Letters: 5-16-16

Public restrooms scarce

Public restrooms scarce

The article on homelessness cited examples of homeless people using public space as a toilet. No doubt some of the homeless have some unsanitary habits. On the other hand, did you ever try to find a public toilet in an unfamiliar part of Hawaii? I’ve lived here for 10 years, so I now have a pretty good idea where I can go in an emergency. Often I have to ask for a key and then follow vague directions to the other side of the shopping center only to find the one and only locked from the inside. Fifty years ago it might have been acceptable to go to the bushes but try finding an isolated bush between Captain Cook and the airport.

Maybe Kona Brewing Company, for example, could donate a few strategically placed portable luas in their own interest. Maybe we could have public restrooms on the sidewalks like Europe.

Ken Obenski

Kaohe, South Kona

Don’t increase county council term limits

Dear Council,

Regarding Bill 154 which is trying to increase the four terms for the county council to five terms: Absolutely no! If anything, it should be shortened to three terms. Already the cost of government employees and their fringes totally increases many times over the annual budget increase. We do not need 10 years of the same council person just so they can get on the forever payroll bandwagon. Those new retirement pensions would only add to the impossible burden which exists already.

That bandwagon has been increasing exponentially every year while programs for the poor have been cut. Don’t you understand your constituents can’t keep paying more and more every year for unnecessary employee perks?

You need to reevaluate all positions at the county government level and make sure they are essential. Making your terms add up to 10 years is not helping the people of the Big Island one bit. Please don’t do it.

Sara Steiner

Pahoa