At least it will be legal
There have been several editorial opinions lately opposing the proposed 450-unit housing project and its predictable negative impacts on neighboring subdivisions.
But hey — no need to build new houses! Just do what they do in my neighborhood: Just build two or three or four apartments onto your existing single-family residential home — as many as you can fit on your lot.
No need to take zoning or building permits seriously, either. You can get a permit to add one bedroom, and then go ahead and build an entire apartment. Or, you can just bypass the whole “legal” nuisance and build whatever you want.
Nobody will ever check, and if your neighbors don’t like it, tough.
Linda Gross
Kailua-Kona
Something smells
in paradise
The 20-30 percent of folks on sewer systems already pay a sewer fee and have paid this fee since their sewer systems were available. By this proposal, they will have to pay for the (70-80 percent) septic folks who are not on a sewer system to update their sewage disposal.
The sewer folks who have not only paid and continue to pay for their sewer are now being told they have to pay for the sewer hook up of others who pay nothing. Why would anyone be incentivized to join the sewer-connected folks when the septic folks get a free ride? In fact, when they do hook up, they will begin to pay. This bill is designed to discourage folks from connecting to sewer systems.
At worst, every property owner should contribute to a modern sewer system and, at best, the septic folks should cover the majority, if not all, of the new cost.
Something smells with this proposal and it is worse than raw sewage. Would it be that politicians are pandering to the 70-80 percent (majority) while taxing the (20-30 percent) minority group? That way they “earn” the votes of the majority by only taxing the minority. Sewage treatment should not be about politics. Something smells!
Bottom line: Hawaii needs a proper sewer system — no question. The majority of the cost of said system should be borne by the septic folks, as the sewered folks have paid and continue to pay for their sewage system. A reasonable compromise would be to tax all, regardless whether on septic or sewer, as all will benefit. If septic folks participate in paying for the system now, they will want to be connected sooner, not later.
Flush this bill, do it over and get it right! The stench of this bill is worse than sewage. By sharing the burden of a comprehensive sewage system with all, its implementation will happen. Our personal health and ocean deserve it.
Dennis Mihalka
Kailua-Kona
