Cut costs by using new technology
The Hawaii County Department of Water Supply is asking for a rate increase for electricity. How many wells have been out of service and for how long? One well has been out of service for over two years and no end in sight. They haven’t been running pumps much because demand has been down because of no tourists. So where did the money go that was budgeted for power cost? Just saying.
They could cut cost by using new technology. One example is automated meter reading. Currently they have a driver and another person jumping out to read meters. With newer technology 1 person can drive a route at 25 mph and meters are read by computer. If they partner with HECO they can read both water and electric at the same time reducing cost.
Or add antennas that read the meters remotely so no driving is needed. It can also detect leaks for homeowners or in the county system.
John Powell
Kailua-Kona
Legalize psychedelics?
One main reason that psychedelics will not be legalized other than for medical use is that they are a real mind-altering drug compared to pot, which is proven to be, like alcohol, a limited disfunction drug, and not related to violence. Psychedelics are not a gateway drug from pot any more is nicotine to alcohol. Many people can have a negative “trip” that can lead to mental disfunction, but under medical supervision can help certain problems. Back in the ’60s, I worked in a street clinic that dealt with different psychedelics before the medical field knew how to deal with them. Since it is a mind-related drug, we could bring a person “down” very easily by just changing their mind of what was going on to disturb them. Keep it in medicine, but it is not a good recreation drug for most people.
David Macdonald
Captain Cook
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