‘Affordable’ might not be right word
The term “affordable housing” is often used to describe single-family homes and/or apartments for sale and/or rent.
Quite a few ask: “Affordable for who?” Because “affordable” can be misleading.
Affordable in this case means that units are priced for those who meet the yearly income criteria for a particular area where the homes/apartments are located. However, the only ones who can say that a house or apartment is affordable are the potential buyers/renters themselves.
One may meet the yearly income criteria to qualify for an affordable unit, but the only ones who can say if it is indeed affordable are the individuals themselves based upon their current financial obligations such as credit cards, student loans, car payments, as well as other debts owed.
Maybe developers should change the term “affordable” to “below market price”/”below market rent.” Less confusing this way.
Rick LaMontagne
Hilo
Protesters did billions in damage
Garen Wintemute pulls out all the stops to guarantee we are terrified of what right-wing extremist groups might do.
He and his group of academic experts surmise that under certain circumstances, some acts of violence might occur.
Well, maybe. But interestingly, he does not spend much time telling us what left-wing extremist groups might do if their wishes are thwarted.
And rather than meander through conjecture and speculation and possibilities, we have dozens of examples of what such groups actually did. It was terrifying. Brutal. Violent. And hardly reported.
The mostly peaceful protests of 2020 to, well, yesterday, cost dozens of lives, destroyed the downtowns of several major cities, and obliterated billions of dollars of property. That is what these protesters, seekers of justice, have actually accomplished.
Is there any reason to suppose they won’t do it again? Whomever was the instigator of these coast-to-coast riots, it wasn’t the Proud Boys.
Let’s cool it with speculations designed to stoke fear. How about reporting on things that actually happened?
Charles Clark
Hilo
‘Not impressed’ with Hawaii-based show
Watched the first episode of “Rescue: HI-Surf,” the new filmed-in-Hawaii TV show. Not impressed.
One “lifeguard” is a thief and, depending on the responding cop, could possibly be charged with robbery.
The lifeguards seem to spend a lot of off-duty time drinking and then driving.
There’s sexual harassment, under the color of authority, political interference and influence, and just plain dereliction of duty.
Why the hell would anybody want to see Hawaii after watching one episode?
Realistic? Meh. Watch again? Meh.
James Pritchett
Pahoa