It’s time to start measuring results
About the Dec. 6 article, “Council approves homeless funding”: I have been able to get to know many of the homeless people in West Hawaii by chatting with them, learning their names and stories, and offering insights to them as a medical professional, when asked.
It is time well-spent on both sides of the relationship. However, seeing most of the same people on the streets now that I did months and years ago fuels my concern, as well as my agreement with Hawaii County Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas, that the intent to help by distributing money is real, but there are no measurable results on homelessness in Hawaii County from money already distributed to many of the same organizations that are about to get their next distribution.
Per Susan Kunz, the upcoming $10 million distribution will be working to bolster the programs and services that play a vital role in protecting and uplifting some of the most vulnerable members of our community on Hawaii Island. Again, what did the county get in return for the $7.5 million investment made earlier in 2023 to many of the same organizations?
Is there a nonbiased, nonincestuous, noncronyistic plan to review the effect of each organization’s piece of last spring’s distribution of funds? Will this review method also be applied to the nearly $10 million distribution that was just approved? Is there a measurable effect of these distributions on reducing the number of homeless persons in Hawaii County by next year this time?
I hope so, because as I understand it, the recently approved $10 million distribution for 2023-2024 has another $35 million to be distributed over the next four years.
Edwin Herd
Kailua-Kona
The stupidity of county government
A few days ago, I took an old couch to the Hilo landfill. Unfortunately, both the Keaau and Hilo recycling centers were unable to take it due to limited space.
I went through the scale, and the attendant charged my credit card for the tipping fee due. No problem. The fee was $4.47. I would have been glad to pay more.
(Last week), I received a letter from county Department of Environmental Management saying that I owed 75 cents more, and to pay that promptly.
How much did it cost in time, postage, wages, etc., to have a county employee send that notice to me? Probably at least $10, to be generous, and maybe a lot more.
In my 20s, I spent three years and three months working for another county government. I quit because I was just wasting my life fullfilling stupid government requirements of the job. Good job, good pay, great benefits, but that particular job required one to have a total lack of motivation.
Part of the requirements for a county job should be that the employee be allowed to act with some common sense, but the county has rules that must be blindly followed!
I have paid the overdue amount, including a generous 25-cent overpayment to help the county fix the roads, improve the subdivisions, revitalize the recycling centers, move forward on the homeless issue, and numerous other important issues facing the county.
Bob Gleason
Kurtistown