elements.
Allowing these few social amenities is all that is needed to harbor these unfortunates. These homeless are today’s nomads and I am afraid they are here to roam. However, that does not lessen our duty to render onto them some assistance. All within perimeters, of course, and cost.
Hugo von Platen Luder
Holualoa