Heads need to roll over wells
As I a woke to West Hawaii Today “water restrictions issued” the top of my head exploded. Four wells down at one time. Didn’t we just go through this? One well down, OK roll up your sleeves. Two wells down, a red flag let’s make sure we are on top of it. Three wells down, get all hands on deck and bring in all the necessary troops we have an emergency and bring the community up to date on what’s being done. Four wells down and the public is just being notified! Outrageous!
Heads need to roll. Where is the mayor? Keith Okamoto’s job should be on the line. Didn’t he learn nothing from 2017. After that didn’t he receive a raise? Now asking for another 25% reduction. I don’t know about the rest of West Hawaii but I want answers and I want to know concrete solutions on exactly what is being done and when! I don’t want to hear vague responses on mainland made, supply chain problems and any other shi bai that we normally get from our government.
Wake up West Hawaii. Get mad! Call the mayor. Call your County Council member. Remind them we put you in office and we can sweep you out of office. Again, where is the mayor?
Barry and Louise Christian
Kailua-Kona
^
Where the money should go
Regarding the Tuesday article, “Inaba tries again on property tax cuts”: I am retired on Social Security and have seen my property taxes more than double … since I built my house in 1978 (still low compared to Honolulu and the mainland, thank goodness).
As the cost of living has continued to rise, we and most of our neighbors get by by adding members to our households to share the bills. This is clearly evidenced by the increase in cars parked in driveways and along every street with a shoulder that’s wide enough. Even so, it is wrong to cut taxes when our homeless situation continues to worsen. There are many working people who find themselves homeless because they can’t find a place to rent. Some of them, I suspect, are among those camped right in front of WHT offices.
If there’s money available, I’d like to see it go first to homeowners who can demonstrate serious hardship and at risk of being taxed out of their homes, and then to landlords that keep their rents low. A landlord that lowers their rent should get the biggest tax cut.
Jake Jacobs
Kona
^
Legislators tried
I was dismayed to read about the recent court ruling relative to short-term rentals of “farm dwellings” on agricultural land. My hope is that the LUC will consider appealing this action based on the legislative intent and actual documentable history outlined in the legislature’s deliberations related to the adoption of H.B. No. 3262-76 (Act 199) in 1976.
For example, SCrep. 502-76 before the Water, Land Use, Development, and Hawaiian Homes and Agriculture Committee on H.B. No. 3262-76 states, “Your Committees find that agricultural subdivisions approved by the counties are being put to uses other than agricultural uses. The purpose of the agricultural district classification is to control the uses of land for agricultural purposes. This purpose is being frustrated by the development of urban type residential communities in the guise of agricultural subdivisions. To discourage abuse of this purpose, the bill, as amended, defines more clearly the uses permissible within the agricultural district. Except for such uses permitted under special use permits in section 205-6 and for non-conforming uses permitted in section 205-8, uses not permitted by this bill shall be prohibited.”
I encourage the LUC to research the records of the Legislature’s deliberations for additional substantive evidence beyond what I have provided here, that is contrary to this Circuit Court ruling in order to initiate an appeal. If not, the exact issues that H.B. No. 3262-76 was designed to prevent will occur.
Cynthia Milani
Kailua-Kona
^
Tell us about it
Do you have a story idea or news tip? Is there a community problem that has not been addressed? Do you know someone unique, whose story should be shared and enjoyed with the rest of the community? We want to know. Call the West Hawaii Today newsroom at (808) 930-8600 or email news@westhawaiitoday.com and share the information with our readers.
Letters policy
Letters to the editor should be 300 words or less and will be edited for style and grammar. Longer viewpoint guest columns may not exceed 800 words. Submit online at https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/letter-to-the-editor/ or address letters to:
Editor
West Hawaii Today
PO Box 789
Kailua-Kona, HI 96745
Email: letters@westhawaiitoday.com
