It seems like our current politicians and wannabes are unilaterally trying to establish an emerging market in our state — housing for the homeless. ADVERTISING It seems like our current politicians and wannabes are unilaterally trying to establish an emerging
It seems like our current politicians and wannabes are unilaterally trying to establish an emerging market in our state — housing for the homeless.
Gov. David Ige several weeks ago took $23 million from the general fund to pay for “transitional” housing for the homeless. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell gave an expensive park area for a sum of $1 million for 200 homeless houses and $4 million for infrastructure. Granted, the houses are free from the Japanese tsunami, but the land is valuable and unusable by the taxpayers.
I guess Kenoi had an involvement, too, to the tune of $683,000 for 19 places for the homeless toward Kaloko.
Now Domingo, unsuccessful Council 7 challenger, said he teamed up with Cliff Kopp, the island walker for the homeless. They propose a 300-unit complex for the homeless to be built in Kailua-Kona. Are you kidding? Not to be facetious but a concierge desk be included so they can call ahead for a room reservation on their one-way ticket. And while you’re at it, buy a van for airport pick up. Since that van is used, why not another for transportation to the snorkel beach and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park? In other words, where does it stop? It appears that the homeless population is growing at a faster percent than the general population. Why is that? Maybe because they would rather sleep under a Hawaiian tree than in a Montana snow bank.
Our troops live, as have I, in GP medium tents with porta-potties. If it’s good enough for our soldiers who defend our freedoms is it not good enough for others?
Where does the money come from? Politicians always want to raise property tax, GET or their favorite, tax the rich. Most politicians have never signed the front of a payroll check. They always sign the back.
Why not find out why they’re homeless. If it’s due to tragedy or a bad turn in life and they are trying to get out of it, help them. If they don’t want to take responsibility for themselves, should the rest of them shoulder that burden? Homeless programs are being pushed but why not spend more on the elderly or veterans, for example? They led productive lives, worked, raised a family, contributed to society and I’m sure they would be more appreciative than a 24-year-old begging while smoking, his dog by his side talking on a cellphone, which we paid for. Find ways for productivity — not hand outs which only brings more.
The Seattle Times reports that $15-an-hour fast-food workers who flip hamburgers have asked for less hours. They don’t want to make too much and lose their public housing. Is that what we’re fostering here?
Don Zero is the public information officer for the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 12122 and a Kailua-Kona resident
